Sony
recently launched Float Run
sports headphones
for runners and athletes. These earphones are quite different from chonky buds and constricting bands digging into ears during a workout. Sony's new headphones take an unconventional approach, ditching the traditional in-ear or over-ear design for a suspended,
off-ear
style.
We at The Times of India Tech team also got to use the earphones for some time, and here are our initial thoughts.
Design
Sony Float Run
are definitely head-turners. We walked past some bays at our workplace and found ourselves answering questions about the sports headphones. What makes the hearables different is the two speaker units that hover near your ears, connected by a flexible neckband that sits comfortably on the ears, around the neck. It's a minimalist yet different look that feels futuristic.
Sony says that the
Float Run
removes one major pain point of having pressure on ears while listening to in-ear devices. The
open-ear
design eliminates any pressure on ear canals, saving them from sweat and/or chafing when used for long listening sessions. They come with IPX4 water resistance rating.
Sony says that these earphones can be worn even if the wearer has spectacles or sunglasses on. While they stay put on your ears, those who use frames with thicker temples may not get a perfect fit. We attempted a few jumping jacks – no budging!
Performance
Despite the lack of direct ear contact, the 16mm drivers deliver a clear and powerful sound. Unlike the other earphones and headphones offered by Sony, the Float Run does not offer a punch bass. Bass is present but not overpowering, and the mids and highs shine though.
The headphones have an open-ear design that does let in some ambient noise, which might be a dealbreaker for some. However, there is not much of a compromise on the music. During our limited time with the headphones, we listened to some electronic music by Daft Punk and progressive house by Nils Hoffmann.
What we think:
Priced at Rs 10,990, the Sony Float Run sports headphones seem to be a breath of fresh air in the sports headphone market. Their unique design might raise eyebrows but their comfortable fit, good sound and secure fit make them a compelling option for runners and gym enthusiasts.
Stay tuned for a more in-depth review after we put them through their paces on some longer runs and workouts!
English (US) ·