SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro review: Open-ears that are close to perfect
Pricing at launch – UK £39.99 via Amazon – US $59.99 Amazon – Discounted to $35.99 until 10th March 2025
If you’re considering open-ear earbuds, we suspect you value comfort and situational awareness more than having the deepest bass possible. Walking, jogging commuting etc all often require you to have awareness of what’s going on around you. Well good news, these earbuds actually deliver on both fronts. The SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro blend open-ear listening with some surprisingly premium features. But like any good tech, it’s got a few bumps along the way. SoundPeats are a new brand to us here at DJWORX. But we are glad the Pearlclip Pro’s dropped through the DJWORX letter box.
SoundPeats Pearlclip Pro Corporate shot
Design – Freedom with a clip
First of all, let’s talk about how these earbuds look because SoundPEATS has definitely taken a bit of a different approach to the whole “wearing earbuds without jamming them in your ears” thing. The PearlClip Pro isn’t your average stick it in and go design. Instead, they have a clever, open-ear clip system that rests securely around your ear. They look pretty slick. We were concerned about how secure they would be though, but we needn’t have worried.
They sit around your outer ear and deliver sound in a way that doesn’t block out your environment. So if you’re out jogging or riding a bike, you can still hear traffic. This clip design works particularly well if you’re a fan of earphones that don’t feel like they’re trying to invade your brain via your ear.
However, comfort does come with caveats. The ear clips themselves are made of nickel-titanium wire, so they’re flexible, but they may not be for everyone. Asking DJ Jakx for a second opinion, he found them uncomfortable after an hours usage. And because it’s designed to rest around the ear, you’re also more aware of the physical presence of the earbuds compared to traditional in-ear models. But at least you are conscious if they drop out, unlike many a lost Apple earbud.
These are particularly suitable if you’re one of those people who finds normal in-ear buds annoying because they go too deep into your ear canal, the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro’s open designs might alleviate that feeling for you.
Sound Quality: Big Bass, Medium Mids
The SoundPeats Pearlclips wants you to feel the bass, but in doing so, they may have overcooked it. They more than deliver on the bass front, even more so than some of the original Beats By Dre. With 12mm dual-magnet dynamic drivers, the PearlClip Pro packs a proper punch—ideal for those who enjoy heavy bass. Tracks with booming lows will sound great on these, that’s where their sound quality excels. The mids get overshadowed by that heavy bass. It’s like a group of background singers trying to compete with a lead vocalist who’s a little too loud (@adele at Glastonbury).
For dance music, hip-hop, or even most pop, these will absolutely nail it. If you enjoy a sound that rattles your (Frankie?) bones while you run, the PearlClip Pro will deliver it. If you have found your way to DJWORX but are a classical music expert, then these won’t be for you due to a lack of finer detail. The PearlClip Pro doesn’t really cater to audiophiles looking for a pristine, crystal-clear soundstage. It’s all about fun, punchy beats (no bad thing). Let’s be honest many DJ’s have lost some of that high end audio detection anyway (watch our for our feature on hearing loss amongst DJs coming soon).
What’s also interesting is that despite the bass-forward nature of these, vocals still manage to sound pretty good, they are clear without being swallowed by the low end. Not relevant if you like hard techno, but a positive sign otherwise. Just don’t expect the same level of detail that you’d get from high-end over-ear headphones. It’s still impressive for the price, though, similar to the next best feature, the battery life.
Battery Life: Impressive
On paper, the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro promise 6 hours of continuous playback on a full charge. We could see in testing that using dynamic EQ makes a difference to battery life, but overall that figure held up fairly well. Charging is swift, with just 10 minutes of charging providing up to 2 hours of use, which is great if you forgot to charge them overnight, and more than enough for most occasions (unless you have to use SouthWest Trains to get into London)
The charging case as well as looking and feeling great holds an extra 18 hours of battery, meaning you’re looking at 24 hours of use with the case’s help. Perfect for your running that marathon you’ve been meaning to run.
Build quality
If you’re sweating like a maniac during a workout or caught in the rain these are great earphones. With an IPX5 waterproof rating (whatever that is), these are designed to deal with moisture. They should sell when in Manchester then. While they’re apparently not completely waterproof (don’t expect them to survive a dive into the pool), they handle splashes pretty well. Though they’re built to withstand the elements, avoid getting them drenched or submerging them completely, although that is just common sense really.
Connectivity: Great options, weird app
Thanks to using Bluetooth 5.4, the PearlClip Pro’s offers solid connectivity with your devices. We had no experience of any dropouts in normal usage, and the multipoint connectivity feature worked really well enabling us to juggle between using them with our iPhone and Macbook.
The PeatsAudio app is available for both Android and iOS, giving control over the touch controls and EQ settings. While that sounds nice, here’s the thing: it’s not the most polished app in the world. We found the interface clunky and hard to navigate. Plus, the translations within the app are, let’s just say, interesting. Not exactly a dealbreaker, but it’s something to keep in mind. Of course Apple make this kind of stuff look simple, but it’s not. Soundclip need to up their game in this area, but don’t let this put you off overall, you are a tech expert and can handle it.
Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro Summary
SoundPEATS have done something impressive with the PearlClip Pro. In a sea of cookie-cutter earbuds, these stand out with their open-ear design and attention-grabbing bass. They’re great for workouts, runs, and other activities that the DJWORX audience are likely to find themselves in. But if you’re an audiophile looking for clarity across all frequencies, the PearlClip Pro might leave you wanting a bit more finesse. But you knew already that open-ears wouldn’t provide that anyway didn’t you?
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Pricing at launch – UK £39.99 via Amazon – US $59.99 Amazon – Discounted to $35.99 until 10th March 2025
