Shokz OpenComm UC Bone Conduction Stereo Bluetooth Headset
Shokz OpenComm UC bone conduction headset is the first Bluetooth headset designed specifically for communication. Engineered with patented 7th generation bone conduction technology and featuring our signature open-ear design, OpenComm enables clear communication through the DSP noise-canceling boom microphone and helps you stay connected to your surroundings while you’re on the road, on a job site, or at your desk.
What Is Bone Conduction? (More details below)
Bone conduction is the transmission of sound vibrations to the inner ear (cochlea) bones of the skull, which allows you to perceive sound without blocking the ear canal. Even more simply put: it’s sound that is delivered directly to the inner ear without needing to pass through the eardrum. Think of bone conduction as a shortcut to hearing sound.
Have you ever plugged your ears and sang a song, but wondered how you can still hear the tune? Or heard the sounds generated from brushing your teeth or eating potato chips? That’s bone conduction at its finest, and, along with more commonly used air conduction, your ears have been transmitting sound that way all along!
Open-Ear Comfort
Awareness & Connection
Noise-Canceling Boom Microphone
Easy Controls When Using The Shokz OpenComm UC
What’s In The Shokz OpenComm UC Box
- OpenComm Stereo Bluetooth Headset
- USB-A or USB-C Dongle
- Magnetic Induction Charger Cable
- Hard Shell Case
Shokz OpenComm UC Headset Product Specs:
IP55 Water-Resistant
- Repels dust, sweat, and moisture for added durability
Bluetooth 5.1
- Strong, reliable connectivity up to 33 feet
Back-a-track
- Yes
Battery life
- 16 Hours of Talk Time
Battery type
- Lithium Polymer Battery
Charge time
- 1 hour
Charger
- Magnetic Induction Cable
Command controls
- Yes
Compatible codecs
- SBC
Compatible profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
Frequency response
- 20Hz~20KHz
Mic sensitivity
- -38dB±3dB
Microphone
- DSP Noise-Canceling Boom Mic
Microphone sensitivity
- -38dB ± 3dB
Moisture detector
- Yes
Multi-Point Pairing
- Yes
Multipoint pairing
- Yes
Sensitivity
- 96 ± 3dB
Standby time
- Up to 14 Days
Titanium band
- Full-Wraparound
Titanium frame
- Full-Wraparound
Bluetooth Version
- 5.1
Warranty
- 2 Years
Water resistance
- IP55 (Water-resistant)
Weight
- 33 g
Wireless range
- 33 feet
SKU
- USB-A: SHC102-AA-BK-US
- Formerly SHASC100-AN-BK-US
- USB-C: SHC102-AC-BK-US
Shokz OpenComm UC Headset Q & A
CAN OTHERS HEAR YOUR MUSIC AND CALLS?
No, OpenComm sends vibrations to your inner ear through bone conduction technology. While it’s an alternative to traditional air conduction technology, leaving your eardrums open to your surroundings, it still provides a private listening experience.
IS OPENCOMM WATERPROOF?
OpenComm has an IP55 waterproof rating meaning that it is water-resistant but not waterproof.
DOES OPENCOMM COME IN MULTIPLE SIZES?
OpenComm is one-size-fits-all.
WHAT IS OPENCOMM’S BLUETOOTH VERSION?
OpenComm has Bluetooth v5.1.
IS OPENCOMM COMPATIBLE WITH IPHONE AND ANDROID?
Yes, OpenComm is compatible with iPhone and Android phones.
IS OPENCOMM COMPATIBLE WITH PC AND MAC?
Yes, OpenComm is compatible with PC and Mac computers that have Bluetooth capabilities.
IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH ZOOM, SKYPE AND MICROSOFT TEAMS?
Yes, OpenComm is compatible with Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams.
IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH GAMING SYSTEMS?
We do not recommend OpenComm for gaming.
CAN THE BOOM MICROPHONE BE DETACHED?
The boom microphone can swivel up and down but cannot be detached.
DOES THE SHOKZ OPENCOMM UC BONE CONDUCTION HEADSET COME WITH A WARRANTY?
Yes, OpenComm comes with a two-year warranty that covers manufacturer defects. The warranty does not cover misuse of the product, loss or theft.
How Bone Conduction Works
Unlike traditional in-ear or on-ear headphones that utilize air conduction, Shokz has mastered the natural phenomenon of bone conduction by adapting it to consumer electronics, and it’s now the secret behind the success of our open-ear product line. Here’s how we’ve harnessed bone conduction technology to work for our products:
1. Audio Enters The Transducer
Every Shokz audio device features two transducers on either side. These transducers, positioned near the cheekbone, work to convert audio signals into mechanical energy (vibrations) which is then sent to your cheekbones.
The Difference Between Bone Conduction Open-Ear Headphones and Air Conduction Open-Ear Headphones:
Bone Conduction Open-Ear
The popularity of open-ear headphones has proved the importance of environmental awareness for consumers, and Shokz bone conduction headphones allow for the most natural open-ear listening experience with minimal sound leakage, don’t fatigue the outer or middle ear, and stay put through any activity. By nature, it’s hard for bone conduction to outperform air conduction in terms of bass, but Shokz have been praised by experts worldwide for their overall audio quality, specifically with Aeropex, featuring 8th generation bone conduction technology for a deeper bass, crystal-clear midrange and crisp highfrequency performance, while also being ultra-lightweight and ergonomically designed for a comfortable, snug fit.
Air Conduction Open-Ear
Open-ear headphones powered by air conduction work a little differently. With this design, two holes are added on the earbud; one hole, located close to the ear, transmits sound through the air to the ear. The other hole, located on the opposite side of the earbud, reduces sound leakage using anti-phase sound. While this open-ear design delivers some situational awareness, it requires a louder volume to ensure sound clarity (therefore drowning out ambient noise) and a larger battery capacity, which causes an increase in the weight of the earbuds or headphones. This combined with their loose fit could cause the earbuds to move and shift during high-impact activities.
Benefits Of An Open-Ear Design:
Safety
Safety first! While other headphones and earbuds block the ear canal to offer a noise-canceling experience, Shokz open-ear products keep you aware of our surroundings and possible hazards, such as traffic, wildlife, and pedestrians, for a safer listening experience.
Connection
Stay connected to your running buddies, coworkers, family or environment. As opposed to traditional headphones that only allow you to hear your music and block out the sound of conversations and ambient noise, Shokz allows you to enjoy your audio and the world around you, so you never miss a moment.
Comfort & Stability
Thanks to our lightweight, titanium frame and our signature open-ear design, Shokz are so comfortable you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing them. Unlike in ear/on-ear headphones that bounce or fall out, our wraparound flexibility creates a snug fit through any high-impact activity, so your Shokz stay put from start to finish.
Hygiene
One of the most loves features of Shokz headphones is that there are no irritating, sweaty earbuds jammed into your ear due to our open-ear design. Shokz are also easy to clean; simply wipe them down with a soft, dry cloth after a hard workout.
Meghan Duerst –
I received this headset as a gift and so far have only used it to listen, not have a conversation. The sound quality is wonderfully clear. I really like the bone conduction way of audio. I enjoy the open ear design as the over-the-ear headsets tend to bother the back of my ear.
The only thing that bothered me was the neckband. Since you are unable to adjust the size of the band, it stuck out pretty far from my neck which made things a bit uncomfortable. Otherwise it’s great for listening to webinars and music.
Hamilton W –
I have almost 100% client contact via Zoom, so how I sound and how well I can hear what’s being said are both very important. And I usually buy a headset if it’s a clear improvement. This is a clear improvement to what I was using (BOSE 700 UC).
First, please know I love my 700s. They deliver arguably the best noise cancellation and I sound pretty natural with them. And they’re comfortable. Except when you use them a lot. Then, for me about 45 minutes, they are really heavy.
Then the Opencomm comes along. I’d heard about Aftershokz for quite a while, but this is their first shot at a headset. It said this is their 7th gen bone conduction tech. Well, I think, I can always send it back.
It’s impossibly small. Bone conduction is still a little weird. But I can hear better with this headset than with any other headset I’ve used. You should also know I have 68-year-old ears that are high mileage units. This shouldn’t be. I shouldn’t be able to hear better AND have my ears open to my surroundings, but I can. I spent some time on YouTube and found an explanation of bone conduction by an Audiologist. He said (this is not a quote, but what I remember): if you have conductive hearing loss bone conduction may help improve your hearing. I don’t know about that. But I do know I hear better when I use this headset.
The thing I like the best is the hardest to explain. It changes your phone calls and online meetings. I’m more natural, more myself when using this headset than when I was trying to block out my surroundings. I’m not sure I can explain how that works, but I do know that when I use this headset I feel more natural and more myself.
This is one of those times when different isn’t just different, it’s better.