Hear Everything, Miss Nothing: My 3 month with the Shokz OpenMeet
Introduction
The Shokz OpenMeet is an open-ear bone conduction headset primarily designed for professional voice and video calls. Targeting remote workers, business professionals, and anyone needing clear communication while maintaining environmental awareness, this headset represents Shokz’s specialized entry into the professional communications market, leveraging their established bone conduction technology.
Why are Shokz OpenMeet so special?
In essence, Shokz DualPitch™ technology is an advanced iteration of their bone conduction audio system designed to deliver a richer and more balanced sound profile, particularly by enhancing the bass response – and used here in OpenMeet.
Traditional bone conduction headphones excel at mid and high frequencies but often struggle to reproduce deep, resonant bass compared to conventional in-ear or over-ear headphones. This is due to the nature of transmitting sound vibrations through bone rather than air directly into the ear canal.
What’s included in the box?
- OpenMeet (UC)
- Hard Case
- USB2.0 CM-CM Data Cable
- Manual
- Legal Statement
- Cushions *2 Pairs
- Shokz Loop120 USB-A/USB-C Wireless Adapter
Design & Comfort
The OpenMeet features Shokz’s signature open-ear design with a lightweight titanium frame that wraps around the back of the head. Users consistently praise its comfort during extended wear, with many noting they “forget it’s even there” after hours of use. It should easily fit to your size of head – thanks to soft changeable pressure relif cushions
The headset weighs approximately 78 grams, making it one of the lightest professional headsets available. Its minimalist profile receives positive feedback for professional settings, with one reviewer noting, “It looks much more professional than bulky over-ear headsets during video calls.”
The adjustable boom microphone can be positioned on either the left or right side and flipped up when not in use. While most users appreciate this flexibility, some mention that “the mic arm could be a bit more rigid to stay exactly where you position it.”
The physical buttons are tactile and easy to locate by touch, though some users with smaller heads report that “the controls can be a bit hard to reach without adjusting the headset.”
Audio Quality
The OpenMeet’s bone conduction technology delivers clear audio while keeping ears open to surrounding sounds. Voice clarity for calls is consistently rated excellent, with many users highlighting that “voices come through crystal clear even in noisy environments.”
For music listening, reviews are more mixed. As one tech reviewer put it, “You’re not buying this for audiophile music experiences. Bass is predictably limited, and there’s some sound leakage at higher volumes.” However, most agree that audio quality is “perfectly adequate for background music between calls.”
The headset includes Shokz’s latest 8th generation bone conduction technology, which users note provides improved clarity over previous models. Several reviewers mention the “surprisingly good volume levels without significant vibration,” a common complaint with older bone conduction devices.
Microphone Performance
The boom microphone is consistently cited as the OpenMeet’s standout feature. Users report excellent voice pickup with strong noise cancellation technology. As one reviewer states, “Colleagues can hear me clearly even when I’m in a coffee shop or co-working space.”
The dual noise-cancelling microphone system effectively filters out background noise, with Qualcomm’s cVc noise reduction. It isolates voice and reduces background noise by 98.6% according to Shokz. Keyboard typing sounds are eliminated and now, when Spring is back, I can finally work in my garden where kids are playing and neighbors are mowing the lawn.
The microphone’s flip-to-mute feature receives widespread praise for its convenience, with one user noting, “It’s so intuitive to just flip the mic up when someone walks into my office mid-call.”
Connectivity & Compatibility
The OpenMeet offers both Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and a USB dongle option for lower latency connections. The multipoint connection allows pairing with two devices simultaneously, which users find “incredibly convenient for switching between phone and computer calls.”
Connection stability is rated highly, with most reviewers reporting “rock-solid connections” throughout the workday. The included USB-C dongle provides a more stable connection with reduced latency, which many PC users prefer.
Compatibility is excellent across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. Several reviewers specifically test it with popular communication platforms: “Works flawlessly with Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack calls without any special configuration.”
The wireless range is noted to be approximately 33 feet (10 meters) with Bluetooth and slightly more limited with the dongle, which most users find sufficient for their needs.
Battery Life & Charging
Shokz claims 15 hours of talk time for the OpenMeet, and user experiences largely confirm this. Most report getting “a full workday of intermittent use” before needing to recharge. Standby time is impressive, with several users noting that “it holds charge well even when not used for several days.” (Reddit & Amazon)
The fast charging feature is frequently highlighted as a significant benefit: Just 5 minutes on the charger gives you enough juice for 2-hour-longng meeting in a pinch.
The USB-C charging port is praised for its convenience and compatibility with existing chargers. Battery level indicators are clear, with voice prompts alerting users to low battery status.
Special Features & Software
The Shokz app provides firmware updates and basic EQ customization options, though several users mention it’s “not necessary for daily use” as the headset functions well independently.
The OpenMeet includes onboard touch controls for volume adjustment, call management, and voice assistant activation. Most users find these controls intuitive, though some mention a “slight learning curve to master all the different tap combinations.”
The headset’s IP54 water and dust resistance is helpful when wearing it during light workouts or in drizzly conditions between meetings.
The quick-mute button / capability is a standard for business headsets but I haven’t seen it before in bone conducting headsets.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional comfort for all-day wear
- Outstanding microphone clarity with effective noise cancellation
- Open-ear design maintains situational awareness
- Lightweight and professional appearance
- Reliable battery life covering a full workday
- Fast charging capabilities
- Versatile connectivity options (Bluetooth and dongle)
- Intuitive flip-to-mute functionality
Cons:
- Limited bass response and overall music quality
- Some sound leakage at higher volumes
- Higher price point compared to conventional headsets
- Microphone arm could be more rigid
- Controls can be difficult to reach for users with smaller heads
- App functionality is somewhat basic
Overall User Sentiment & Ratings on Amazon & Reddit
The OpenMeet consistently receives ratings between 4.3-4.7 out of 5 stars across major retail platforms and tech review sites. Professional users particularly praise its comfort and call clarity, with one IT manager noting, “We’ve deployed these to our entire remote team and complaints about call quality have virtually disappeared.”
The headset scores highest for comfort (4.8/5), microphone quality (4.7/5), and design (4.6/5), while music audio quality receives more modest scores (3.8/5).
Users most commonly report using the OpenMeet for:
- Professional video conferencing
- Customer service roles
- Podcast recording
- Office environments where awareness of colleagues is important
- Mixed work and casual use
As one Reddit user summarized: “It’s not cheap, but for someone on calls 4+ hours a day, the comfort alone justifies the price. No more ear fatigue or feeling isolated from my family while working from home.”
Conclusion & Recommendation
The Shokz OpenMeet excels as a specialized headset for professionals prioritizing call clarity, all-day comfort, and environmental awareness. Its premium price point is justified by its exceptional microphone performance, comfortable fit, and professional design.
This headset is ideally suited for remote workers, call center employees, and business professionals who spend significant time on voice or video calls. It’s also an excellent choice for those who experience discomfort with traditional in-ear or over-ear headsets.
However, traditional headphones would be a better choice if music quality is your primary concern or you need active noise cancellation to block out your environment. Similarly, gamers might prefer options with lower latency and more immersive sound.
The OpenMeet represents a specialized tool that does one thing exceptionally well: keeping you comfortable and clearly heard during a long day of professional communications while maintaining awareness of your surroundings.
Get your Shokz OpenMeet in our Bechtle Shop
