Shokz have been hard at work again, pushing the boundaries of what we recognise as personal audio. The first impression I had of the OpenDots ONE is a question: How do you get such a rounded, balanced and reasonably powerful (including bass) sound from something this damned small…
HOW!??!
Don’t get me wrong here, you’re not going to get audio comparable to the likes of the Sony XM6 and that level of headphones, but for something so small; the sound is mighty!
What are the OpenDots ONE earphones?
They’re a step away from what you may expect from Shokz; they’re not the open ear style of the OPENFIT, and they’re not bone-conducting units like the OPENRUN or OPENSWIM ranges. They fall somewhere between open ear and in-ear options. They look, feel and sound quite different; a clip-on style, open ear option that produces really impressive sound quality for something so physically small.
The difference here from some of the other options Shokz produce is that they’re aimed at users who aren’t necessarily wanting them for running or cycling. Rather, those who are just active outdoors, perhaps a gym session, working, or even communing. The big selling point is how lightweight and small they are, but man, do they pack a punch.
First impressions last
Other than curiosity, the first thoughts I had after hooking these up to my phone and starting to play some music were “how?!”. HOW do they manage to get such good sound out of something so damned small? What’s more is how well balanced it is and, to my surprise, there was even some reasonable bass.
After a short while listening, I came to realise that they’re not just delivering really solid sound; they’re also remarkably comfortable. The loop provides enough pressure to keep them in place, without resulting in any discomfort, at times you may even forget you have them on they’re so light and comfy.
One thing that really struck me early in testing was how big the case is for how small the earphones are. That was until I read and experienced how good the battery life is. The combination of fully charged earphones and case can deliver you up to 40 hours of listening time. My experience to date is over 30 hours and still going strong. The case can be charged by wired, or wireless charging on a compatible charging pad and (wired at least) a 10 minute charge will get you about 2 hours of listening time; enough to get you through a commute home if you’re caught short.
Connectivity: Plenty of range and easy to change
Something that used to be a bonus, but is now a necessity in any Bluetooth audio device, is multipoint connection. While the initial setup of the Multipoint feels a little clumsy compared to some other devices I’ve used, once implemented, it’s an easy way to switch between devices. I have my phone as the primary device (with the app) on it, my laptop and iPad connected, where you can easily switch between secondary devices.
This capability, and the impressive connectivity range, are driven by Bluetooth 5.4
The function, fit and audio
I’ve never been a big fan of in-ear headphones; I find them uncomfortable. Open-ear options like these and the OpenFit 2+ not only make listening more comfortable but also help maintain awareness of your surroundings, which is especially important in certain situations.
Being able to continue listening to podcasts, music or other streaming media while I’m on a walk, around the house or even at the shops is really welcome. Particularly when some of those pesky salespeople are at the stalls in the shops and I don’t have time for them, they see the headphones and leave me alone.
What was particularly impressive out of all of this, aside from the high level of comfort, was the audio quality I mentioned earlier. For something so physically small to produce not just the general quality of sound that has been delivered here, but the balance and the depth of sound is astounding. I was sceptical, but I found that enabling Dolby audio resulted in a notable balance change and improvement.
The quality and balance of audio you get is well-tuned for streaming media, whether it’s music, movies or stuff like YouTube, or even Netflix. The vocal range is very smooth and capable of delivering, despite my eclectic taste in music. This blends brilliantly with the upper register that delivers whether you’re listening to something like an orchestral score, through to a ripping guitar solo.
Final Thoughts
You’re never going to get audiophile-quality sound out of earphones this size, and you definitely won’t get it at this price. But what you’re getting for the dollars is an excellent investment. I am genuinely impressed with the audio that’s been delivered, the battery life and the comfort of the clip-on style earphones.
As always, if you’re looking at earphones of any sort, it’s quite a personal decision. I’m not personally a big fan of in-ear listening, so these are a welcome setup: Small and lightweight, without being in-ear and still providing a great listening experience.
Price and Availability
You can pick up the Shokz OpenDots one through Shokz online, or through the usual retail channels.
