EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Bose has released the truly wireless SoundSport Free headphones, enabling athletes to do their workouts with music and two earbuds without getting tangled up in wires.
True wireless earbuds are not new in the industry. According to Brian Maguire, director of Bose on-the-go products, it’s the company’s development of a product that removes the wires while also not sacrificing audio quality that sets it apart.
There’s not even the need for hooks for the ear, as these earbuds are designed for both comfort and stability during intense exercise. Each earbud weighs .35 ounces, and they have up to five hours of battery life to get athletes through their workouts. And of course, they resist water and sweat.
“We designed this specifically for sports, for athletes working out, when all those wires really can encumber your workout,” Maguire said Sunday.
Bose’s release of SoundSport Free comes a year after the launch of the SoundSport Pulse headphones that were labeled as “wireless” but included a cord that held the earbuds together. The “truly wireless” SoundSport Free solution was in development as SoundSport Pulse was being launched, according to Maguire, adding that SoundSport Free has thus far been “extremely popular.”
While SoundSport Pulse is being sold for $199.95, SoundSport Free are available for pre-order and soon to be in retail stores for $249.95, offering even more freedom of movement. The higher price point accounts for a Bluetooth antennae system that enables the earbuds to have a strong connection to each other as well as the device.
For SoundSport Free, there is also the new “Find My Buds” feature on the Bose Connect app that displays the last time and place they were used so the misplaced earbuds can be located.
“The SoundSport Free is the closest thing to what people have always wanted in a sport headphone – a technology-packed solution that’s stripped down to just two rugged earbuds that feel great, stay connected, stay in, and sound amazing,” Maguire said in a statement.
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That Bose has Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones wearing SoundSport Pulse in an ad is a reflection of the company’s relationship with the NFL.
In May, it was announced that Bose and the NFL had signed a multi-year extension to their sponsorship agreement that makes it the league’s official headphone and headset.
Bose has continued to provide headsets for the coaching staffs of all NFL clubs for use in-game, enhancing sideline communications for play-calling and instant replay. Bose headsets were specifically built for the demands of football, delivering audio, noise cancellation and durability.
Unlike those headsets, Bose’s headphones for fitness athletes don’t come with the noise-canceling technology that the company is known for since it can be a safety issue for them not to hear the outside world.
But while locked in during their workouts, these athletes do have a way to get fit while listening to music — no cords attached.