Air conduction are my preference when opting for an open-ear style of headphones as they offer better sound quality than bone conduction headphones (unless when I’m swimming). The OpenRock S is another pair of air conduction headphones in the market which retails for US$100.
Unboxing
Here’s what you’ll find in the box:
- OpenRock S
- USB-C cable
- User manual
Build quality and features
Let’s start with the charging case, because it’s huge. It’s not going to score on portability if that is something you are looking for, but at least it’s shaped like a sunglass case so it might slot in nicely in your bag. The case is made of plastic that feels high quality and has a nice matte finish that does not pick up fingerprints. The case opens clamshell and has a well-tensioned hinge that opens and closely nicely.
Once the case is open, it reveals the OpenRock S laying flat in the case which are easy to remove from its magnetic charging points to wear. The earbuds itself seem to be a combination of plastic and silicon. Build quality of the earbuds is solid as the plastic again feels dense and has a good weight to it. The OpenRock S is rated IPX5 water-resistance so you can expect good protection from your sweat or rain.
Controls and app
OpenRock S employs touch controls, which are located at corner where the speaker is at. There is no action for single tap, which is probably a smart decision as it prevents accidental touches. Controls are same on both the left and right earbud so you don’t have to remember which side does what. You can control media playback but unfortunately cannot adjust the volume of the music. You can find a summary of the touch controls in the image below.
Fit and comfort
Unlike the TOZO Open Buds, where the ear hook can be rotated for maximum adjustability, the OpenRock S only has a silicon mid-joint to allow some flexibility when adjusting your fit. Despite this, I found the OpenRock S to fit well for my ears. The shape of the ear hooks rests lightly yet securely on my ears. The thick rounded edges of the ear hook allows more for contact compared to thinner hooks, but might not be the best suited for smaller ears.
Each earbud weighs around 12.8 grams, and I do not really feel it when using for my exercise. Depending on your ear shape, how the speaker is angled can differ so do take into consideration this point.
Sound quality
The OpenRock S packs a 16.2mm dynamic driver which certainly helps with the bass. Bass is present but not what I’d classify as boosted or emphasised. It is definitely better than any bone conduction headphones. Mid-range is clear with a good emphasis on vocals and instruments. Treble offers a smooth delivery that complements that upper-mids to give it slightly more pop.
What was quite interesting when listening with the OpenRock S is its soundstage. It is surprisingly wide and open, which creates a cool effect when listening to when running. There is a ‘Relax’ and ‘Rock’ mode which you can enable. But I didn’t notice much difference between the two. If want more bass then it’s probably safer to leave it on ‘Rock’ mode.
Microphone quality
Microphone performance on the OpenRock S is surprisingly good. My voice is clear and audible yet feeling slightly distant, like using a speakerphone at arm’s length. Depth and warmth is maintained without any hint of audio processing. In noisy conditions, OpenRock S does well to isolate my voice and keep the background noise to a minimum.
Battery life and connectivity
OpenRock S is rated to provide up to a whopping 19 hours of play time on a single charge, and up to 60 hours with the charging case. For my main use of exercise, the 19 hours is more than sufficient and will definitely be enough for daily use. The OpenRock S case charges via USB-C and uses the latest Bluetooth 5.3 technology. I didn’t experience any dropouts or connection issues during my time of testing.
Conclusion
OpenRock S is solid pair of open-fit air conduction headphones, especially if you’re looking for a pair for geared towards rugged usage due to its build quality. Sound quality is great and battery life is even more impressive. Do keep in mind that the OpenRock S belongs more on the chunky side, so it may not be comfortable on every ear shape.