Fresh n Rebel Clam Ace 2 Review: Worth the Hype?

I've been reviewing headphones for the better part of three to four years now, and there's always something genuinely exciting about discovering a brand I'd never heard of before. Fresh n Rebel wasn't on my radar at all until a pair of their Clam Ace 2 headphones landed on my desk in True Blue. Full transparency here: I received these headphones for free, but everything you're about to read is my honest, unfiltered opinion. They don't get a free pass just because they were a gift.

Based in Rotterdam—the city that gave us so many legendary techno anthems—Fresh n Rebel clearly has a different vibe from the usual suspects in the headphone market. But can a relatively unknown Dutch brand really compete with the established players? That's what I set out to discover.

How I Tested the Clam Ace 2

I don't do superficial reviews. When headphones arrive, they become part of my daily routine for weeks, not days. The Clam Ace 2 went through the full gauntlet: connecting to my iPhone 15 Plus, my Google Pixel 9A, and my MacBook Air to see how seamlessly they'd integrate into my multi-device ecosystem. Connection speed matters—nobody wants to waste five minutes with Bluetooth when you're trying to get work done.

Indoor testing happened at my desk during long work sessions. I needed to know: does the audio quality hold up during focused work? How effective is the Active Noise Cancellation when you're trying to block out household distractions? Can you actually wear these for hours?

Outdoor testing in the south of England's winter weather was particularly revealing. Wind noise is the silent killer of many otherwise excellent headphones, and I specifically wanted to see if Fresh n Rebel's wind noise cancellation actually worked or if it was just marketing fluff. I also tested the touch controls while walking, made phone calls to check microphone quality, and pushed the battery life to see if those impressive numbers were real or aspirational.

The app experience matters too. I've used enough clunky, frustrating headphone apps to know that a poor app can ruin otherwise great hardware. Finally, I watched YouTube and Netflix on my laptop, checking for any audio delay—because nothing's more annoying than watching someone's lips move a half-second before the sound catches up.

Unboxing: First Impressions Matter

Let's talk about that packaging. I'm a sucker for brands that actually care about the unboxing experience, and Fresh n Rebel absolutely delivers here. This isn't one of those minimalist Apple-style boxes that screams "we're too cool to give you information." Instead, you get a funky, information-rich package that tells you exactly what you're getting.

Inside, the Clam Ace 2 sit snugly in the box itself, but there's a separate small box containing the carrying pouch—and it actually looks really cool the way they've packaged it. It's not a hard case, but a nicely detailed soft pouch that feels premium for the price point. The user guides are well-presented and actually useful, not just generic safety warnings in seventeen languages. But here's my favorite detail: the USB-C charging cable matches the True Blue color of the headphones. It's a small touch, but it shows Fresh n Rebel sweats the details. Most brands just throw in a generic black cable and call it a day.

Build Quality and Comfort: Plastic That Feels Premium

The True Blue colorway is genuinely striking. It's bold without being garish, and the Fresh n Rebel branding on the headband arch feels understated and sophisticated. I particularly love the volume control wheel—it's one of those features that sounds minor until you actually use it, and then you wonder why every headphone doesn't have one. The clickable button controls on the earcups have a satisfying tactile response that makes you confident you've actually pressed something.

Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, these are plastic headphones. But here's the thing—they don't feel cheap. The build quality genuinely punches above the sub-€100 price point. They feel more premium than they have any right to at this price, with a solidity that suggests they'll survive being tossed in a bag regularly.

Comfort is where the Clam Ace 2 really surprised me. The earcup padding is superb, soft and generously cushioned. I wear my Edifier ES850NB headphones every day, and I can honestly say the Clam Ace 2 are more comfortable. That's not something I expected to write. The design is clean and modern, with just enough personality to stand out without looking like you're trying too hard.

The App Experience: Simple But Powerful

Connecting to both my iPhone 15 Plus and Pixel 9A was refreshingly painless. No wrestling with settings, no mysterious connection failures—just quick, straightforward pairing. The app setup was equally smooth, and here's where Fresh n Rebel really impressed me: the My Sound app is genuinely well-designed. It's cleaner and more intuitive than what I've experienced with Edifier, Tozo, or QCY. Everything feels deliberately placed, not like someone just threw features at a screen and hoped for the best.

The standout feature is Audiodo Personal Sound from the Swedish company Audiodo. It's a clever concept: you take an audio test, and the system creates a personalized equalizer based on your unique hearing profile. The test is straightforward, but I'll admit something funny happened during mine. I occasionally suffer from tinnitus, and during the test, I genuinely couldn't tell if certain sounds were coming from the Audiodo test or from my own tinnitus. It was a bit disorienting, but ultimately, the system created a profile that works brilliantly for me.

Sound Quality: The Big Test

Fresh n Rebel makes a bold claim: "The Clam Ace 2 aren't just another pair of headphones—they're the ace of sound." That's a serious marketing statement, especially for headphones that cost under €100. They're clearly positioning these as mid-range, not budget, so they need to deliver.

And here's the truth: they absolutely do.

The Clam Ace 2 can get very loud without distortion, and the sound signature is warm and punchy in a way that's genuinely pleasant. The active noise cancellation is shockingly good—way better than many headphones I've tested at this price point, and honestly better than some that cost considerably more. The wind noise cancellation also works surprisingly well, which is not something I can say about most headphones I've used in the blustery south of England.

The app offers several equalizer presets, but I found myself gravitating back to the default setting. For my listening habits—a mix of jazz, indie pop, and indie rock—the default tuning just worked. But here's where things get interesting: once you've created your personalized sound profile through the Audiodo hearing test, you can choose the right setting to listen to your music the way it was intended. It's a genuinely great feature that compensates for the unique way each of us hears different frequencies. As I mentioned in the app section, it works brilliantly for me—the difference is subtle but noticeable, bringing out details I hadn't caught before.

The combination of good sound quality and exceptional comfort means I can happily wear these for hours without fatigue, either physical or auditory.

Watching YouTube and Netflix was flawless, with no perceptible audio delay. The Clam Ace 2 don't feature high-resolution audio codecs like LDAC, which is worth noting. Honestly, if you're an iPhone user, this doesn't matter at all. But if you're on Android and you're the type of person who obsesses over having the absolute best audio quality your device can deliver, this might be a dealbreaker. For the vast majority of users, though, the sound quality is more than sufficient.

I'm not typically the guy who makes phone calls on headphones, but I did test the microphone quality. According to my wife, I came through loud and clear on her end—and on my side, I heard her perfectly too. Things never change! The dual ENC microphones genuinely work as advertised for call quality.

Who Are These Headphones For?

Visit the Fresh n Rebel website, and it becomes immediately clear these headphones are aimed at a younger audience. The vibrant colors, the playful design language, the rounded earcup shapes—all of it screams youth culture. And you know what? That's perfectly fine.

Here's the thing, though: I'll be 52 in a few weeks, and I still feel genuinely young at heart. I love the vibe. I love the aesthetic. And the fact that Fresh n Rebel is based in Rotterdam—the birthplace of so many iconic techno tracks that defined my clubbing years—makes them an automatic winner in my book.

If you want headphones that look distinctive, sound excellent, offer outstanding battery life, and don't require you to take out a loan, the Clam Ace 2 are absolutely for you. They're perfect for students, commuters, travelers, or anyone who values style alongside substance.

However, if you prefer a more conservative, corporate design aesthetic, if you need high-res audio support, or if you want minimalist branding that whispers rather than speaks, these might not be your headphones. And that's okay—not every product needs to appeal to everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the battery actually last? Fresh n Rebel claims 100+ hours with ANC off, and 60 hours with ANC on. In my testing, these numbers are legitimate. You can genuinely go weeks between charges.

Can you use them while charging? Yes, the USB-C cable supports audio passthrough, so you can use them wired if needed.

Are they good for phone calls? The dual ENC microphones work well. Call quality is clear, though very windy conditions can occasionally cause issues.

Do they fold for travel? Yes, they have a foldable design and come with a carrying pouch.

How's the multipoint Bluetooth? It works seamlessly. I regularly switch between my iPhone and MacBook without any hassle.

The Verdict

The Fresh n Rebel Clam Ace 2 headphones genuinely surprised me. I went in expecting decent mid-range headphones from a brand I'd never heard of, and I came away impressed by nearly every aspect. The sound quality is warm and engaging, the active noise cancellation punches well above its price class, the comfort is exceptional, the app is well-designed, and the battery life is phenomenal.

Yes, they're plastic. Yes, they lack high-res audio codecs. Yes, the design skews younger. But for €99, you're getting headphones that compete with models costing significantly more. The attention to detail—from the color-matched charging cable to the thoughtful packaging to the Audiodo personalization—shows a brand that genuinely cares about the user experience.

Are they perfect? No. But they're remarkably good at what they do, and they do it with personality and style. For anyone looking for excellent headphones without the premium price tag, the Clam Ace 2 deserve serious consideration. I've been genuinely happy using them as my daily drivers, and that's the highest compliment I can give.

Rotterdam, you've created something special here.

You can buy the Clam Ace 2 directly from Fresh n Rebel here: https://freshnrebel.com/clam-ace-2/3hp4310tb/

Jerome