The latest and greatest innovation in audio gear is the advent of bone conduction headphones for the modern consumer. Originally designed for military applications, bone conduction is a technique for delivering audio to the inner ear through the bones of the skull. Studio Banana Things, a London-based tech company well known for their successful Kickstarter campaigns, has created the BatBand, a Bluetooth headset that utilizes bone conduction to deliver high-quality sound.
BatBand Features
BatBand is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably on the back of your head. Its coated spring steel frame and sweat-resistant foam lining make for a durable piece of headwear that isn’t going to cause discomfort with prolonged usage. Not only can you listen to your music on the go without headphones, you can also take and make calls using BatBand’s noise-cancelling omnidirectional microphone. BatBand gives you control over your device with its touch-sensitive interface, allowing for the use of built-in smart gestures that affect volume, calling, and your personal soundtrack. The most interesting part about bone conduction is that it frees up your outer ear to external sound, allowing you to listen to what you want while still being in tune with the world around you. This feature is perfect for anybody that requires proper awareness of their surroundings but loves music or always needs access to calls. Bikers and drivers can listen to music while remaining cognizant of pedestrians, cars, or any other hazards they might encounter. BatBand will also feature an app that will allow users to personalize their band, create presets, and equalize music for the best experience possible.
Analysis
As an audiophile, I know that this product would take some time to get accustomed to. I’ve yet to experience bone conduction audio, but the consensus is that the audio quality doesn’t truly compare to high-quality traditional headphones. Some people have reported that certain sounds or even certain songs can be uncomfortable when experiencing them directly inside your skull, which concerns me as an avid listener of music that spans the frequency spectrum. The band itself looks very futuristic, but I’m not certain that the design is going to appeal to a wide variety of consumers. I personally don’t find it to be particularly aesthetically pleasing, but Studio Banana Things received an incredible amount of support on Kickstarter, exceeding their goals by a wide margin. The BatBand has all the requirements to achieve market success and if people are comfortable with the inner-ear sound, I expect this product to go far.
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The author gave it 4.5 stars without trying it out. That’s funny.
I just got mine.
Stay way from the batband. It’s pretty, but the audio quality is so pad. listening to music from the speakers on my iPhoneSE is quite literally a better experience.
The author gave it 4.5 stars without trying it out. That’s funny.
I just got mine.
Stay way from the batband. It’s pretty, but the audio quality is so pad. listening to music from the speakers on my iPhoneSE is quite literally a better ex
I just got mine as well. I was under the impression that you were the only one who was suppsed to hear the music when wearing it. I was wrong, everyone around you can hear them and that makes them USELESS.
Since the configuration app is not yet released (which actually should be the case upon sending out the first kickstarter products) I can only rate the product as is without the configuration app and unfortunately I have been seriuosly dissappointed by the audio quality (as the other reviewer said: my phone does way better audio..). During my time at university a fellow student developed a protoype based on similar technology (about 3 years ago) which back then even sounded so much better and had next to none externally audible audio – which got my hopes up very much for the Batband. Well, very sad and maybe my most wrongly pledged 200€ so far if the app does not fix this.
Since the configuration app is not yet released (which actually should be the case upon sending out the first kickstarter products) I can only rate the product as is without the configuration app and unfortunately I have been seriuosly dissappointed
Too much sound leakage even at minimal volume. Unuseable!
Useless trash… Too much sound leakage the very thing they had issues with and was supposed to have been fixed before final production and shipping???
Would give half a star, but it doesn’t seem I can… These are not what I expected. The fit is not tight, the sound is the same as listening to the iPhone speakers, everyone can hear it, and the app is not even available! And make sure you know where you place the cover for the mini USB charging port…. After all the time it took, and the wait, these should have been at least a 4 stars from users. But everyone gives it 1 star, there is definitely a good reason for this…
Would give half a star, but it doesn’t seem I can… These are not what I expected. The fit is not tight, the sound is the same as listening to the iPhone speakers, everyone can hear it, and the app is not even available! And make sure you
Total let down. Two years waiting. Horrific audio quality.
Only just got mine. Pretty thing! Pity that the sound leakage is so bad that makes the bone-conducted audio sound like is coming from your home phone. They are actually useless. I have tried another brand and the leakage was almost not noticeable and the sound quality much higher. Disappointed is an understatement.
Only just got mine. Pretty thing! Pity that the sound leakage is so bad that makes the bone-conducted audio sound like is coming from your home phone. They are actually useless. I have tried another brand and the leakage was almost not noticeable and
I would also add fuel to the 1 star fire to the owner. It is just bad how the marketing is sucking your wallet, in order to hire those models who express their wow factor in the kickstarter video. This first edition of their innovation is no no. They have to start the correct research , design (more slimmer and firmer in a grip, so no sound leakage) and tie up with the correct Chinese industry for their new line up. I would ask the owner of this company to refund the money back. Pathetic sound. It feels that i am submerged in a water and hearing some sound.
I would also add fuel to the 1 star fire to the owner. It is just bad how the marketing is sucking your wallet, in order to hire those models who express their wow factor in the kickstarter video. This first edition of their innovation is no no. They
Just got the them as well; total disappointment. Everybody can hear the music, just not really me, wearing that goofy thing. I tried wearing them in all kinds of positions; the one that works best over the ears, just like a regular headphone. Would rate it less than 1/5 if I could. If there’s no enhancement via software somehow, this is indeed absolutely useless.
Just got the them as well; total disappointment. Everybody can hear the music, just not really me, wearing that goofy thing. I tried wearing them in all kinds of positions; the one that works best over the ears, just like a regular headphone. Would r
I would give it zero if I could. At the lowest volume possible everyone around can hear it. I’m just hearing sound leakage. Might as well drape earbuds over my head and let the buds dangle near my ear. Bone conduction? Loop a cloth around the ends and pull slightly — nothing solid touching it at all — and the music plays. It’s just not turning on until the band is flexed, which makes me think that simply completes the circuit. I don’t believe this is anything but a scam.
I would give it zero if I could. At the lowest volume possible everyone around can hear it. I’m just hearing sound leakage. Might as well drape earbuds over my head and let the buds dangle near my ear. Bone conduction? Loop a cloth around the e
Horrible. Buy a ten dollar pair of headphones, place them above your ears on head. You now have a better pair of “induction” headphones than Batband. They’re not even true induction. They’re basically shitty headphone speakers you place above your ears and the sound you hear is entirely from audio bleed.
Horrible. Buy a ten dollar pair of headphones, place them above your ears on head. You now have a better pair of “induction” headphones than Batband. They’re not even true induction. They’re basically shitty headphone speakers
After waiting almost two years for this, i can’t believe i wasted my money. This is a complete disappointment.
Really bad sound quality. Big disappointment. Don’t know if sound can be improved with the app – not out yet.
Nothing to say here that hasn’t already been said. These are NOT bone-conducting headphones, but rather a band with a tiny speaker shoved into a thin piece of plastic. Truthfully, listening to my Note 5 on speaker sounds better than these things. To think that this was delayed over a year to fix the sound leakage problems only to have major sound leakage problems at the lowest of volumes makes me believe that this whole project was either a scam, or rushed out the door knowing that they were not going to be able to achieve the lofty goal they set for themselves. Either way, don’t buy this product.
Nothing to say here that hasn’t already been said. These are NOT bone-conducting headphones, but rather a band with a tiny speaker shoved into a thin piece of plastic. Truthfully, listening to my Note 5 on speaker sounds better than these thi
This product is a complete fraud. It is unusable. I can not understand what the author of this review tested. It certainly was not the final product released August 2017.
I was very excited to receive and use this product as I was waiting too long for it. It came in and I was pretty disappointed. It was not a bit like what has been advertised! I was trying to use it with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The only thing that worked was pairing with BT. The volume control is not working. There is no app for it yet! Even on the max volume, I need to be in quite place to to hear that. It is nothing more than placing your headphone on your head above your ears. Big disappointment!! :o( They know it and that is why they don’t offer any support on their site! I don’t know what the reviewer, Dylan Datloff, got to give this rating! Don’t trust him any more.
I was very excited to receive and use this product as I was waiting too long for it. It came in and I was pretty disappointed. It was not a bit like what has been advertised! I was trying to use it with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The only thing that
Just received mine, and I’m just as disappointed as all the other reviewers. All this product is, is some speakers put in a band that you place above your ears. All you hear is the sound bleed from those speakers. Buy a $5 pair of bluetooth headphones, use a big rubber band to hold them on your head above your ears, and WALLAH!… you have the same sound quality as the BatBand.
Just received mine, and I’m just as disappointed as all the other reviewers. All this product is, is some speakers put in a band that you place above your ears. All you hear is the sound bleed from those speakers. Buy a $5 pair of bluetooth h
The bone conductivity is poor, every one around you years the music. Don’t buy it not worth the money I get better sound out of Trek headpbones
I agree with everyone’s response regarding the pitiful results of this product! And it’s way too heavy to wear, even for a short period.
Total waste of time and money. A pathetic product at best.
I wait for this crap two years, and I prefer to use a pair of headphones hanging near to my ears it’s practically the same experience, and worst feature is that Batband doesn’t fit with human heads.
Same as everyone else. I waited 2 years for these and they are useless. Sound quality is horrific. Even at the highest volume you have to be in a silent room to hear them but the sound leakage makes that impossible if you care about the people around you. What a waste of money. SMH
Same as everyone else. I waited 2 years for these and they are useless. Sound quality is horrific. Even at the highest volume you have to be in a silent room to hear them but the sound leakage makes that impossible if you care about the people around
These were a gift and I was so excited. I don’t even care about the sound leakage like everyone else. They aren’t loud enough for a podcast and they are heavy. I could not get them in a comfortable position and now have a headache after wearing them an hour. My temples hurt.
These were a gift and I was so excited. I don’t even care about the sound leakage like everyone else. They aren’t loud enough for a podcast and they are heavy. I could not get them in a comfortable position and now have a headache after w
After my friend received his and I realised just what a rip off they were, I decided to cancel my “pre-order” of a pair. After several emails trying to cancel the order (all of which were ignored) and then being charged for them. I have had go to my bank to raise a dispute. Providing all emails correspondences as evidence, my bank was about to reverse the charge. I’ve also reported this company to the financial ombudsman. Beware people, this company is shady AF! They advertised a product which, besides looking pretty, is NOTHING as they promised. It’s complete garbage. And if you want to cancel your order or get a refund? Good luck trying to get ANY response from them. Go to your bank, maybe they’ll be sympathetic and resolve it for you, like they did with me. But if you’re looking to get a pair and am undecided whether to get them, I will tell you right now, stay well away.
After my friend received his and I realised just what a rip off they were, I decided to cancel my “pre-order” of a pair. After several emails trying to cancel the order (all of which were ignored) and then being charged for them. I have h
A lot of people are complaining about sound leakage, and I wish I had that problem. As soon as I’m in a place with any ambient noise, such as a train, they’re rendered essentially useless. They’re to quiet to be used anywhere other than home in a silent room. I have no idea how they thought this was a good final product to release.
A lot of people are complaining about sound leakage, and I wish I had that problem. As soon as I’m in a place with any ambient noise, such as a train, they’re rendered essentially useless. They’re to quiet to be used anywhere other than home in
I can’t give this any stars but the review wont let me! It is an absolutely rubbish piece of kit in every respect! It is the worst project I have ever backed and certainly it is not fit for purpose. I can’t write anything positive. No app. False advertising. False claims. Essentially doesn’t work! Audio rubbish. So many things that are wrong. DO NOT even think about buying this awful product. They refuse to refund saying they have spent all the money on development! Also check out the support pages and warranty pages on their website …. all 404 error pages! This company deserves all that can be thrown at it! If they want to take me to court for liable in what I am saying then bring it on! It will expose them in their true light and I will win … as with anyone else who wants to take a class action against the company. This is not fit for purpose in any way at all. Expensive and costly mistake on my part. I trusted Kickstarter who promoted this and they too wipe their hands of any responsibility!
I can’t give this any stars but the review wont let me! It is an absolutely rubbish piece of kit in every respect! It is the worst project I have ever backed and certainly it is not fit for purpose. I can’t write anything positive. No ap
ITS AWFUL. waste of money. May as well wrap a loud speaker on your head.
sliding off you head even when you find a sweet spot for the best sound…. the sound is FLAT as water surface… I wonder is it like this with all bone conducting devices, or only this is crap.
Complete failure. Very disappointing…the creators are frauds.