Cleer Enduro 100 headphones

headphones will. I personally consider active noise cancellation, which tends to negatively affect overall frequency response, low on the features totem pole. I’ve done just fine with regular headphones on planes. If that’s a musthave feature for you, cross these off your list.

SOUND AND COMFORT

I already described the Enduro 100 as sonically pleasing, but to take it a bit further: There’s an ear-saving dip in the mid-range, solid if not spectacular definition in that same range, good top end, and pleasantly exaggerated bass. Pleasant as in not imitating a subwoofer, but bumping tastefully to the level that I, and most of the world, enjoy. That said, the other tester did point out the lack of an “extra bass” switch. Kids.

To me, the Enduro 100 sound as good as anything in their price range, and they’re arguably as good as more than a few much more expensive competitors. I have a lot of capable headsets at this point, and there are none that

I’d rank as supremely better for casual listening.

My only slight issue with the phones was with the fit and overall comfort. The Enduro 100’s stiff headband pressed the cups

PROS

• Super stylish and lightweight.

• Excellent sound.

• Marathon battery life.

CONS

• Not as comfortable as they could be.

• No active noise cancellation (that could easily be a pro in my book).

PRICE

$99

COMPANY

Cleer against my head with a bit too much force for the amount of padding and ear well depth provided. My ears were touching the speaker grills in several spots from the get go. For 20 or so minutes, the sonic goodness reigned, but my outer ears and the top of my head slowly started to take notice.

By way of comparison, the Sony MDRXB950’S that I normally use sit on my ears like butter. The pressure from their band is mild, and the cushions are extra tall and soft, so my ears hardly ever make contact with speaker grill. Hear me, Cleer?

To be fair, the second tester that did a few days testing for me had no issue with the comfort, so humans with smaller heads—or perhaps just more hair—will no doubt find them perfectly comfortable.

BOTTOM LINE

When it comes to style, sonic goodness, run time, technology, features, and price, Cleer absolutely nailed it. They stand out from the crowd, and you could pay a lot more for headphones that don’t sound nearly as good or last nearly as long on a charge. My only mild caveat is the fit, which won’t be an issue for everyone. Buy a pair from a retailer with a good return policy and give them a long listen to find out. ■