The Oladance Wearable Stereo promises to deliver good sound with comfort, thanks to an open-ear design that rests on, but doesn't go into your ears. While the Oladance sounds better than similar open-ear bone conduction headphones I have tried, the lack of noise isolation means that they aren't for everyone. Unless of course, you're a cyclist or runner who need to be constantly aware of the surroundings.
Quick specs
- Open-ear design with dual 16.5mm drivers
- Up to 16 hours battery life (160mAh)
- IPX4 splash and sweatproof
- Weight: 12.7 (each earbud), 60g (charging case)
The Oladance does not rely on vibrations to transmit audio, unlike bone conduction headphones. The headphones rest gently on the ears. Weight distribution is good, and they are light enough that you can wear them for hours without feeling fatigued. My review set, though, was an eye-catching orange, so I got quite a few curious looks. More importantly, these headphones stayed in place securely while I was jogging. They are also splash and sweatproof, and they can withstand a bit of rain.
Forget about noise cancellation. There isn't even any noise isolation from the Oladance headphones because of the design. This meant that I had to readjust my music listening volume depending on my surroundings. For instance, I practically had to max out the volume in a busy food court just to discern the audio from a YouTube video. You can swipe or tap the Oladance's touch-sensitive panels to adjust the volume, control media playback, and bring up your phone's voice assistant. As with such controls, they can be a bit finicky, and prone to accidental taps, especially when adjusting the headphones.
The Oladance produces pretty good sound. The soundstage is sufficiently wide. Netflix's spatial audio videos sound immersive through these headphones. Vocals come across cleanly, and the bass can get suitably thumpy. The best way to describe the Oladance Wearable Stereo is that, like its name, they feel like having two miniature speakers sitting right outside your ears. And after a while, you may even forget that you're wearing them. The lack of pressure in your ears — a plus point for the Oladance — is especially significant after a couple of hours. But as mentioned earlier, these headphones don't fare as well in a noisy environment. In addition, those near you can probably catch a hint of your audio, so privacy is also another matter to consider.
Battery life is excellent at around 16 hours. It's probably why the included case doesn't have a built-in battery to charge the headphones on the go. You'll need to plug the case (with the headphones inside) to a USB-C charger everytime you want to charge them. If your ear canals are easily irritated by earbuds, the Oladance Wearable Stereo (around S$229) is a solid alternative. Or maybe you find yourself relying heavily on your earbuds' Transparency (aka audio passthrough) feature. Then you may benefit from open-ear headphones like the Oladance. They are also available on Lazada, and Shopee.
Note: Review unit provided by Synced.sg.
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