TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
THREE STARS - The Cleer Roam NC wireless earbuds sound pleasantly balanced, but it needs a firmware update to improve controls and add the option to turn ANC off.
Cleer Roam NC specs:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX codec
IPX4 waterproof (splash and sweat proof)
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 2 times
Comes with 5 sizes ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$60 - Buy on Amazon US or other Amazon countries
Below this Cleer Roam NC review, you will find comparisons of the Cleer Roam NC vs Edifier TWS1 Pro, QCY HT01, Mpow X6, and Tronsmart Onyx Apex.
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Design, comfort and battery life
Who likes black anyway? The Cleer Roam NC comes in matte dark grey, giving this affordable pair of wireless earphones a formal look. The case has a very simple design. It's square with rounded corners, a single LED light to indicate the charging the front, and a USB-C connector on the left side. You can easily slide this case into any pocket.
The earbuds come in the same color as the case, and here, the plastics do feel a little cheap. In (my) medium-sized ears, the long nozzles ensure enough grip in the ear canal. If they aren't too thick for your canals, the completely round and compact earpieces are comfortable to wear for hours. If you want to take them out, you're helped by an IPX4 splashproof waterproof rating, which should make them survive sweat and light rain.
The Roam NC lasts around 4,5 hours on a single charge. That's an average score, and it should still be enough juice for average daily use. The case can recharge the buds two times fully afterward, so you may need to recharge it a little more than most wireless earbuds.
Controls and connectivity
Sadly, the controls are a bit of a pain on the Cleer Roam NC. It starts with the limited control options:
Tap L or R to play/ pause music
Double-tap R to skip to the next song
Triple-tap R to return to the previous song
Double-tap L to switch between ANC and Transparency mode
You can switch the commands of the left and right earbuds via the Cleer app, but it's not possible to change or add controls. You won't find volume controls, and it isn't possible to activate the voice assistant on your phone.
The biggest issue, however, is the reliability of the touch panels - or lack thereof. If you change the controls from the app, the earbuds don't always respond to your input, and sometimes, the left and right earbud stop working entirely until you put them in the case again - meaning you'll either lose all noise-cancelling or all track controls. Happily, the solution is simple: don't change the controls.
Other connectivity on the Cleer Roam NC is solid. The Bluetooth connections holds up to 8-10 meters away from your device, and both earbuds pair and connect quick enough. They don't automatically pause music playback when you take a bud out, but you can switch between listening to one or two earbuds - if you want to charge on of them, for example - at any time.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos with the Cleer Roam NC is a breeze. Both on Android and iPhone, you'll encounter flawless synchronization between audio and video, including the challenging YouTube app.
Taking a phone call with the Roam NC is doable. Your voice has a tinny edge with a little echo, and when there is noise around you, the Roam NC compensates so hard for it, it may sound like you're talking into a pillow. At the same time, background noise itself is reduced well. As always, wind noise is your nemesis - battling the clarity in your voice big time.
For video calls like Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings, your voice sounds natural and full... but your voice could have been a little louder.
Cleer Roam NC app quality
The Cleer Roam NC enjoys app support from the free Cleer app for Android and iPhone. It's a simple app that doesn't require too many permissions or an account and comes with some welcome functions:
Update the firmware
Read the manual
Check the remaining battery life of the earbuds
Switch ANC on or off; slide between levels 1 to 10 for a mix of ANC and Transparency
Switch the controls of the left and right earbud
Manually change the sound via a 5-band equalizer
This is where you need to be to turn ANC off
Don't change the controls - your touch pads may not work after
It's easy to tweak the sound
Changes you make are conveniently stored in the earbuds, except for your ANC preference, which resets every time. It's nice to see that earbuds this affordable have app support, although more extensive control options are very welcome.
ANC Noise cancelling test of Cleer Roam NC
The ANC on the Cleer Roam NC is a mixed bag, unfortunately. While the active noise cancelling and transparency modes are usable, there's no easy way to turn it off, which is bad news for outdoor use.
ANC mode quality: Active Noise Cancelling on the Cleer is decent. As it's on by default, the earbuds immediately bring some rest to your head when you put them in. Both brighter and darker tones around you are reduced in volume, although nothing is completely silenced. It's all softer, but you can still hear the constant hiss of traffic in the background, chatter from a little distance, or even a fan running nearby.
Transparency mode quality: This mode, designed to let you hear your surroundings when you need to, immediately reveals and boosts higher tones around you. It makes it easy and doable to hear traffic and chatter around you when you're playing music up to moderate volume.
Wind noise reduction: Unfortunately, both modes let in a terrible, music-crushing amount of wind noise when you're walking in the wind, running, or cycling with these buds - and it isn't possible to turn the ANC off from the earbuds. You can only do so via the app, but that means you have to put in the earbuds, open the app and turn off ANC manually each time you want to commute with these - very inconvenient.
A firmware update that adds ANC off-functionality to the earbuds controls is much needed.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of Cleer Roam NC: balanced
The Cleer Roam NC destroys the idea that affordable noise-cancelling earbuds sound overly bassy or dark. It sounds clearer and livelier than many of its rivals.
The Roam NC has a sweet amount of clarity in the sound. Upper-mids and highs are extended well but roll off before they have a chance to become too harsh or bright. Female and higher-pitched vocals are forward and have plenty of nuances - they're well represented in both their darker edges and higher outbursts, even though the latter can be a bit thin on the highest volumes.
Overall, mid-tones are handled gracefully. It's possible to hear the plucking of guitar strings, resonating of snare drums, or pushing of piano keys in higher quality recordings. Mids sound natural and have a soothing warm undertone, as Cleer boosts the lower-mids a little bit. They may not have an abundance of texture, but drums come with impact, and lower electronic tones are emphasized enough to provide this typical smooth flow to dance songs. There's a wisp of air in the music as well, with good separation between instruments and vocals, and effects coming from your left and right.
Underneath the balanced and easy-on-the-ear mids, lies a bass with a quick pace. It may not sound full or dive deep, but the mid-bass compensates for it by striking fast. The Roam NC makes both electronic basses and acoustic ones - like drums in rock songs - uplifting. If you're looking for stabby, rumbling sub-bass, you're on the wrong address here; but you can add body to the bass with the equalizer from the app.
That said, the Cleer bass is here to support the clarity in the music, further adding to the smooth, balanced, pleasant sound the Roam NC offers.
Cleer Roam NC comparisons
Cleer Roam NC vs Edifier TWS1 Pro
The Edifier TWS1 Pro may be the clearest sounding wireless earphone under 50 dollars, and it extends upper-mids and highs further than the Cleer Roam NC indeed. The Edifier sings in a higher frequency - all vocals and instruments sound brighter on the TWS1 Pro. Higher vocals come with more nuances, there's more air in the sound, pronunciation in instruments and bass, and better separation. But that's not the entire story. As the Cleer puts more effort into the lower mids, mid-instruments like guitars sound more natural on the Roam NC, and with its warmer undertone, the Cleer is easier to listen to as well. The choice then is: ANC and 4 hours of playtime, or ditch the ANC and jump to 11 hours instead?
Edifier TWS1 Pro review ($50)
Cleer Roam NC vs 1more ComfoBuds Pro
Upping your budget from the Cleer Roam NC to the more expensive 1more ComfoBuds Pro may be well worth it. While the 1more has bigger battery life on a single charge, it treats you with clearer phone and video calls, and has the option to turn ANC off. Besides, the noise-cancelling on the ComfoBuds Pro is stronger, ruling out more sounds around you. Both have a balanced sound, yet the 1more dips into the lows more, adding a bit of dynamics to the sound. The Cleer has faster bass.
Cleer Roam NC vs QCY HT01/ Mpow X6
In case size, form factor, and price, the Cleer Roam NC reminds of the QCY HT01/ Mpow X6 a lot. The QCY has a more dynamic sound, with a fuller mid-bass, further boosted lower-mids, and more forward vocals. It's a more engaging listen compared to the flatter and more balanced sounding Cleer. The Roam NC paves the way for center mid-tones, and both vocals and instruments sound clearer, more prominent, more natural. The Cleer has stronger ANC, although the QCY leaves out wind noise better. Phone calls and taking the earbuds out of the case are easier on the Cleer as well.
QCY HT01/ Mpow X6 review ($50)
Cleer Roam NC vs Tronsmart Onyx Apex
With volume controls on the earbuds, slightly longer battery life, better microphone output, and the option to turn ANC off, the Tronsmart Onyx Apex is a more versatile pair of ANC earbuds around the same price. The Cleer sounds clearer - what's in a name - than the Tronsmart, with more emphasis on upper-mids and highs. The Onyx Apex has a more dynamic and warmer sound, with fuller bass and lower mids. The Apex also pushes vocals further forward, but leaves other mids unattended. As the Cleer picks these up better, it sounds flatter and more balanced - but the Tronsmart is more engaging.
Verdict
The Cleer Roam NC is comfortable and has a balanced and pleasant sound, but it desperately needs a firmware update that adds an ANC-off function for outdoor use, and more reliable touch controls.
Three stars - worth considering
Buy Cleer Roam NC:
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