Why I highly recommend these earbuds, even if their audio is crappy

ZDNET Highlights

• The OpenRock Link 20 earbuds can be purchased on the official site for $149
• These earbuds are excellent for making calls and listening to podcasts
• The Link 20 earbuds feel too thin and flat for music.

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Usually, when I review earbuds and headphones, it’s all about the music and the sound they produce. I generally dismiss battery life as secondary (especially when a pair produces great sound).

However, occasionally, I come across a pair of earbuds or headphones that don’t live up to my standards for audio. When this happens, I at least try to find something of value in the device.

Also: This $99 pair of earbuds made me forget about expensive earbuds — how they win

Such was the case when I received OpenRock Linux 20 Open-Air EarbudsAfter unpacking them and connecting them to my Pixel 9 Pro, I started my favorite playlist and tapped Play.

I was immediately disappointed. The sound was thin, flat, lacked bass, had zero choppiness in the low end, and highs were almost non-existent.

But then, I realized that these earbuds could serve a better purpose. “Hears” how it happened.

my experience

The “gimmick” with the Link 20 earbuds is a detachable, flexible mic boom, which is just under three inches long and held in place by two magnets.

At first I wasn’t embarrassed, but once I realized that music sounded below average, I decided to look at the Link 20 earbuds from a different angle: phone calls.

Also: Best Wireless Earbuds: Expert Tests and Reviews

So, I tested them. I called someone who knew what I do for a living and informed them that they were part of my test. I asked him what my voice was like and his answer was simple: shrill but very clear. We talked for a few minutes, and then I switched from the Link 20 earbuds to my Denon Pearl Pro earbuds (which are the best earbuds I’ve ever tested — by a long shot).

I honestly assumed the person on the other end of the call would say something like, “That’s much better.” Instead, he informed me that the sound from the first pair of earbuds was more clear. To be honest, I was surprised. I was sure that the Denon Earbuds would produce better sound than the Link 20 earbuds. After all, the sound of the Pearl Pro earbuds is very different from the Link 20 earbuds.

And even though the Link 20 earbuds seemed tinny to the listener, they found I was very clear and easy to understand.

Now, given that the OpenRock Link 20 earbuds sell for $149, I would have thought that their sound would be at least comparable to most mid-range earbuds, but that wasn’t the case. Even after installing the OpenRock app, I couldn’t find any way to improve the sound.

Too: One of my favorite open-ear headphones has reached its lowest price ever

The OpenRock Link 20 has different modes, depending on the app, and it took me a moment to figure out. If you look at the gestures section, you’ll see that a triple-tap of the left earbud button cycles between the modes.

At first, I couldn’t get it to work, but then I thought, “Maybe if I remove the mic boom?” As soon as I did this, I could switch between Music, Beast, and Custom modes. It took some work on my part, but I was at least able to make the earbuds sound more in line with lower mid-range devices. I found Music mode to be the best option, but having Spatial Sound mode enabled gave it a sort of flanger effect, which was not good.

I tried using the Custom mode, which allowed me to adjust the 7-band EQ, but no matter what I did with the EQ, I couldn’t get the sound I wanted. Because of that, I went back to the original music mode and accepted the idea that the Link 20 earbuds leaned too much into the midrange (which makes it sound tinny).

Now, why wouldn’t I have written them off immediately? The midrange is where the human voice resides. This is why whenever you see the EQ adjusted for things like podcasts, you will see that the mids are heightened. Because of that, anything with sound sounds very clear on the Link 20 earbuds.

This leads me to the second bonus with these earbuds: podcasts. They sound fantastic on the Link 20, with vocals that can be heard to perfection. At the same time, YouTube videos also look equally good. I listened to John Oliver’s latest and was delighted to hear his voice without compromise.

The earbuds still lack bass, so there’s not as much resonance as I’d prefer, but I’ll happily exchange the bass for clarity when listening to podcasts and videos.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

If you need a pair of earbuds for phone calls or podcasts, OpenRock Link 20 Earbuds Is a great option. On the other hand, if music is your priority, the Link 20 earbuds will disappoint.

For over a year, I’ve used my high-end earbuds for phone calls, but now I’ll happily default to the Link 20 earbuds whenever I need to make or receive a call.

Too: These discounted earbuds deliver audio of such high quality that you’ll forget they’re mid-range

OpenRock Link 20 Technical Specifications

• detachable magnetic boom mic
• Weight: 0.3 ounces per earbud
• Audio Driver: 15 x 10mm Custom Dynamic Driver
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20KHz
• Microphone: 5-mic with AI ENC noise cancellation
• AAC and SBC codec support
• Connectivity Bluetooth: 6.0 with Range: 50 feet indoors, 99 feet outdoors
• Pairing: Dual-device pairing
• Waterproofing: IPX7 waterproof – Boom mic: IP55 dust and water resistant
• Battery music playback: Up to 13 hours per charge (52 hours with case)
• Talk Time: Up to 9 hours per charge (36 hours with case)
• Charging: Quick charge feature provides 1 hour of playback with 5 minutes of charge