Cleer ARC II Sport Headphones Review

Welcome to our deep dive into the Cleer ARC II Sport open-ear headphones. As we explore these innovative earbuds, we’ll walk you through the experience of using them, focusing on their design, sound quality, and unique features. Let's get started!

Unboxing and First Impressions

When we first unboxed the Cleer ARC II Sport, we were immediately impressed by their sleek and polished design. The build quality feels premium, and the earbuds have a modern aesthetic that screams high-end. The charging case features a unique cloth-like finish that adds a touch of sophistication.

Aesthetic and Build Quality

The Cleer ARC II Sport boasts an open-ear design, making them a refreshing change from the typical in-ear options like Apple AirPods. These earbuds rest comfortably on your ears without being inserted into the ear canal, providing a more natural and less intrusive listening experience. We appreciated not having anything jammed into our ears, especially during extended use.

These earbuds weigh 14g each, making them slightly heavier than some competitors but still comfortable. With an IPX5 water and sweat resistance rating, they are well-suited for light workouts and everyday use, ensuring durability even in slightly wet conditions.

Fit and Comfort

We took the Cleer ARC II Sport for a walk and a light jog along a trail, and even brought them to the gym for a strength training session. Despite their bulkier appearance compared to traditional in-ears, we found the Cleer ARC II Sport to be surprisingly comfortable. The earhook style ensured they stayed securely in place during our various activities. However, it’s worth noting that the fit may feel a bit different if you’re used to conventional earbuds, and it might take a little time to get used to. We found ourselves fidgeting with them while acclimating to the fact that they don't actually need to be inserted in the ear.

Sound Quality

The Cleer ARC II Sport headphones feature 16.2mm neodymium dynamic drivers, which are quite impressive. The sound signature is clear and detailed, especially in the mids and highs. However, due to the open-ear design, these earbuds don't deliver the deep bass that in-ear models can provide. We found the bass to be clean and rounded but lacking in sub-bass, making them less ideal for genres like EDM or hip-hop that rely heavily on lower frequencies.

For voice calls and virtual meetings, the Cleer ARC II Sport performed admirably. The built-in microphones with AptX Voice technology ensured clear and crisp voice quality, making them suitable for professional use as well.

While they aren’t suitable for most types of pro audio work, producers and sound engineers can use these as reference headphones to check their mix. The fact that the bass isn't deep or resonant means that your mix has to be dialed in for your composition to sound good on the Cleer ARC II Sport, much like how laptop speakers with typically weaker bass can be used to test the overall balance of a mix.

The Cleer+ App

The Cleer+ app is a nice-to-have feature, offering customizable EQ settings and handling firmware updates. While we enjoyed tweaking the sound profile, the adjustments mostly affect the mids and highs, which is expected given the design limitations regarding bass. The app also provides battery status for each earbud and other useful options, enhancing the overall user experience.

Everyday Use and Battery Life

For everyday casual use, the Cleer ARC II Sport excels in quiet environments. Whether you’re working from home or taking a walk in the park, the open-ear design allows you to stay aware of your surroundings while enjoying your music. However, in louder environments like busy streets or public transport, the lack of sound isolation can be a downside. The earbuds leak sound, and external noises can interfere with your listening experience.

Battery life is another strong point. The earbuds provide up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge, with the case offering an additional 27 hours, totaling up to 35 hours. The USB-C quick charge feature is convenient, providing 1 hour of playtime with just a 10-minute charge. Plus, the case features a UV cleaning function, which is a neat touch we wish more brands would adopt. The lack of an LED indicator on the outside of the case to quickly see the battery status seems like a missed opportunity.

The touch controls took a little getting used to. After a few hours they were fairly responsive, allowing you to manage playback, volume, and calls with simple taps and swipes. However, the motion control, which lets you accept or decline calls with a nod or shake of your head, proved to be too sensitive. We found it too easy to make unintended movements, so we'll be opting not to use this feature.

Bottom Line

The Cleer ARC II Sport open-ear headphones are an intriguing alternative to traditional in-ears, especially if you value comfort and awareness over bass-heavy sound. Their polished design, excellent build quality, and useful features like the EQ adjustments in the Cleer+ app and UV cleaning case make them a compelling choice for casual use in quieter settings.

While we like these and will be wearing them around the house and in the office, we’re still going to stick with our Apple AirPods Pro for gym sessions and other loud environments.