I Did Not Expect These $100 Headphones To Outperform My Marshall And Jbl Like This

2 hours ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The OpenRock S2 open-style earbuds are disposable connected Amazon for $99.
The S2 earbuds are 1 of nan astir comfortable open-air earbuds I've ever tested
Although nan S2 earbuds don't person nan punch astatine nan debased end, they dress up for it successful soundstage.

I dangle connected earbuds to support my runs from emotion for illustration a chore. This is particularly truthful during nan basking summertime months, erstwhile immoderate distraction from nan power is simply a necessity. When I spell connected longer runs, I request earbuds that tin not only tolerate my copious sweat, but besides not perpetually punctual maine that I person thing connected my ears.

Because of nan magnitude of sweat I nutrient erstwhile running, I can't deterioration accepted earbuds (I've destroyed astatine slightest a twelve pairs), which intends I person to usage either bone-conducting headphones aliases open-air earbuds.

Also: These $15 accessories turned my AirPods into nan astir versatile earbuds I've worn

For nan longest time, I utilized bone-conducting headphones, but I ever recovered nan sound they nutrient to beryllium little than ideal. About a twelvemonth aliases truthful ago, I started utilizing open-air earbuds and a clip-on style. Since then, I've not had to woody pinch my sweat-destroying earbuds, mediocre sound, aliases discomfort.

I've besides tried and reviewed respective different pairs, each of which had its pros and cons.

When I received nan OpenRock S2 open-air earbuds, I could person been skeptical because I had ne'er heard of nan brand. However, I've learned that earbuds person travel a very agelong measurement since their early days, truthful moreover chartless brands aliases inexpensive pairs tin drawback maine by surprise.

So, I went into this reappraisal without immoderate preconceived notions.

My experience

As is pinch pairing astir earbuds pinch Android, it was only a matter of unboxing nan OpenRock S2s, opening he case, pulling retired nan earbuds, removing nan protective plastic, putting nan earbuds back, and past waiting for Android to find them, which took each of 20 seconds.

Once paired, I slipped nan earbuds complete my ears and instantly realized really comfortable they were. It's not conscionable nan style and creation but besides nan weight that makes them truthful comfortable. These earbuds measurement only 7 grams each, truthful you'll hardly announcement them.

The OpenRock S2 earbuds connected my ear.

Then came nan important portion of nan trial - nan music. I started retired pinch Messuggah's "Ligature Marks," which was unfair of maine because immoderate opus by that monstrous set tin situation nan integrity of little and mid-range earbuds and headphones.

Instead of continuing pinch that band, I switched to Primus and "My Name Is Mud." Much better. Les Claypool's bass was coming but not overwhelming, Ler's guitar sounded much refined than I thought it would (given nan price), and Herb's drums were bully and tight.

After "Mud," I switched to my favourite trial album, "Signals," by Rush. This is wherever nan OpenRock S2 earbuds didn't precisely shine, but didn't diminish each that much. While I recovered nan midrange was spot on, nan debased extremity lacked immoderate meaning and nan highs weren't precisely crisp. That's not to opportunity nan sound was bad. It's not.

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The S2 earbuds dress up for nan deficiency of bottommost and apical pinch a reasonably decent soundstage, truthful nan instruments aren't glommed together specified that they go indistinct. If you cognize Rush, past you cognize there's ever a batch going connected pinch their music, and nan S2 earbuds didn't muddy things to nan constituent wherever it sounded much for illustration a wall of sound than a trio of nan champion musicians to person ever graced rock's stage.

And though nan debased extremity wasn't precisely move and refined, Geddy's bass was still very clear and agile. If you for illustration your euphony much connected nan thumping broadside of things, these earbuds will disappoint. If your tastes thin to veer much toward's meticulous bass notes, nan S2 earbuds will not let you down.

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The important point to retrieve present is that open-air earbuds are simply not tin of producing nan punchy depths arsenic accepted "in-ear" earbuds. I'm consenting to make that trade-off to debar destroying yet different brace pinch my evil, Xenomorphic sweat.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're progressive and are looking for a brace of earbuds you tin deterioration each time (or astatine slightest during longer activities), nan Openrock S2 open-air earbuds will not disappoint. Are these nan champion $99 earbuds I've ever tested? No. But they are astir apt nan astir comfortable, and nary matter really progressive I get, they enactment successful place. That past facet unsocial makes them worthy buying, particularly if your activities of prime impact a batch of movement.

One past point astir nan S2 earbuds. These don't person a touch aboveground for pausing, skipping, repeating, aliases repeating songs (or answering calls.

There are beingness buttons astatine nan extremity of nan earbud (the portion that sits down your ears), which do make it a spot much challenging to interact pinch erstwhile you're (literally) connected nan run. It takes immoderate getting utilized to, but aft astir 15 minutes pounding nan pavement, I sewage nan bent of it.