Open-air headphones are becoming more popular for those who prefer to stay aware of their surroundings while still being able to enjoy their music on the go. This style of headphone is becoming the chosen style for a lot of runners or even cyclists. Why well when running especially on the road you are part of the traffic so having a pair of open-ear headphones provides that much-needed spatial awareness while on the go. It’s been about a year since we tested a pair of headphones from US brand Cleer Audio with that being the Cleer Alpha. So, when we got wind that Cleer is launching the Cleer Arc 3 which is an upgrade on the Arc 2 model, we just had to take a closer look.
In the world of open-air headphones, many brands are providing an offering such as industry leaders Shokz, as well as other brands such as Orange Amps, OneOdio, 1More & Bose. Now we can firmly put Cleer Audio into that bracket.
First Impressions
The Cleer Arc 3 comes in two colour options the black with red inside the case or the light pink version. These headphones only got released in the US back in October. They are available for $219.99/ £173 so they will fall in the mid-range price bracket for headphones.
I took these to the gym recently and have been using them as my daily headphones. I have to say these rank very high as the best pair of headphones I have used, especially when it comes to having a workout. They work especially well for audio fans who love high-quality audio from the likes of Tidal and want something different from the passive or ANC headphones on the market.
Unfortunately, I had a mixed experience when using them in loud environments such as waiting on a tube station platform more on this later. If you own a pair of Cleer Arc 2 you will notice similarities in design such as the open ear design with a flexible hinge to ensure a listening experience with maximum comfort. Then here come the upgrades:
- Snapdragon Hi-Res sound Technology – Provides loud but crystal-clear audio.
- Immersive sound with Dolby Audio & Dolby Head Tracking Technology
- 16.2mm Neodymium Dynamic Drivers
- IPX 7 water & sweat proof perfect for both indoor and outdoor activity
- Anti-loss Detection
- Smart Case- The case has been massively upgraded so that it now includes a touch screen, wireless charging, Find My Earbuds technology, Hearing Care, EQ accessible by charging case, Quick access to Dolby Atmos and Dolby head tracking, UV Disinfectant feature and voice control!
Design
If you have owned a pair of open-ear true wireless headphones or even a pair with an over-ear hook design the Arc 3 shares the same design principles. You slide it between your ear and head, and it will find a nook to settle into. The main difference from your traditional pair of earbuds is there is no bud in the ear what you do have is the speaker is on a hinge that fires audio into the ear. They are designed for those who want to maintain a connection to their surroundings instead of being cut off from them.
The Flexible ear hooks are made from a Titanium Alloy and the memory shape means they are effectively made just for you. Add to that the double-layer silicone design which provides maximum comfort for all-day use. The buds are lightweight coming in at only 12g per earbud and the case is 130g. So, putting the case in your pocket you will barely notice it’s there. The Arc 3 is also IPX7 meaning they are both water & sweatproof this is also an improvement on the Arc 2 which only had an IPX5 rating.
Now as mentioned these are great to be used for when going on a run, cycle or hitting the gym. When using these for running you will not have any issues with wind noise even when it’s hitting you full-on in the face. If you need it there is an enhanced anti-wind setting within the Cleer+ app but it’s not something I have felt the need to use.
Now you can also use these when commuting but I found when on a busy train or bus that the public space got a little overwhelming. I felt that it exacerbated the sharp noises when travelling. I could still hear my music, but I was very aware of how loud the sound of travelling was.
Moving to the controls you have a few methods. First up is touch controls with a range of short or long taps they provide the following:
- Play/Pause
- Track Control
- Volume Control
I found the controls to be responsive and they are very easy to use. A press and hold on either bud activates your mobile device’s voice assistant. In addition, to the touch controls there is also a head motion control mainly for when you have a call coming in nod twice to answer the call and shake your head twice to hang up/reject the call.
Finally, the voice control when using the earbuds such as:
- Previous Song/Next Song
- Play Music/ Pause Music
- Volume Up or Down
- Pick Up/Reject Call
In theory, this sounds like a fantastic feature to have but in testing, I could not get this to work properly I got “Previous track” to work but anything else just made me look like a strange guy walking down the road speaking out loud with commands. I will continue to try and get this to work.
Features
I must start with the charging case as this is a massive step up from the Arc 2 model and you could say it’s the star of the show. The case is still quite a slim bar of soap-shaped case that now has an HD display on the front that will have a choice of two screensavers. The screen is a touchscreen that displays each bud battery level and the case battery level when you first wake it up.
Then with a swipe of the touchscreen you will also be able to adjust the brightness of the case display, set a timer, and adjust the EQ from several presets such as:
- Flat
- Rock
- Jazz
- Classical
- Pop
- Sport
- Custom
You can also switch on Dolby Atmos, but this will only work with tracks that are made with Dolby Atmos, and you can also activate the Dolby head tracking technology which is a game changer when watching a film! Why well as you move the audio shifts to stay aligned with the action.
The case also comes with a Find My earbuds feature ideal if you misplaced them at home or in the office, they make a beep to allow you to discover them. Cleer also provides a hearing care mode to protect your ears as it adjusts the level of sound depending on the environment.
Cleer has also come up with a feature that will please anyone who considers hygiene high on your list when buying a pair of headphones. The Cleer Arc 3 comes with a UV sterilisation process to remove any unwanted bacteria which means your headphones are as clean as the first time you put them on.
When it comes to battery level these headphones come with 10 hours from a single charge with the charging case offering an additional 40 hours. I expect this would be at a 50% volume level and having listened to 3 podcast episodes and listened to a full Spotify playlist during the day these lasted all day long and I think over a 3-week period I have charged these twice. The charging case on the Arc 3 also offers wireless charging compatibility and comes with fast charging so by charging for 10 minutes you get 1 hour of playback.
Regarding connectivity, you are provided with Bluetooth 5.4 which in testing provided zero dropouts even in busy train stations where I have suffered many a dropout with other headphone models. You are also provided with the following codecs SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless which support the snapdragon sound. If you want to guarantee hi-res audio use a music service such as Tidal with these headphones. What this gives the user is an ultra-clear wireless audio transmission that reproduces every drumbeat with subtle and rich details.
The Cleer Arc 3 also comes with Bluetooth multipoint perfect for connecting to two devices at once. I found this especially useful as I have a personal & work phone. Regarding call quality, I did have a bit of a mixed experience the vocal quality is ok, but voices can sound a little muffled at a low level which caused it to be a little tricky when used in noisy environments.
The Cleer + App
The Cleer+ app comes with a white and gold presentation. The app shows the percentage of battery life in each bud on the homepage and also comes with the Dolby Atmos switch, head tracking switch, and option for music or movie mode.
The app has options for smart sport EQ, a selection of 7 EQ presets as mentioned earlier in this review, Motion Control, Intelligent Voice Control and also a step count which records the weekly, monthly & yearly number of steps you take. However, considering I have an Apple Watch I feel having this feature feels a little redundant.
Going into the settings of the app there is also an Anti-Loss reminder that is not a Find My feature but will remind one that the headphones might be missing. There is also a sedentary reminder function that is a chime in your ear to tell you to get active.
You also have motion control that if activated if you nod your head, it will answer the call or if you shake your head it will hang up the call/Reject the call. This sounds good in theory but if you’re walking down a busy road on the phone to someone and you look left and right before crossing the road you could hang up on that person by accident so it’s a feature I did not use after the first time of testing.
Sound Quality
The Cleer Arc 3 come with 16.2mm Neodymium dynamic drivers and also has snapdragon sound. What this offers is loud but crystal clear audio and the use of Dolby Atmos takes these headphones a level higher providing an immersive experience. In testing, I found you received a sizable amount of bass with genuine depth and punch that adds to the enjoyment levels of the music you are listening to. This is due to Cleer DBE 3.0 dynamic bass enhancement which produces deeper and more powerful bass. Listen to some hip hop such as Busta Rhymes and there’s a decent variety to the description of bass beats in the track so it doesn’t come across as one-note.
I also found the stereo image that the Cleer Arc 3 produces better than anything I have tested before. It’s big and expansive with a genuine sense of left and right channels along with depth to the soundstage. Cleer Arc 3 also use Qualcomm’s S5 new platform for faster, steadier and better audio sound quality. I can point out the placement of instruments and vocals within the soundstage whereas with other headphones of this type, you sometimes find a fuzzy sense of definition and clarity.
In our testing I did not find the sound from the Cleer Arc 3 lacked any clarity or power throughout the entire audio spectrum. We tested these by listening to a wide range of music genres perfect for testing. I found that Arc 3 performed well across all genres. I also found it well-suited for highlighting percussion and pushing bass without distortion. The treble was somewhat overshadowed by the clear emphasis on bass.
In addition to the sound quality Cleer also provides some technology to help take things to the next level when it comes to sound. First up is the auto adjustment when it comes to sound level based on your environment. Cleer wants to keep your music front and centre so if you down a busy street it will increase the level and when you go into a quiet environment it will dial the volume back down.
Dolby Atmos
The star of the show apart from the charging case must be the Dolby Atmos technology it enhances your music enjoyment to the next level, but you do need to be listening to music created with Dolby Atmos to feel the benefit. I felt having Dolby Atmos made a huge difference you get a more expansive soundstage that makes your audio sound more dynamic and alive. Like watching films on your phone, the inclusion of positional audio, which is more distinct, allows you to enjoy overhead sounds like rain or flying spaceships with greater clarity. If you move the audio also shifts to stay aligned with the action. Its simply an incredible feature that adds to the overall sound quality.
Verdict
The Cleer Arc 3 have been awarded our What Gadget Recommended Award!
The Cleer Arc 3 is simply a game changer they took everything we liked from the Cleer Arc 2 and listened to the consumer about things they wish they could improve and did just that!
They are a well-conceived and executed pair of open-ear headphones with excellent sound thanks to technology such as Snapdragon Sound and the inclusion of Dolby Atmos. They also come with a very comfortable design for long periods of use.
When it comes to the charging case from the previous model they have completely redesigned it. Now offering a range of features such as UV disinfectant feature, HD Display, 50 hours playback, Find My feature, hearing care, and EQ presets that can be changed on the case even with the buds on your ears! You can even adjust the brightness of the case and inside the case, there is even an interior mirror! It is all singing and dancing and takes the charging case to the next level. All these features in the charging case do provide the question do you need the Cleer+ app?
In terms of the headphones themselves, the open-ear hook design of the Arc3 earbuds fits passively without blocking the sounds around you. The hook and hinge design have an improved shape and offer flexibility to improve fit and comfort. The inclusion of the 16.2mm Neodymium Dynamic Driver and lossless audio provide an immersive listening experience. You are provided with Deep bass with a frequency response of 50-40kHz.
Want more Cleer also provides you with spatial audio optimized for Dolby Atmos and Dolby’s head tracking to take your listening experience to new heights. Cleer also provides you with AVC technology (auto volume control) which adjusts the audio level based on your surrounding noise for consistent listening. These headphones really do have so much technology built in its just crazy to think about it.
What could they improve?
Well, I would have to say call quality has to be top of the list if you’re in a noisy environment it was hard to hear the other person. I found the same issue when listening to music in busy environments such as an underground station. The built-in voice assistant was also a feature I struggled but this could just be me instead of the actual headphones.
Would I buy them?
Well, they are the most advanced pair of open-ear headphones due to hit the market. They are packed with technology and offer you excellent sound quality if you are not in too much of a loud environment. The Cleer Arc 3 is available from Amazon.com $219/£173 which for a pair of headphones like these should fly off the shelf.
Product Rating
Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Setup: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Cleer+ App: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Audio Quality: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value For Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall ranking: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars – 4.6 stars
The Cleer Arc III are available for $219.99 from Amazon.com
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