Naenka Runner Caller Bone Conduction Headphones Review – From A Whisper to A Screed
Even though we typically focus on audiophile-oriented products, I’ve been curious about bone conduction tech and I quite liked Naenka’s cheap, unexpectedly natural-sounding AirPod knockoff, the LITE Pro (review here). Ergo, I was happy to receive a review sample of their new Runner Caller, a phone designed and marketed for office use.
The $89 Naenka Runner Caller is clearly targeted at the many consumers who prioritize hands-free calling and don’t like to insert things in their ears. The Runner Caller, which wraps around your head and sits the earphones on your cheekbones, is extremely lightweight and comfortable for extended sessions.
However, the tiny physical control buttons are awkwardly placed under the plastic frame, which makes them difficult to find and access. Charging is via a proprietary magnetic cable, which some reviewers dilslike but is presumably required for waterproofing. I got about 4 hours or so from the battery, which seems stingy for a product intended to be worn throughout a workday.
The Runner Caller worked fine for calls; incoming and outgoing voices had adequate volume and very good clarity in quiet indoor settings; for outside use wind noise was modest. As a music player, the Runner Caller is subject to the inherent limitations of bone conduction, which is to say it’s bereft of deep bass and has limited high end extension, although as with the LITE Pro, its mid-focused tonality is surprisingly organic and smooth, with a fairly spacious stage.
However (and this is a big however) the Runner Caller needs to be maxed out to be audible and even then lacks much impact or dynamic presence; the overall effect is like listening to (soothing) elevator music played at low volume.
Even considering that phones such as the Naenka are intended to provide the user with maximum awareness of its surroundings, they simply don’t play loud enough. Frankly, Naenka would have been better served to put more horsepower under the hood and allow the consumer to decide how much of the outside world to tune out.
Given the above reservations and my music-first sensibility, I don’t see the Runner Caller in my future. However Naenka clearly knows good sound, and I’d definitely see them as a brand to follow. Here’s hoping they crank it up in the future.
Disclaimer: Naenka sent these to me unsolicited and gratis for review purposes; you can buy them at www.naenka.com.
