While the global pandemic caused massive financial damage on the one hand, there are also some product categories that are now more relevant than ever. In particular, the restructuring of companies towards home offices led to a veritable boom in communication hardware.
That is precisely what it aims to achieve. AFTERSHOKZ AFTERSHOKZ has launched its new OPENCOMM headset. Optimized for working from home, the headset is also suitable for other uses, as AFTERSHOKZ has previously released wireless headsets with bone conduction technology, clearly marketed as sports headphones. However, the primary focus of this product, as with their other headphones, remains comfort. The question now is whether this headset, with its open-ear design and bone conduction technology, is truly worth its rather hefty price tag of €169,95?
Unpacked the box
The packaging design and contents don't hold any major surprises at first glance. The box comes in a sturdy black cardboard box with a minimalist logo print and is enclosed in a white slipcase. Once unpacked, you'll find the following:
- Small black envelope containing user guide, quick guide for pairing, warranty card and safety booklet.
- Hard-shell carrying case with foam
- Magnetic-inductive charging cable
- OPENCOM HEADSET
Official specs:
- Bluetooth Version 5.0
- Frequency 20Hz-20kHz
- Battery life: 16 hours (standby time up to 14 days)
- Charging time 60 minutes
- Weight 33 grams
- Radio range 10 meters
- Waterproof IP55 certified
Generally speaking, the very understated design might leave a negative impression on some. On the other hand, simplicity is also a trend in this field. Personally, I find it all fits together very well, because AFTERSHOKZ has already demonstrated a clear guiding principle with their previous products: high quality and professionalism, without any unnecessary fuss.
And here again, the quality leaves nothing to be desired. Everything in the box feels very premium. Starting with the hard-shell charging case, which will certainly prove very useful. For example, if you're traveling, the box also contains a USB-A cable with a magnetic connector for the headset. And of course, the headset itself, which also feels extremely well-made. Before we can use the OPENCOMM, however, we naturally have to set it up first.
The establishment
When we first connect the headset to the cable, we're immediately faced with our first decision. We can either fully charge the headphones for the standard 60 minutes or activate the quick charge function, which provides up to two hours of talk time after just a few minutes. Once the headset is charged, we're faced with another choice: connecting it to our smartphone. There are two options available. We can use the standard Bluetooth method, or we can connect via the smartphone's NFC function. NFC is not only faster to set up, but it also consumes significantly less power than Bluetooth. Connecting the headset to a PC or console isn't as straightforward as connecting to a smartphone; it requires a separate USB Bluetooth adapter and some rather complicated online instructions.
Let's start!
Once the device is set up, you can get started right away. Adjustments to the headset itself aren't really necessary, as the device is so flexible and universal that you feel like the headphones fit perfectly from the very first second. In general, I can't remember a time when setting up any device was ever so easy and quick.
The moment I put the headset on, I immediately experienced a sensation that persisted throughout the following days of testing: I simply didn't feel it, even after many hours. Thanks to its light weight, minimal size, and ingenious design, I personally never experienced any discomfort while wearing it.
The controls are as simple as such a product can be – but that doesn't mean they're truly easy. With different functions for single, double, triple, and long presses, it's easy to get confused, and the device can quickly become a challenge. Therefore, a simple but crucial piece of advice: read the manual!
The sound
Regarding the sound, let's start with the headset's only real drawback, and even here, to be fair, there's a plausible reason for it. It's the music playback, which, at best, produces only average quality with this headset. This is simply because the device wasn't designed for music listening. Yes, it's a noticeable flaw and could certainly affect the overall rating, but we have to consider the bigger picture – you can't have everything.
Aside from that, there's nothing to complain about in terms of sound. Both microphone quality and audio output work flawlessly, as does the connection with the smartphone and the button controls (provided one has familiarized oneself with the manual).
