Philips TAA6606 sports headphone review: For runners only

The Philips TAA6606 bone conduction Bluetooth sports activities headphone make it straightforward to take heed to music whilst you’re operating or participating in different kinds of train, however audio efficiency takes a backseat to 2 different targets: Making certain a safe however snug match even whilst you’re shifting round, and sustaining situational consciousness whereas open air.

In contrast to standard on-ear, over-ear, or in-ear headphones, you put on the Philips TAA6606 like a laurel across the again of your head, wrapping hooks over the tops of your ears. Somewhat than positioning audio system outdoors or inside your ear canal, a bone conduction headphone equivalent to this rests its audio system in entrance of every ear and transmits sound by the bones in your cranium. This design leaves your ears utterly unimpeded from listening to sounds in your surroundings, which is nice for listening to what’s occurring round you, but it surely doesn’t ship nice audio replica.

This overview is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the best headphones.

Philips TAA6606 industrial design

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The TAA6606 characteristic a light-weight titanium body wrapped in rubber. A weatherization ranking of IP67 means the headphone is totally protected against mud and that it may be immersed in as much as 1 meter of water for so long as half-hour. You in all probability wouldn’t wish to go swimming with it, however sweat, rain, and a cleanup session underneath the tap received’t trigger issues.

The suitable-hand arm of the TAA6606 has a USB-C charging port, an influence button on the underside, and quantity controls (“+” and “-“) on the highest. Lengthy presses of the amount controls strikes up and down your playlist. LED security lights adorn the backs of each the left- and right-hand arms that can assist you be seen from behind. These may be set to a glow steadily or they will blink, quick or slowly. The lights aren’t brilliant sufficient to switch reflective gear, however they can assist alert a driver or bicyclist approaching you from behind and so they would possibly maintain you from getting run over.

James Barber/Foundry

The headphone’s audio system relaxation in your cranium, simply in entrance of your ears and above your jawbone. A multifunction button on the left-hand speaker controls play and pause with a brief press. This similar button solutions cellphone calls with a brief press, rejects them with an extended press, and switches between calls with a double press. This button has a satisfying click on and may be very straightforward to make use of.

The facility and quantity controls, then again, are tiny and troublesome to make use of. Though “+” and “–“ are embossed on these buttons, the symptoms are so small that it’s virtually not possible to really feel the distinction between the 2.

The Philips TAA6606 comes with a material carry pouch, a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, foam earplugs, and an instruction handbook with footage however no phrases (a more complete user manual is available online).

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Bone conduction headphones improve situational consciousness

The most important benefit of a bone conduction headphone is the best way through which they improve the wearer’s situational consciousness. They don’t block your ears, so you need to be capable of hear visitors and react rapidly to any hazard. They are often disconcerting at first, particularly if you happen to’re accustomed to carrying earbuds. The music is taking part in in your head, however it’s also possible to hear every thing round you, as if the supply of the music was a speaker throughout the room.

Bone conduction headphones supply one other security characteristic: They received’t injury your listening to. There’s nothing aimed instantly at your eardrums, and also you received’t endure ear fatigue throughout lengthy listening classes.

Philips

The Philips A6606 headphone rests in your face, and the extra they vibrate, the extra sound leaks out. There’s no method you would hope to put on them in an workplace surroundings, and also you would possibly even annoy somebody sitting subsequent to you on an airplane, subway, or bus. These are for solo use solely.

Philips TAA6606 audio efficiency

That is the place now we have to throw out many of the standards we use when evaluating earbuds and headphones. The Philips TAA6606 solely assist the fundamental SBC Bluetooth codec, however due to the best way their audio system work, it wouldn’t matter in the event that they supported a higher-resolution codec equivalent to LDAC or aptX HD.

Let’s simply say you may hear the music when utilizing this headphone. It’s tinny and never a lot better than what you’d get from a pair of $19.99 wi-fi earbuds you’d decide up at a comfort retailer. These go in your ears, after all, and don’t use the bone conduction expertise that differentiates these headphones.

James Barber/Foundry

That each one modifications if you happen to’re listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or streaming information radio. And since that’s my most well-liked leisure once I’m operating, I got here to understand the strengths of the Philips TAA6606 and was not distracted by the less-than-stellar music expertise.

Philips included a pair of froth earplugs within the field and the expertise is vastly improved when utilizing them. The soundstage fills out and the devices sound like themselves. The science behind bone conduction audio begins to actually impress. How can music sound this good if you happen to’re not utilizing your eardrums?

Plugging your ears, nonetheless, defeats a lot of the security benefit {that a} bone conduction headphone supplies. When you’re path operating and don’t want to fret about visitors, use the earplugs and benefit from the upgraded audio.

Cellphone name high quality on the Philips TAA6606

James Barber/Foundry

The Philips TAA6606 is outfitted with two microphones, which makes it attainable to take or make cellphone calls. Everybody wants to sometimes take a fast name whereas open air, and the TAA6606 is ok in a pinch. Simply don’t plan on prolonged conversations, because it’s been reported that I seemed like I used to be talking from the underside of a properly whereas utilizing them.

Philips has a cellular app (Android and iOS) for its headphones. It’s very fundamental for this mannequin, displaying the battery degree on the house display. You’ll be able to decide from enhanced bass or voice within the Sound Impact panel, management the operating lights, play or pause, and regulate the amount.

The Philips TAA6606 aren’t nice headphones for music

Earbuds could show to have been a horrible invention if total generations find yourself struggling long-term listening to loss from blasting music straight into their eardrums. When you’re somebody who worries about this, a bone conduction headphone just like the Philips A6606 headphone is a option to have audio with none direct danger to your ears.

The sort of headphone additionally permit you to be absolutely conscious of your environment, as a result of they block zero noise. If a truck rumbles by throughout your stroll or run, your music will in all probability be drowned out and there’s no method you’ll hear the narrator of your audiobook. On the upside, it’s extraordinarily unlikely that you simply received’t hear the truck earlier than you will get out of its method.

Runners love bone conduction headphones, and there are lengthy threads dedicated to the subject on their message boards. What they’re not is an efficient option to get pleasure from music if you happen to’re an individual who cares about audio. Personally, I’ll follow a very good pair of earbuds in transparency mode at an acceptable quantity, however I can see the enchantment of bone conduction headphones if you happen to take your train open air.