Review: OneOdio OpenRock S Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds

For those who like listening to music in your bike then it is a good suggestion to make use of an open-ear design in an effort to hear different stuff that is happening round you. There are many choices, and bone-conduction headphones are a giant a part of the market, however these OneOdio OpenRock S headphones, which use a extra commonplace audio driver, are higher in lots of respects and simple to suggest.

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> Purchase now: OneOdio OpenRock S headphones for £83 from OneOdio

The OpenRock earphones are available in a sensible case a bit smaller than a glasses case, which additionally accommodates a battery to recharge them. Once they’re within the case, they’re charging, and once they’re out of the case, they’re on. If you’d like, you’ll be able to take away only one earphone and use that, and there is no throwing a wobbly about one of many sides being lacking that you simply get with some programs.

OneOdio claims a run-time of 60 hours from one cost of the case, and 19 hours simply from the interior batteries within the earphones themselves. For those who run out of juice, 5 minutes within the case provides you with an hour of play. There is a four-bar LED on the entrance of the field which helps you to know each that the earphones are charging, and likewise how a lot juice is left within the field’s battery.

On the one hand the bigger field than another earphones – together with OneOdio’s Openrock Execs that we reviewed not too long ago – signifies that they seem to be a bit more durable to search out room for in a jersey pocket. Then again, the battery life is outstanding. I charged them in the beginning of the overview course of and weeks later I am nonetheless on that first cost.

These are pretty massive earphones however they’re additionally very snug. There is a little bit of adjustability within the loop that goes spherical your ear to permit you to get a comfortable match, and as soon as you’ve got bought them dialled in they’re actually snug: you’ll be able to simply put on all of them day.

I discovered them simpler to get on if I took my glasses off, however they play okay with each driving and regular specs, and since they do not have a bar around the again additionally they work nicely with bike helmets. They’re gentle sufficient to not likely be noticeable, and since you’re not placing any stress on any a part of your ear – no in-ear plug and no bone-conduction pad – they’re supremely snug to put on.

The OpenRock S earphones are IPX5 rated for waterproofing which suggests they need to be high quality in gentle rain however you may wish to maintain them in your bag in case you’re driving quick and it is tipping down.

The earphones each have a touch-sensitive pad on the surface, and numerous mixtures of faucets will do issues with music and calls, in addition to powering the headphones up and down and switching between ‘chill out mode’ (tinny) and ‘rock mode’ (regular). One factor you’ll be able to’t do is modify the amount of the earphones from the models themselves – it’s a must to use your telephone for that.

It takes a little bit of follow to hit the earphones in the appropriate place, and while you’re double tapping to pause music I typically discovered myself both lacking the primary faucet and never pausing the observe, or considering I would missed and tapping thrice, which brings up the Google assistant. You possibly can inform it to pause the music, although, so it isn’t the top of the world, however it’s simply extra fiddly than a bodily button and a little bit of a weak level within the design.

That is the spec, however what do they sound like? Let’s get the marketingspeke out of the best way first, we could? ‘Air conduction’ is the default method that sound works. Your telly and your mouth use ‘air conduction’ to get the sound to your ears. I do know that what OneOdio is doing right here is attempting to differentiate from ‘bone conduction’ which different open-ear headphones use and is one thing completely different, however I do not actually suppose we’d like a brand new time period coined, thanks all the identical.

Sounds good

In all probability the very first thing you’d ask in case you’ve been available in the market for a pair of open-ear headphones is: how does the sound examine with bone-conduction headphones? And the essential reply to that query is straightforward: it is a lot better.

OneOdio makes use of a 16.2mm dynamic driver in these earphones, and that additional 0.2mm should make all of the distinction as a result of the sound is, actually, fairly good. They do not have the deep bass response of a pair of excellent over-the-ear headphones or buds, however the vary is all there. Utilizing a pair of bone-conduction headphones just like the Shokz Openrun Execs that Steve examined final 12 months, you do not get a lot of the bassline or kick drum coming by, even sat at your desk within the quiet. These headphones are massively higher in that regard, with a way more rounded sound.

The opposite benefit over bone-conduction headphones is that the sound does not alter while you transfer your jawbone, which is used to switch sound. For those who’ve ever tried consuming whereas carrying bone-conduction ‘telephones, you may know what I imply.

With the sound popping out of the driving force and into your ear with no seal, you may suppose that there’d be a whole lot of sound leaking out. However that is not the case; flip them up loud and there is a little bit of leak, however it’s under no circumstances a deal breaker, and it is rather a lot lower than you’d count on.

The OpenRock S earphones even have a four-mic array for taking calls, and the noise cancellation appears to be fairly efficient. I am not one for taking calls on the bike however for the needs of testing I did take a pair, and there have been no issues with making myself heard.

The entire whole level of an open-ear headphone system is that you would be able to hear different stuff, so it is hardly truthful to then flip round and say, ‘Properly, you’ll be able to hear different stuff and it drowns out the music.’ However it’s value noting that in case you’re utilizing these headphones for driving then there shall be instances when wind and site visitors noise are going to drown out your podcast or your album. Wind noise is particularly noticeable in case you’re travelling shortly, or it is a windy day. Highway and site visitors noise shall be there too, after all, however if you’d like open-ear ‘telephones for driving, that site visitors noise might be the factor you are desirous to be sure to hear.

On the plus facet, the benefit over bone-conduction ‘telephones is that you would be able to whack them as much as full quantity and it does not really feel uncomfortably tickly in your cheekbones.

Realistically, in case you’re attempting to observe a podcast there shall be instances when it will not be simple; in case you want music in your ears then it is in all probability much less of a problem that you simply will not get the complete expertise on a regular basis, and having the ability to hear what is going on on round you on the bike is certainly helpful.

Why put on ‘telephones?

Totally different of us have completely different causes for desirous to take heed to music on the bike. For me, it is primarily to pipe some drum and bass into my ears on the turbo to maintain me motivated, and to provide me one thing to maintain me occupied on audaxes and such – on greater rides I am by myself, typically as not. For each of these use circumstances I’ve typically used bone-conduction headphones, however I am fairly bought on these OpenRock S earphones as being a greater various. They’re extra snug while you’re carrying them for a very long time, the sound high quality is healthier, they usually play extra properly with helmets and biking clothes as a result of there is no loop round your neck. And you continue to get the advantage of having the ability to hear what is going on on round you.

Worth

At £83 these headphones aren’t low-cost however neither are they wherever close to the highest finish of the market: the Oladance earphones have been greater than twice as a lot at rrp (£199.99) after we reviewed them in February and you do not even get a battery within the case.

They’re additionally considerably cheaper than a superb high quality pair of bone-conduction headphones just like the Shokz Openrun Execs I discussed earlier, they usually’re extra snug, with higher sound high quality.

You may get cheaper ‘air-conduction’ headphones just like the Tozo OpenReals that Emily examined not too long ago, however you would not say these have been unhealthy worth.

Conclusion

Total they’re glorious, actually. Okay, the contact pads are a bit fiddly and the case is larger than you want in case you’re biking, however until you are doing a multi-day trip you in all probability will not even must take it as a result of the battery life is so spectacular. And environmental noise can drown out your music at instances, however that is sort of the purpose so it’s kind of unfair to mark them down for that. These headphones have shortly turn out to be my go-to alternative for rides.

Verdict

Actually good sound high quality and unbeatable battery life, and you may hear the site visitors too