SANAG, is an Asian brand that we are starting to know and love starting from this review, specialized in the production of audio wearables with an unbeatable quality/price ratio. The latest jewel in the audio field is called SANAG B21S a pair of bone conduction headphones that stand out for being the cheapest on the reference market, ideal for sports users and for those looking for a moment of escape, without the bulk of annoying headphones to insert into the ears. Let's discover them in every detail in this review.
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ADVANTAGE OF BONE CONDUCTION
I am not a professor and expert on the subject, but to put it briefly, bone conduction technology allows sound to be transmitted directly to the auditory nerve through the bone, without passing through the ear canal. This entails some notable advantages including avoiding damage to the eardrum due to excessive volume but also protecting it from diseases due to bacteria, generated by the introduction of foreign bodies and dirt. Furthermore, we can carry out physical activity or more generally, always remaining alert to what is happening in the surrounding environment without completely isolating ourselves.
UNBOXING AND CONSTRUCTION
SANAG does not offer packages that are particularly rich in content, but they are still well-finished in shape and materials, even though a cardboard cover is used with the product specifications on the back and the image on the cover. In the case of the B21S, inside we find only a multilingual instruction manual including Italian, the USB-A/USB-C charging cable and a coupon with a QR-Code that leads to the download of the application available for both Android and iOS. The headphones are instead placed inside a plastic tray further protected by a rigid plastic that acts as a lid.
The headphones come in a bow shape, this made with a metal core and covered with a thin layer of silicone that softens the grip around the neck without creating discomfort. We can twist it, bend it, stretch it without it suffering any damage, always returning to its original position while maintaining the elasticity necessary to adapt the product to all head sizes. Light and flexible to put it in a few words, thanks to a low weight of only 21 grams. At the end we find the two 13 mm dynamic drivers with an impedance of 8 Ohm from which highs, mediums and lows come out in a well-balanced way as well as the sound in general is very clear and clean from any form of distortion.
The design, although not innovative and at times may even seem rather "heavy", actually rewards comfort during use, all in the name of stability, especially during training sessions. In fact, wearing the headphones, we can do any type of sporting activity, even the most extreme, and they will not move from their position and in this regard the SANAG B21S have the IPX5 certification. Present at the roll call is the Bluetooth 5.4 chipset which does not bring particular support for HD codecs but the audio was still top notch. We also have a microphone with double noise cancellation in calls with resistance to wind noise, therefore also being able to manage incoming calls on the smartphone, the performance of which was excellent.
On the right-hand side, which is the product's control unit, on the lower side we find the charging input protected by a silicone cover and the volume buttons which also perform on/off functions (the volume + one) but it is also possible to manage the volume, play/pause, skip music tracks and call up the voice assistant by making a single, double or triple click as well as of course managing calls with rejection, hanging up and acceptance.
AUTONOMY
From a product like this, you would expect a long battery life and I can confirm that it is, as we can use the SANAG B21S for up to 10 hours in a row. More than enough battery life to guarantee a whole week of training without having to recharge. For lovers of technical data, the integrated battery is a 10 mAh unit, I also point out that the new headphones from the Chinese brand have a USB-C input, which is a great improvement, since even if you lose or damage the original cable provided in the package, you can easily replace it with others you already have.
HOW DO THEY SOUND?
Of course, since these are bone conduction headphones, we cannot say that the SANAG B21S offer the best audio experience, but in their category they are undoubtedly the best. We can in fact praise that the sound that comes out of the 13 mm dynamic drivers is loud and clear, with good intensity and presence of bass and a balance with the other medium-high frequencies. However, it should be noted that the nature of these earphones does not preserve privacy, therefore those who are next to you will hear what you are listening to but above all will hear the conversations with your interlocutor.
The amazing thing is that you will always remain alert to what is happening in the environment you are in, so you can safely run down the street listening to your favorite music or podcast, without missing any alarm sounds. There is no internal memory so you will always have to carry your smartphone with you, but then again I would not have expected this feature considering the very low cost at which they are sold. If you have never used bone conduction headphones, you may find the strength of the vibrations they produce strange, tickling the skin with an initial sensation of discomfort, but a few minutes will be enough to adapt and fully enjoy the comfort of these SANAG B21S, very light precisely because of the adoption of elastic metal. In any case, this is not a problem that interferes with the final experience, nor a plausible reason to advise against purchasing them. As a suggestion, I recommend using the headphones at low volume and gradually increasing it over time. This is because the higher the volume, the greater the vibration, but once you get used to it, you can only rejoice.
What is important is the low latency they enjoy, making them ideal for watching streaming content, such as films and/or TV series, although it should be noted that the headband could create discomfort if you wear them lying on the sofa or in bed.
COMPANION APP ALSO AVAILABLE
Economical but complete also from a software point of view, these SANAG B21S are supported by the proprietary SANAG application, available for both Android and iOS. The app is simple but effective, allowing you to see the battery charge status, update the firmware, use 6 audio presets, to further improve the listening experience in open environments. The app could certainly be improved and it is not said that the company will not do so, making it more complete, which will probably happen but at the moment you also have some special functions such as a sleep assistant, reproducing a series of white noises to accompany the action of falling asleep, but also AI features, unfortunately only in English / Chinese.
WHO DO I RECOMMEND THEM TO?
Considering the nature of the product, if you love listening to music and multimedia content in general while isolating yourself from what is around you, these headphones are not suitable for you. They are certainly ideal for those who practice outdoor activities, such as running and cycling, being able to manage incoming calls on your smartphone if necessary, remaining alert to road noise. In this regard, the microphones of these SANAG B21S have proved to be a little surprise, capable of eliminating a good part of the annoying noises, cleaning your voice from interference and returning it to your interlocutor in a clear and crystalline way. Even with a headwind I had no problems, such as the sudden suffocation of words. And then the fantastic possibility of using them in the shower, perhaps after a long run, without having to lose your favorite playlist.
CONCLUSIONS AND PRICE
You will have undoubtedly understood that the SANAG B21S are a product that I promote with full marks, especially for the price that these days, in launch offer, is equal to about 20 euros with free shipping. Available for purchase on the AliExpress store, the quality/price ratio is excellent for a bone conduction headphone (REAL), able to guarantee sound quality both in calls and when listening to music, with a top construction and a battery life able to guarantee you even a whole week of use with a single charge. Type-C connector, large dynamic drivers, ultra resistant, IPX5 resistance, are some of the improvements adopted compared to the competition, which certainly is not able to compete with the B21s due to the price. So what are you waiting for? Hurry and buy them because the offer is limited to a few days.
