Open-ear headphones with Bluetooth in the test: Free ears with the Shokz Opendots One

Although the new Shokz Opendots One seem tiny in the hand, they are packed with technology. The brand's very first clip-on headphones utilise the open-ear concept, where the ear canal remains open to outside noise despite the music being transmitted. Shokz also combines the company's own Bassphere technology with its own OpenBass 2.0 algorithm, while DirectPitch technology is designed to ensure privacy - clear so far?

Weighing just 6.5 grams, the titanium alloy Shokz Opendots One promise up to 40 hours of battery life and have four microphones with AI noise cancellation. We have already been able to strap these little technological wonders to our ears and take them for a spin on a bike for an initial test.

Shokz Opendots One in detail

• Price: 199 Euro >> available here
• Weight: 6.5 grams / headphones
• Playback time: 10 h (music) / 6 h (telephony) / up to 40 h (with charging case)
• Number of microphones: 4
• Speaker size: 2 x 11.8 mm
• Frequency response: 100-20,000 Hz
• Speaker sensitivity: 97.5 dB
• Water resistance: certified to IP54
• Special features: Open-ear concept, JointArc titanium headband, DirectPitch technology, Bassphere technology, OpenBass 2.0 algorithm, Dolby audio, AI noise cancellation

>> We have put together the perfect mountain bike playlist with over 200 songs here.

Fit and compatibility

Unlike other headphones, the Shokz Opendots One neither sit in the ear nor are they held in place by an extra clip. Instead, the Bluetooth headphones are "clipped" to the ear cup. According to the manufacturer, this clip-on system is compatible with all glasses and helmets.

In fact, we had no space problems on the ear during the test and bikers need not fear any compatibility restrictions (except with full-face helmets). The titanium alloy of the "JointArc", which acts as a holding device, passed 5000 bending and twisting tests in-house without any damage.

Skin-friendly silicone covers the contact points and increases friction for additional grip. Although it takes a little getting used to having the headphones clamped to your ear for the first few minutes, you soon forget about the super-lightweight parts.

Even when worn for hours on end, there were no problems with comfort during the test. Special sports headphones with a wrap-around headband provide a slightly more secure feeling, but even on bumpy trail sections, the Shokz headphones sat reliably on the ear.

>> We have looked at special sports headphones with integrated heart rate measurement here.

Sound

The acoustic performance of the Shokz Opendots One open-ear headphones is based on two 11.8 mm speakers which, according to the manufacturer, are equivalent to a 16 mm driver. Shokz has put a lot of development effort into the bass, which proved surprisingly rich in the test despite the small design.

Four preset EQ modes (private, voice, standard, bass) and two user-defined settings allow for individual sound customisation, although most users will probably be satisfied with the factory setup. Dolby Audio can also be activated via the Shokz app, which further improved the spatial listening experience for videos in the test.

With a frequency response of 100 to 20,000 Hz, the Shokz Open Dots cover the entire audible spectrum, while the speaker sensitivity of 97.5 decibels ensures sufficient volume. DirectPitch technology uses inverted sound waves to optimise the distance and angle between the sound source and the ear.

Overall, we were satisfied with the sound quality of the open-ear headphones, but the biggest competition comes from our own company: the Shokz Openrun Pro 2 bone-sound headphones, which were also tested, reproduce sound nuances slightly better in practice.

>> Click here to test the Shokz Openrun Pro 2 bone-sound headphones.

Telephony and connection

Four strategically positioned microphones work in the Shokz Opendots One with an AI algorithm for noise cancellation during phone calls. According to Shokz, the system analyses the environment in real time and filters out background noise while precisely capturing the voice. The microphone sensitivity of -38 dB is designed to enable transmission even in noisy environments.

In the test, this worked surprisingly well and even during slow cycling. Compared to the Shokz Openrun Pro 2 bone-sound headphones, the Opendots One were less susceptible to disruptive wind when making calls. Conversations are therefore also possible on the way to work or the trail.

If required, the multi-point pairing technology enables a simultaneous connection with two devices and seamless switching between the two. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a stable connection at all times with a range of up to ten metres.

>> We tested Bluetooth headphones from Sony here.

Handling and software

As soon as the Shokz Opendost One are placed in the ear, the open-ear headphones start automatically. However, perfect positioning on the ear doesn't always work on the first attempt. We had to repeatedly reconnect them after a few metres on the bike in order to achieve the same fit and sound quality on the left and right. This is one of the biggest disadvantages compared to headphones that are traditionally plugged into the ear or fixed in place with a larger headband.

The wireless headphones have a touch function to control the volume and start and stop the music, for example. The assignment can be customised in the Shokz app. In the test, this touch control did not always work well without gloves. With gloves, however, the function is hardly usable. Here too, the button control of the Shokz Openrun Pro 2 has the advantage. Cool: A search function in the app helps you find misplaced headphones.

>> We have tested three intercom systems for communication while biking here.

Protection and battery

The 39 gram case for the Shokz Opendots One supports wireless charging and, according to the manufacturer, takes 240 minutes to fully charge the headphones. Practical: The dynamic ear recognition technology automatically identifies which headphones are in which ear. This means that the left and right earphones are interchangeable and can be placed anywhere in the charging case.

Our test was able to verify the manufacturer's claim of ten hours of music playback per charge. A charging function integrated into the case should extend this to 40 hours total runtime and makes the lightweight, small system an ideal backup solution for bikepacking trips away from the nearest power socket.

The runtime is significantly reduced for phone calls. According to Shokz, the standby time is up to 270 days. With Bluetooth pairing, however, this was significantly shorter in the test. If you forget to charge it, you will run out of juice after about a day.

It's a good thing that a quick charge of ten minutes already provides enough energy for almost two hours of playback time. The IP54 water resistance rating protects against sweat and splashing water during sport. However, the charging case is not waterproof and should be kept dry.

>> Sena integrates intercom technology into a bicycle helmet. More information in this article.

Conclusion

The Shokz Opendots One pack impressive technological performance into a small, lightweight package. Sound reproduction and telephony are impressive across the board. The fit and comfort when cycling are good but not quite on a par with specialised sports headphones. For cyclists, the poor touch control with gloves is a downer. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

Pro

• Good sound with small size
• Powerful charging case and low system weight top for long journeys
• User-friendly handling
• Ears remain free for environmental noise

Contra

• Touch control not compatible with gloves
• Seat doesn't feel quite as secure on the trail as with bars