OpenRock Pro air conduction headphones review

The OpenRock Pro earbuds offer an immersive, safer way to listen to music while cycling or running by leaving your ear canals unrestricted. Audio performance is decent for the price, however they aren’t quite as refined as the market leaders, with build and sound quality struggling to keep up.

The OpenRock Pros are air conduction headphones, rather than bone conduction alternatives such as the Shokz OpenRun, or traditional in-ear headphones, which block out ambient noise.

Claimed battery life is among the longest you’ll find. However, they struggle to compete sonically, meaning the price difference to the best cycling headphones may not be enough to tempt true audiophiles.

OpenRock Pro spec details

Designed by Hong Kong-based audio brand OneOdio, the OpenRock Pros incorporate TubeBass audio enhancement tech, designed to enrich low-end frequencies.

They’re claimed to differ from bone conduction headphones by offering superior sound containment and reduced skull bone fatigue because the sound travels through the air, rather than your head. Nobody wants a tired skull when they’re out for a ride, so that sounds like a noble aim.

Because they don’t cover the ear canals, the OpenRocks deliver on their claim of enabling awareness of environmental sound, making them a good choice for the thorny subject of listening to music while cycling.

One of the headline features is the claimed 19-hour battery life – long enough to get through King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s entire 24-album catalogue (although they’ll probably have released another couple by the time you read this).

The case adds another 24 hours, with the quick charge function enabling a claimed one hour of playback from a five-minute top-up.

The OpenRocks have an IPX5 waterproof rating – sufficient to survive the effects of a jet of water for 10-15 minutes and better than many rivals, which are only rated to IPX4.

The headphones are available in black or silver, and are housed in a retro space-age container that reminded me of the egg-shaped craft Mork and Mindy travelled to Earth in (ask your parents).

With its lurid orange interior, the case is not the most sophisticated. While the Sony LinkBuds and Shokz OpenFits snap back into their classy matt homes with smooth magnetic assistance, the fit here feels less premium.

Weight is 13g per bud, which will be upsetting only to obsessive weight weenies, but is substantially heavier than competing headphones.

No mention is made in the instructions of an accompanying app and I couldn’t find one in the Google Play store. On the bad news scale, it’s hardly The Stone Roses releasing Second Coming, but it means there’s no equaliser to fine-tune the sound.

OpenRock Pro performance

Much of my 20 years’ journalism experience has been while working on guitar, vinyl and tech magazines. In that time, I’ve reviewed a wide musical spectrum of amplifiers, effects pedals, turntables and headphones.

I tested the OpenRock Pros alongside three other sets of cycling headphones on my daily ride to work, taking in bumpy towpaths, metropolitan traffic and numerous heavy downpours to ensure they stood up to urban commuting life.

To fit the OpenRocks, you hang the buds on the end of your helix and slide the loop behind your ear, with the speaker resting above the canal.

You’re also able to adjust the loop by up to 30 degrees by flexing it either way to suit your ear shape. I didn’t find this made a huge amount of difference.

The fit didn’t initially inspire confidence, with the buds hanging loose over my ear canal rather than sitting in a secure position.

As I turned to lock my front door before my first ride, one bud fell out, followed by the other as I bent down to retrieve it. They stayed put during the commute, although when I removed my helmet at the office, they hit the floor again.

I’d also recommend getting the OpenRock Pros on before your helmet and cycling sunglasses, with their greater bulk making them harder to position once those are on.

The shiny plastic material used for the ear hooks means the OpenRocks can feel slippery in sweaty hands, although there are rubberised sections near the top of each loop, which add grip.

Bluetooth pairing with my Google Pixel 6 was almost immediate and remained solid throughout testing.

The tap controls found on other wireless sport headphones aren’t present on the OpenRocks. Instead, there’s a small on/off/play/pause button on each bud. While this doesn’t feel as advanced, it makes it easier to operate the buds without accidentally hitting the playback controls.

OpenRock Pro sound quality

Sound performance from the OpenRock Pros’ 16.2mm dynamic drivers is generally pretty good. They outshine plenty of budget sport headphones, delivering a well-rounded soundstage with reasonably present bass and high-end free of fatiguing fizz.

Rolling in to work on a chilly early-autumn morning, I picked Nick Drake’s pacific Pink Moon album and was impressed by the low-end definition of his acoustic guitar, complemented by sparkling arpeggios and vocal clarity.

Volume was ample to ensure Drake’s bucolic musings weren’t drowned out by the traffic, and with my ear canals unrestricted, I felt safe cycling with these headphones.

Given their similar name and design, comparisons will inevitably be made to the excellent Shokz OpenFit buds.

When listening to full-band recordings on the move, the sonic picture isn’t quite as well balanced. Turning to the kaleidoscopic electronica of Maribou State’s Kingdoms In Colour album, vocals, high-register synths and guitar lines cut through the noise without issue. However, kick drum and bass guitar detail was neutered mercilessly.

In the office, Jack Luke suffered from plenty of audio spill, compounded by the near-infinite battery life, as I worked my way through The National’s complete output oblivious to his attempts at conversation.

OpenRock Pro bottom line

The OpenRock Pro headphones are a solid choice for anyone looking for a reasonably priced set of air conduction cycling headphones.

They do a good job of balancing sufficient overall volume with an awareness of what’s happening on the road, which is the most important factor when listening to music on the bike.

If you’re looking to save some money on the best cycling headphones, all-day battery life is important and you’re not overly concerned about premium audiophile quality, they won’t let you down.

However, the fit and aesthetics are not as polished as some rivals, and they don’t stand up well to rush-hour traffic. Personally, I’d save up for the Shokz OpenFits or Sony LinkBuds and invest in the superior sound and build those established brands deliver.