Out-of-ear headphones work primarily through two different technologies: bone conduction and air conduction.
Bone Conduction Technology
Believe it or not, bone conduction headphones bypass the ear canal and eardrum altogether. Instead, this technology transmits sound as vibrations directly into the bones of your head. Specifically, the transducers in the headphones rest against your cheekbones or temple bones. These transducers convert the audio signal into vibrations. These vibrations travel through your skull to the inner ear (cochlea), where they are interpreted as sound by the brain.
- Bypasses the Eardrum: The key advantage is that the ear canal remains open, allowing you to hear ambient sounds.
- Vibrational Sound: Sound is transmitted as vibrations through the skull.
- Examples: Popular brands like Shokz utilize bone conduction technology.
Air Conduction Technology (Open-Ear)
While some headphones cover the ear, "out of ear" can also refer to open-ear air conduction headphones. These don't enter or cover the ear canal but sit just outside it. They use traditional air conduction to deliver sound without blocking your ear canal.
- Doesn't Block Ear Canal: Allows for awareness of surroundings.
- Traditional Sound Transmission: Sound waves travel through the air to your eardrum.
- Focus on Ambient Awareness: Designed for activities where hearing your environment is crucial, like running or cycling.
In summary, out-of-ear headphones use either bone conduction, transmitting vibrations through the skull, or air conduction, directing sound towards the ear without obstructing the ear canal, to deliver audio while keeping your ears open to your surroundings.
