Kaibo Flex bone conduction headphones: great audio without tuning out your surroundings

• Tyler Lee
• 3 years ago

We love headphones, especially over-ear headphones because it creates a seal to block outside noise. It also does a great job when it comes to the sound stage, making it feel like you’re enjoying a private concert no matter where you are. Toss in active noise cancellation and suddenly that annoying drone and hum from the bus, train, or airplane disappears almost like magic.

The problem with most headphones is that a lot of them tend to be designed to help you block outside noise. This is because having outside noise leak in while you’re listening to music can ruin the sound and experience – think of it like being at a bar or club where people are trying to yell at each other over the music.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kaiboaudio/kaibo-flex-the-next-gen-bone-conduction-headphones

It can also be somewhat dangerous if you’re out for a job or cycling and having headphones block outside noise means you can’t hear people calling out to you, or in some cases, the sound of oncoming traffic which could lead to accidents.

But if you must have some music while you’re out and about, then perhaps the Kaibo Flex could be a pair of headphones worth your consideration.

Design and fit

It is clear that the Kaibo Flex has been designed for use outdoors and amongst more active users. The headphones will feature the use of a titanium alloy frame that makes it not only light, but flexible, but also durable. It also features the use of a silicone outer shell that will make it light and comfortable to wear even if you need to use it all day.

The headphones have also been given an IP55 rating, which means that if you use it on a run or at the gym, getting a bit of sweat on it and wiping it down after with a damp cloth will not damage it and cause it to lose functionality.

Bone conduction technology

Unlike more traditional headphones or earphones that use drivers to deliver sound directly into your ears, the Kaibo Flex relies on bone conduction technology. This is where the vibrations created from the sound of your music or podcasts are sent through your inner ear using your bone, rather than the air in your ear canal.

This means that the headphones don’t actually need to be inside of your ear, which like we said creates a seal that can block out noise. Instead, the use of bone conduction technology sees the headphones rest on the outer areas of your ear, leaving your ear canals open and letting you listen to things around you.

So if you find yourself in a situation where you need to be aware of your surroundings, then bone conduction technology will let you enjoy your music while also letting you hear someone call you or listen out for traffic at the same time.

Premium sound quality

We know that the majority of headphones sold today rely on a more traditional design to deliver their music, so you might be a bit skeptical on the effectiveness of the Kaibo Flex’s use of bone conduction technology. While we wouldn’t necessarily think it will be able to deliver audio quality that one might consider audiophile-grade, the demos we’ve heard sound pretty fantastic.

According to the company, the Kaibo Flex uses patented audio technology which they claim will be able to deliver “crystal-clear” mids and high frequencies, along with “solid” bass performance. This means that for everyday use, whether you’re commuting to school or work, or while at the gym or at the park for a run, the Kaibo Flex will be able to deliver on sound.

Also, for those who might be concerned that the vibrations might end up being very annoying and potentially fatiguing after a while, the company says that the combination of mechanical design and the right materials used in the Kaibo Flex will minimize the vibrations you feel without it becoming uncomfortable or stressful.

Plus, the cladding technique used in the design of the headphones also helps to prevent sound leakage, so unlike open-back headphones that are notorious when it comes to sound leakage, you can listen to your music or be on a call without people hearing what’s on the other end.

The company has also built-in environmental noise cancellation with a pair of noise-canceling microphones that will help make your calls sound clearer, and also so you can better enjoy your music while you’re outside without having to sacrifice your situational awareness.

Smart and intuitive controls

As the Kaibo Flex are a pair of true wireless headphones, it means that, unlike wired headphones that might come with an inline remote to control music volume and playback, it will rely entirely on touch controls, but don’t worry because they are designed to be pretty intuitive.

Both sides of the headphones will feature touch/gesture-based controls where you only need to double-tap on either side to play or pause music, tap on one side to increase the volume, tap on the other side to decrease it, and so on. These controls will also allow users to call upon their phone’s digital assistant if need be.

The headphones are also smart enough where it can even detect when you take them off, in which your music playback will be paused, and it can also resume playback when you put the headphones back on. So if you’re taking a break, simply take them off and your music will be paused and when you’re ready to go again, you can simply continue your song or podcast from where you left off.

Great battery with wireless charging

A concern many would have regarding true wireless headphones would be battery life. No one wants to have to charge their devices everyday, but luckily with the Kaibo Flex, the company claims that it will last up to 8 hours per charge.

The headphones come with a wireless charging dock that charges the headphones wirelessly, plus it also gives it an extra 32 hours of battery, so you can take it with you on the go, or leave it at your desk at home or at work to give it an extra boost in battery life.  The headphones will connect to the dock magnetically so you don’t need to worry about cables or securing it in place.

Pricing and availability

The Kaibo Flex is currently on Kickstarter where it’s trying to raise funds for its campaign. It appears to be successful because at this time of writing, it has managed to raise over $300,000, far surpassing its humble goal of $5,000. For those who are interested, the Kaibo Flex is priced starting at $79 for early bird backers but will retail for $119 if you miss out on its Kickstarter campaign.