I tested the Suunto Spark earbuds for a month: Why air conduction audio is a winner

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If you have read my headset reviews over the past couple of years, you’ve seen me move to using bone conduction headsets for safety reasons, and many of those headsets have been from Suunto. For the past month, I have been running with another option from Suunto that uses air conduction technology, and that is the Suunto Spark headset, available now for $179.

Also: I found a smartwatch that’s just as reliable as my Garmin (but much cheaper)

I continue to prefer bone conduction headsets that wrap around my head, but the Suunto Spark is a great option for those who want a higher-quality audio experience than what can be provided with bone conduction technology, while still providing a mostly open-ear experience for safety and awareness.

Flexibility

The headphones are separate pieces for the right and left ears, so this design offers the flexibility to work out with just one side in use at a time. This also results in twice the battery life for a single-ear listening experience. At less than 10 grams each, you will barely notice the earbud mounted over your ear with the titanium loop.

Also: I put my Shokz away within seconds of testing these bone conduction headphones

The Suunto Spark is available in black, coral orange, and white. I tested the white model that comes with a matching white case covered in soft-touch material. The case holds and charges each earbud with the included USB-C cable and provides up to 29 additional hours of use, with up to seven hours in the earbuds.

Touch control

On some of the bone conduction headsets I have used, the buttons can be tough to find and activate. Suunto has large touch-sensitive areas on each earbud, and with the Suunto app, you can customize single, double, and triple taps, with long-press options too. I love that I can single tap to control volume on each earbud and then use other taps to play/pause and advance my music. 

The buttons have performed flawlessly, and there is no fumbling around trying to find them as you work out.

Outstanding performance

The volume, bass, clarity, and audio performance are outstanding on the Suunto Spark, and I have rarely had the volume higher than 50% on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Spark also supports LHDC 5.0 and spatial audio, so you can experience audio in different ways.

Also: I love taking these earbuds to the gym thanks to their thoughtful design

With the Suunto app, you can also select from four sound modes or create a custom mode. These modes focus on bass, treble, or vocals, but I prefer the Legendary balanced mode for running.

Advanced functions

The Suunto Spark stands out from other workout earbuds with head movement control to quickly answer a call or switch songs. Just shake your head from side to side to skip that one terrible song that pops up in your playlist.

If you connect the Suunto Spark to one of the outstanding Suunto smartwatches, like the Vertical 2 or Race 2, then you can have voice guidance deliver audio pace, heart rate, distance, and more to the earbuds, so you can focus on the road ahead and not on your watch.

Also: I tried this Shokz alternative for my runs, and the price-to-performance ratio surprised me

People today also tend to spend way too much time looking down at their phones, and with the neck mobility support, you can enable the Suunto Spark to monitor the position of your neck and help you prevent neck fatigue.

ZDNET’s buying advice

With daylight savings time now active and the weather getting warmer, I don’t have to worry about running in the dark, so moving to a better audio experience on the Suunto Spark works well for this season. I also enjoy listening to music and watching video content on the train, so the Spark works well for these scenarios too. 

Also: One of the most underrated smartwatches I’ve tested just set a 55-hour battery life record

If you are looking for a wireless headset that doesn’t have to remain in your ear while still providing outstanding audio, then you should consider the Spark. The experience is even better when you wear one of the fantastic watches that Suunto now has available.