Overview

The Cleer Arc II Sport targets fitness users who want situational awareness while listening. Launched in 2023, these open-ear hook earbuds use a 16.2 mm neodymium dynamic driver and are rated IPX5. Claimed battery life is 35 hours total (8 hours earbuds + 27 hours case). Connectivity is modern: Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless, Multipoint, and LE Audio under the Snapdragon Sound umbrella. The case integrates UV-C light sterilization, and a 6-axis motion sensor enables head-gesture controls. [1]

Scientific Validity

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Open-ear designs face fundamental acoustic limits: with no ear-canal seal, low-frequency extension and isolation are inherently poor. Third-party lab measurements of a comparable open-ear model report low-frequency extension ≈118 Hz and large bass deficits (e.g., low-bass ≈−37.7 dB vs. target), with near-zero passive isolation, which is consistent with the physics of this form factor. [6] For the Arc II Sport specifically, independent reviewers also note that the ultra-low bass is the primary compromise of the design. [8] We could not locate credible third-party measurements of THD, crosstalk, or dynamic range for this model. Given these constraints, scientific validity remains limited.

Technology Level

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The implementation is competent and current rather than groundbreaking. Bluetooth 5.3, Multipoint, LE Audio, aptX Adaptive/Lossless, and Snapdragon Sound are all up-to-date platform features. The 16.2 mm driver is sensibly sized for open-ear beaming. The UV-C case and head-gesture controls add convenience but do not improve core audio performance. Overall, solid engineering with few novel advances. [1][3]

Cost-Performance

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At 190 USD, cost-performance is weak. A cheaper competitor, the Soundcore C30i (69.99 USD), delivers equivalent open-ear functionality for many users: open-ear clip design, Multipoint, Bluetooth 5.3, 10 h single-charge / 30 h total, and IPX4 water resistance (one step below IPX5). CP = 70 ÷ 190 = 0.37 → 0.4. In practice, you pay nearly 3× for Cleer’s nicer materials and extras without commensurate measured performance gains. [4]

Reliability & Support

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Cleer provides a 1-year limited warranty on the Arc II Sport (parts and labor). [9] IPX5 should be adequate for sweaty workouts. The simple mechanical design should help durability; long-term failure-rate data is still scarce for this specific product. Firmware updates exist via the Cleer+ app; cadence and long-term support policy are unspecified. The UV-C hardware adds a potential failure point without durability upside.

Rationality of Design Philosophy

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Prioritizing awareness and comfort for workouts is sensible, and the hardware choices match that brief. Marketing emphasis on “high-quality audio” is tempered by unavoidable open-ear acoustic trade-offs. Pricing appears driven more by positioning and feature garnish than measurable audio improvements.

Advice

Choose Arc II Sport if you explicitly need open-ear awareness for workouts and accept bass and isolation trade-offs. If you want similar utility for far less, Soundcore C30i (69.99 USD) is the value pick. A mid-priced alternative with strong ecosystem support is Shokz OpenFit Air (119.95 USD). [4][5]

References

[1] Cleer Official – Arc II Sport product page, https://cleeraudio.com/earbuds/arc-ii-open-ear-sport-earbuds/ , accessed 2025-09-02
[2] Serious Insights – “Cleer Audio ARC II Sport Review”, https://www.seriousinsights.net/cleer-audio-arc-ii-sport-review/ , accessed 2025-09-02
[3] Crutchfield – Arc II Sport overview/specs (aptX Lossless, LE Audio, Multipoint), https://www.crutchfield.com/p_242ARC2SPB/Cleer-Arc-II-Sport-Black.html , accessed 2025-09-02
[4] Soundcore Official – C30i product page (price/specs), https://www.soundcore.com/products/c30i-a3330-clip-earbuds , accessed 2025-09-02
[5] Shokz Official – OpenFit Air product page (price/specs), https://shokz.com/products/openfitair , accessed 2025-09-02
[6] Rtings – Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (open-ear measurements: bass & isolation), https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/bose/ultra-open-earbuds-truly-wireless , accessed 2025-09-02
[7] Cleer – Arc II Quick Start Guide/Warranty (UV-C, basics), https://cleeraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CLEER_ARC-II_QSG-WARRANTY_20230310-v7-Copy.pdf , accessed 2025-09-02
[8] HomeTheaterReview – “Cleer ARC II Sport Open Ear Wireless Headphones Review”, https://hometheaterreview.com/cleer-arc-ii-sport-open-ear-wireless-headphones-review/ , accessed 2025-09-02
[9] Cleer – Warranty information (1-year), https://cleeraudio.com/warranty/ , accessed 2025-09-02

(2025.9.2)