If you want a dedicated, dialogue-focused TV setup for the gym’s home workout screen, choose Avantree Medley Air; if you need sweat resistance, long total playback, and broader device connections, choose Cleer ARC 3. For most gym use, I’d choose the Cleer ARC 3: it is the more practical workout fit, while the Avantree is built around TV listening and a TV-connected dock.
• Avantree Medley Air’s strength: Speech-focused TV audio, an open-ear fit, and a transmitter-and-charging dock. Trade-off: It needs a compatible TV audio output, and its up-to-8-hour battery is far shorter than the Cleer’s stated total playback.
• Cleer ARC 3’s strength: IPX7 water and sweat resistance, multipoint Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz dongle, and up to 50 hours of total playtime. Trade-off: Its gaming-focused features add controls and connections that may be unnecessary for someone who only wants simple TV listening.
• Choose the Avantree for dialogue-focused TV watching through an optical or AUX connection.
• Choose the Cleer for workouts and switching among a phone, computer, console, or other supported device.
The Avantree Medley Air is a TV-listening setup, not a general-purpose gym headset. Its dock combines charging with a Bluetooth transmitter, and it connects to a TV through an optical or 3.5 mm AUX audio output. There’s no need for Wi-Fi or an app. The open-ear design leaves the ears uncovered, while speech-focused tuning is intended to make dialogue easier to follow without turning up the overall TV volume.
That makes it a sensible choice if you use a compatible TV for shows, news, or movies and want personal audio while staying aware of the room. The listed battery life is up to eight hours at normal volume, and the headphones recharge on the transmitter dock. If you plan to use an optical connection, the TV should be set to PCM or Stereo for optimal sound.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-17 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
I would skip the Medley Air if you want a sweat-resistant headset for gym workouts, multipoint pairing, or a portable charging case for moving between devices. It has no listed noise control, and its fit is not adjustable or replaceable. The band may feel too small for people with larger head sizes, and it protrudes at the back, which could be uncomfortable if you recline. Also check your TV’s connections before choosing it: optical passthrough is supported for other listeners using a soundbar or speakers, but HDMI ARC passthrough is not.
The Cleer ARC 3 is the more versatile open-ear option for a workout routine that involves more than one device. It supports Bluetooth 5.4 and includes a 2.4GHz dongle for compatible gaming and other devices. Multipoint pairing lets it connect to two devices simultaneously, which can help if you move between, say, a phone and a computer. The open-ear design also keeps your ears uncovered, rather than sealing them off from your surroundings.
For gym use, its clearest practical advantage over the Avantree is stated IPX7 water and sweat resistance. Cleer also lists up to 10 hours of use from the earbuds and up to 40 additional hours from the charging case, for up to 50 hours total. The case has an FHD display for settings such as EQ and Dolby sound effects, and touch controls can be customized through the Cleer+ app. Those features suit someone who wants more control over sound and device connections.
The trade-off is that the ARC 3’s feature set is oriented toward gaming and device flexibility, not TV dialogue enhancement through a dedicated transmitter dock. If your only goal is listening to speech clearly from a television, its dongle, app, display, and multipoint options may be more than you need. And while IPX7 water and sweat resistance is relevant for workouts, the available information does not establish that either headset will suit every person’s fit or exercise routine.
• Best for gym workouts involving sweat → Cleer ARC 3. It is listed as IPX7 water and sweat resistant; no equivalent resistance rating is provided for the Avantree.
• Best for dialogue-focused TV listening → Avantree Medley Air. It is tuned to make speech easier to follow without raising the TV’s overall volume.
• Best for longer total playback → Cleer ARC 3. Its stated total is up to 50 hours with the case, compared with up to eight hours for the Avantree at normal volume.
• Best for a simple TV setup without an app → Avantree Medley Air. Its dock connects to a compatible TV, and setup does not require Wi-Fi or an app.
• Best for switching between two paired devices → Cleer ARC 3. Its multipoint pairing supports simultaneous connections to two devices.
• Best for gaming or low-latency connections → Cleer ARC 3. It supports a 2.4GHz dongle and advertises latency under 30 ms.
• Best for sharing TV sound with a soundbar or speakers → Avantree Medley Air, with a limitation. Optical passthrough is supported, but HDMI ARC passthrough is not.
• Best fit for someone who wants app-customized controls and sound settings → Cleer ARC 3. Its Cleer+ app can be used to customize controls, and its case display provides access to settings.
I’d choose the Cleer ARC 3 for the gym because its sweat-resistance rating, open-ear design, and case-supported playback make it the more workout-oriented option. Its multipoint connection and dongle also give it uses beyond exercise. I’d pick the Avantree Medley Air only if my main job for the headphones were TV dialogue through a compatible television. For a buyer searching for the best earbuds for gym use, the Cleer’s stated features are the stronger match.
The Cleer ARC 3 is the clearer gym fit based on the listed features: it has an IPX7 water and sweat resistance rating and up to 50 hours of total playback with its case. The Avantree is designed primarily for TV listening and has no sweat-resistance rating listed.
Yes, if the TV has an available optical or 3.5 mm AUX audio output. For optical connections, set the TV’s audio output to PCM or Stereo for optimal sound. Its dock provides the Bluetooth transmission, so the setup does not require Wi-Fi or an app.
The Cleer ARC 3 lists up to 10 hours from the earbuds, plus up to 40 hours of additional playback from the case. The Avantree Medley Air lists up to eight hours at normal volume; continuous high-volume listening shortens its battery life.
Based on the listed specifications, I’d choose the Cleer ARC 3 for workouts because it is described as water and sweat resistant and includes a charging case. Neither product’s listed details guarantee a particular fit for every person, so the open-ear design and controls are also worth considering.
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