What are the chances of 'open' headphones?

Open-back, hook-on-ear headphones are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, but do not provide noise cancellation. The product is suitable as a dedicated device for sports training.

Huawei's FreeArc, a budget-friendly open-ear line.

Open-ear headphones are a new headphone solution, between the period when ear-buds and in-ears are gradually saturated in terms of features. The new design gives manufacturers the opportunity to be creative, adding functions in niche markets. According to Huawei's report, this product segment will grow by 600% in the period 2023-2024, proving that the "unusual" design of these headphone lines still attracts users.

The Chinese company’s newly launched FreeArc series is affordable, making it a suitable option for users looking for a second headset for specific tasks. In return, some of the product’s basic functions are sacrificed.

Advantages of open-ear

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

In return, the ear hook design provides a very good wearing experience. If users like buttonless ear-buds for comfort, open-ear is on a whole other level. Once I get used to it, I sometimes forget that the headphones are on my ears.

Open-ear allows for comfortable long-term wear, but is much louder than regular headphones.

Like the FreeClip, which needs to be clamped tightly to the ear to hold, the FreeArc is large and feels heavy to look at. However, the smart design of the pressure-resistant contacts makes the earcup comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

In addition to being comfortable, the product also holds firmly. If it does not get caught on objects such as branches or fences while moving, it is almost impossible to drop the FreeArc from the ear. This is suitable for the purpose of the product, intended for intense, complex movements in many directions. In-ear headphones, although having earplugs, are still easy to fall out when the user tilts or shakes his head at high speed.

Not only does it hook onto the ear, the housing is designed to be angled inwards towards the ear, creating a holding position. At the same time, this design ensures that the sound reaches the right area without the need for a tube. Open-ear also ensures that the user's ears are not blocked. Therefore, at the same time as the sound is playing, I can still grasp the surrounding environment.

Sacrifice some sound

Perfect soundproofing is still the best environment for listening to music. Open-ear headphones can hardly provide the immersive listening experience like in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation.

However, Huawei does the best job with this open-back design. Although the sound is somewhat lost due to the design, the bass range of the FreeArc is still powerful, thick and warm. The standard drops a bit with the mids and highs. Overall, this is still a good product for enjoying music while working out.

Huawei headphones can connect to both Android/iOS phones, with a supporting app. Unfortunately, it only supports basic SBC and AAC codecs, lacking more advanced options like LDAC.

The FreeArc's sound quality is somewhat sacrificed because it's not aimed directly at the ear canal.

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

Needing to produce louder sound, Huawei's headset has an unimpressive battery life, despite its large size and lack of noise cancellation. The company says it lasts for 7 hours after charging. In real-life experience, with an average volume of 70%, the FreeArc lasted for about 5 hours.

Who is FreeArc for?

Priced at VND 2.2 million in Vietnam, FreeArc is much cheaper than open-ear products from other brands. The tight fit and long-term comfort make the device suitable for users who exercise regularly, especially runners.

On the other hand, this is not a headset for every need. It lacks noise cancellation, is difficult to use lying down, and has a large size and adequate battery life. At a reasonable price, this is a suitable choice as a second headset for specific needs.

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