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Cleer Audio ARC II SPORT – Out Now!

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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. There is simply not anything else out there that is quite like it. Whether it be commuting to the office, running in the park, cycling, sweating it out in the gym or even hiking in the wilderness. The Cleer Arc II SPORT is available now!

Hear your surroundings, wherever you go

With today’s fast-paced life, Cleer believes there are moments where it is important to hear your surroundings. This is particularly true when it comes to activities such as running, long distance walks, cycling, or an intense gym session. The team at Cleer realised the benefits of hearing your surroundings during these activities, as it not only keeps you connected to the world around you, but is also a safer way to do them while listening to your music/ podcasts.

The new Arc II Sport is an exceptional addition to the Cleer line up. Its improved earhook design, immersive sound performance, and hands-free controls are spot on for today’s active consumer.

Patrick Huang, President & CEO of Cleer

Features

  • Open-ear design with flexible hinge for an all-day comfortable listening experience
  • Lossless audio for truly unrivalled immersive listening with aptX™ Lossless technology, Snapdragon Sound™ certification and LE Audio compatibility
  • Bluetooth Multipoint connectivity. Seamlessly switch the audio input from two simultaneously connected devices
  • Powerful sound with its 16.2mm neodymium drivers with aptX™ Adaptive
  • 6-Axis motion sensor for immersive hands free, head gesture controls
  • Crystal-Clear voice calls with aptX™ Voice technology and wind noise reduction design
  • Charging case with built-in UV-C light to reduce bacteria during the powered charging cycle
  • Intensity-Proof, IPX5 Water-Resistant and Sweatproof
  • 35 hours of total battery life (8 hours, plus 27 hours with the smart charging case)
  • Anti-loss Detection. If you drop an earbud, it will beep to make it easier to locate
  • Cleer+ app for customisable sound performance, battery monitor and a step counter

Treat em’ preen to keep em’ clean

As you can see from the features list, the Cleer Arc II Sport is leading the way with open style wireless earphones and has a bunch features previously unavailable.
One of the most significant changes to the case is the addition of UV-C light that sanitises the earbuds while not in use. How great is that!? Here, Cleer have not only listened to user feedback from their original Arc, but cleerly strive to innovate & deliver the best products and user experiences possible.

Interested?

Available via Hifiheadphones Today!

More news about Cleer and their latest releases here

Brand Story: Cleer Audio

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Cleer Audio is an industry-leading manufacturer of high-performance headphones and speakers. The lifestyle brand has become ever more popular since being founded in 2012. With a passion for uncompromised audio and a cleer, dedicated focus on the design of their products and target audience, Cleer have made a huge name for themselves in the last few years. Their most popular product, the Enduro ANC has consistently won praise since its release and is a great showcase for what Cleer as a brand is, as well as continuing to receive great reviews from those who own it. More recently, Cleer have moved into the “Fitness Audio” niche with products such as the ARC and the Roam Sport ANC. A dedication towards great design, uncompromised features and an incredible price/performance ratio for the end customer only adds to the genuine, authentic experience you get from their products.

Cleer Flow II

About Cleer Audio

Cleer Audio is made up of a team of people that have spent decades in the audio industry. It can be argued that Cleer really got into the mainstream for the first time following CES 2019. With a broad range of product releases to coincide, this foundation is what propelled them into the well known brand they are today. Originally from San Diego, Cleer have become famous for their dedication to building innovative headphones & speakers consumers need and want. As well as continuing to invent things along the way. Cleer believes in elevating and transforming every experience through sound. They create things with intention, anticipating the consumer’s needs before they’re even recognized.

Understanding this is key to understanding their most recent products and gives you an insight into what may come in the near future. Being a lifestyle brand, they want their products to be with you in most memorable moments of your life, “those little aha moments” as they say. With this focus, it is no surprise that they have quality Audio products for all walks of life, from home entertainment, to sport, Audiophile, on the go, casual and everything in between.

Sound has the extraordinary ability to transport us and enrich every moment. It is our quest to pioneer the highest standards of audio and realize its full, future potential through impeccable performance and style.

Own The Moment

Popular Audio Products

As mentioned above, the Cleer Enduro ANC is by far Cleers most famous product (In the UK) and for good reason! It is extremely comfortable yet also compact. The sound signature is perfect for everyday use and the ANC is particularly great for commuting / being on the go. The ambient noise control is another neat feature included in its fantastic price.

For Audiophiles there is the award winning Next and for people who would rather wireless earbuds you have the Ally Plus II.

The design, features and target market are so varied for each of their products that there is sure to be something for everyone. You can find out what is for you here. But one thing remains constant. When you buy a Cleer Audio product, you are also buying into their ethos of “owning the moment” and living life to its fullest. All in style, of course.

Cleer Enduro ANC
Cleer Ally Plus II

Pivot Towards Fitness

In 2022 there was a cleer pivot towards fitness with Cleer’s new releases pitting them against brands such as Beats, Bose and even Adidas. Starting the year with the ARC-Open Ear True Wireless Earbuds, these feature an open ear design with flexible ear hook / hinge design for a comfortable secure fit. They do not go into or cover the ear canal, instead channeling audio directly into your ears. A great idea for those on a morning run or people in general who want to be aware of their immediate surroundings at all times.

Towards the end of 2022, Cleer released the Roam Sport ANC. These sports earbuds are designed and built for those with active lifestyles, and they do a fantastic job at it. With a price of £79.99, these feature packed earphones with full app support mean Cleer are now providing an affordable alternative to the market leader Beats Fit Pro and is definitely one to consider if you need a new (audio based) sports companion.

We are passionate audio lovers devoted to blazing new trails in wireless headphones and smart audio speakers. As champions of functionality and minimalism, we aim to exceed expectations through design and craftsmanship that delivers uncompromising performance and inspires joy.

Cleer Audio Mission Statement

Home Entertainment and Portable Speakers

From the deluxe awarding winning Cleer Crescent to, the wearable neck speaker Halo or the 360-degree alexa enabled room speaker SPACE, Cleer has your speaker needs covered. More recently, they have released the Scene, a water resistant bluetooth speaker that is just destined to be blaring out tunes poolside in the summer. These products show how Cleer are constantly “Owning the moment” by designing and releasing products suited to all walks of life.

Cleer Crescent
Cleer Scene
Clerr Arc

Milestones

Our Top 5 Cleer Audio Product Picks

1. Cleer Enduro ANC – £149.00

The 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 and it has a massive battery life.

2. Cleer Scene Water Resistant Wireless Speaker – £99.00

Enjoy versatile portability with the Cleer Scene Bluetooth speaker that supports up to 12hrs of playback. IPX7 waterproof rated, it also provides you with a high-quality sound experience for any adventure. Scene features a powerful digital amplifier, dual 48 mm drivers, and passive bass radiators to bring mighty sound anytime, anywhere.

3. Cleer Roam Sport ANC – £79.99

These sports earbuds are designed and built for those with active lifestyles, and they do a fantastic job at it. These are feature packed earphones with full app support. An affordable alternative in a very competitive space.

4. Cleer Next – £699.00

The NEXT look and feel decadent and have won many awards for their unique design. they also achieve something rather unique by being true to the brand’s name in that they sound very clear. They are detailed, snappy and very controlled. The look screams decadence and they are incredibly comfortable to wear.

5. Cleer ARC-OpenTWS – £129.00

We all know Cleer are constantly innovating and pushing boundaries with their products. Their latest TWS earphone is the ARC and as you can see above they have a very unique design to them. It is an open style, ear-hook earphone that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to audio. The ARC is superbly suited for sports and fitness users in mind, but are suitable for anyone that wants an open listening experience. With superb sound quality, a solid build, great comfort and a real ease of use, the ARC is reinventing what we have all come to expect from TWS earphones.

Lastest Cleer Audio Updates and News:

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Cleer Enduro ANC Wireless Headphone Review

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The Cleer Enduro ANC are a brilliant portable headphone. They are extremely stylish and comfortable. In addition to a fun and engaging sound, they are a perfect partner for daily use.

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Compact and Comfortable for listening all day

The Cleer Enduro ANC has enough clamp force to sit tightly on your head without being uncomfortable. they would stay on during moderate exercise which is good too.

Cleer’s Enduro ANC is a compact headphone, and they don’t sacrifice the comfort. Whilst wearing the Enduro ANC, I noticed that the earpads are deep enough that my ears are were pressed against the driver. They are soft enough to be comfortable over long periods of time. I really liked the headband, as it is well padded and the weight distributed evenly.

How good are the features?

The Cleer Enduro ANC is a wireless headphone that is compatible with most Bluetooth devices. Cleer has made an app for them too which allows you to fine tune the ANC and Ambient noise control. There is also an EQ in the app along with a battery percentage indicator. The app is available from Google Play and the App Store so both Android and Apple devices are supported.

Call quality is a standout feature here, whether it’s a zoom call whilst working from home, or a phone call when out and about. The microphone quality is superb. I tested it a few times, and the other person could always hear every word with clarity. Another impressive feature for the price.

Huge battery life!

They have a stated battery life of 60hrs with noise cancelling on. This will vary depending on the volume you listen at, but you can expect excellent battery life from them. They have Active Noise Cancelling which works well in environments where you have a constant background noise (like public transport).

They are also closed back, so the passive isolation is already very impressive. Unlike many ANC headphones, the ANC on these doesn’t seem to affect the sound quality. This is quite surprising and very impressive.

The Enduro ANC also has Ambient Noise Control. This allows you to hear your surroundings without taking the headphones off. This works really well if you need to listen out for announcements on public transport or planes, and don’t want to take the headphones off. It could also come in handy for active use where you want to be semi-aware of what’s around you.

The Cleer Enduro ANC come with an Aux to USB-C cable for when you need to use them with a wired device, which is really handy. Overall Cleer have packed a lot in to these headphones. Do they impress when it comes to the actual sound quality?

How do they sound? (the important bit)

Bass

Plenty of punch and extension. There is a definite lift in the bass compared to a neutral tuned headphone, which is ideal for a portable headphone. These are engaging and fun to listen to. You will never lose track of the beat. Yet at the same time it’s not overly emphasised so as to drown out the mids and highs. I really enjoy how full and punchy the low end is, without being bloated. Not something that’s easy to get right in my opinion.

Midrange

Vocals and guitars still cut through the mix. They are slightly recessed overall, with a mild U shaped sound signature. There is enough detail to keep you focussed on the music, and they don’t have a single hint of harshness or peaks in the midrange that could cause fatigue. They are energetic and smooth at the same time, with fun being the best way to describe their presentation. The Enduro ANC has been tuned for you to enjoy the music.

Treble

These don’t do the typical lower treble boost to introduce a false sense of sparkle and energy. They are smooth in their transition from the upper midrange into the treble region. They instead boost it a little farther up the frequency range, which means there is still a great sense of air. Cymbals have good presence, without any fatigue inducing properties. They might roll off slightly early, but the treble presentation is very well done with without any harshness.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Cleer Enduro ANC handles most genres well. Engaging enough for rock, yet punchy and full enough for modern pop and hip-hop. They sound best with genres that are more up-beat.

Soundstaging is average, which is not a problem. They have a more direct and punchy delivery, you don’t need concert hall width for that.

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Cleer Audio Release Arc True Wireless Earbuds

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Cleer Audio Release Arc True Wireless Earbuds – these allow you to enjoy spatial awareness whilst listening on-the-go.

Open ear wireless earbuds do not completely cover your ear, which means that you are still able to hear the world around you. This is often a more comfortable fit. Earbuds that are placed directly in your ear will offer a degree of noise-cancelling functionality, so when it comes to choosing between the two, it will most likely boil down to whether or not you want to hear the outside world. For safety reasons, being able to hear the world around you is a good thing, depending on where you’re wearing the buds of course.

Impressive battery life, water resistance and booming sound are all housed in flexible open-ear true wireless earbuds with a secure fit to ensure that you have the best possible sound experience.

Let’s take a look at some of the features:

• Open-ear true wireless earbuds design with flexible fit to ensure that the earbuds fit comfortable without blocking out environmental sounds.

• Uninterrupted sound by directing high-quality audio into your ear to ensure powerful sound without compromising on sacrificing spatial awareness. You can listen to your favourite music and podcasts while still being in tune and connected to the world around you.

• Durable water-resistant design with IPX4 certified sweatproof and water-resistant rating to help you power through intense workouts. You’ll also never need to worry about a little bit of rain getting in the way of listening to your favourite audio.

• Dynamic audio for powerful sound delivered with ARC’s 16.2mm neodymium drivers, designed to beam audio toward your ears without sacrificing volume and bass.

• Long-lasting battery life is able to last 7 hours on a single charge. The charging-pad integrated carrying case also makes charging your Cleer ARC earbuds a whole lot more convenient.

• Easy to use touch controls make adjusting the volume, playing, and pausing and skipping tracks a lot simpler. You can also use them to take calls and access your phone’s virtual assistant.

• Customizable with the Cleer+ App to personalize controls, update the device and adjust the EQ as well as music playback.

Cleer Release

Pre-Order Now

Cleer Enduro ANC features in Tom’s Buying Guides

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Cleer Enduro ANC :A budget pair of Active Noise Cancelling headphones that is perfect for when you are “on the go”. Toms Guide has labelled them “The best active noise-cancelling headphones in terms of value for money.” The Enduro ANC headphones are packed full of features and designed for comfort. On top of this, they are highly suitable for long listening sessions with their market leading battery life. If you are in the market for a new pair of budget friendly ANC headphones, then these should Cleerly be a frontrunner on anyones list.

The Cleer Enduro ANC are the first noise cancelling headphones with 60 hours of battery life, outlasting the longest flight and epic vacations. With cutting edge Active noise cancellation technology, 40mm patented Ironless Drivers & Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX Adaptive high-quality music streaming. They produce bold and articulate Hi-Res sound. The Enduro ANC uses multiple strategically placed external mics and uses  a feedforward and feedback process that cancels environmental sounds by 25dB, providing tranquility in noisy environments – especially airplanes.  

With limited stocks not looking to ease up any time soon (Look at the recent news headlines). Make sure you check out the full listing and product breakdown/ grab yourself a pair here.

Tom’s Guide really rates Cleer’s Enduro ANC. “How’s this for an ANC headphones bargain: Great sound and a modern and flexible design. Ample features. A useful app. A full set of accessories and the best battery life in its class, all for £149.00? That’s the Cleer Enduro ANC, currently the #1 spot taker on our best cheap wireless headphones list. The Enduro ANC isn’t perfect, but there’s no arguing about the incredible value for money. Cleer’s noise-cancelling headphones are particularly good for travellers, as we got a superlative 50 hours and 15 minutes of ANC playback in our testing.”

You can see the featured buying guides here:

The best over-ear headphones in 2021.

The best noise-cancelling headphones in 2021.

Do not forget to check out all of our reviews and news of Cleer’s products throughout our blog!

Cleer Roam NC wins 1st Place in Forbes Buying Guide

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Cleer Roam NC : A budget active noise cancelling earphone that is perfect for when you are “on the go”. Lets face it, the market is currently flooded with True Wireless earphones. However, most affordable TWS earbuds normally eschew higher end specs. At just shy of £60, the Cleer Roam NC has tried to break this mould by packing as much tech and many features into them as possible for its price point. Cleerly separating them above the rest of the pack.(See what I did there?)

The Cleer Roam NC is fitted with 5.8mm custom tuned dynamic drivers designed by Cleer’s acoustic lab. Their noise cancelling feature blocks noise up to 25dB for distraction free listening. You can control noise cancellation and ambient aware levels and also customize the controls of the buds with the Cleer+ App. The Roam NC offers a new way to experience, afford and own True Wireless earphones with Active Noise Cancelling technology.

Forbes is loving the Cleer Roam NC and has awarded them their best budget choice for Android devices: They conclude with stating “The Clear Roam NC have a dynamic and punchy sound with a tone that is well balanced and with good volume levels. So If you want a pair of ANC earbuds for use with your Android smartphone or tablet. These could be your best bet.”. Check out the full list here: Five Affordable True Wireless Earbuds

Do not forget to check out all of our reviews and new of Cleers products throughout our blog!

Cleer Roam NC reviews

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Cleer Roam NC : A budget active noise cancelling earphone that is perfect for when you are “on the go”. Lets face it, the market is currently flooded with True Wireless earphones. However, most affordable TWS earbuds normally eschew higher end specs. At just shy of £60, the Cleer Roam NC has tried to break this mould by packing as much tech and many features into them as possible for its price point. Cleerly separating them above the rest of the pack.

The Roam NC is fitted with 5.8mm custom tuned dynamic drivers designed by Cleer’s acoustic lab. Their noise cancelling feature blocks noise up to 25dB for distraction free listening. You can control noise cancellation and ambient aware levels and also customize the controls of the buds with the Cleer+ App. The Roam NC offers a new way to experience, afford and own True Wireless earphones with Active Noise Cancelling technology.

Whatgadget’s review of the Roam NC is very matter of fact. Focusing on the price, it’s total weight (55.4 grams!) and their overall functionality. It is an easy read that goes straight to the point. Giving the Roam NC 4.25/5, make sure to read Whatgadgets review in full here: Cleer Roam NC Review

“$59 For All Of THIS?!” – If Videos are more your thing, then do not miss New Stuff TV’s video review – He exclaims how Cleer “manage to cram in ANC, adjustable ambient sound, app support with EQ, full touch controls and brilliant sound I to a a $59.99 price tag!” A video full of worthy puns, if you have a spare 9 minutes it is well worth the watch.

Finally, Jabba reviews has also gone all in on the Cleer Roam NC. Their conclusion “Overall, the Cleer ROAM NC Noise Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds have the natural sound and coherence of a single driver and provide the sort of listening experience that you want on the go. These are clearly an IEM designed for active use, rather than quiet, dedicated listening. They have a V-shaped, fun sound, and feel robust enough to just chuck in a pocket or bag and forget about until needed. A great little product.” You can read their review here.

Finally, there is plenty more information on all of Cleers products throughout our blog!

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

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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

Crescent Smart Speaker awarded ‘Recommended’ by avforums!

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Cleer’s award-winning smart speaker has been thoroughly tested and reviewed by the team over at avforums. Commended for its superior audio and exquisite design, it has even been noted to have “more curves than Kim Kardashian! “

The Google Assistant-powered Crescent supports high-resolution audio streaming, while its beamforming technology features listening experiences such as; Wide Stereo Mode, Room Filling Mode and 3D Immersive Mode. The £699 Crescent in-home Smart Speaker comes equipped with eight 40mm full-range drivers and a pair of 3.3-inch woofers. It also comes with 3.5mm, optical, and ethernet ports, along with support for AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect.

Following on from the “Best of CES 2021“awards, The Crescent smart speaker has finally neared its summit. On full view for everyone to see, the Crescent cleerly showcases Cleers mantra of “Owning the Moment”. With their design team stepping away from the monotonous styling of the modern speaker landscape and creating a beautiful, all-in-one sound system that compliments the interior of any room in the home.

Read avforums review in full here: Cleer Cresent Smart Audio Review

Cleer Craftmanship, Cleer Passion & Cleer Beauty. Look at those Curves!

Click here for full details about the Crescent Wireless Smart Speaker

Cleer Audio Roam NC True Wireless Release

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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

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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.

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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.

Cleer Audio Ally Plus II TWS Announcement

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The Ally Plus II true wireless earphones add improved design, features and sound to its affordable noise cancelling.

Ally Plus II Announcement – Based around custom-tuned 10mm dynamic drivers, Cleer Audio’s latest true wireless stereo earphone, the Ally Plus II, delivers a level of what the company describes as ‘industry leading hybrid noise cancellation’ along with features and performance normally associated with products at double the price.

The Ally Plus II’s Adaptive Noise Cancellation is especially tuned for optimal effect and uses Feed Forward and Feed Back mics to monitor a listener’s surroundings in order to provide the most appropriate suppression of environmental sounds. 

Cleer has also updated its Cleer+ control app which provides further options to customise the ambient noise levels. The app also allows changes to EQ levels plus a custom option to personalise the listening experience even further. 

Moreover, the audio quality is enhanced by Cleer’s custom filters which are applied alongside ergonomic features such as the sound pipe angling the eartip to provide an improved listening experience. Specialised silicon ear tips reduce pressure in the ear canal to make wearing the Ally Plus II for extended periods more comfortable.

Those extended periods of listening are supported by a battery life of up to 11 hours which can be boosted by a further 22 hours of playback which is supplied by the small jewel-box style charging case which offers both USB-C and Qi wireless charging options. There’s also a transparent window in the lid so you can check that your Ally Plus II earbuds are connected and charging correctly.

Call quality comes courtesy of strong wireless connectivity, dual microphones and Qualcomm’s cVc (Clear Voice Capture) 8th generation noise reduction technology which makes chatting on the go clear and easy. 

Available in Midnight Blue and Stone

TechHive awards Cleer Crescent ‘Best of CES 2021’ award

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The Cleer Crescent smart speaker was one of the stars at this year’s CES, and TechHive were quick to award the impressively designed speaker their Best of CES 2021 award

“We’re big fans of Cleer’s Bluetooth headphones (Cleer’s Flow II Bluetooth ANC headphone snagged our Editors’ Choice award last year), so we were pleased to hear that the fledgling home-audio manufacturer is prepping its first smart speaker. Boasting a beautiful crescent-shaped design and equipped with eight 40mm full-range drivers and a pair of 3.3-inch woofers, the Google Assistant-powered Crescent (natch) supports high-resolution audio streaming, while beamforming technology features such listening experiences as Wide Stereo Mode, Room Filling Mode, and 3D Immersive Mode. The $700 Crescent also comes with 3.5mm, optical, and ethernet ports, along with support for AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect.”

Crescent showcases how Cleer’s design team “Owns the Moment”, stepping away from the monotonous styling of the modern speaker landscape and creating an all-in-one sound system that compliments the interior of any room in the home. Crescent will support wireless music streaming from a wide variety of popular services, including Hi-Res file formats.

Available to PRE-ORDER now on Hifiheadphones for £799

Cleer Next Review

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The Cleer Next are soft yet detailed with controlled bass and an honest midrange, the treble does lack some bite though

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Fit and Comfort

The Next are a very well made headphone with a mainly aluminium and leather finish, the arms have good adjustment to fit various head sizes and the earcups are deep enough for most ears. The fit is firm and secure but they don’t clamp overly hard.

Comfort wise I feel the headband could be a little more padded, but the earpads are spacious and soft. They are also a little on the heavier side in terms of weight, which does restrict listening sessions somewhat. Again everyone’s tolerance is different so most probably won’t have too much of an issue with these.

Here’s our pick of the best over-ear headphones of 2020

Compatibility

The Next are surprisingly easy to drive for a full size headphone, whilst I wouldn’t recommend you run them out of a portable device, you definitely can. They do however scale up with more powerful amps and pair well with most solid state desktop amps, having a more detailed and controlled sound. The Next are an open back headphone, more suited to private listening than portable use.

Sound

Bass: The Next have a good amount of body down low, but the impact is always controlled and without any bloat. There’s a bit of a peak in the sub-bass and the mid-bass misses out on a little bit of impact, which renders some kicks a little dry sounding but nevertheless the lows are well controlled and enjoyable. They come out when needed but never overwhelm the overall sound. The lows can handle anything you throw at them, they have excellent timing and never get bogged down with complex mixes.

Midrange: Detailed and open the midrange portrays vocals with great timbre and accuracy, layers are finely separated yet presented as a coherent whole. They are not warmed by any bleeding from the bass, and these give and honest yet detailed portrayal of the midrange. Guitars really do sound great and are really well separated from the vocals, it doesn’t matter what you play through them, this quality remains. Female vocals work well having excellent clarity and detail without any sharpness to them.

Treble: The treble of the Next is notably subdued in the upper regions, compared to the bass and midrange the top end is just a bit flat, there is little energy or sparkle up top leaving them sound a little boring and uninspiring. Snares are snappy, but high-hats don’t have any energy and cymbal crashes get pushed to the background. EQ definitely helps here, and they would suit people who are treble sensitive, but for those used to a brighter or more neutral sound may find the Next a little too polite.

Genres and Soundstaging

The slight dip up top means the Next are fairly versatile but lack a bit of bite during more energetic tracks, they suit genres like acoustic and country well.

Soundstage wise though they are pretty impressive with a well focussed centre image and great layering and space between the rest of the instruments. It’s quite easy to tell where they are placed within the soundstage.

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Conclusion

The Next are snappy and controlled yet they are also a little rolled off in the treble which means they sound a little soft and dull at times. They are not lacking detail, and true to the brands name they sound very clear. Overall they are enjoyable for the treble sensitive listeners but those looking for a bit more energy should look elsewhere.