A good headset can cost you hundreds of dollars, if you want to have noise cancellation (ANC), fancy audio modes, long battery life, etc. But let’s be honest. Many people aren’t willing to spend so much money on a device they only use… for a few hours a day.
The 1More SonoFlow SE differs from its predecessor, the 1More SonoFlow, in several ways, reducing audio quality, noise reduction effectiveness, and other stylistic features in favor of a more affordable price.
The key points of the 1More SonoFlow SE headphones
- The 1More SonoFlow SE headphones produce a no-frills listening experience, with a focus on sound quality, comfort and battery life.
- Priced at $60, the SonoFlow SE headphones feature a 70-hour marathon battery, allowing for all-day listening for a low price.
- You won’t get quality noise-cancelling technology, and the physical control buttons may not suit some.
Is it possible to find a good headset for less than 60 euros? I think so, but you should moderate your expectations. Here’s how the 1More Sonoflow SE performed during two weeks of testing.
The sound quality of the Sonoflow SE is excellent, but more precisely it depends on the listening volume. For example, when I listened Suspended from Sampha at low volume in the metro, the sound was hollow and not very rich.
ANC is not effective in noisy environments
The song’s more subtle notes were not fully rendered at low or medium volume, as the low frequencies were not highlighted. However, you get beautiful, robust sound at higher volume levels, thanks to the 40mm dynamic drivers.
Listening Only from Sampha at a higher volume, the complexity of the artist’s voice came through more, the bass became deeper, and the vocals and instruments in the background shimmered.
I tried the headset in a variety of environments, from quiet offices and break rooms to noisy subway cars, and found the active noise cancellation (ANC) to not be effective in noisy environments.
70 hours of reading
On the subway, where machine noise would be ideally muted, I could hear almost every sound outside my headset when noise cancellation was on, and fiddling with the ANC button didn’t help. produced only negligible results.
The Sonoflow SE headphones are lightweight and very comfortable, but their build quality is lower than that of more expensive models. I wore these headphones for an entire work day, without feeling the slightest fatigue in my head, neck or ears.
With over 70 hours of playback, the battery life is long, and if you need to recharge your battery, five minutes is enough to get five hours of playback. When you turn the headset on, a voice announces the battery status, which is useful if you don’t want to access the smartphone app to get battery life stats. I wore these headphones to the office, and it took me a few long work days before the battery dropped to 50%.
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Do not record with the microphone
The buttons for turning the headset on or off are difficult to operate because they are all located next to each other. And instead of a button for audio pause and play, you have to press the power button. It took me some time to get used to it.
I found that you had to press the power button for three seconds to turn the headset on and up to six seconds to turn it off. I’ve accidentally left the earbuds on longer than I intended due to this counterintuitive process, which drained the battery.
I recorded myself to test the microphone’s capabilities. When I listened to the recording again, I got a slightly muffled and tinny sound. I wouldn’t recommend this headset if you plan to participate in a lot of voice calls or Zoom meetings. But for comfort and listening to music at a reasonable price, the SonoFlow SE headphones do the job well.
ZDNET’s buying advice for the 1More SonoFlow SE headphones
The 1More SonoFlow SE headphones are the solution for anyone looking for a decent and affordable pair of headphones. If you are looking for a very economical headset that produces exceptional sound and has great battery life, the 1More Sonoflow SE is for you. But remember that for €60 you get what you pay for.
If you want powerful noise canceling features at an affordable price, these headphones won’t be for you. The ANC is not up to par and your listening may be disturbed in noisy environments. I think this headset can be a great office tool if you don’t want your expensive headset to leave the house.
But if you want a comfortable headset with multi-day battery life, the 1More SonoFlow SE headphones are worth considering.
Source: “ZDNet.com”