1More SonoFlow Review: Budget Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones That Rock

1More SonoFlow Review

Budget headphones no longer sound like budget headphones. They have other characteristics that still betray their lower price, but audio quality and noise cancelation are less and less differentiators. My latest case in point are the $99 1More SonoFlow wireless active noise-canceling headphones. The the company’s other products, their engineers drive quality into audio and battery components using new, cost-effective techniques that challenge market leaders. They aren’t the only ones doing this, several recently tested headphones from Cleer, OneOdio, and Tozo also offer good sound quality and powerful noise cancelation at a fraction of Bose or Sony list prices.

What we like

Pros

• Very good audio
• Excellent noise canceling
• Long battery life
• Good App
• EQ presets and controls
• Includes a case
• Folds for wearing around neck
• Wired mode available

Let me start with the sound. While the headphones claim Hi-Res Wireless Audio with LDAC support, I wasn’t able to test those parameters as I don’t have a system that supports that level of audio output. I tried them on various Apple, Windows and Android equipment, and they connected to each one with no issues, even an old Samsung tablet with Bluetooth^® 4. The SonoFlows also supports AAC and SBC, making them compatible with all common streaming services. The headphones run Bluetooth 5 with the HFP/A2DP/AVRCP protocols.

Beyonce’s reinterpretation of The Beatles’s “Blackbird” is a wonder, sometimes a bit of an annoying wonder, because of the clearly intention left channel tapping that provides such a distinct beat I can only imagine someone off to my left tapping a pencil on an empty box. I grew up on country music. And those opening guitar riffs on “Texas Hold ‘Em” can be authentically dissected when listening through these cans.

Kacey Musgrave’s latest ethereal musings are perfect for the SonoFlow 40mm DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) driver and diaphragm combo. Bellie Elish asks the listener directly if they still cry on “Skinny.”

For a more sonic pull-through, Olivia Rodrigo’s punk angst came across with all its angry growls on tracks like “Love is Embarrassing.” However, I did need to increase the volume to receive the appropriate level of emotional berating.

These are not party headphones. They will play EDM but without head-shattering bass. But do you really need head-shattering bass on headphones? (Shattering one’s head defeats the purpose of owning headphones, which require, well, a head.)

I don’t travel as much as I used to, but I put the 1More SonoFlow headphones to work on a roundtrip from Seattle to LA. The headphones made the plane rumbles and whirs mostly disappear into the background. Occasional high-pitched sounds came through. I had to remove the headphones to hear the pilot’s announcements (yes, I could have used hear-through mode, but I wanted to really hear the announcements).

The SonoFlows’ battery life is outstanding: 50 hours with active noise canceling and 70 hours without ANC. They incorporate fast charging: 5 minutes of charging results in 5 hours of playback. These are perfect trip headphones, where a quick top-off before departure will ensure the ANC makes it through the flight. They take about 80 minutes to fully charge.

1More ships the SonoFlows in a well-made case that protects them when traveling. The headphones must be collapsed and folded correctly to fit in the case, which is not the usual earcup flat position of many other brands. Fortunately, the SonoFlows do support flat-cup positioning, which is great when wearing them around the next when they are not in use (such as when acting as a gate flea at an airport).

The 1More SonoFlows come with a wire, enhancing some listening experiences.

The SonoFlows ship in black, blue and silver.

The packaging was eco-friendly, with cardboard and a recyclable bag. The headphones’ shipping in a case cuts down on unnecessary packaging.

What could be improved

Cons

• Button placement could be better
• Mixed mode feedback (voice and musical sounds)
• Can get heavy after many hours of wear
• Plastic construction and basic padding

The buttons can be confusing. I like that there are buttons (rather than touch pads), but they should all be lined up. However, the power button is on the front of the right earcup, which feels awkward. I keep wanting to use the ANC (or NC) button. I’d like to see the power button just below the volume buttons or the ANC moved below and the power at the top of the stack. Regardless of the future configuration, the current one does not reflect the best design choices.

The 1More SonoFlows use a combination of sound and voice for messaging. I would prefer voice only, as it is difficult to differentiate the sounds. People who choose a pair of SonoFlows as their primary headset will master the signals over time. For those of us who swap out headsets regularly, musical sounds are no substitute for hearing “‘pairing,” “paired,” “maximum volume,” “ANC on,” “ANC off,” and other meaningful retorts.

I wore the headphones for several hours. Over time, they became heavy and tight—not intolerably so, at least not for me, but noticeably so.

The head strap and earcup padding contribute to wear fatigue. The padding is not as resilient as memory foam. A little extra cushioning would make for a more enjoyable long-term experience. The headphones are primarily made of plastic, which makes sense, given the price point. The give on the SonoFlows appears to be sound over construction, which is the right choice for lower-end headphones designed to deliver superior sound.

1More SonoFlow: The bottom line

For those seeking a prestige brand, the 1More SonoFlow will feel like an acquiescence to budget. Those seeking good sound and solid noise cancelation on a budget, without the brand overhead, will find the 1More SonoFlow delivers more headphone than the $99 price tag suggests. Throughout the review period, the SonoFlows ran well below $99 on Amazon and 1More’s site, making them an even better bargain.

1More provided the SonoFlow for review. Images courtesy of 1More unless otherwise noted.

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