SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro Review: Open-ear, clip-on buds that finally work for functional fitness
- Harry Smith
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
I went in sceptical about the clip-on design. I came out impressed. On runs and through CrossFit workouts the SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro stayed put, sounded better than expected, and solved a problem I’ve had for years with in-ear buds that never quite fit my ears. If you struggle with AirPods or anything that sits in the ear canal, this design is a breath of fresh air.
What they are, in short
PearlClip Pro are open-ear, clip-on earbuds. They wrap around the outside of your ear rather than sealing the ear canal, so you can hear your surroundings while training.
Each bud weighs about 5.85 g and the frame uses skin-friendly liquid silicone with a nickel-titanium memory wire to keep them stable without pinching. They are IPX5 rated for sweat and showers, run Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and SBC, and charge in a compact case. SoundPEATS quotes up to 6 hours from the buds, 24 hours total with the case, and a 10-minute quick charge that adds roughly 2 hours of playtime.
There is an automatic left and right channel swap in the case, so you can drop either bud in either bay and the earbuds sort it out for you.
Until August 31st 2025 the PearlClip Pro are on offer from $59.99 down to $39.99 and if you want a further 5% off use the code SPPCPPRSP08
Fit and stability for CrossFit, Hyrox and functional fitness
These buds passed the “burpees and box jumps” test. Once adjusted, they stayed put through barbell cycling, wall balls, double-unders and tempo runs. RTINGS’ lab testing backs this up, rating stability highly and noting they stay in place during intense HIIT-style movements, which tracks with my experience. If you are coming from bone-conduction or over-ear hooks, the clip feel is different at first, but once you learn the angle that suits your ears the pressure disappears and you forget they are there.
If you coach or train in busy gyms, the open-ear approach is a genuine win. You can hear the class brief, judge calls, traffic and cyclists when you are outside, and still keep music or a podcast rolling. The IPX5 rating is also great for the sweaty athletes among us and I'm surprised that I found they do not jiggle loose while running.
Sound quality
Open-ear always involves a trade-off because you do not get the bass boost that comes from sealing the ear canal. SoundPEATS leans into a directional driver design with 12 mm dual-magnet drivers and a dynamic EQ in the app. Out of the box the tuning is lively. With the app’s adaptive EQ, low-end punch improves and vocals sit a little more forward. Some reviewers have called out the strong bass emphasis for an open design, while others find the top end a bit bright.
That spread makes sense given small changes in placement can alter the sound. In my sessions the low-end was better than most open designs and plenty for high-energy playlists.
A quick note on expectations. RTINGS’ measurement position finds the PearlClip Pro on the brighter, thinner side for pure music listening compared with sealed in-ears. If you are an audio purist who listens in a quiet room, traditional buds may still win but for training, podcasts and outdoor running, these strike a good balance between punch and awareness.
Battery life
Headline numbers are 6 hours from the buds plus 18 from the case, and a 10-minute splash-charge for about 2 hours. In practice, volume and mode matter. I had no trouble getting through long training blocks and work days without topping up. Independent testing varies, with RTINGS logging shorter continuous runtimes in their standardised loop.
That variance is normal for open-ear sets, especially at higher volumes. Either way, with the case in your pocket you are well covered for a day of on-and-off listening.
Controls, app and features
Controls are touch based with customisation in the SOUNDPEATS app (movie and game modes, EQ). Bluetooth 5.4 pairing is quick, and you can pair to multiple devices which is handy if you bounce between a phone and a watch or laptop. The case’s auto-adaptive left/right channel trick is surprisingly useful when you are rushing out the door.
Call quality
Calls are fine in quiet to moderate environments, but this is not a headset built to battle a noisy gym floor. Some other user feedback mentions a slightly “robotic” tone to your voice on the other end, while others report the mics are clear enough for short calls. My take: good enough for my calls and I had no issues.
What Amazon buyers are saying
The common themes from buyer reviews line up with my experience. Comfort and security score highly, especially for people whose ears do not get on with traditional in-ear tips. Battery life and value for money get regular praise.
On the niggles side, a few users note touch sensitivity and mixed call quality. If you skim the reviews you will see “super comfortable”, “stay in place” and “sound better than expected” pop up a lot.
How they compare
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
The closest premium alternative in the same clip-on format. Better overall tuning, slightly more secure clamp on some ears, and longer quoted single-charge life, but at a very premium price. If you want the fanciest version of this idea and budget is flexible, Bose has the edge. For most athletes, PearlClip Pro delivers the key benefits at a fraction of the cost.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 (bone conduction)
Excellent for outdoor safety and very stable with a headband style. Battery life is longer and they are purpose built for running, but the bone-conduction feel is not for everyone and absolute sound quality lags behind dynamic-driver open earbuds. If your main use is road running or cycling and you like bone conduction, they remain a strong pick.
Sony Float Run
An open-ear over-ear hanger with a bigger frame and very long single-charge life. Great for long runs, less discreet for gym work, and not as pocketable. Sound is clear with decent space, though the form factor is a personal preference call.
Traditional in-ear sport buds
Sealed options like Beats or hook-style buds will deliver bigger bass and better isolation, but you lose outside awareness and some people simply cannot get a comfortable seal. If you are already frustrated with in-ear fit, PearlClip Pro will likely feel liberating.
Pricing and value
SoundPEATS lists them at around $59.99 on its site, and UK street prices have floated in the £40 to £60 bracket depending on promos. At that level, the value is very strong given the materials, app features and the thoughtful clip design.
The AMRAP Antics verdict
For CrossFitters, Hyrox athletes and anyone doing functional fitness, the PearlClip Pro tick the right boxes. They stay put under fatigue. You can hear your coach and the rig around you. Sweat and rain are non-issues. The sound is lively enough to keep you moving and the battery setup suits a typical training day with time to spare. If you have never loved the feel of in-ear tips, these are a fantastic option.
They are not the buds for blocking out a noisy commute, and call quality is fine. If you want premium sound and longer single-charge life in this exact form factor, Bose is better but much more expensive. For the money, SoundPEATS has nailed the brief.
Buy if
You want open-ear awareness with gym-proof stability, you dislike in-ear tips, and you want a wallet-friendly price without giving up useful features like quick charge, an EQ app and multipoint.
Consider something else if
You commute on loud trains and need isolation, you take long work calls every day, or you want the absolute best tuning and are happy to pay Bose money for it.
Little tips to get the best from them
Take a minute to seat the clip so the driver points towards the ear canal rather than behind it. Open the app and run the adaptive EQ once, then nudge bass a touch if you train in noisy gyms. Keep volume sensible outdoors so the directional design can do its job without blasting passers-by.
