Why These Earbuds Are a Top Pick Despite Mediocre Sound Quality

Introducing the OpenRock Link 20 Earbuds

Summary of Key Insights

Typically, my assessments of earbuds focus heavily on their sound performance, particularly for musical enjoyment. Often, I overlook aspects like battery duration if the audio quality is exceptional.

On rare occasions, however, some earbuds don't hit the mark in sound relative to my standards. When faced with such scenarios, I attempt to uncover their distinct advantages.

This was exactly the case with the OpenRock Link 20. Following the initial setup with my Pixel 9 Pro and playing some tunes, my first impression was one of letdown.

The audio felt too sharp, devoid of depth, flat on bass, and lacked dynamic highs. Yet, I soon discovered their potential might lie elsewhere.

The Case for the Recommendation

My Personal Experience

A notable feature of the Link 20 is its detachable and bendable microphone boom, measuring just under three inches, secured by magnets.

Initially dismissive of this feature, once I acknowledged the music quality was subpar, I reevaluated these earbuds for phone call clarity.

Putting them to the test, I contacted a colleague, informing them of the test, and asked for feedback on call quality. They described it as clear despite some tinny traits.

Switching from the Link 20 to my favored earbuds, I expected praise for the latter. Surprisingly, the initial pair provided clearer communication, which caught me off guard.

Though priced at $149, the sound quality didn't align with other mid-range options, even with the accompanying app's several modes.

Upon further examination of the firmware, a triple-tap can toggle between listening modes, but removing the mic boom was necessary for this to work effectively.

Despite experimenting with the equalizer functionality, I couldn’t enhance audio the way I desired, ultimately opting for their general music setting.

Nevertheless, these earbuds excel where human voices are concerned, making them excellent for conversations and audio content like podcasts.

They particularly stand out for voice clarity, which is significant given the midrange frequency where vocals reside.

Buying Guide and Considerations

For those seeking earbuds primarily for clear phone calls or vocal content, the Link 20 is a recommendable choice.

Though previous choices catered to music, I am now inclined to use the Link 20 for telephone calls due to its superior dialogue clarity.