Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses, Alto (S/M), Black

Product Information

Hopefully, this could be improved with a future firmware update, but it could well be one of the physical limitations of this wearable release. It's also a nice feature for people who want to discreetly listen to audio and not have anybody know you're doing it -- say, listening to a sporting or news event while doing something else. With these new models, you'll get more sound leakage, particularly from the Tempo, and in quieter environments people will hear whatever audio you're playing if you have the volume high. The Bose Frames are the answer to the question: what if your sunglasses were also a set of smart, hidden headphones with no earbuds or no bone-conduction system, just a set of personal speakers?

On the underside of the right frame arm there’s a small golden button that’s used to switch the device on. In case of an issue with the device memory, clear its Bluetooth pairing list, then reconnect your device. If you’re sat on a beach or in a park, the Bose Frames will be a good enough way to listen to your music or any other type of audio. Sound is clearly lacking in presence, frequency and dynamics by the time it leaves the frame temples and reaches the ear of the listener.View image in fullscreen The Frames look like regular sunglasses with slightly thicker arms towards the ears – no camera or large lump up front to mark them out as smart glasses. View image in fullscreen The sound is piped to your ears through the speaker grille at the end of the thick bit of the arms. I also happen to have a pair of Smith Tempo Max frames -- yes, the name seems popular for sports glasses -- and the Smiths are more comfortable and look better on me (the Bose sunglasses are bigger and wider). The Bose Frames look like a regular set of sunglasses, with nylon frames and user-replaceable lenses, but hides sensors and speakers in the arms.

Like with those models, you control the volume by sliding your finger forward and backward on the right temple and there's a new volume-optimized EQ that Bose says reduces distortion at higher volumes while adding texture to your music at lower volumes.Even the lenses feel a little cheap and plasticky, although in use they’re clear, uniformly tinted and, Bose claims, block 99% of UV rays. they're not far off -- they sound better than any audio sunglasses I've tried previously, with just enough bass to avoid sounding tinny. These aren’t going to replace your traditional headphones, but as an alternative to wear during the summer you may find the Bose Frames to be a great novelty. All in all, the battery life on the Bose Frames is okay if you’re set to listen for short stints of time, but if you’re planning to use these over a period of a whole day you may need to take your cable out with you to ensure they’re charged up.

My ears basked in lovely tunes, even as the wind whipped by, raising the moment from sweet to sparkling, including a significant moment of reflection at a stoplight listening to Father John Misty’s rendition of Gillian Welch’s Everything is Free. Still, the sound is significantly better than what you get from even the best bone-conduction headphones like those from AfterShokz, which developed a pair of audio sunglasses but never shipped it. Finance is provided by PayPal Credit (a trading name of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH).They’re both IPX2 water-resistance rated which, for a product meant for outdoor use, is lower than we’d like. Pair this with the open and unhindered sensation of not having anything in your ears, and we're off to a promising start. The sunglasses can last for three and a half hours according to Bose, and we found that to be accurate in our testing.

The only real omission here is volume, which is a key miss and one we’re hoping Bose will add via touch controls in the next iteration. The Alto design offers a classic angular look, styled from premium materials and accented with gold-plated hinges. The smart bit of the Frames is support for the firm’s audio augmented reality platform, Bose AR, which is also available on the Bose’s popular QC35 II headphones, and on the upcoming Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Pegged as conveyors of aural AR and crafted for “sun and sound,” the Frames are a fascinating audio entry from Bose, made all the more intriguing when word began circulating that they actually sound good.This revolutionary open-ear audio experience leaves you free to do whatever you need, all while discreetly listening to music.