Bose has always been the discerning listener’s choice – now Bose are putting their top-class sound technology into bio-metric headphones. Bose SoundSport Pulse wireless headphones combines a heart-rate monitor, an inline remote, which sits just below the right ear to start/stop tracks and start/end phone calls and comfortable moisture-resistant ear-buds into one headset. The heart-rate monitor connects seamlessly with your favourite apps such as as Endomondo, Strava, RunKeeper or MapMyRun. The Bose SoundSport Pulse wireless headphones can also connected to Apple’s Health Kit. These headphones are perfect for runners who want to be able to keep track of their heart rate and BPM or beats per minute, while listening to some great music. In our testing, the earbuds are great for workouts. They not only fit well and stayed between our ears, they are also lined with a sweat and moisture resistant coating.
Design
Bose have created a new style of earbuds that is coated with a “hydrophobic” or water-resistant layer, that wicks sweat away and keeps the earbud firmly lodged within the ear. Bose earbuds form a seal inside the ear, though they do not need to be pushed hard into the ear canal. The squishy, rubber-like earbud will always be in contact with the surface of the ear canal.
The design of the Bose SoundSport Pulse Wireless Headphones is called an “open” design – it does allow some sound to seep through from the outside, but that can be a good thing. Cyclists and runners often prefer to hear some of the ambient noise, as this can help them be more aware of their surroundings.
To keep the earbuds firmly secured, they are supported by the Bose StayHear+ Wingtips, which fit snugly under the rim on the outside of the ears. Bose have not compromised with the audio function on these headphones, which produce the fantastic Bose sound. It’s a little base-heavy, but very easy to listen to and great to train to. Music and beats can be a big part of a workout, especially with interval training and cardio workouts. Good music can motivate an athlete to achieve higher performance levels and to maintain basic training. The Bose SoundSport Pulse Wireless Headphones help athletes to be consistent in their regimens because of the hands-free functionality and the stable, slip-free fit provided by the earbud. A voice command lets the runner know if one of the earbuds has slipped, by saying “Please adjust right/left earbud.” This should not happen too often though, as the Bose SoundSport Pulse Wireless Headphones are designed to stay put throughout the longest, sweatiest and most arduous training sessions.
The inline remote control has a series of raised buttons which are easy to locate. For instance, by clicking once on a button which is located in the center of the remote control, the audio tracks are started. Clicking again after the music has started will pause the audio. Clicking twice in sequence causes the track to be skipped. A button for equalizing the bass and treble sounds is located on the inline remote’s central section. The volume control is found here as well. A microphone can also be found in the remote controller.
Battery Life
The battery that powers the Bose Soundsport Pulse Wireless Headphones is powered by a Lithium Ion battery that’s designed to for about 5 hours. The battery indicators are clear and comes in red, amber and green battery to indicate the battery levels. In addition, the digital assistant’s voice will speak into the headphones to indicate if the battery is running low. Recharging is a breeze and all you have to do is plug it into a charger with the USB cable that has been provided by Bose. For those who frequently forget to charge their headphones, the Bose SoundSport Wireless Pulse is built with aquick charge feature that allows the headphones to run for an hour with only 15 minutes of charge time. This ability to recharge quickly is appreciated by runners because it means that they do not have to wait for the battery to be fully charged before they are able to continue their workout. The battery’s recharge time also stacks up well in comparison to other bio-metric headphones.
Heart Rate Monitor
For those who want to track their heartrate during their workout, the Bose SoundSport Pulse Headphone is the perfect device. The PerformanceTek HRM system, which is built in to the headphones, provides accurate and reliable biometric data. Heart rate notifications are voiced over during your workouts or it can also be viewed on the Bose app. In terms of accuracy, the heart or pulse readings from SoundSport Pulse Headphones are fairly accurate and comparable to a chest band.
The heart-rate sensor is located in the left earbud of the headphones. The small window gently touches your skin and measures the blood flow to determine your heart-rate. The data is then transferred to the Bose app. A nice feature of is that it is possible to set heart-rate targets for interval training, which is very handy.
Fit & Comfort
The Bose SoundSport Pulse Wireless Headphones are comfortable to wear most will usually find that one of the three sizes of earbuds which are supplied will fit most ears. The earbuds are made from silicone, which easily takes the shape of the ear canal. With the special hydrophobic coating, they should remain comfortably inside the ears even when a runner is training during rainy weather. The neckband that connects the left and right earbuds are long enough to fit well around the back of the neck.
Summary
- Excellent quality of music – lives up to the Bose standard.
- Accurate heart-rate monitor.
- Comfortable to wear and fits almost all ear sizes.
- Excellent Bluetooth connectivity.
- Attractive design with excellent build quality.
- The inline remote is easy to use.
- Fast battery charging time.
- Tangle-free cable that sits comfortably around the neck.
What’s Included
As always, Bose headphones comes well equipped with a range of accessories. It comes with your standard USB cable for charging, 3 sizes of StayHear+ ear tips in small, medium and large to fit all ear shapes and sizes. To keep your headphones fastenly secured, it also comes with a clothing clip that can be attached to the neck of your t-shirt to keep the headset in place. The neoprene storage case that comes with the headphones is also waterproof and has a metal loop for attaching to a belt, which is a nice feature.