What opportunities are there for 'open' headphones?

These open-back, ear-hook-style headphones are comfortable for extended wear, but they don't offer noise cancellation. They are suitable as dedicated equipment for sports training.

Huawei's FreeArc, an affordable line of open-ear headphones.

Open-ear headphones are a new headphone solution, emerging amidst the saturation of features in earbud and in-ear headphones. This new design offers manufacturers the opportunity to innovate and add functionality to niche markets. According to Huawei's report, this product segment is expected to grow by 600% between 2023 and 2024, demonstrating that the unconventional design of these headphones still attracts users.

The newly launched FreeArc line from the Chinese manufacturer is affordably priced, making it a suitable option for users looking for a second pair of headphones for specific tasks. However, some basic functions are sacrificed.

Advantages of open-ear

Following the FreeClip and FreeBuds 5, the FreeArc series is Huawei's next open-ear headphone product to hit the market. Belonging to the innovative headphone range, the new model has a significantly larger case size. If users need a compact, portable headphone, the FreeArc may not be the top choice.

In return, the ear hook design provides a very comfortable wearing experience. If users prefer earbudless designs for comfort, open-ear headphones are on a whole different level. Once I get used to them, I sometimes forget I even have headphones on my ears.

Open-ear headphones are comfortable for extended wear, but they are significantly larger than regular headphones.

Like the FreeClip, which needs to be clamped tightly to the ear to stay in place, the FreeArc is large and feels somewhat heavy at first glance. However, the clever design of the pressure-bearing contact points ensures that the ear rims remain comfortable even after prolonged wear.

Besides being comfortable, the product also stays securely in place. Unless it gets caught on an object like a tree branch or fence during movement, it's almost impossible to drop the FreeArc from your ears. This suits the product's purpose, which is for vigorous, complex movements in multiple directions. In-ear headphones, even with ear tips, are still prone to falling out when the user tilts or shakes their head at high speed.

Instead of simply hooking onto the earlobe, the housing is designed to face inward, creating a secure fit. This design ensures sound reaches the correct area without the need for ducts. The open-ear design also ensures the user's ears aren't blocked. Therefore, while the sound is playing, I can still perceive my surroundings.

Sacrificing some sound

Perfect sound insulation remains the best environment for listening to music. Open-ear headphones can hardly provide the same immersive listening experience as in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation.

However, Huawei does the best with this open-back headphone design. Although the sound is somewhat diminished due to the design, the bass from the FreeArc is still powerful, thick, and warm. The mid and high frequencies drop slightly. Overall, it's still a decent product for enjoying music while working out.

Huawei headphones can connect to both Android and iOS phones, and there's a supporting app. Unfortunately, they only support basic SBC and AAC codecs, lacking more advanced options like LDAC.

The FreeArc's sound quality is partially sacrificed because it's not directed straight into the ear canal.

In challenging environments, I need to increase the volume to 80-100% to hear clearly. With its dual 17+12 mm drivers, the FreeArc can handle difficult situations, although the battery drains faster.

Because it needs to produce louder sound, Huawei's headphones have unimpressive battery life, despite their large size and lack of noise cancellation. The company claims they last 7 hours on a single charge. In real-world testing with the volume at an average of 70%, the FreeArc lasted about 5 hours.

Who is FreeArc for?

Priced at 2.2 million VND in Vietnam, FreeArc is significantly cheaper than open-ear headphones from other brands. Its secure fit and comfortable long-term wear make it suitable for users who exercise regularly, especially runners.

In return, these aren't the headphones for every need. They lack noise cancellation, are difficult to use while lying down, and have a large size and just adequate battery life. At a reasonable price, they're a suitable option as a second pair of headphones for specific needs.

Source: https://znews.vn/co-hoi-nao-cho-tai-nghe-mo-post1556824.html