This is my comprehensive review of the 1MORE SonoFlow Wireless Active Noise Canceling headphones
The 1MORE SonoFlow is a full-size wireless headphone. It has 40mm DLC drivers, supports LDAC and Bluetooth 5.0. In addition the headphones have Active Noise Canceling and boast up to 70-hour battery life. I rarely review wireless headphones on my channel, but when I do the highest priority for me is the sound capabilities, design and the build, while functionality and battery life follows second. And I have kept the same approach for 1More Sonoflow as well.
Disclaimer: No one paid me to make this review.All thoughts expressed in this review are solely my own.
1MORE SonoFlow comes in a large square carton box. On the front of the box there is illustration of the headphones, Hi-Res and Hi-Res wireless audio certification stickers and a company logo. On the back of the box there is a list of technical specifications and company information.
In the box:
- 1MORE SonoFlow wireless headphones
- A very nice storage and carry case with a zipper
- Short USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- 1 meter long 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable to use this pair in a wired configuration
- User manual
- QC card
- And a warranty card
Design and build
The headband is made from steel spring and is covered by pleather with some padding from outside. There is a 1MORE logo embossed on the headband as well. The inner part of the headband is padded, it has got a good pillow with memory foam that comfortably sits on your head, but I noticed that padded part of the hand is proportionately smaller compared to the rest of the headband.
The headband is ergonomic and comfortable and it’s surprisingly good at distributing the weight of the headphones. The clamping force of the headband is below average but it’s enough to provide a comfortable fit and a good seal. The yokes that attach the headband to the cups are made from plastic. But the headband adjusting mechanism sliders are reinforced with metal. To adjust the headband, you simply move each ear cup up or down. The headband size adjusting mechanism works well with a well defined click.
1MORE SonoFlow ear cups are made out of plastic and surprisingly they are vented. One series of vent holes is located on the faceplate of the ear cups. The second set is located on the side of each ear cup. Horizontally the ear cups swivel 90 degrees inwards and vertically they rotate about 30 degrees inwards too. At the bottom of the left ear cup there is a USB-C port. At the bottom of the right ear cups there is an LED and 2.5 mm port. The right ear cup also carries all the controls – there are 3 buttons located on the back side of it and 1 button located on the front side.
Ear pads
The ear pads have an oval shape, they are comfortable, but feel a bit cheap and only time will tell how long they will last. The height of the ear pad is 100 mm and it’s 78 mm across. The opening of the ear pad is 60 mm in height and 42 mm across. The depth of earpads is 16 mm. Inside the cups there is a red fabric mesh which has a channel markings and 40 mm drivers.
Overall the build is okay, it has some cheap plastic feel, and despite the fact I do have some questions regarding the build, we first need to see how it stands the test of time.
Fit and comfort
Weighing in at 250 grams without a cable, the 1MORE SonoFlow headphones are lightweight and comfortable. While the headband accommodates various head sizes, those with large ears may experience an on-ear fit rather than an over-ear one.
The headband’s clamping force strikes a balance, providing a secure fit without discomfort. The memory foam ear pads offer comfort, aiding passive sound isolation and complementing the QuiteMax ANC technology.
Connectivity, functionality, and battery life
The 1MORE Sonoflow headphones support Bluetooth 5.0 and AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs (APTX is not supported). Pairing is initiated by pressing and holding the volume up and down buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds. Pairing was seamless with devices like the Samsung Galaxy S10 and FiiO X7 MK2, and connection stability was consistently reliable.
Battery life is impressive, with up to 70 hours of playtime, though I achieved around 50 hours with LDAC and ANC enabled. Fast charging adds 3 hours of playtime with just 5 minutes of charging. The QuiteMax ANC technology is effective, offering three modes: ANC off, pass-through mode, and ANC on. The headphones’ ANC capabilities are notable, even outdoors, and the five beamforming microphones, powered by AI, deliver commendable results.
1MORE SonoFlow use 1More’s QuiteMax technology and I need to say I’m impressed with its work. The ANC has 3 modes – ANC off, pass-through mode and ANC on and you can rotate through modes by pressing the ANC button. I have 5 fans installed in my PC case that stand on my desk and the average noise is around 40dB. The Sonoflow ANC for example does a pretty good job at completely cutting out this noise.
The headphones also worked really well outside in the street, and while ANC performance cannot be compared to the flagships, for its price tag 1MORE SonoFlow is exceptional and the transparency mode also works well. The headphones are also equipped with 5 beamforming microphones which are powered by an AI-powered software algorithm. And while it’s not a class leading mic performance, you still get quite impressive results.
The App
The companion app provides a user-friendly interface, offering insights into battery levels and ANC mode toggling. Firmware updates are seamlessly facilitated, with my testing involving firmware version V1.0.5. Notably, the app boasts 12 EQ presets, accompanied by a built-in 10-band graphic equalizer, enabling users to craft personalized EQ settings. The App also has a LDAC on/off button, so make sure it’s turned on if you want to use LDAC
Cable and wired usage
1MORE SonoFlow is rated at 32 Ohms so you don’t need a powerful source to drive this pair in wired mode. The headphones come with one de-attachable cable. It’s 1.2 meters long, on one end there is a straight 3.5 mm connector, on the other end there is a 2.5 mm connector. The cable is low quality, it has got a memory, easy tangles and has some microphonics.
When you connect the cable, the headphones automatically turn off which means you can’t use ANC in a wired mode. Still, In a wired configuration 1MORE SonoFlow sounds a bit better. Instrument separation improves, the overall sound stage seems a bit less cluttered and detail retrieval in wired mode is definitely better. But the mid bass becomes even more punchy, which does not benefit the overall presentation. In addition you can’t use 1MORE’s software EQ in a wired mode, so you will need to find another way to EQ this pair in wired mode if you need it.
1MORE SonoFlow sound overview
Please note that all sound impressions that I’m sharing on my channel are completely subjective so please take them with a grain of salt.
All my sound expressions are with LDAC codec and ANC off as ANC had some negative impact on the sound quality. With ANC on the sound presentation feels a bit more cluttered, more punchy and less detailed. Though I don’t think it will really matter in noisy environments, where noise is affecting your listening experience anyway, and ANC is a must.
I can describe 1MORE SonoFlow as warm, with the bass boost, and recessed treble. The headphones were tuned by Luca Bignardi and the main reason he tuned this pair like this was to create a good all-rounder pair of wireless headphones that are fun. The headphones perform really well with many genres, and I particularly liked how genres like rock, metal and EDM sound on this pair.
Bass
The 1MORE SonoFlow delivers a tight and punchy bass, characterized by extended sub-bass and mid-bass frequencies. The latter exhibits dominance, laden with impact and weight, while still not near any bass head levels. While the bass texture and speed are average, some lack of control results in congestion during intricate musical passages. Notably, the built-in EQ presets can address this, especially the Bass reducer preset, which can enhance the bass control and clarity.
Midrange
Despite its slightly recessed quality, the midrange retains a smooth and well-defined nature. Vocals and instruments benefit from natural timbre, harmoniously situated within the mix and endowed with intricate details. The lower mids shine with warmth stemming from the bass bleed, infusing richness into this range. Upper mids occasionally lack energy but exhibit smoothness and definition. Overall, the midrange is a highlight, combining warmth, smoothness, and fullness.
Treble
The treble, although smooth and non-fatiguing, could benefit from improved extension and airiness. Particularly suitable for those sensitive to treble, this tuning may leave audiophiles desiring additional detail retrieval and technical prowess. Thankfully, the built-in app EQ provides a remedy, permitting treble boost for heightened response and detail.
Soundstage and imaging
The SonoFLOW boasts an impressive soundstage, notably wide but moderately deep. Imaging is commendable, enabling accurate instrument separation and contributing to a satisfactory level of detail retrieval, especially within this price bracket.
Conclusions
In my opinion Sonoflow is a great wireless performance in its price range and its sound signature makes it a good all-rounder.
Pros:
- Good design and comfortable fit
- Excellent battery life
- Effective ANC and LDAC support
- Customizable EQ presets
- Stylish carrying case
- Warm tonality with a punchy bass
- And overall excellent value per dollar
Cons:
- Plastic-like build
- Sound presentation lacks clarity without EQ
- Button layout could be better
While the SonoFLOW is not without its imperfections, its merits far outweigh its flaws. It’s not rivaling flagship models in either ANC or sound quality, but it still delivers impressive results that surpass its price point. The connection is stable, ANC is impressive, the headphones are comfortable and have an amazing battery life, even with LDAC and ANC on and I think you just can’t go wrong with this pair.
In addition, there is an EQ built in the app, which allows you to fine tune this pair and in my experience it sounds much better with the EQ. If you are looking for a budget pair of wireless headphones with ANC, look no further. Sonoflow is offering a lot at a fraction of the flagship cost.
I hope this review has been helpful and if you’d like to see more content like this, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for future updates. Thank you for joining me, and until next time, goodbye!
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