I really enjoy my Calmer by Flare. They help manage noise in crowded spaces, traffic noise when driving or walking (without compromising safety), and the annoyance of loud talkers and chewers. They do... See more
While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more
To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more
Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Company details
Information provided by various external sources
Founded in 2010 by British inventor Davies Roberts, Flare Audio spent its formative years as a pro audio manufacturer and hire company. Flare re-invented the loudspeaker, drawing praise from music industry luminaries including Jimmy Page, Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley and producer ‘Flood’. The company’s big innovation and mission is to minimise all types of distortion and it has developed several patent-pending technologies to achieve this. This ‘pure sound’ technology is now available in a range of award-winning earphones. In 2016, Flare launched Isolate®, its first sound-reducing product which used solid metal to block, rather than absorb sound. This innovation exceeded all expectations attracting over £2million in crowd funding and was followed up with Sleeep® ear plugs. Flare now ships to over 170 countries world-wide and has over 2 million likes on Facebook. Despite rapid growth the company maintains a strong customer focus. Flare’s team is dedicated to rethinking sound technology ‘from the ground up’, pushing boundaries and continuing to achieve exciting developments in audio innovation.
Contact info
Unit 11, Chartwell Business Centre, 42 Chartwell Rd, BN15 8FB, Lancing, United Kingdom
- 01903 761000
- info@flareaudio.com
- www.flareaudio.com
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 40% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 48 hours
How this company uses Trustpilot
See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.
What a product
After reading every review I could find I took a chance and ordered a set. Well the set arrived!
The packaging is of high quality paper, comes with a little carrying case that feels top notch. At home I have a busy family, I put these in and what a subtle difference, they fit well and are comfortable. I removed them after an hour and I could feel myself less relaxed than before - its hard to explain kinda like taking a warm comfy sweater off, not only did it keep you warm but it provides comfort.
I have since ordered more products to pass around to a few folks at work.
Package didn't arrive
Package didn't arrive. Rang them and they apologised, and sent another pair, on an enhanced postage at no extra charge. That's how to run a company. Spot on 👍
Brill product
Never received my package
Never received my package. No answer whatsoever when I try to contact them. Money out the window.

Reply from Flare Audio
Works exactly how it's supposed to!
I want to let you know that despite my minor concerns, I do use my Calm buds more days than I do not, and miss them when I forget them at home.
They are in no way a miracle solution and a door slammed is still a sudden & loud noise, often indicating that there is a person in the vicinity who is having strong negative emotions, a car horn is still jarring when I'm crossing a busy intersection etc. and these or other sudden loud noises will set me on edge. I do not at all expect Calm buds to wipe out all upsetting sound! If I want that, there are plenty of sound blocking earbuds & headphones on the market. What they do is exactly what they claim to, which is take the edge off of sounds. This does benefit me when, say, I am trying to focus on a task in a noisy office environment where I need to remain aurally aware.
As for fit, I believe the main issue is my ears' quick production of wax. As long as I cleanup my ears throughout the day, my Calm buds stay put. I sometimes even forget I am wearing them. As I have continued to use them, I have noticed when they are less comfortable it tends to be on days where all sensory input is difficult for me (I experience sensory processing disorder). This leads me to believe the issue originates in my brain, and is not actually a fault in the Calm buds.
I have also noticed I tend to talk a little louder when I have them in.
Infuriating customer service
Absolutely infuriating customer service. I ordered their top of the line earphones and the frequency response is entirely different depending on which cable you use, via bluetooth I find them unlistenable. They refuse to send me a replacement bluetooth cable (although bizarrely sent me two extra in-ear devices) and insist on me posting them back to them, which I'm reluctant to do as their last solution made no difference, and it's extra time, money and hassle. They also refuse to give me a refund. Some of my emails took 20 days to receive a reply, and the messages back have been mixed to say the least. The whole thing is so frustrating, I just want to return them for a refund. Flare if you're listening, please let me do this finally and I'll delete this review.

Reply from Flare Audio
Waste of money. Complicated returns.
Very complicated to use return their products as you have to return it to UK.
Their products doesn't works well.
Calmer and Sleeep are ear plugs I tried. And it is waste of money.
Their customer service is not service minded at all.
I have noise sensitivity so was looking…
I have noise sensitivity so was looking for some earplugs that can reduce sharp sounds that make me want to rip my ears off. I was toying between these and the loop earplugs. I bought these as they were cheaper and had seen good reviews on them.
The first time I put them in, I couldn't hear a difference at all. I messaged them on Instagram and sent them photos of them in my ears to make sure they were fitted correctly. They were and I was told I had to wear them for a while to let my ears adjust.
I have now had them for about a week and have worn them whilst at work (in a pub), at uni, and out and about especially whilst food shopping.
They definitely soften the sounds around you. When I've got them in, and then take them out, I can hear the difference and everything sounds softer.
I will point out though that everything is still clear. I can hear everything as I normally would, just slightly softened (only noticeable when I take them out).
I like them for this use, however, I was expecting them to slightly reduce the volume of the sounds around me, which they do not do.
I'm going to try the loop ones as well I think as I believe I need both for different occasions.
No change to the sound..
No change to the sound... Had big hopes for these, but disappointed. Wanted to return them, but shipping from Norway is ~10£, so no point.
Flare Ears: terrific!
Got a pair of the newest Flare Ears IEMs via Indiegogo.
My personal experience is a mixed bag. Tried them first with my Hidizs AP 80 Pro X portable digital player and frankly speaking they didn’t sound that great. Lots of sub bass, bass (kickdrums) muffled and middle not so airy and transparent.
Paired them to my Topping E30 desktop DAC and Beyerdynamic A20 desktop headphone amplifier and I was stunned. Deep bass and clear mids all extremely well structured and detailed, great sense of spatialness, all sound layers clearly distinguishable one from another and everything at a sound level I never heard before in any earphone.
Think of the difference between attending a live concert and then listening to a recording of the same on your home stereo. The fundamentals are there, but there’s a lot missing. More or less it’s the same difference I experienced between the Ears and my other earphones. A world apart.
To cut a long story short, these aren’t your typical mobility IEMs. With a portable digital audio player they might be crippled and won’t express their full potential, but pair them to a good DAC + headphone amplifier and they’ll shine.
The only real inconvenient I can see is that once I’ve tried them all other headphones/IEMs seem flat and weak.
Sure, they aren’t clinically analytical as a pair of monitors and their mids aren’t as sweet as those of my Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro, but that’s not what I’d expect from them. The Beyers are extremely competent monitors. The Ears are for fun and god if they do well! I’m hooked.
The earplugs weren’t fitting for me
The earplugs weren’t fitting for me, but I bought a pair for my son. When I contacted the customservice, they helpt me so much. Very kind helpfull and they answer quickly. Thank you for your service.
I contacted flare which earplugs would…
I contacted flare which earplugs would be the best for me as I really struggle with airports and airplanes noises. Got a quick response to get the earshades and I am amazed!! Just bought the sleep because now I need the whole collection. Thank you Flare for these great products.
Not worth it for US customers
Judging from my own experience as well as these other reviews, the products don’t work for many people. The promise of easy returns is really a lie if you are in the US because international shipping is exorbitant, even for small items like ear plugs. I would recommend against this product and this company if you are in the US.
Useless product
Useless, absolutely no difference to sound at all. Placebo effect plainly works for some users though.
Asked to get a refund and I can if I pay postage using a tracked service. End result would be me getting maybe £10 back.
Save your money people, don't buy these in the first place!
I love Calmers
I’ve found their Calmers incredibly helpful for my Auditory Processing Disorder. I’d recommend trying them if you have a hearing sensitivity but they probably won’t work for everyone as the effect is quite subtle.
Best Customer service
My package got lost, even though the post office wrote it has been delivered.
Although its not Flare Audios fault the to this NON DELIVERY since and helped me get some new.
Sweet and understanding and very kind email correspondence between Flare Audio and me.
even though it was not their fault....
That's the kind os customer service everyone should get everywhere.
thanks for at great experience Flare Audio
Fantastic customer service
Fantastic customer service! I brought a set of Calmer in the mini size (I usually take the smallest standard size in other earplugs/earbuds) but they were unfortunately too small for me.
I contacted customer support and Andrew P was really helpful and arranged a store credit so I could repurchase in the correct size without needing to return the other set.
Thanks again! :)
I bought the Flare Calmer Pro
I bought the Flare Calmer Pro, expecting peace. Instead, I found frustration. No matter what I try, they won't stay in my ears, even with another's help. Not for five minutes. Useless, they bring more stress. The email support is no better. Useless. This company earns no stars from me.
So dissapointed with these.
So dissapointed with these.. All they do is make you feel as though your ears are slightly blocked like the effect of wax. The sound barely changes at all. Absolutely useless.
Don't bother with these people.
Amazing!!
The first set I purchased got lost in the mail, and the customer service Rep set up a new delivery with no problem, which I received fairly quickly. Once the Calmer earbuds arrived they were lovely. It's amazing how such little noises can add up to your overall exhaustion by the end of the day. Thanks so very much for your prompt replies and help in the delivery of the new buds. Thanks for a great product as well!
The Trustpilot Experience
Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.
Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.
Learn more about other kinds of reviews.
We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.
Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.
Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.
Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.
Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.







