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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want true bone conduction sound with Bluetooth multipoint, app control and enough battery for back-to-back long runs, choose SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear; if you need an IPX8 waterproof set that keeps playing music underwater from built-in memory, choose MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone.
• SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear — biggest strength: true bone conduction drivers, Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint, aptX-Adaptive, dual mics with cVc noise suppression and 10 hours of playtime in a 30.6 g frame. Biggest trade-off: IP55 only — sweat and light rain are fine, but you cannot swim in it, and the sheet explicitly says not to rinse it under a faucet.
• MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone — biggest strength: an IPX8 waterproof seal plus built-in 32 GB of memory, so it keeps playing when Bluetooth cannot reach you — underwater. Biggest trade-off: swimming runs in MP3 mode only, Bluetooth is not supported in the water, and the manufacturer lists a 1-year warranty versus SUUNTO's 2 years.
• Pick SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear if you want a bone conduction headset for running, cycling, gym work and calls, with app-based tuning and a watch connection.
• Pick MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone if your priority is lap swimming, snorkeling or surfing, and you want open-ear awareness plus onboard storage instead of a phone in a dry bag.
SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear is built around the bone conduction idea done properly: vibrations travel along your cheekbones to your inner ear, so your ear canals stay completely open. The payoff is situational awareness — traffic, a colleague walking up behind you, a car at a junction. If you run or ride outdoors, that matters more than isolation. The sheet also notes an optimized frequency curve and a redesigned driver and shell to give lows more weight and reduce leakage, which is the usual weak spot of open-ear designs.
The spec list is unusually complete for this category. Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint means phone and laptop at the same time, switching as calls come in. aptX-Adaptive adds lower latency and more stable streaming — the sheet lists 85 ms of audio latency, which is the kind of number that keeps audio and video roughly in step. Dual microphones with cVc echo cancellation and noise suppression cover calls, and the sheet mentions anti-wind noise at 15 km/h, which is a realistic cycling and running speed. Battery is 10 hours from a 140 mAh cell, with a 5-minute top-up giving about 90 minutes. Weight is 30.6 g (31 g listed on the item details) in silicone and titanium alloy. IP55 covers sweat and light rain.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym-goers and commuters who want their ears open, plus anyone already in the SUUNTO ecosystem — pairing it with a SUUNTO watch through the app gives voice feedback like lap times and average speed mid-workout. Who should skip it: swimmers. IP55 is not a swimming rating, and the sheet is explicit that you should not rinse it under a tap. Also skip it if you dislike app-dependent setup, since sound modes and dual-device pairing live in the SUUNTO app rather than on buttons alone.
MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone attacks a different problem: water. The IPX8 rating means it tolerates immersion, so swimming, snorkeling and surfing are on the table — something the SUUNTO simply is not rated for. The critical detail is the warning repeated in the sheet: Bluetooth mode does not work underwater. Swimming requires MP3 mode, which is why the 32 GB of built-in storage exists. You load playlists onto the headphone's own memory and it plays without any connection at all.
That memory is managed through the magnetic charging cable, which doubles as a data path to a computer for playlist management — a neat trick, and it removes the usual fragile port flap from the design. Charging takes about 1.5 hours and returns up to 7 hours of playback. Weight is 22.68 g, lighter than the SUUNTO, and the overmold liquid silicone is described as skin-friendly and ultra-soft, with an ear-hook shape that spreads pressure for long wear. Open-ear, no buds, so you still hear what is around you on a run or hike.
Two honest caveats from the data. First, music from a phone app cannot be copied directly to the memory card, so you need to plan your playlists in advance — no streaming in the pool. Second, the sheet advises drying the microphone after swimming to avoid call issues, and it lists a 1-year warranty. There is also no noise control on either product, and no app for the MARLALL.
Who should buy it: swimmers, snorkelers and surfers who want music without sealing their ears, and anyone who wants a self-contained player with no phone involved. Who should skip it: people who mainly want Bluetooth audio, calls and multipoint switching on land — that is not what this set is optimized for.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for swimming → MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone. IPX8 immersion rating versus IP55 on the SUUNTO.
• Best for battery life → SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear. 10 hours versus up to 7 hours, plus a 5-minute charge for roughly 90 minutes of use.
• Best for multi-device work → SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear. Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint plus aptX-Adaptive and an 85 ms latency figure.
• Best for phone-free playback → MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone. 32 GB of internal storage plays with no connection at all.
• Best for minimal weight → MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone. 22.68 g versus 30.6 g.
• Best for app control and watch integration → SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear. Sound modes, battery monitoring, dual-device setup and workout voice feedback.
• Longest stated warranty → SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear. 2 years versus 1 year.
In my opinion, the SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear is the better buy for most people, because most open-ear buyers are runners, cyclists and commuters who want Bluetooth, calls, multipoint and a full 10 hours — and they never actually swim in their headphones. The MARLALL is the smarter pick only if water is the whole point. If you swim laps, the IPX8 rating and 32 GB of onboard memory are not nice extras, they are the reason the product exists, and no amount of Bluetooth spec sheet will replace them. Buy the SUUNTO for the road; buy the MARLALL for the pool. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your routine.
how to bone conduction headphones work
A bone conduction driver converts audio into vibrations that travel through your cheekbones and skull to the inner ear, bypassing the ear canal entirely. That is why your ears stay open and you keep hearing your surroundings — the same principle SUUNTO describes as true bone conduction tech.
how to wear bone conduction headphones
how to use bone conduction headphones
Pair over Bluetooth for everyday listening — the SUUNTO supports Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint with aptX-Adaptive, and you tune sound modes in the SUUNTO app. For swimming, the MARLALL must run in MP3 mode from its 32 GB of internal storage, because Bluetooth does not work underwater.
Can I swim with the SUUNTO Sonic Open-Ear?
No. It carries an IP55 rating, which covers sweat and light rain, and the manufacturer states it should not be rinsed under a faucet. If swimming is your priority, the MARLALL's IPX8 rating is the one rated for immersion.
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