Cleer
Cleer is a San Diego-based private consumer audio brand that designs and sells premium wireless open-ear earbuds, over-ear headphones, and smart speakers with proprietary Ironless Driver technology and Dolby Atmos, THX, and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound integrations, targeting fitness, gaming, audiophile, and general consumer segments via direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cleer does
Cleer Audio is a San Diego, California-based private consumer audio brand founded in 2012 that designs, develops, and sells premium wireless headphones, open-ear earbuds, and smart speakers. Its product portfolio spans the ARC series of open-ear true wireless earbuds (ARC 5, ARC 4, ARC 4 Plus, ARC 3, ARC 3 Gaming, ARC 3 Sport Pro, ARC II Gaming, ARC II Sport), over-ear headphones (ALPHA adaptive ANC, ENDURO ANC, ENDURO 100, NEXT audiophile open-back), and wireless speakers (SCENE portable, CRESCENT smart home with Google Assistant), plus accessories. Core technology centers on proprietary Ironless Driver designs (16.2mm in earbuds, 40mm magnesium in the NEXT headphones), an AMOLED touchscreen smart charging case with UV-C sterilization, and integrations with Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, Dolby Atmos head tracking, and THX Spatial Audio certification.
The business model is hardware-driven direct-to-consumer commerce through cleeraudio.com, supplemented by Amazon marketplace listings (e.g., ARC 4 Plus) and authorized U.S. dealers. Products are sold at one-time perpetual purchase price points ranging from $64.99 (SCENE speaker) to $699.99 (NEXT and CRESCENT), with frequent promotional discounting of 15-50% off MSRP. Target customers include fitness and sports enthusiasts, mobile gamers, audiophiles, and general consumers seeking situational-awareness audio and all-day comfort. Strategic partnerships with Qualcomm, Dolby, THX, Google, Apple, and Spotify provide platform-level audio and streaming integrations, while a March 2026 global ambassador agreement with pianist Lang Lang signals premium-brand positioning. The company does not publicly disclose revenue, funding, or headcount specifics beyond a 11-50 employee range, and operates primarily in the U.S. market with global shipping.
Cleer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cleer
- Legal name
- Cleer Audio
- Website
- https://cleeraudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cleer is a San Diego-based private consumer audio brand that designs and sells premium wireless open-ear earbuds, over-ear headphones, and smart speakers with proprietary Ironless Driver technology and Dolby Atmos, THX, and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound integrations, targeting fitness, gaming, audiophile, and general consumer segments via direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cleer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Electronics
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hearables (True Wireless Earbuds & Smart Headphones) (CRACAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wireless Headphones (Over‑Ear & On‑Ear) (CRACANAB), Headphones & Personal Audio Retail (Earbuds, ANC, DACs) (CRACAEAG), Bluetooth & Portable Speakers (CRACANAE)
Keywords
Where Cleer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cleer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Earbud Sales: Primary revenue stream from wireless open-ear earbuds including ARC 5, ARC 4, ARC 4 Plus, ARC 3, ARC 3 Gaming, ARC 3 Sport Pro, and ARC II series. Products are sold at various price points from $77.99 to $259.99 with regular promotional discounts.
- Headphone Sales: Over-ear headphones including ALPHA (adaptive noise cancelling), ENDURO ANC (60hr battery), ENDURO 100 (100hr battery), and NEXT (audiophile-grade). Price range from $74.99 to $699.99.
- Speaker Sales: Wireless speakers including SCENE (portable, IPX7 waterproof) and CRESCENT (smart home with Google Assistant). Prices from $64.99 to $699.99.
- Accessories and Replacements: Replacement earpads for ALPHA, ENDURO 100, and ENDURO ANC headphones, plus USB-C ultra-low latency dongles. Accessories priced from $14.99 to $25.99.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ARC 5 flagship open-ear earbuds with THX certification and 60hr battery |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ARC 4 Plus mid-range open-ear earbuds with Dolby Atmos |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ARC 4 entry-level open-ear earbuds with THX certification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ARC 3 base model open-ear earbuds with touch screen case |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ARC 3 Gaming with ultra-low latency USB-C dongle |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ARC 3 Sport Pro with fitness tracking sensors |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ALPHA flagship noise-cancelling over-ear headphones |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ENDURO ANC noise-cancelling headphones with 60hr battery |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ENDURO 100 wireless headphones with 100hr battery |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | NEXT audiophile open-back wired headphones |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SCENE portable Bluetooth speaker with IPX7 waterproof |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CRESCENT smart home speaker with Google Assistant |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cleer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cleer Audio designs, develops, and sells premium performance wireless audio products for consumers. Its core lineup consists of open-ear true wireless earbuds (ARC series) featuring proprietary Ironless Driver technology and AMOLED touchscreen charging cases, over-ear headphones (ALPHA, ENDURO, NEXT), and wireless speakers (SCENE portable and CRESCENT smart home). Products integrate with Dolby Atmos, THX Spatial Audio, and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound platforms to deliver premium sound quality.
Product overview
Cleer Audio is a performance audio brand based in San Diego, CA offering a diverse portfolio of premium wireless audio products. The product lineup centers on open-ear earbuds (the ARC series: ARC 5, ARC 4, ARC 4 Plus, ARC 3, ARC 3 Gaming, ARC 3 Sport Pro, ARC II Gaming, ARC II Sport) that allow situational awareness during listening, complemented by over-ear headphones (ALPHA with ANC, ENDURO ANC, ENDURO 100, NEXT audiophile) and wireless speakers (SCENE portable, CRESCENT smart home with Google Assistant). Key differentiators include THX spatial audio certification, Dolby Atmos optimization, Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound platforms, AMOLED touchscreen charging cases with UV-C sterilization, and industry-leading battery life (up to 100 hours on ENDURO 100). The ecosystem is managed through the Cleer+ companion app, with accessories including replacement earpads and USB-C gaming dongles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ARC 5 Open-Ear Earbuds Flagship open-ear true wireless earbuds featuring THX Spatial Audio certification, Dolby Atmos optimization with head tracking, Qualcomm S5 platform with aptX Lossless support, AMOLED touchscreen smart charging case with UV-C sterilization, IPX7 waterproofing, and up to 60 hours total battery life. Priced at $219.99 USD MSRP.
- ARC 4 Open-Ear Earbuds Open-ear true wireless earbuds with THX-certified audio, Dolby Audio optimization, 16.2mm drivers for deep bass, IPX7 water resistance, up to 32 hours total battery life with charging case, and multipoint device switching via Bluetooth 5.4. Priced at $99.99 USD MSRP.
- ARC 4 Plus Open-Ear Earbuds Premium open-ear true wireless earbuds with THX certification, Dolby Atmos Head Tracking Spatial Audio, 16.2mm drivers, IPX7 durability, up to 34 hours total battery life, and multipoint device switching. Priced at $129.99 USD MSRP.
- ARC 3 Open-Ear Earbuds Open-ear true wireless earbuds featuring Dolby Atmos optimization, 16.2mm driver with Snapdragon Sound, up to 50 hours total battery life, touch screen smart charging case with UV-C sterilization, IPX7 sweatproof rating, and noise-reduction microphones. Priced at $99.99 USD.
- ARC 3 Gaming Open-Ear Earbuds True wireless open-ear gaming earbuds with Dolby Atmos optimization and head tracking for immersive gaming, ultra-low latency USB-C dongle for connectivity to gaming devices, touch screen smart charging case, and up to 50 hours playback. Priced at $234.99 USD MSRP.
- ARC 3 Sport Pro Open-Ear Earbuds Purpose-built open-ear sport earbuds with secure ear-hook design, built-in SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen and heart rate monitoring, Snapdragon Sound and Dolby Atmos optimization, IPX7 sweat resistance, up to 40 hours total battery life with smart touch screen charging case. Priced at $259.99 USD MSRP.
- ARC II Gaming Open-Ear Earbuds Gaming-focused open-ear earbuds with greater ear hook flexibility, 6-axis motion sensor for hands-free control, IPX5 water and sweat resistance, ultra-low latency USB-C dongle, 16.2mm graphene driver with aptX Adaptive, up to 35 hours total battery life.
- ARC II Sport Open-Ear Earbuds Activity-focused open-ear earbuds with greater flexibility for improved comfort, 6-axis motion sensor for intuitive head gesture controls, IPX5 water and sweat resistance, multipoint connectivity for seamless device switching.
- ALPHA Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Flagship over-ear Bluetooth headphones with adaptive active noise cancellation, 40mm Ironless Driver for distortion-free audio, spatial audio, multipoint connectivity, ambient mode, up to 35 hours battery life. Priced at $249.99 USD MSRP.
- ENDURO ANC Noise Cancelling Headphones Wireless noise cancelling headphones with 60 hours battery life, active noise cancellation reducing noise by 25dB, 2-mic Qualcomm cVc 8th gen noise suppression, 40mm Ironless Driver, multipoint connectivity, and wired mode support. Priced at $149.99 USD MSRP.
- ENDURO 100 Bluetooth Headphones Over-ear wireless headphones with 100 hours battery life, quick pairing with Google Fast Pair 2.0, 10-minute quick charge providing 12 hours playback, wired mode for Hi-Res Audio, and intuitive controls. Priced at $74.99 USD.
- NEXT Audiophile Open-Back Headphones Audiophile-grade wired open-back over-ear headphones with 40mm Ironless Magnesium Drivers, alloy construction with memory foam lambskin earpads, LEMO connectors, frequency response 10Hz-45kHz, designed for uncompromised listening. Priced at $699.99 USD.
- SCENE Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker Portable Bluetooth speaker with IPX7 waterproof rating, dual 48mm dynamic drivers with passive radiators, up to 12 hours battery life, built-in microphone for calls, and bold room-filling sound. Priced at $64.99 USD.
- CRESCENT Smart Home Speaker Premium smart home speaker with Google Assistant built-in, eight 40mm driver array with dual 84mm woofers, beamforming technology, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect compatibility, handcrafted stainless steel grille. Priced at $699.99 USD.
Quantifiable outcome
- ARC 5 offers up to 60 hours of total battery life (12hrs per charge plus case)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cleer
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cleer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
Cleer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Lang LangflagshipCleer Audio announced world-renowned pianist Lang Lang as global ambassador for master sound quality in March 2026. The partnership aligns Lang Lang's artistic mastery with Cleer's advanced audio technology, particularly for the launch of ARC 4 and ARC 4+ earbuds with immersive spatial audio features.
- QualcommcoreCleer products utilize Qualcomm platforms including Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless codec support. The ARC 5 is powered by Qualcomm S5 platform, enabling high-resolution lossless wireless audio streaming.
- DolbycoreCleer earbuds feature Dolby Atmos optimization with head tracking spatial audio. Multiple ARC models including ARC 5, ARC 4 Plus, ARC 3, and ARC 3 Gaming are optimized for Dolby Atmos immersive audio experience.
- THXcoreARC 4 and ARC 5 earbuds are THX Certified and feature THX Spatial Audio. The ARC 4 was the world's first THX certified open-ear true wireless earbuds. THX certification provides dual-tier audio validation ensuring premium sound quality.
- GooglecoreCRESCENT smart speaker features Google Assistant built-in, Google Cast support, and is compatible with Google Home ecosystem. ENDURO 100 supports Google Fast Pair 2.0 for quick Bluetooth pairing with Android devices.
- THX Ltd.coreTHX announced implementation of THX Spatial Audio+ technology with AI-based head tracking in consumer electronics at CES 2026, partnering with Cleer Audio alongside Skullcandy, Hecate, Sunplus, and Razer.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cleer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bose: Bose is a direct premium audio competitor offering wireless earbuds (QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds), over-ear ANC headphones, and portable speakers. Both brands compete head-to-head in the premium consumer audio category with overlapping price points and ANC/spatial audio feature sets.
- Sony: Sony's WF-1000XM and WH-1000XM lines are flagship wireless earbuds and headphones competing directly with Cleer's ARC and ALPHA/ENDURO series. Sony also pursues spatial audio (360 Reality Audio) and audiophile positioning with comparable premium price points.
- Sennheiser: Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless and HD 800 series compete directly with Cleer's ARC earbuds and NEXT audiophile headphones. Both brands emphasize premium audio quality, audiophile heritage, and open-back design variants.
- Beats (Apple): Beats competes in the same premium wireless earbuds and headphones category as Cleer, with strong consumer brand presence and ecosystem integration (Apple W1/H chips). Comparable price points across the Beats Studio Buds and Beats Studio Pro lines.
- JBL (Harman): JBL offers wireless earbuds (Live, Tune, Vibe series), over-ear headphones, and portable Bluetooth speakers in overlapping price tiers to Cleer. Both brands emphasize sport/fitness use cases, IPX ratings, and consumer lifestyle marketing.
- Skullcandy: Skullcandy competes in true wireless earbuds (including open-ear models like Push Active) and gaming audio, with overlapping mass-market price points. THX announced Skullcandy partnership alongside Cleer at CES 2026 for THX Spatial Audio+ technology.
- Jabra (GN Audio): Jabra's Elite true wireless earbuds and Evolve headsets compete with Cleer's ARC and ENDURO lines in the premium consumer and prosumer segments, with overlapping features like ANC, multipoint, and sports variants.
- Bang & Olufsen: Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay earbuds and headphones compete directly with Cleer's premium positioning (e.g., NEXT at $699), with comparable materials, design awards, and luxury audio brand identity targeting the same affluent audiophile consumer.
- Shure: Shure's AONIC true wireless earbuds and SRH over-ear headphones compete with Cleer's audiophile-grade products like NEXT, both emphasizing professional audio heritage, premium drivers, and high-resolution audio support at premium price points.
Broad incumbents
- Anker Soundcore: Anker Soundcore competes broadly across true wireless earbuds, over-ear headphones, and Bluetooth speakers at value-to-mid price tiers. While not a direct premium audio competitor, the scale and pricing pressure from Soundcore impacts Cleer's addressable market in lower-tier price segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cleer social profiles
Digital presenceCleer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Cleer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cleer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cleer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cleer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cleer
What does Cleer do?
Cleer Audio designs, develops, and sells premium performance wireless audio products for consumers. Its core lineup consists of open-ear true wireless earbuds (ARC series) featuring proprietary Ironless Driver technology and AMOLED touchscreen charging cases, over-ear headphones (ALPHA, ENDURO, NEXT), and wireless speakers (SCENE portable and CRESCENT smart home). Products integrate with Dolby Atmos, THX Spatial Audio, and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound platforms to deliver premium sound quality.
Is Cleer a public or private company?
Cleer is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Cleer founded?
Cleer was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cleer based?
Cleer is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cleer make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Earbud Sales are the primary driver. The others are headphone Sales, speaker Sales and accessories and Replacements.
Who are Cleer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, Beats (Apple), JBL (Harman), Skullcandy, Jabra (GN Audio), Bang & Olufsen and Shure. Anker Soundcore is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cleer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cleer.
What industry is Cleer in?
Cleer's product category is Consumer Electronics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAIAD, Hearables (True Wireless Earbuds & Smart Headphones), with a secondary code of CRACANAB, Wireless Headphones (Over‑Ear & On‑Ear). Its NAICS code is 33431 and its SIC code is 3651.