The trend with earphones is towards true wireless models. You know the kind; the ones that push right into the ear to create an acoustic seal that offers great sound quality. However, I’ve noticed a significant minority of people don’t like using earbuds because they simply can’t abide having anything stuck in their ears. I can appreciate that, so in this review, I’ll be looking at a way of listening to music or making phone calls in a way that doesn’t require sticking anything in your ears.
The Mojawa Mojo 1 headset uses a completely different technology from regular earphones. It uses the skull to transmit audio. As well as using our ears to hear sound, humans can also discern audio using vibrations conducted through the bony area just in front of the ear. Ludwig van Beethoven used a similar technique to help him carry on composing music after he lost his hearing. The genius would bite on a nail hammered into his piano and he was able to “hear” the vibrations of the musical notes through his teeth. This enabled him to carry on with his career, creating great music that is massively popular to this day.
This bone-conducting headset from Mojawa uses Bluetooth to connect with a smartphone, tablet or computer. The sound from the paired device is received by the headset and fed to a pair of vibrating pads that sit lightly on the bony area in front of the ears. The design of the headset fits over the ears and each side is joined by a band that fits around the back of the wearer’s head. There’s even a reflective tab that fits on the headband so the wearer can be seen in the dark if they are running or cycling.
Connecting the Mojo 1 headset to a smartphone is very easy and just like connecting any other pair of wireless earbuds or headphones. On the left vibrating transducer, there are a couple of buttons that function as a power switch, Bluetooth pairing switch, volume control and for skipping music tracks, accepting phone calls, ending calls, etc. It’s relatively intuitive and becomes second nature after a while.
At first, the bone-conducting sound feels strange. There’s no earbud in your ear and neither are there any headphone pads sealing your ears off from ambient sounds. With the Mojo 1 on your head, you can hear everything around you and that’s very handy for situations where you need to be aware of traffic or other audible hazards. And yet, you can still hear the music or phone call as if you were wearing a pair of earbuds. It’s a bit spooky and is like injecting music into your head.
The Mojo 1 has a built-in rechargeable lithium battery that can provide up to eight hours of playtime. It takes around 90 minutes to fully charge. Eight hours is a reasonable amount of playing time, but you need to remember to attach the magnetic charging cable to the headset in between uses so the battery is charged and ready for use.
One slight drawback with a bone-conducting headset is a lack of bass. The Mojo 1 is better than some bone-conducting headsets at transmitting bass. And for those users who don’t want external sounds interrupting their listening pressure, the Mojo 1 headset is supplied with a pair of industrial earplugs that you can be put in the ear (providing you don’t mind putting things in your ear) preventing distractions from ambient sound.
A microphone in the Mojo 1 is built-in for making and taking phone calls or taking part in video meetings. The microphone isn’t on a boom so expect a slightly less of a close sound but it works perfectly well. A bonus is the Mojo 1 water resistance, which is rated at IP7 for water and sweat. I think the Mojo 1 would be perfect for cyclists as not only is the headset weatherproof, but it also enables the cyclist to hear traffic approaching behind and that’s bound to improve safety.
Verdict: The Mojawa Mojo 1 bone-conducting headset is ideal for sporty types who need to be aware of their surroundings. The sound quality is surprisingly good with a bit more bass than usual with this kind of technology. The battery life is a little on the low side but eight hours on a single charge is still enough for most people. For anyone who can abide pushing earbuds in their ears, the Mojo 1 is a great alternative and works surprisingly well.
Pricing & Availability: The Mojawa Mojo 1 are available now and cost $159
More info: www.mojaverse.com
Tech Specs:
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Protocol: A2DP 1.3, HFP (Hands-free Profile), AVRCP 1.5
- Playing time:8 hours
- Charging time: 80 minutes
- Battery type: Lithium
- Water-resistance rating: IP67
- Microphone sensitivity: -36dB
- Weight: 34g
