Why I recommend these wireless earbuds to most people – even though they're for gaming

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Why I recommend these wireless earbuds to most people – even though they're for gaming

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • The Cleer Arc 3 Gaming headphones are available now on Amazon for $199.
  • These open-ear earbuds deliver outstanding, rich, and dynamic sound.
  • The Cleer Arc 3 Gaming earbuds aren’t just for gaming because they handle music beauitfully.

I might only be a casual gamer, but I’m a fanatic when it comes to music, and I do love a good pair of headphones and/or earbuds.

When I received the Cleer Arc 3 Gaming earbuds, I placed them in my pile o’ goods to review and forgot about them. When it came time to review them, I pulled them out of the box and thought, “I know exactly how this is going to go.” I usually forgo looking up specs for headphones/earbuds, because I don’t want my opinion to be influenced by price or specs. 

Also: I was skeptical of clip-on earbuds, but Soundpeats’ latest pair made me a believer

I paired the Arc 3 gaming earbuds to my Pixel Buds Pro 3 and tapped play on YYNOT (a very Rush-like group that also covers the greatest band to ever exist). The first sounds out of the earbuds weren’t very inspiring, so I decided to download the Cleer+ App (Android/iOS), and boy, am I glad I did.

My experience

After connecting the earbuds to the app, I dove in and made the following changes:

  • Switched to Music mode
  • Disabled Dolby Atmos
  • Changed the EQ to custom and adjusted it to my usual curve
The Cleer+ app on Android.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

With that taken care of, I went back to YYNOT and hit play, and, wow, was I impressed. What these $200 open-ear earbuds deliver is fantastic, dynamic, and accurate sound, without too much compression or a muddied low end. Instead, you get clarity at both the bottom and the top, with just enough punch and sizzle to bring the music to life.

To my surprise, the Cleer Arc 3 offers a pretty wide soundstage. For example, while listening to “Precious Time” (an original by YYNOT), I could close my ears and hear the guitar traverse from left to right, the bass playing delicately in the center, and the voice drifting around my head like some ethereal presence. 

Also: Why I recommend these DJ headphones to all audio professionals – especially at their price

It was quite lovely. When the song really kicks in, everything converges near the front to have me nodding my head in delight. Don’t let the plain brown box fool you, these aren’t your usual open-ear earbuds. The Cleer Arc 3 earbuds are something special.

I normally switch genres when I test earbuds, but I found YYNOT to sound so good through these babies that I didn’t want to change it up. Even so, I forged on and kicked the tires of a few good genres. Here are my thoughts: Choral music is beautiful and spacious.

  • Djent – chunky and exciting.
  • Prog metal – full of depth.
  • Pop – accurate and exciting.
  • Trip hop – bouncy and deep.
  • Classic rock – heavy and thrilling.
  • 80s – the best (but then, what did you expect?)

Every genre I tossed at these earbuds came to life in ways other earbuds can’t match (especially after a few tweaks within the app).

Also: These Beyerdynamic earbuds delivered glorious sound for any kind of music I played 

Another really cool thing about these earbuds is that they are adjustable. If they don’t perfectly fit your ears, you can extend them (albeit only slightly) to get a customized feel. Then there’s the charging case with a touchscreen that displays the time and allows you to control your music, find your earbuds, configure the case, change the EQ, and more.

Yeah, that’s insanely cool.

ZDNET buying advice

Although these earbuds have a lot of bells and whistles, the clarity of sound sold me on them. I’ve yet to hear a pair of open-ear earbuds that beat the quality of the Cleer Arc 3 Gaming earbuds, and I find them worth every penny.

If you’ve got $200 to spare and you’re looking for a great pair of open-ear earbuds (for gaming or listening to your favorite tunes), don’t sleep on the Cleer Arc 3, because you’d be missing out if you did.

The specs

  • Weight – 12g (per earbud) 130g (both earbuds and case)
  • Driver – 16.2mm Driver
  • Frequency Response – 20Hz-20kHz
  • Headphone Type – Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds
  • Microphonesc – Vc 2-mic Beamforming
  • Inputs – USB-C Ultra Low Latency Dongle, Bluetooth 5.4
  • Audio formats – AptX Adaptive, AptX Lossless, LDAC, SBC, AAC
  • Battery Life – Up to 10 hrs and 50 total hrs with charging case

The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.

CNET: Tariff Pricing Tracker: We’re Watching 11 Products You Might Need to Buy

Headphones and wearable devices, which are predominantly manufactured in these regions, are now subject to tariffs as high as 54% on Chinese imports and 46% on Vietnamese goods. As a result, consumers may see price increases of approximately 20% on these items. 

Manufacturers are exploring options like relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such shifts are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for headphones and wearables due to these trade policies.


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