Review on AFTERSHOKZ Air AS650SG: Open-Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones in Sleek Slate Grey by Russ Mashlan

I'm not the biggest proponent of wearing headphones while cycling or running, mainly because I can't hear ambient noise for safety reasons, but AfterShokz Trekz is the exception and game changer , and here's why. You can hear ambient sounds through the AfterShokz Trekz headphones. For example, I ride a lot of blue and black mountain bike trails and have no problem hearing birds and cicadas and even airplanes. I hear people driving behind me. I could literally talk to someone and hear every word the person says, no problem. That's why I say the AfterShokz Trekz is a game changer, you can enjoy some of the tunes and still hear the surround sound. SOUND QUALITY I confess that I was hesitating between the Trekz Air and Trekz Titanium models as the hardware specs on their website are identical. After calling AfterShokz support (the person was very nice) I found out why the Trekz Air's sound quality is so much better than the Trekz Titanium. First, the earbuds were redesigned. This provides a better anatomical fit but also allows for better sensor placement; tiny electronic devices that convert and transmit the sound waves you hear. In addition, Trekz Air uses Bluetooth 4.2. This is a small upgrade from version 4.1, but one of the features of Bluetooth 4.2 is that it transmits data 250% faster with more reliable wireless data transmission and 10x packet throughput. In other words, more data is processed faster. These combined changes create a big difference in sound quality over the Trekz Titanium. Remember that Trekz headphones are designed with an open-ear design. You don't get the same sound quality as in-ear or over-ear headphones. It's like listening to music and removing a subwoofer (a speaker that delivers really deep, muffled bass); basically you hear the mids and highs of the speakers (sort of). Don't get me wrong, the Trekz Air produces a very crisp and clear sound. The Trekz Air produces a much fuller and deeper sound compared to the Trekz Titanium which has a thicker and even less deep sound. FITI likes the fact that the strap that connects around the Trekz Air's neck is shorter and doesn't sit as low on the guitar. Neck, this provides a more comfortable fit when running and under a bike helmet. CONCLUSION I had the pleasure of trying both Trekz Air and Trekz Titanium. Simply put, the difference between the two models is day and night. Obviously the Air is lighter but also has a better anatomical fit. Both the low weight and the fit of the Trekz Air make it better suited for long days of cycling or running. At first glance, this may not seem so bad when sitting at home or in the office, but if you drive a lot of miles, it will affect comfort. In addition, Trekz Air delivers much better sound quality; More importantly, the ability to hear ambient sounds while listening to motivational music is what makes the AfterShokz Trekz headphones so incredible. AfterShokz got it right with the Trekz Air. Stunning technical design and intelligent use of technology. I definitely recommend Trekz Air, you won't be disappointed.