Like all open-ear earbuds, the OpenFit Professional have an ethereal and open soundstage that delivers a extra pure listening expertise than common earbuds — it’s nearer to the expertise of listening to audio system. You may make them sound much more immersive by activating the confusingly named Optimized for Dolby Atmos mode. I say complicated as a result of this mode is neither a substitute for Dolby Atmos neither is it strictly to be used with current Dolby Atmos content material. It’s basically Dolby’s finest earbud-based audio software program, which mixes spatial audio processing (for a wider and deeper soundstage) with optionally available head monitoring. Each of those options will work with any content material; nonetheless, Dolby claims it really works finest once you’re listening to Dolby Atmos content material.
It’s the primary time Dolby’s tech has been employed on a set of open-ear earbuds, and it’s a terrific match. It boosts the perceived width and peak of the area, and does so with out negatively affecting dynamic vary or loudness, one thing that usually plagues related programs. And sure, the impact is extra pronounced when listening to Atmos than when enjoying stereo content material. I’ve used Dolby’s spatial tech on a number of merchandise, together with the LG Tone Free T90Q, Jabra Elite 10, and Technics EAH-Z100, and that is the primary time I’ve loved it sufficient to depart it enabled for music listening.
Nonetheless, it’s not as efficient as Bose’s Immersive Audio on the Bose Extremely Open Earbuds. Bose’s head monitoring is smoother—notably noticeable when watching films—and its spatial processing is extra convincing and immersive for each music and films.
The place Shokz enjoys an enormous leg up on Bose is the OpenFit Professional’s name high quality. The OpenFit Professional’s mics do a terrific job of eliminating noises in your finish of the decision. You would be strolling down a busy avenue, hanging out in a full espresso store, and even passing by an energetic development website, and your callers in all probability received’t have a clue you aren’t sitting on a quiet park bench. As with all open-ear earbuds, with the ability to hear your personal voice naturally (with out the usage of a transparency mode) eliminates the fatigue usually related to lengthy calls on common earbuds.
Comfy Design
{Photograph}: Simon Cohen
Consolation is a key advantage of Shokz’s OpenFit collection, and the OpenFit Professional, with ear hooks which can be wrapped in smooth silicone, are not any exception. In contrast to earlier OpenFit fashions, which place audio system simply exterior your ear’s concha, the Professional’s speaker pods venture instantly into your ears, and in my case, they make contact with the inside a part of that cavity. This considerably will increase stability, however over time, I turned conscious of that contact level.
They by no means turned uncomfortable, nevertheless it’s not fairly the forget-you’re-even-wearing-them expertise of the OpenFit/OpenFit 2/+ fashions. As somebody who wears glasses, I are inclined to favor clip-style earbuds just like the Shokz OpenDots One, and but the OpenFit Professional’s ear hook form was by no means a difficulty. Shokz features a set of optionally available silicone assist loops, presumably for people with smaller ears or who want a extra steady match. They didn’t enhance my match, however then once more, I’ve received fairly massive ears.
As with all hook-style earbuds, the OpenFit Professional charging case is on the massive facet. It’s received nice construct high quality due to the usage of an aluminum body, and also you get wi-fi charging (not a given with many open-ear fashions), nevertheless it’s nonetheless approach much less pocketable than a set of AirPods Professional.
Simple to Use
{Photograph}: Simon Cohen
For the OpenFit Professional, Shokz has lastly deserted its hybrid contact/button controls in favor of simply bodily buttons, and I feel it’s the correct name. Now you can resolve precisely which button press combos management actions like play/pause, observe skipping, quantity, and voice assistant entry, a stage of freedom that wasn’t obtainable on earlier variations.
