Cleer Alpha

The new "top dog" in Cleer's impressive noise-canceling lineup

There's a reason you'll find Cleer Audio headphones on many of my "best of 2023" lists. These well-made headphones offer a great value, delivering balanced, spacious sound — along with many of the popular features you'll get from the bigger, more famous brands. The Alpha headphones are Cleer's new wireless noise-canceling flagship, and right out of the box they appear poised to further cement the company's reputation for delivering the goods.

Unboxing, fit, and feel

I've only had a very brief time with the Alpha headphones, so I'll have more in-depth listening notes later — but they nailed the all-important first impression. The headphones arrived folded neatly in a premium hard case with a pleasant cloth lining. In my hands they felt sturdy, with larger earcups and plenty of cushioning. The build quality was on par with other popular noise-canceling headphones. And they fit securely, stayed in place as I moved, and didn't press too hard or apply too much pressure in any one area of my head.  

High-quality Bluetooth streaming

Music plays wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.1, a newer version of Bluetooth that's stronger and more reliable than previous iterations. The premium aptX® Adaptive format is also supported with compatible devices, helping retain more musical detail. These headphones passed my usual "wireless range" test: I kept my phone on my desk and walked down all the way down the hall without any audio dropouts.

And you can pair to two devices at the same time — a home office game-changer! For example, if you're connected to both your laptop and phone, it's much easier to toggle back and forth between a Zoom meeting and music or calls.

Adaptive noise cancellation

Built-in adaptive noise canceling circuitry scans and monitors external sounds, then adjusts itself accordingly. I'll put it to further testing, but my initial reaction is that the noise cancellation is above average. There are higher-priced headphones that offer more "quiet," but the Cleer Alpha more than satisfies in this department.

These 'phones silenced my basement HVAC system and higher-pitched, less-constant home office noises. Based on their performance, I'm confident that these headphones would work well for air travel.

Wide-open sound with detail and impact

Cleer's patented "ironless" drivers are known for their clarity and large, open soundstage. But when you download the free Cleer+ app to your Apple® or Android™ device, you can extend that soundstage even further. There, you can turn on the Dirac Virtuo™ spatial audio feature and get three-dimensional sound that seems to surround your head.

I'm a staunch, self-admitted fan of "old-school" stereo music — but this was one of the more enjoyable and engaging spatial audio experiences I've had recently. On Bob Weir & the Wolf Bros' Live in Colorado album, percussion and vocals projected in front of me on extended jams like "West L.A. Fadeaway," while the other instruments both subtly and distinctly revealed themselves around me. I never felt like the sound was spread too thin. In fact, the vocal presence, dynamics, and detail were all still there, plus the bass response was actually a little deeper and tighter with the extra room to breathe. 

Ambient mode to quickly hear your surroundings

Clicking the button on the left earcup allows you to toggle between noise cancellation and "Ambient" mode. The latter uses the built-in mics to pick up external sounds and voices, so you can be better aware of your surroundings without removing the headphones.