The 1More Sonoflow HQ51 (also known as... 1More SonoFlow Pro) over-ear headphones are a sweet choice for audiophiles and casual listeners alike. With a combination of high-quality sound, exceptional comfort, and impressive features, these headphones offer excellent value for the money. I know because I've been here before with the first gen SonoFlow headphones, but... are these better? Well, let's check out the specs... after this unboxing!
Quality & Comfort
Right off the bat... you get comfortable padding in all the right places. The padding on the headband is soft and durable and you won't feel the housing. The other obvious area where you will find the padding are the left and right ear pads on the swivel and foldable earcups. The yokes of these headphones are sturdy, and have actually lasted longer than headphones that cost hundreds more. I won't say names, but... yeah, these swivel and foldable headphones have solid yokes that connect to a thicker section that you adjust on the headband.
Specs and Features
- QuietMax AI Noise Cancellation: Effectively tunes out background noise, enhancing your audio experience. 42+dB noise cancellation using QuietMax.
By the way, the HQ51's have a deeper noise reduction depth than the Bose NC700's. They dance for dominance, but... the winner is the winner.
- Tuned by Grammy-Winning Sound Engineer: Ensures top-notch sound quality.
- Fast Charge: Provides 10 hours of battery life from just 5 minutes of charging.
Let me say this: I haven't charged these headphones yet. I've used them for a little over a week and even forgot to turn them off one day, and they're still going. - Battery Life: Up to 100 hours on a full charge after 80 minutes with the HQ51. You still get 65 hours of battery life with ANC on.
You get 70 hours on a full charge with the original SonoFlow headphones. Regardless of long battery, remember to give your ears a break, especially when it comes to listening at certain decibles. - 40mm DLC Dynamic Driver: Delivers rich, detailed sound.
- 12 Studio-Grade EQs: Customizable sound settings, with the “Studio” setting being particularly impressive.
- Wired and Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Modes: Offers flexibility in connectivity.
The original SonoFlow's have Bluetooth 5.0. - Comfort: High comfort level with no extreme pressure on the ears, making it suitable for long listening sessions. However, it’s best used in a cool setting to avoid sweating around the ears so you can truly appreciate the material.
Audio Performance
The SonoFlow HQ51 contains a 40mm Dynamic Driver. The diamond-like carbon composite diaphragm matches up with aluminum's material density, but... when it comes to resonance frequency, sound conduction, and thermal conductivity, that's all the DLC in these HQ51's. By the way, these headphones have dual hi-res gold certification. On a side note, I wasn't planning on making a left turn to speak on the headphones of other brands, but... the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in the HQ51's is better than Sony's XM5s. High THD can lead to audible distortion that can deliver an unnatural sound. I don't want to crap on the XM5s because they're solid, and run a close race to some extent but... the HQ51's are better. I want to speak on price right now, but i'll hold my tongue for now.
What is Hi-Res Audio?
What is Hi-Res Audio Wireless?
For audio to qualify as Hi-Res Audio Wireless, it must meet certain standards set by the Japan Audio Society (JAS). This includes using codecs like LDAC or aptX HD that can transmit audio at higher bit rates, ensuring minimal loss in quality during wireless transmission.
When it comes to my audio experience during this test, I played a number of games, music, and tv/film including:
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Madden 25
- Dead Zone (Film)
- MR-9: Do or Die (Film)
- Vikings: Valhalla (TV)
- Batman: Caped Crusader (TV)
- Leathal Weapon (TV)
- Blu39 (Music)
The lows, mids, and highs of these headphones worked in harmony for my listening pleasure. I enjoyed every bit of audio, even if I had to endure the entire "Dead Zone" film. Yikes. But yeah, I loved the audio experience so much that, despite playing these fantastic games... I found myself wanting to zone out and just lock in on what I was hearing while doing nothing else. I also enjoyed some ASMR through Gentle Whispering and Gibi ASMR.
I didn't have to crank the volume up to appreciate the bass either; the lows were like, "Here I am!" as soon as I turned on the headphones.
Technical Specifications
- Speaker Impedance: 32 ohms, which means the headphones can be driven by most portable devices without requiring an external amplifier.
- Bluetooth Protocol: Supports HFP, A2DP, and AVRCP for versatile connectivity.
- Frequency Band: 2.400 GHz - 2.4835 GHz.
- Bluetooth Range: Up to 10 meters in open space.
Price and Value
Priced at $87.99, the 1More Sonoflow HQ51 headphones offer kick ass value. (On top of that... on top of that) You can also take advantage of an additional 20% off deal here. Presenting affordably sweet options is awesome because money doesn't grow on trees, bills are real along with other expenses, so having access to quality that rivals well known brands is sweet.
Overall, the 1More Sonoflow HQ51 over-ear headphones excel in quality, comfort, audio performance, and value. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or just need a reliable pair of headphones for daily use, these are a fantastic choice. The beautiful thing is that you don't need the most expensive headphones in the world in order to get your hands on quality that delivers (sometimes you're just paying for the brand name... just like with the Sony XM5s).
Quality 5
Comfort 5
Audio 5
Price 5
5 out of 5 Cool Points
