HiFiheadphones

Expert Earphones and Headphones Reviews

Best Wireless Headphones 2023: On-Ear, ANC, Earbuds, Audiophile,

Posted on May 12, 2023 by hifiheadphones

We know how important it is to find the best wireless headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player or computer. For those on a budget, to those who have particular taste / requirements. Below you can see the best of the best wireless headphones and earphones available today. For all budgets and needs, 2023 continues to deliver!

BEST AUDIOPHILE WIRELESS HEADPHONES

1. Final ZE8000 – ANC TWS Earphones £299.00 (Currently on special offer for £199.00!)

Best Wireless Earbuds for Audiophiles. Best Allrounder

Final’s flagship TWS earphone is finally here and a cause for celebration by many audio fans out there. The design is like nothing else out there today. The looks and comfort of these earphones are unique and extremely effective. Add to that a fantastic sound quality that challenges some of the finest wired earphones out there as well as all the bells and whistles you expect from a TWS earphone these days and you have quite the package.

READ MORE: Final ZE8000 Review

2. Campfire Orbit TWS Earphones- £199.00

Best Wireless Earbuds for Audiophiles

Considering you can spend the same on Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and Apple – the Orbit provides audio that surpasses what the other popular brands would only dream of. Yes, you don’t get noise cancelling or fancy app tech with 1,000,000 features. What you do get is a product made by one of the best in the audio biz, and sound that you would normally need to pay over £1000 for…

READ MORE: Campfire Orbit Review

BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES UNDER £100

3. final x Dragon Ball Z – Frieza – £70.00

Best TWS for Audiobooks & TV

Final Audio have collaborated with Dragonball Z to produce 3 iconic and unique models based on main characters. The Frieza model is specifically designed for ASMR content. But it is also perfect for watching movies, animations and videos In general. Absolutely one to consider, if you use your earphones more for Audiobooks/ Movies over music (although they are great at that too!). They are also really small and light, so perfect for those with smaller ears or those who find it difficult to find a pair of buds that are comfortable.

4. SoundMAGIC P23BT Portable Wireless Headphones – £49.96

Best Budget Wireless On Ear Headphones

How do they do it? SoundMAGIC have once again made a killer headphone for a super price. The P23BT doubles up as a headset too with the included cable and boom mic (great for home office or even gaming). In addition, the headphone is lightweight and comfortable. Add into the mixer an incredibly impressive battery life and a simple ease of use and you have got yourself a bargain. They sound full and warm yet never bass heavy. They really do sound incredible and for a Wireless on ear headphone what more could you want?

5. Lypertek PurePlay Z5 ANC True Wireless Earbuds – £99.00

Best Budget All-rounder under £100

Coming hot off the heels of Lyperteks now world famous PurePlay Z3, The Pureplay Z5 has changed the game completely. This is probably the best overall TWS ANC earphone you can buy for £99. They have ANC, Ambient mode, wireless charging, accompanying PUREPLAY ANC app with LDX Audio, sound customisation profiles and more. Add to that a fanstastc sound quality and brilliant mics and you can instantly see why the Z5 has made the cut.

BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES FOR SPORT

6. Cleer Audio Arc II Sport – Open-Ear True Wireless Sports Earphones- £199

Best Running Headphones

Following the runaway success of the Cleer Audio‘s open ear Arc earphones, the Cleer Arc II SPORT has taken the concept of an open wireless earphone to a whole new level. The new Arc II Sport is superior to its predecessor in every single way. It has a longer battery life, a better, even more secure fit with an improved earhook design and supports wireless hands free and head gesture controls for answering calls and the like. This earphone has been designed from the bottom up for those who want to listen on the move while being simultaneously aware of their surroundings. One of the most stand out changes to the case is the addition of UV-C light that sanitises the earbuds while not in use. How great is that!?

BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES UNDER £150

7. final ZE3000 Wireless Earphones – £119

Best Budget Wireless Earphones for Sound Quality

True wireless earphones for the audiophiles and purists out there. The final ZE3000 don’t have many of the bells and whistles. They have no ANC, no ambient mode nor wireless charging. However they were designed from the bottom up for ultimate sound quality and in that they totally succeeded. They also look absolutely fantastic and fit perfectly. What more could you ask for at £119!

8. final UX3000 ANC Wireless Headphones – £119

Best Budget Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones

final have really worked their magic here. Solid build quality, paired with great sound and effective ANC for under £120 is something rarely heard of. Add to that fantastic mic quality and you have an absolute bargain on offer. The final UX3000 can be recommend to absolutely anyone looking for a portable over-ear headphone and you will only see smiles on their faces.

What Our Customers Say:

These are exactly what I wanted from a pair of headphones – good sound quality, comfortable to wear, nicely made and all at a reasonable price!
Ian M 5* Review www.Hifiheadphones.co.uk

9. Cleer Enduro ANC Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones – £149.00

Best Budget Wireless Headphones for Battery Life

The Cleer Enduro ANC is superb value. These wireless headphones have a fun and engaging sound signature that brings music to life thanks to the impressive levels of clarity and punch. The Enduro ANC is comfortable yet compact, and the sound signature is perfect for everyday use. The ANC is great for commuting with a massive battery life and the ambient noise control is a neat feature too.

10. Final x Ultra Seven ZE3000 Ultra Guard TWS – £139.00

Best TWS Brand Merch

Final Audio’s Ultra Seven inspired earphones look and sound the part! They are essentially a re-skinned ZE3000 with a motif of Ultra guard from Ultra Seven. Part of the Ultraman umbrella, this series was first released as a live action television series in 1967! As you can see, the earphone body, charging case, and packaging of these earbuds are designed in the image of the uniform and helmet of the Ultra Guard paying homage and celebrating the 55th anniversary of Ultra Seven. A perfect piece of kit if you are into Japanese culture and want to stand out from the rest of the crowd.

BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES FOR GAMING

11. Audeze Maxwell Playstation/Xbox Wireless Gaming Headphones – £319.00/£349.00

Best Wireless Gaming Headset. Best Wireless Headphones for Battery Life

The Audeze Maxwell is quite literally a masterpiece. After years of relentless innovation building first class gaming headsets, Audeze has finally released the successor to the Penrose, The Maxwell. This is a serious piece of kit for serious gamers (and us casuals too!). An upgrade to the Penrose in every conceivable way, the Maxwells sound quality, wireless performance & battery life (80 Hours!!!) have all been pushed to the limits of possibility. Easily the best wireless gaming headset out there today.

What Our Customers Say:

I loved my Penrose headset and have had the Maxwell for just over a week. It is an upgrade in every single way. I am so happy I pre-ordered it back in December and it really does live up to the hype. The new chassis is really sturdy and has a premium feel to it. The sound is even better than the Penrose, no issue whatsoever with the wireless connections. I am so chuffed and will be using this for years to come. Great job Audeze
Josh Adams 5* Review www.Hifiheadphones.co.uk

READ MORE: Audeze Maxwell Review

Have We Missed Anything Out?

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know…

Lypertek PurePlay Z5 ANC TWS Review

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Oscar

The Lypertek PurePlay Z5 was released in the first half of 2022. This is their first ANC model and what an absolute treat they are. Feature packed & with impressive sound quality to boot. How do they do it for such a competitive price?

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_breakdown=”true”]

Fit and Comfort 9/10

The Lypertek PurePlay Z5 have quite a different design to previous Lypertek models. They have a rounded body and a stem which greatly improves ANC effectiveness along with mic placement for calls. This design also works really well in terms of fit. Even for smaller ears they are easy to put in and get a solid, secure fit for everyday use.

These are really comfortable & super easy to wear for long listening sessions

Comfort wise, once you find the right eartips (and there are plenty included to choose from) they are easy to wear for long listening sessions. This is not only due to the smooth housings but the light weight of the earpieces as well. There are no issues wearing these for a few hours at a time. The Z5 is also an optionl for light sports use due to their comfy and secure fit.

ANC 9/10

The ANC is a huge new feature for Lypertek, and one that works very well. When using these in areas with a constant stream of noise (such as sitting on a train) they do a great job to drown it out. It is easy to toggle on and off with the touch controls or via the app. Lypertek have absolutely nailed it with the Z5.

Purecontrol ANC App 10/10

The app is fantastic and easy to use. It allows the user to also fine tune the earphones to their tastes. With EQ curves (including custom ones), ANC on/off and also an Ambient mode which allows outside noise to be heard. LDX (Lypertek Definition eXpander) mode is also supported on the Z5. It has a dedicated button within the app to turn it on and it works well to enhance the space, depth and clarity of the sound. An absolute must try!

Mic 9/10

The stem is perfect for better microphone placement than normal true wireless designs. Resulting with the call quality on the Z5 being truly excellent. At home or out and about, the other person will hear your voice with great tone and clarity. It goes without saying these are some of the best we have tried when it comes to call quality.

It goes without saying these are some of the best we have tried when it comes to call quality.

Auto Ambient Mode 10/10

Simply one of the best features from the App. This turns ambient mode on automatically when you pause music & is such a handy feature to have. It means you don’t have to take the Z5’s out of your ears to hear people or announcements.

Sound 10/10

The below assessment is with all sound enhancements turned off. You can easily tune the PurePlay Z5 to your tastes with EQ. Not forgetting that the LDX mode is a great one click boost for those wanting and more spacious and engaging sound.

Bass: The perfect amount for out and about listeners in my opinion. These are punchy and fun whilst retaining good body and control. The bass is well controlled and keeps up with complex mixes with ease

Midrange: Open, spacious and natural, the midrange is portrayed in excellent fashion on the Z5’s never sounding drowned out or pushed too far back in the mix. Vocals manage to cut through the mix with great clarity and presence without sounding peaky or harsh.

Treble: Well extended yet not overly hot or in your face. The transition from the upper midrange in to the lower treble is well controlled without any unwanted sibilance. Yet there is still good energy in the lower treble to stop them from sounding dull or dark.

Instrument separation is really impressive, especially for a true wireless model.

Soundstaging and Instrument Separation

There is a good amount of air around instruments and good layering overall. They might not throw out the widest of soundstages but they manage to sound quite airy and open. Instrument separation is really impressive, especially for a true wireless model. these sound very controlled and well separated even when listening to complex music tracks.

Other Notable Features:

IPX4 rating means they’ll be fine for most sports use, but they are not ideal for use in areas of high moisture or heavier rain.
The case has the usual USB-C charging port & also supports wireless charging.
Touch controls – you can modify the touch controls in the app to your liking. But of the box they are fool-proof (2 taps on the right to skip track forwards. 2 taps on the left to skip backwards. 3 on the right for volume up. 3 on the left for volume down. 2s press on either to turn ANC on/off. 1 tap then long press on either to activate voice assistant. 2 taps then long press to manually turn them off).
Safe mode! a touch control configuaration that helps you not to accidently do something you didn’t want to.
Bluetooth 5.2
All the main codecs (AAC, aptX Adaptive, SBC).
Battery life is 7hrs (+28 from the case) with ANC off, and 4hrs (+16 from the case)

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_price=”true”]

Enjoy all things Lypertek? Check out more News and Reviews here

Lypertek SoundFree S20 Wireless Earbuds Review

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Oscar

SoundFree S20 wireless earbuds – Best budget buds

The new budget offering from Lypertek offer up an engaging and fun listening experience. Without forgetting the finer details.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_pros_cons=”true” review_show_breakdown=”true” review_show_price=”true”]

Fit and Comfort

The SoundFree S20 have a smooth inner housing and slightly elongated nozzle, which allows for a great fit with the right eartips. They are not heavy and sit securely. Excellent if you want to use them for active sports use.

Comfort is excellent due to the lightweight design and smooth edges. They also sit fairly flush in your ears and allow for long listening sessions with ease. The angle of the nozzle really does help when it comes to the comfort of these.

Features

The SoundFree S20 has a claimed battery life of 8hrs, with an extra 40hrs from the charging case. I have found this claim to be quite accurate during listening sessions but it is of course volume dependent. The case supports wireless charging and has a USB-C port too. They use Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC and AAC codecs. The S20 is IPX5 rated, this means you can use them in light rain showers. I would not advise taking them swimming or in the shower.

There is a small button on them, placed at the top so you don’t press them into your canals when using it. This button has multiple functions (play/pause/skip tracks/volume up and down), and also allows you to activate ambient mode which allows you to hear external noises. This mean you no longer need to take them out to listen to the outside world. There is a microphone on each earpiece for calls, I found call quality to be acceptable but not a stand-out feature of the S20.

Sound

Bass

Full bodied, punchy and fun is how I would first describe the bass on the S20. However they never become muddy or overblown. There is a subtle lift in the sub-bass and you can easily hear the rumble. Bass is well balanced with good punch and control. Those who found the PurePlay Z3 a little too neutral, will enjoy the extra warmth down low on the S20. Whilst the bass is certainly present and boosted, the S20 don’t sound overly bass heavy or dark.

Midrange

The bass is well controlled, which allows the midrange to cut through with authority and power. Male vocals sound clean without any added body, the detail inherent means you can hear all the emotion present in the vocals without much veil. Female vocals fare equally as well. Without any real peaks in the upper midrange, guitars and vocals are well separated and each have their own space within the soundstage. Overall excellent performance in the midrange, that gives real insight into the recording.

Treble

Clean, precise and ever present the treble thankfully isn’t just an afterthought. Carefully tuned to be there, but without causing fatigue, often the most tricky part of a frequency response yet Lypertek have pulled it off. Yes, for this price you cannot expect the most faithful tonality but thankfully you can cleanly hear cymbal crashes and violins. They are not dull or veiled, instead they are exciting and add a bit of air to the sound, however they are not the most detailed in the treble region (partly due to bluetooth compression).

Genres and Soundstage

The S20 lend their hand to most modern genres, bringing out the best in Rap and Hip-Hop whilst handling heavier rock with ease too. They wouldn’t necessarily be my first pick for classical and jazz, but these are aimed at the active general user and the sound works well for that.

Soundstaging is actually rather impressive for the price and design, whilst not overly wide there is accurate placement of instruments and good layering between them too.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_price=”true”]

Enjoy all things Lypertek? Check out more News and Reviews on our Blog here!

Final ZE3000 True Wireless Earphone Review

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Oscar

We review the Final ZE3000 True Wireless earphones from Final, they have a clear focus on sound quality over gimmicks, all wrapped up in a comfortable yet stylish shell.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_breakdown=”true”]

Design: 10/10

The Final ZE3000 true wireless has an angular design that looks stylish and stands out. The overall look eschews quality. They also come with an interesting finish on the buds and case known as “Shibo”. “Shibo” means crease on paper or leather in Japanese and is used on many cameras. This textured finish is also a great deterrent against fingerprints and other marks.

As expected from final, the build quality is fantastic. The hinges of the case and the USB-C connector are rigid and durable. you can even open and close the lid on the case singlehandedly. The case is very compact, therefore easy to carry around or keep in your pocket. Overall, the ZE3000 feels as unique as it looks and clearly sets itself apart from other earphones in the £120 price range.

Fit and Comfort: 9/10

Final has designed the earphone not to fully enter the canal, but to sit comfortably at the entrance. The comfort is excellent, you really do forget you have them in sometimes, they might not be the smallest earphone out there but the shape and weight does mean they are comfortable to wear for hours on end. They are also good to use for the gym and manage to stay firmly in place and comfortable in your ear, even during intense workouts.

Final E eartips are some of the best in class and widely used by other brands for their earphones. Their TWS E-tips are no exception to this rule of thumb.

Features: 7/10

The ZE3000 do not have ANC or any other the other bells and whistles that come with wireless earphones these days. Instead Final have decided to focus on the audio quality and should be praised for this. Battery life is fairly normal at 7hrs continuous playback, along with an extra 28hrs from the case. More than enough to not be constantly charging them.

The ZE3000 use Bluetooth 5.2 (QCC3040 chip) and support ABC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive. This means you will get the best sound out of these if your device is aptX Adaptive compatible. But even normal aptX is still a step above AAC. The microphone quality is excellent and is perfect for taking calls at home or on the go.

Sound 10/10

Final have focussed on the sound aspect of the ZE3000, giving them a natural yet fatigue free sound signature. The bass is great. It is tight and digs deep when called for but it never sounds like the main focus of the sound. It isn’t bloated or up-front, instead it is happy to just do its thing without drawing attention to itself.

The midrange is also really impressive. It sounds realistic and natural without being pushed forwards. There is loads of detail on offer. Vocals are crisp and well presented, with both male and female sounding excellent. Electric guitars have plenty of crunch, yet acoustics sound subtle and full. They also never sound congested with great layering and space between instruments.

These won’t suit the bassheads out there, but for average everyday listening these are brilliant.

The treble is smooth with that signature Final airiness that brings out a sense of space in recordings that many earphones fail to capture. They are very resolving for such a budget earphone. They extract tons of detail and are very well placed within the soundstage.

Instrument Separation and Soundstaging

The ZE3000 manage to remain well separated and airy throughout. This means they can handle anything you throw at them and still remain open sounding with excellent separation and layering. It is easy to pick out single parts in mixes whilst sounding completely coherent overall.

The soundstaging is really impressive for the price and throws out a broad image that is accurate and realistic. It is wider than many of the more consumer models out there and the airiness in the treble range really helps to add a sense of air to the sound.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_price=”true”]

Enjoyed our review of the final ZE3000 True Wireless? Check out all things Final throughout our blog here.

Cleer Ally Plus II Reviews- True Wireless Earphones that are Cleerly something special

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Ben M.

As you are probably well aware, the Cleer Ally Plus II are a new iteration of the Ally Plus true wireless earphones that were first released back in November 2020. The Ally Plus II now offers wireless charging and a new hybrid noise cancellation feature. It also comes with the Clear+ app used to adjust the EQ and to personalise controls.

The Cleer Ally Plus II have been doing the rounds across the reviewing world over the last few months and are being praised not only for their affordability but also for their excellent audio quality and overall ease of use. If you are in the market for a new pair of True Wireless ANC earbuds, then these are a no brainer for £130!

Coming in two colours, Midnight Blue or Stone, the Cleer Ally Plus II are touted as a perfect companion for on-the-go lifestyles by Jabba Reviews.

What Gadgets 4.5/5 star review points out how Cleer have cleerly thought about the comfort and fit for users of the Ally Plus II. The inclusion of 8 pairs of ear tips, both round and angled makes certain that you will be able to get a good fit and perfect seal. Read their opinion in full here: Cleer Ally Plus 2 True Wireless Review

Mobile Tech Talk comments on the Cleer Ally Plus II having a “a unique look”. Their 4.5 star review can be found here. Mighty Gadgets 9/10 review for the Ally Plus II centers around The Ally Plus II’s “excellent sound quality with a slight bass emphasis, Its Superb battery and the aptX Adaptive.”. A full review from them can be accessed here.

If videos are more your thing then don’t forget to check out an excellent, in depth video review of the Ally Plus II with music and mic samples from Brian Unboxed on Youtube.

Lastly, but by no means least important, our very own in house guru Oscar gives his verdict of the Ally Plus II here

Click here for a full breakdown of the features and specs of the Ally Plus II

Lypertek’s PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earphones raking in awards!

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Ben M.

The best just gets better: Following up with Lypertek’s shortlisting for the reader nominated best Audio Brand of 2021 from Trusted Reviews, Lypertek has continued to gather momentum and prestige among the audio world. The follow up to the original Tevi, Lypertek’s Pureplay Z3 2.0 True Wireless earphoness have been collecting review after review, praising their deisgn, battery life, customisation options via its reputed app and its undeniable affordability. At £99 it is hard to argue that you would get more bang for your buck with anything else.

Tech Radar awards the Pureplay Z3 2.0 their Editor Choice Award ; “Lypertek continues to punch above its weight and outside of its pricing bracket with the PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earbuds, a stellar-sounding and well-priced package.

Trusted Reviews offers Lypertek’s Pureplay Z3 2.0 its very own Highly Recommended Award: “The PurePlay Z3 2.0 are another excellent pair of affordable true wireless from Lypertek, with the new app and features extending its lifespan and adding more value than before.”

Soundphile’s Review puts it bluntly: “If you are in the market for all-round solid earphones with a “mainstream” tuning, these are the ones to get, period.“

This is still only the beginging for Lypertek and their wonderful creations. With their recently released Z7 adding into their ever growing pool of products, we are certain that we will see even more innovation and newer arrivals in the months to come.

For a full features breakdown please watch our video review here or you can read all about them here.

Cleer Audio Roam NC True Wireless Release

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Oscar

Cleer Audio introduce the Roam NC their latest True Wireless Headphones with noise cancellation – certain to shake the competition with impressive features, lightweight design and the most affordable True Wireless pricing yet.

The Roam NC True Wireless Headphone hits the market at a low £59.99, offering consumers a new way to experience, afford and own True Wireless with Active Noise Cancelling technology. Roam NC delivers superior sound for music with 5.8mm custom tuned dynamic drivers by Cleer’s acoustic lab and aptX compatibility, featuring noise cancelling that blocks low frequency noise up to 25dB for distraction free listening.

Users can control noise cancelation and ambient aware levels, set custom EQ levels or choose a preset and customize control with the Cleer+ APP. Roam NC gives users complete control from the earbuds; Play/Pause, control track or volume, or access your voice assistant with simple touch commands.

The new lightweight earbud ergonomic design is sweat resistant (IPX4 rated), fits secure and is built for all-day comfort. Roam NC’s long battery life delivers up to 15 hours of total battery life, 5 hours for earbuds and extra 10 hours charge with the small, pocket friendly charging case. (Case size reduced by 20% compared to Ally).

Available Now

Cleer Ally Plus II ANC True Wireless Earphones

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Oscar

Cleer Audio have released an update to the original Ally Plus, with better sound quality along with improved features this is a great true wireless earphone for the everyday commuter.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_pros_cons=”true” review_show_breakdown=”true” review_show_price=”true”]

Fit and Comfort

The Ally Plus II fit well enough in my ears, they do have quite a large inner housing that houses the driver and a short stem which makes them not as sleek as some other models. Personally I prefer a model with a longer stem as I find they fit better, but these still sit securely in my ears once I settled on the right eartips.

Comfort is good, I do get a bit of pressure on my concha – due to the odd shape of my ears, but for 95% of people out there this design is perfect and provides a secure fit. Once you find the right tips the Ally Plus II are comfortable for long listening sessions and stay put for active usage such as running.

Features

The main feature on the Ally Plus II is ANC – you can switch between a very effective ANC mode and Ambient mode. The ANC is very effective with lower frequency noises, helping drown out traffic and transport noise, making them ideal for commuters that travel by bus, train or plane. Need to hear your surroundings? Just double tap the right side to activate ambient mode allowing you to hear external noise.

The Cleer+ app is really handy too, the app allows you to fine tune the mix between ANC and Ambient sound, by using a simple slider bar. There is a 5-band EQ which lets you tailor the sound to your tastes and you can update the firmware easily too. There is a user manual within the app, along with touch pad controls (you can change what double/triple tap does on the L or R earphone). Overall the app adds an extra layer of functionality, best of all the user interface of the app is super user friendly and easy to navigate.

You can easily control playback via the earphones themselves, double tap the L side to skip track forwards, triple to skip backwards. Double tap the right to switch between Ambient and ANC mode (there is no “off” mode though), volume is done via double tap but on the second tap you press and hold for 1s (Left for volume down, Right for volume up). Play/Pause/Answer calls is done by a single tap on either side.

Codec wise you get SBC and aptX Adaptive – sadly it doesn’t look like there is AAC for Apple users so they will be limited to SBC. Battery life is up to 10hrs with ANC on, and 11hrs with it off. The case provides an extra 20/22hrs playback and a 5 minute charge provides up to an hours playback. Whilst this is far from the class-leaders such as the Lypertek Z3 2.0, it is still more than enough for the average user. The case charges via USB-C but also supports wireless charging which is quickly becoming the norm.

The earphones are IPX4 rated, this means they are good for your average daily use and can survive gym use and rain showers – but you don’t want to submerge them or accidentally take them in to the shower with you.

Mic quality is good when used for calls, again not neccessarily the best in class but a lot better than quite a few true wireless models on the market.

Sound

Bass: The bass on the Ally Plus II is very good for day to day usage, they are a little warm overall with a pleasant amount of body and low-end emphasis. They are not boosted to the point they drown out the rest of the frequency range, however they do have a slight lift which makes them easy yet fun and engaging to listen to. This also helps with outside noise, and when you turn ANC mode on you do notice they increase the low end a little more than with Ambient mode active. The bass is not overly snappy or controlled and is a little slow to react when listening to complex tracks, however modern pop, hip-hop and more mainstream genres are where these shine offering up a bold and punchy sound signature.

Midrange: There is a bit of a dip in the midrange and the bass bleeds in a little, causing male vocals to sound a little too thick and slightly dull. Female vocals lack a bit of bite too, not quite grabbing your attention, there is a veil over the midrange and it is lacking in clarity. Luckily there isn’t anything missing as such, they are just a little too laid back and smooth for my personal tastes, this does however lead to a fatigue free sound. The in-app EQ is quite helpful though, and with a bit of tweaking you can get a bit more from the midrange.

Treble: There is a bit of a dip in the lower treble to ease any sibilance, then there is a bit of a boost immediately afterwards which brings out cymbals quite nicely. There is enough energy but again these lack a certain precision and are not particularly linear in the treble region. They sound quite closed in and lacking air and extension, with a relatively early roll-off.

Genres and Soundstaging

These are tuned to do well with more mainstream genres, so anything pop, hip/hop and slower alternative rock tends to sound fairly good, but they lack the tonal accuracy to bring out the best in acoustic tracks, and lack the speed and control needed for complex metal.

Soundstaging is fairly average, the relatively early roll-off in the treble doesn’t help as this robs the Ally Plus II of some air and space. Whilst they don’t sound overly closed in, they don’t excel in this area either.

Who is it for?

Frequent commuters who need excellent ANC
Active users looking for comfort and a secure fit

Conclusion

The Cleer Ally Plus II are quite a good true wireless earphone, for the price they have some excellent features including great battery life and excellent ANC. When it comes to the sound they have a warm and smooth sound signature that is fatigue free but lacking a little when it comes to clarity. They are easy and fun to listen to, but also a little too dull to really excite you, the app is really easy to use and with a bit of tweaking of the EQ you can easily tune them to your tastes. So if you are looking for a good earphone for noisy commutes or active use the Ally Plus II is a great choice, if you value sound quality over features though, I personally prefer the Lypertek Z3 2.0.

Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 True Wireless Earphone Review

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Oscar