OpenRock S by OneOdio Review
In this review, you'll discover the game-changing OpenRock S by OneOdio, utilizing air conduction tech for immersive sound.
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Affordable headphones with ANC used to be very rare back in the day. Fortunately, thanks to many Chinese brands such as OneOdio, having a decent ANC experience at a lower price is possible. An OneOdio A30 Bluetooth headphone is a worthwhile entry for “would-be” audiophiles to get a taste of Active Noise Canceling before they commit to a high-performance brand such as Bose, Sony, or Skullcandy.
The differences between Bluetooth headphones and TWS earbuds baffle me every time I think about it. Maybe it is because the earbud technology is still in development, and it might be a long time until they can take over the throne as the best audio devices with the best battery life and audio quality. Until that happens, we will have to settle with Bluetooth headphones, and for that reason, what better than the OneOdioA30 as our preferred entry-level ANC Bluetooth Headphones.
In this article, I will review the OneOdio A30 Bluetooth headphones. I will also cover several important topics such as the design, specs, sound quality, battery life, comfort, and many more. This pair is a great affordable option for a newbie looking to experience authentic active noise canceling for the first time.
Table of Contents
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Specs
OneOdio A30 ANC Bluetooth Headphones
The specs on this pair are solid, for the most part. However, (as you’ve already figured out by now.) The most impressive aspect is the insane value. In other words, the price-to-performance ratio that you are getting with this pair of headphones.
- Driver Diameter: 40mm
- Headphone Type: Closed-Back Over-Ear
- Impedance: 32 Q
- Sensitivity: 1000±3dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Headphone Connector: 3.5mm (also includes a 2.0mm airplane adapter in the box)
- Color Options: Black only
- Cable: 3.5mm Aux Cord (for wired option) USB-A to USB-C Charging Cable, Airplane Adapter.
- Headphone Weight: 245g/8.64oz
- Noise Reduction Depth: up to 29dB
- Bluetooth Version: 5.0
- Bluetooth Range: 10m/33ft
- Battery Capacity: 500mAh
- Use Time: 25 hours (BT only, ANC off)
Check out OneOdio A30 on Amazon.
Design
Looks and Build Quality
OneOdio A30 ANC Bluetooth Headphones
At a glance, the OneOdio A30 looks like a stylish and premium pair of Bluetooth headphones. They only come in one color: black, and as of right now, they seem to be doing fine. They don’t look as sleek and stylish as a Bose QuietComfort 45, but they get the job done.
Although they look pretty decent from far away, upon “very” close inspection, I can see that they have a lot of plastic components. Almost everything except the headphone adjusters consists of non-metal materials.
Luckily for us, there is a silver lining to this plastic design. It has made the pair very lightweight and comfortable. As we mentioned previously in the specs, 8.64oz is a slightly less than average weight for headphones, and because of this, they are good enough for long-term wear.
The Left ear cup is where your fingers will be hanging around the most since this side has the power button sandwiched between the volume up and down buttons. Right next to them, you have the status indicator LED. This status indicator LED lights up in white whenever you switch it on. Also, there’s an audio cue to remind you when the headphones power up/down, toggle ANC and run out of battery; I’d say that’s a nice touch. Finally, at the base of the left earcup, we’ve got our trusty 3.5mm port.
The ANC toggle and USB-C port (for charging) are on the Right earcup. Another indicator that lights up green whenever you switch on the ANC. There’s also an audio cue, so you won’t easily miss it.
Comfort and Fit
Despite the plastic design (some may consider cheap and low-quality), the headphones are significantly lightweight and comfortable. Even after using them for more than a couple of hours, you would not have any complaints. These headphones are that comfy.
The headband is well padded, and whenever I put it on, there’s no discomfort or tightness. The cans don’t try to squeeze your head in, and they fit comfortably enough. However, the pads around the drivers can be a bit firm, but it’s nothing too constricting, and you get used to it.
The top of your head doesn’t get too tight because of the Silicon-based headband. On top of that, there’s extra padding in the form of an air pocket on the underside. The headband is adjustable, and they’ve got a numbered scale for the headband adjusters. It’s not a groundbreaking feature by any means, but it adds a nice touch. I don’t have a lot of uses for it, but if you were to share headphones – don’t share headphones unless you clean them thoroughly – you can remember your size and switch back seamlessly.
The only issue you might face — during long periods of use — is the ears getting a little toasty because of the closed-back design. It gets hot inside because they had to sacrifice ventilation to provide better noise isolation. Nonetheless, if your ears get a little hot while wearing these headphones, I recommend you take regular breaks and clean the pads if it gets too sweaty since you don’t want your ears becoming a hotbed for Bacteria and Fungi.
Sound Quality
Audio Out
OneOdio A30 ANC Bluetooth Headphones Buttons
Just like their OneOdio Focus A10, the audio quality on the headphones is not too bad, considering the price. However, if you are looking for top-notch audio quality, this is not the most ideal. Like I said before, this is a great option for starters and experienced audiophiles will immediately realize the state of the audio, especially when ANC is switched off.
Speaking of which, the ANC is not too bad, and there are significant changes that you would experience right out of the box, even for a beginner. However, please note that although ANC is quite successful, it has to compromise on the Bass, which is okay for me, but for “Bass Heads,” this pair might turn out to be a letdown. If you were to EQ these headphones (which I did) it would solve that problem.
A related note – these babies pump volume pretty well for most kinds of music but for quieter genres (such as classical) the ANC will reduce the volume enough to feel like you want it a bit louder, even at 100%.
Another feature – that was slightly disappointing to me – was the white noise/static that was on whenever you pause the audio. This white noise doesn’t bother me that much since I understand it comes with the territory. (of cheap headphones) However, it might be different for others, and I’m just putting it out there.
Also, the noise isolation is not too extreme, and you can hear some background noises clearly after pausing the audio.
Microphone
The microphone isn’t too bad, just what you can expect from a pair of headphones. The microphone is like 3.6 roentgen. (not “great”, not terrible)
By the way, if you are looking for some good gaming headsets, check out this article on the Best Streaming Headsets for Gamers.
What’s in the “f***ing” box?
Here’s what you’re going to find in the box when you buy an OneOdio A30:
- 1 x Pair of Headphones
- 1 x Carrying Pouch
- 1 x Airplane Adapter
- 1 x 3.5mm aux cord
- 1 x USB-A to USB-C Charging cable
- User Manual
The carrying pouch has a faux leather stretchy material. It’s not the strongest, but it will keep your headphones safe from scratches. Unfortunately, it’s not a sturdy shockproof case, so don’t drop the pouch!
What I like about it
- Solid Audio Performance
- USB-C Charging
- Can Suppress Most Low-Frequency Noise
- Great Value for Money
What I don’t like about it
- No aptX support. (only plain-old SBC)
- Bass is not so powerful when ANC is on and the volume lowers a bit
- Sub-Par Audio Quality without ANC.
Verdict
The OneOdio A30 is an innovative budget entry with a significantly good ANC performance. It’s a low-risk investment for beginners who want to get their feet wet with ANC. However, for the audiophiles – on the other end of the spectrum – they could do so much better, especially if they already have a pair of good headphones at home.