Today we’re checking out the Link 20, a unique pair of earbuds from OpenRock priced at $149.99. For its cost, the Link 20 packs impressive features like a detachable magnetic mic, Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity, an IPX7 waterproof rating, and an ultra-lightweight design weighing just 9 grams.
Disclosure: OpenRock provided the Link 20 earbuds for this review, but the company had no influence on the content shared. However, they are currently offering a 30-50% discount through their Kickstarter campaign until November 2nd. Head over to their crowdfunding page for more details.
Table of Contents:
Technical Specifications
The OpenRock Link 20 is a lightweight, open-ear earbuds featuring a pair of 15 mm transducers and Bluetooth 6.0. It has up to 9 hours of talk time or 13 hours of playback on a single charge. The Link 20 is also IPX7 certified and offers 30 meters of range via its Bluetooth 6.0 interface.
| Earphones | |
|---|---|
| Transducer | 15 mm, Dynamic |
| Frequency Response | N/A |
| Impedance | N/A |
| Sensitivity | N/A |
| THD | N/A |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Microphone | |
| Transducer | 4x MEMS, ECM |
| Polar Pattern | N/A |
| Frequency Response | N/A |
| Sensitivity | -38 dB |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 52.03 mm |
| Width | 43.07 mm |
| Height | 17.63 mm |
| Weight | 9 g |
Packaging and Accessories
The OpenRock Link 20 comes in a simple two part packaging.
Scope of delivery are as follows:
- OpenRock Link 20 open-ear earbuds
- Charging case
- Charging cable
- Documentation(s)
Design, Build and Connectivity
The OpenRock Link 20 Open-Ear Sport Earbuds share a similar design with the OpenRock X with the exclusion of the latter’s swiveling joint design. A new feature is the IP55-rated magnetic microphone, which can be attached to either earbud. Each bud houses a 62 mAh battery, delivering up to 13 hours of playback on a single charge.
Unlike the typical touch controls, the Link 20 comes with programmable analog buttons on each earbud. It also includes an extra button for the detachable microphone. On this side, you’ll find the 15 mm driver and a breather hole, from which I assume serves as an opening for the MEMS microphones and/or to provide a relief for the drivers.
The charging case features a sleek pill-shaped design that magnetically secures and charges the OpenRock Link 20 with its built-in 550 mAh battery. It reportedly offers up to 52 hours of playback time. A full charge takes about an hour and a half, while just 5 minutes of charging gives the buds an hour of use.
Ergonomics
The OpenRock Link 20 is light, weighing around 9 grams per earbud. Including the case and the detachable microphone, the total weight remains light at just under 84.3 grams.
The OpenRock Link 20 offers decent fit and comfort, similar to the OpenRock X. However, its design has limited adjustability, lacking a swiveling mechanism, and the detachable mic adds noticeable weight when attached, with no option for adjustment.
Software
The OpenRock Link 20 is compatible with the brand’s mobile app, available for download from the official website, the Play Store, or the App Store. With the app, you can update the firmware and monitor earphone stats like the battery levels of each earbud and the charging case.
Other standout features of the OpeRock Link 20 include button remapping, a volume limiter, multiple preset options, and a simple equalizer. The Link 20 also automatically switches to vocal mode when it detects that your system requires a microphone, such as for meetings and calls. I find it annoying at times so a toggle to turn it off would be nice.
Frequency Response
The frequency response analysis of the OpenRock Link 20 shows that its presets provide unique outputs, a refreshing difference from the presets (or lack thereof) of the OpenRock S2. Music mode stands out as our favorite, delivering an extended bass response compared to the rest.
Overall, the measurements are decent, but like other OpenRock products, there’s a clear dip in midrange energy starting around 600 Hz and extending to 2 kHz. The treble energy is elevated, though this time it comes across as noticeably spicier.
Bass
With Music mode, the bass starts to taper off around 200 Hz and remains mostly within the target curve. Considering the OpenRock Link 20 is an open-ear earbud, the limited sub-bass is understandable.
Mids
The midrange performance is fairly decent, though there’s a noticeable dip between 600 Hz and 2 kHz that affects detail retrieval. On the plus side, it picks up some energy in the 2-4 kHz range, which stays acceptable and avoids being overly forward – neither harsh nor sibilant.
Treble
The treble is noticeably forward, setting it apart from other OpenRock products. This has its pros and cons – it can be highly enjoyable for those who appreciate accentuated percussion instruments but may come across sharp on poorly recorded mixes.
Distortion
The Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of the OpenRock Link 20 remains mostly under 1% across the audible range, except in the bass frequencies, where it exceeds this level and can reach up to 5% at its peak.
CSD
It’s hard to say if it’s reasonable to expect this much lingering energy from the OpenRock Link 20 in the 3 to 4 kHz range, since it’s clearly tied to the measured frequency response in that area. That said, the bass frequency decay is quite manageable, even with the resonance present.
Noise Isolation
The OpenRock Link 20 offers minimal to no noise reduction, and this is completely by design. Its open-ear style is intended to keep you aware of your surroundings, a feature that OpenRock emphasizes heavily.
Microphone
The detachable microphone on the OpenRock Link 20 performs well overall but has some noticeable issues. It tends to emphasize frequencies between 200 Hz and 600 Hz, which can unintentionally amplify distant background noise. The MEMS microphones show similar negative characteristics, although their output is not as flat as the detachable microphone.
Input Lag
Bluetooth input lag usually averages about 224.72 ms and can go up to 387.11 ms, which is personally acceptable in terms of latency.
Final Thoughts
The OpenRock Link 20 offers an impressive, feature-packed choice in the open-ear earbud market. It excels in offering a unique combination of high durability with an IPX7 rating, exceptional battery life (up to 13 hours per charge and 52 hours total with the case), and practical functionality via the detachable magnetic microphone. Having physical, programmable analog buttons combined with a surprisingly versatile companion app featuring button remapping and an EQ makes it even more useful, particularly for active users.
However, the Link 20 is not without its compromises. The open-ear design, while intentional for situational awareness, means virtually no noise isolation, and the audio performance, while decent, has some noticeable quirks – specifically the dip in the midrange (600 Hz to 2 kHz) and a “spicier” treble presentation that can be polarizing. The limited fit adjustability and the added weight from the detachable microphone might make it less comfortable for some users. Most importantly, the high input lag could be a major drawback for competitive gamers.
Ultimately, the OpenRock Link 20 shines as a rugged, long-lasting sport earbud that prioritizes situational awareness and calls over pure audiophile fidelity or low-latency performance. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, a marathon runner, or someone who frequently takes calls while multitasking and needs to remain aware of your environment, the Link 20’s strong feature set and battery life make it a worthwhile investment, especially at the discounted crowdfunding price.
OpenRock Link 20 Open-Ear Earbuds $149
Product Name: Link 20 Open-Ear Earbuds
Product Description: The OpenRock Link 20 is billed as the world's first 2-in-1 open-ear earbuds featuring a detachable magnetic boom mic, making them suitable for both work calls and active use.
Brand: OpenRock
Summary
The OpenRock Link 20 is an open-ear earbud featuring excellent battery life and an IPX7 rating. Key features include a detachable microphone and programmable buttons. It’s a strong choice for active users needing situational awareness and long-lasting quality calls.
Pros
- Exceptional battery life (13 hours per charge, 52 hours total with case)
- Magnetic microphone offers enhanced call quality over MEMS mics
- IPX7 sweat-proof rating
- Feature-rich companion app
- Programmable analog buttons more reliable than typical touch controls
- Lightweight design
Cons
- High input lag not ideal for gaming
- Noticeable midrange dip affects detail retrieval in vocals and instruments
- Limited fit adjustability
