Elevoc Clear NC Earbuds Review (1) – Spanner In The Works
Broadly speaking, there are two distinct types of TWS consumers—the audiophiles, who are all about sound quality, and the gearheads, who prioritize functionality, technological features, and UI. The Elevoc Clear, from Qualcomm-aligned Elevoc, obviously caters to the latter group; its marketing touts its advanced ANC, multiple mics and accelometers and AI voice-capturing technology without even mentioning its musical merits.
Nominally $149, though the street price is as low as $59, the Elevoc Clear are well-built, with high quality plastic buds and an especially durable-looking charging case. I don’t really like the stem-down Airpod-style design (which irrationally reminds me of Rudy Gulliani’s dripping hair dye), and the Elevoc Clear are heavier than some of their counterparts, though comfort is pretty good.
Touch controls are logically laid out and responsive (perhaps overly responsive, as you tend to hit them even with slight adjustment of the buds); however, there is no volume control on the buds, which is a conspicuous omission for this type of product.
Battery life of 5-6hrs. isn’t special, but pairing is immediate and connectivity flawless. Especially since multiple tip choices assure a good seal, the ANC really is exceptional—only the lowest frequencies intrude. Likewise, call quality is as good as advertised—even in heavy winds voices (incoming and outgoing) are crystal clear and background noise is filtered out very effectively.
As a music phone, however, the Elevoc Clear is curiously tuned—it has a syrupy, mid-focused tonality with slow transients and extremely restricted HF range. Low end is presented mostly as midbass, which doesn’t bleed but lacks depth and punch; mids are smooth and somewhat full-bodied but not very realistic-sounding, while high end lacks detail and extension, without a lot of snap or sizzle.
Soundstage is very narrow and constricted—the performers are pushed to the middle of the stage and stereo imaging is vague. The overall effect is inoffensive and not unpleasant—there’s no harshness or spiky frequencies , but for lack of a better term, these sound somewhat Bose-like in that there’s not a ton of low end or high end information—you get the contours of the music without the essence.
Most notably, the volume level, which was more than adequate for calls, was low for music—you need to max these out to really hear them, which undermines their utility for gym, outdoors, etc. Seemingly, this tuning was a conscious choice, as if Elevoc’s target audience merely want unobtrusive background listening in between their Zoom calls. To each his own.
If you need TWS for communication, the Elevoc Clear have their considerable merits—their call technology actually trumps Apple and Samsung at a cheaper price. However, as a musical instrument, these just don’t cut it and, especially with my declining hearing/sanity, would be a pass.
Disclaimer
We received the Clear unsolicited for review purposes from Elevoc. You can purchase them at indiegogo.
