I switched to bone-conducting headphones for exercise because traditional earbuds just can’t handle the amount of sweat I produce when running. Since that migration, I haven’t ruined a single pair of headphones. Although the sound produced by bone-conducting headphones isn’t nearly what you’ll hear from traditional earbuds, water resistance and battery life take precedence.
The Raycon bone-conducting headphones
My experience
As with most Bluetooth devices, connecting the Raycon bone-conducting headphones with my Pixel 9 Pro was a no-brainer. Turn the headphones on, go to Settings > Connected Devices, click “Pair new device,” and tap Pair when prompted.
Once the headphones were connected, I fired up Spotify. I’d already been listening to VOCE8’s Christmas album, so I continued to see how the headphones handled the delicate voicing. Unsurprisingly, the headphones weren’t capable of much width in the soundscape — voices and instruments sounded pretty much all in the same place.
Also: These mid-range earbuds sound nearly perfect out of the box – and aren’t by Beats or JBL
At the same time, the sound was as clear as any bone-conducting headphones I’ve used. The Raycons stand out thanks to their three EQ profiles: Bass, Balanced, and Pure Sound. My ears hear those profiles like this:
- Bass — emphasis on the low end
- Balanced Sound — a flat EQ curve
- Pure Sound — emphasis on the high end
You can switch between the profiles by double-pressing the middle button on the right side of the headband. If you’re listening to classical, choral music, or podcasts, your best bet is either Balanced or Pure. If you are listening to rock, metal, or pop, go with Pure Sound. Hip Hop and rap are best paired with the Bass profile. Of course, your mileage may vary. I would suggest switching between the sound profiles until you find one that best matches the music you love.
The Raycon bone-conducting headphones are a steal if you find traditional earbuds cannot stand up to the elements (including your sweat) while exercising.