I’ve been cycling with bone-conduction headphones for years. They’ve become a strange sort of comfort—light on the ears, always letting me catch the rhythm of the street or the crunch of gravel underfoot. But curiosity got the better of me when I saw the OpenRock X, a pair of so-called “air-conduction” headphones that promise the same open-ear awareness but with richer sound. I thought, maybe they’ll bridge that gap—the freedom of bone conduction with the warmth of traditional earbuds.
A few weeks in, and I have to admit—things got interesting.
First Impressions and Design
Out of the box, the OpenRock X feels like it belongs to that growing tribe of gear that knows exactly how to look premium without shouting about it. The metal charging case slides open with a smooth mechanical satisfaction—like closing the door on a well-built car. Small detail, yes, but these things matter.
Each earbud rests on a neat little hinge, allowing them to sit just right over the ear canal. It took me a minute to figure out how they actually go on (you’d think I’d learn to read instructions before fiddling). Once positioned, they stayed put—no slipping, no weird pressure points.
They’re light—barely 24 grams total—and feel almost invisible once you start moving. And I say that as someone who’s been betrayed by dozens of so-called “sports earbuds” that promise comfort and deliver pain.
The build is IPX5-rated, so they can take rain or sweat without fuss. I didn’t go out of my way to drown them, but they handled an unplanned downpour one morning without a hiccup.
Oh, and the case charges via USB-C (because it’s 2025, and thank goodness we’ve mostly agreed on that).
Setup and Connectivity
Pairing was… easy. I wish I could dramatize it, but Bluetooth 5.3 and my iPhone 16 Pro just got along from the first moment. Within seconds, I was switching from my phone to my iPad to check how seamless multi-device connectivity felt. It worked. Not flawlessly—there’s a small lag when swapping devices—but better than most headphones I’ve tested under €200.The OpenRock app (available for Android and iOS) is genuinely helpful. It’s not overloaded with gimmicks—just a clean dashboard for checking battery levels, tweaking EQ, or even finding your misplaced buds (a feature I used within the first week, naturally).
You get three listening profiles: Rock, Relax, and Boom. I expected “Boom” to be just marketing bluster, but it actually boosts low-end resonance in a way that doesn’t completely drown out mids. “Relax” softens everything a touch, good for podcasts.
And yes, you can tune it yourself if presets aren’t your thing.
Sound Quality: The Big Question
Now, this is where things usually fall apart for open-ear headphones. They either sound too thin, or the bass gets lost the moment the wind picks up. But the OpenRock X surprised me.
Its 14.2mm dynamic drivers push sound with a clarity that feels… honest. There’s real body in music—especially acoustic tracks. The first time I played Ben Howard’s “Keep Your Head Up” while jogging through a park, I literally slowed down. The sound had space. Not the sealed, in-your-head kind of space, but open and natural.
Podcasts and audiobooks come through cleanly too. Voices are crisp, and I rarely felt the need to adjust volume mid-run.
Of course, they don’t have the bass thump of in-ear buds, but I’ve come to think that’s a feature, not a flaw. It’s easier on the ears during long listening sessions, and honestly, safer when you’re out on the road.
Everyday Use: The Good and the Mildly Annoying
During my first week, I used the OpenRock X everywhere: commuting, running, cooking, lying in bed pretending to read while half-listening to a podcast. They’ve got stamina—about 12 hours on a charge, and the case gives another 36 or so. Not exactly 48 as advertised, but close enough that I stopped counting.
One morning, I forgot to charge them after a long weekend trip. They still had enough juice for my typical 20km bike ride. That’s impressive.
But the controls… oh boy. Whoever designed the button layout might have been testing my patience. Each earbud has a small multifunction button, and you’re supposed to tap once to play/pause, twice to skip, three times to rewind, long press to adjust volume. Sounds fine in theory. Except in practice, while running, I’d often press twice and end up doing something completely different. I’m convinced my left ear is less coordinated than my right.
It’s not a dealbreaker, but if you’re hoping for tactile, intuitive control—prepare for frustration.
On the road
This is where the OpenRock X really started to earn my trust. On hilly roads, with wind rushing past and cars honking over one another, the sound remained stable. The ear hooks hold their shape, so they stay locked even during sudden head movements.
In the rain, they performed admirably—no dropouts, no muffled audio. In heavy wind, though, phone calls were another story. The built-in four-mic array claims to have “AI noise cancellation,” but people on the other end kept saying I sounded like I was standing in a storm. Which, well, I was.
Still, I appreciated how comfortable they stayed after hours of use. With traditional in-ear buds, I often find myself fidgeting or pulling one out halfway through a long run. With these? They just sat there, quietly doing their job.
They’ve also become my go-to for travel. On buses and trains, the slightly more sealed design helps reduce engine noise without making me feel disconnected. There’s something about hearing a podcast while still catching the murmur of the world around you—it’s grounding.
Battery and Charging
Battery life claims always make me skeptical. But the OpenRock X did better than expected. In mixed use—calls, music, podcasts, occasional idle time—they hit around 11 hours before dipping into the case. The charging case itself feels solid, with a drawer-like slide and magnetic seating. LEDs flip from red to blue when fully charged, and there’s something oddly satisfying about that glow.
Charging takes about 90 minutes, which is acceptable. The case itself feels premium—metal finish, not plastic—and fits in a pocket easily.
Value for Money
At roughly $169.99 (€150), these aren’t cheap. You can find open-ear models for half the price, but few match this blend of comfort, design, and audio depth. If you’re just looking for background music during workouts, you’ll find cheaper options that do fine.
But if you care about balance—sound you can enjoy while still being aware of your surroundings—then the OpenRock X stands out.
Final Thoughts
There’s something about the OpenRock X that feels quietly confident. It doesn’t reinvent the category, but it doesn’t have to. It just refines it.
After a few weeks, I realized they’d become part of my routine without much thought—always charged, always nearby. That’s probably the best compliment I can give any pair of headphones: I forget I’m wearing them.
They’re not perfect. The controls could drive you mad. The price is ambitious. But they sound great, they fit beautifully, and they’ve made me rethink what open-ear headphones can be.
If you’ve ever wished your bone-conduction headphones sounded just a bit fuller, or your earbuds felt a bit less isolating, the OpenRock X hits that sweet spot. Almost by accident, perhaps, but convincingly so.
You can buy the OpenRock X Headphones with discount using this code: Gizchina
