1More SonoFlow Headphones HQ51... Reviewed!

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.

I don't want to overlook the buttons either, they don't wiggle or feel loose. The buttons are solid, clicky, and responsive. They're spaced out and easy to identify. The upper button in the back of the right earcup is the ANC button, the two below are Vol+/Vol-, and the button in the front of the right earcup is the power button. I'm not seeing a difference in regards to the quality and comfort of the original SonoFlow and the  HQ51's, but... that's not a bad thing. If it ain't broke... don't try to fix it.

The only thing i'm not a big fan of is the change in the interior of the headphone case. I figure it was a manufacturing decision, but I like that secure fit of the original case. The exterior of the case is similar to the original, which is great... so at least it gets a win on that note.

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?

Hi-Res Audio refers to audio files that have a higher sampling frequency and bit depth than CD quality. This means more detail and a more accurate representation of the original recording (it will sound more on the lines of what you would hear in the studio if you were there).

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:

• Sumerian Six

• 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

 + Sophi 

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1More Open Earbuds S70... Reviewed!

Today, I’m excited to present the new 1More Open Earbuds S70. They look sleek and stylish, but are they worth your hard-earned cash? Let’s dive in and find out... after this unboxing!

Quality

In terms of my initial impression, the box is sturdy. It’s not exactly one of 1More’s premium boxes, but it’s not bad and will protect the headphones even from a firm press from your hands. As for the 1More Open Earbuds S70 case, it has a nice metal finish that’s cool to the touch when you sit it in a cooler room and features a little display window that reveals the headphones. You might question whether it’s actually metal or plastic when you tap it, but put a magnet next to it. It’s thinner than I’ve experienced, but the metal is there in some form and it feels durable enough. The shape of the case allows it to slip right into my pocket next to my wallet.

When it comes to the actual earbuds, they look sleek and are suitable for both casual and business settings (they won't look out of place with a suit either). They have a quality feel when holding them in my hands. Now, let’s get into the... comfort level (dun dun dunnnnn).

Comfort Level

These earbuds get a strong 5 for comfort, even over the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50. The design allows them to sit on your ears and almost vanish in terms of how they feel. Sometimes, I have to check if they’re still there when nothing is playing. No joke, I’ve taken a series of naps to test these earbuds😏, and over 4 days, one of them came off just once. It actually happened the day I had an awesome dream. I was about to win something after making the baker laugh, and a certain someone woke me up. I totally tried to go back to sleep to see what it was, but I digress.

These earbuds don’t put the weight directly on the top of the ear; it’s distributed nicely. Thanks to the ergonomic earhook design. Nothing goes directly in your ear either. 1More describes it as the Balance AIR+ Technology, but I call it... a job well done. By the way, I didn't find it awkward to wear sunglasses with these earbuds. I've been asked this question several times so far.

The earbuds sit near the opening of the ear canal with no ear tips, which increases the tolerance of wearing them. Ear tips work well for some options, but the need to adjust is real when they're on deck. Plus, sometimes it feels like something might be on them trying to infiltrate your ear. Maybe that’s just me, but something tells me I’m not alone.

Specs and Features

Third up, let’s talk about the specs. These earbuds come equipped with 4 AI ENC Mics for crystal-clear calls... compliments of the minimized background noise. I put this to the test by making a call to a busy restaurant while shopping at a grocery store. I added a last-minute item to my order, and the lady on the phone heard me perfectly, despite my deeper voice. I double checked just to make sure she actually heard me. Spoiler alert: She did!

Other features include:

• Bass Enhancement for Directional Sound: This feature ensures you get that rich, immersive audio experience.
• 
  Fast Charge Support: Just a 5-minute charge can give you an additional 2 hours of audio. Perfect for those on-the-go moments.
• Ingress Protection 5 Rating (IPX5): These earbuds are water and sweat-resistant, making them ideal for a hard workout or a day out in the hot sun. Just don’t go swimming with them; they’re not built for continual immersion like IPX7 or IPX8 ratings. Not that I’ve seen many people swimming with earbuds, but hey, feel free to shrug.
• Low-Latency Gaming Mode: A game-changer for all you gamers out there.
• Customizable Controls: Change your tap actions in the app by selecting desired tap functions -
  Both the Right and Left earbud get 2 functions to choose from with 2 or 3 taps.
  
  My settings:
  Left Earbud 2 Taps = Skip
  Left Earbud 3 Taps = Play/Pause
  Right Earbud 2 Taps = Volume Up
  Right Earbud 3 Taps = Volume Down
  Long press for 5 seconds = Power on (outside of case)
• Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth Range 10m: Quick and strong connection. These earbuds fought to play audio 4 rooms away from the connected device.
  
  

Audio Performance

In terms of specs, the impedance is 16 Ohm, which requires more power than 8 Ohm but delivers more output in terms of bass. The bass can be a bit shy, but you can hear the depth in certain audio experiences. The Tesla-grade magnetic acoustic design is made from lightweight aerospace-grade titanium and soft skin-friendly liquid silicone. The secure fit has allowed me to keep the earbuds in without needing to adjust them throughout the day. That’s probably one of the things I love the most about these earbuds—they fit and stay put.

The sound clarity is based on the dual magnetic drivers and DiamondFlex diaphragms that enhance the bass. These earbuds were also tuned by the Grammy-winning Luca Bignardi.

Back to the sound. The bass is there, but it’s a tad shy until you find the right tracks to flex the ehanced bass. I did deep bass tests, listened to a variety of tracks including the Dolby Atmos test, and played games like Black Myth: Wukong and an indie game titled Office Fight that always puts a smile on my face. The sound holds up with the mids and highs being the strongest, followed by the lows. Black Myth: Wukong gave me the best audio experience thus far, and the lows were richer. It’s open ear, so you can still hear things in the environment, but it doesn’t affect the sound. The preset EQs allow you to switch up the equalizer from Studio, to Bass Booster, to Hip-Hop, Pop, Podcast, etc. You get an extra oomph from the Bass Booster when activated.

Additionally I listened to the following tracks while playing with the EQs:

   

1More Open Earbuds S70 vs 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Sound and Comfort Comparison

Both the 1More Open Earbuds S70 and 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 offer impressive sound quality and comfort. The sound is similar between the two, though the edge goes to the S70. The S70 has a slight edge with better battery life as well. The S50, however, boasts a superior IPX7 rating compared to the S70’s IPX5, making it more water-resistant. For comfort, the S70 stands out with a more secure fit (it's not just a loop around the ear... the ergonomic earhook design is sweet), making them ideal for activities and naps. You can see the improvement, making the S70's a clear upgrade based on 1More’s commitment to quality. I put these in my fave category with other products like the 1More Quad Driver Headphones (wired) and 1More SonoFlow over-ear headphones.

Price and Value

You can get these headphones for $129.99. If you want an upgrade over the S50s, you've found it in the S70s. Plus, you can apply a $35 coupon for a limited time.

At this price point with the specs and the comfort of these headphones, they qualify for 5 cool points for sure. So, are the 1More Open Earbuds S70 worth the investment? I’d say yes. They offer solid audio, phenominal comfort, and useful features at a reasonable price.

Quality 5

Comfort 5

Audio 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

 + Sophi 

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Dear Developers: Stop Bricking Tech - Spotify Car Thing... going brick in Dec 2024?! WTF is that?

I have to start this off here: To create something, only to turn it into a brick... is a D-Bag move. That's a cold hearted shrug in regards to this product potentially ending up in a landfill. I don't see a person simply tossing this out, they may try to get some use out of it in some form, but when its bricked its done... unless someone can crack it with an unapologetic middle finger.

I'm sure Spotify wouldn't like that, but the owners of the device don't appreciate this deactivation crap.

This nifty... cool... eye catching... Spotify Car Thing will be a light paperweight after December 9, 2024. Why? Why can't there simply be an update to turn this thing into a stand alone device that gives supporters... access to spotify? Talk about burning customers. This will not leave a good taste in the mouth of anyone who purchased this. No one pays money on a product to simply have a rug pulled from under them. That's that BS... and it's one of the reasons some tech enthusiasts are paranoid about supporting certain compnaies and their hardware. Is Spotify now on that list? If they don't pivot away from this selfish decision... I believe they will be, and they'd only have themselves to blame.

Proprietary hardware always runs the risk of that company going out of business one day... leaving nothing for that hardware to connect to. It's usually a safer option to get an audio device that doesn't lock you in like that so you can use it freely + add a memory card of sorts and enjoy it that way (if it allows such). Even the least understanding person would understand if a company was going belly up and the device would no longer be supported (as a proprietary hardware), but... that's not Spotify's position.

Spotify explained their decision to discontinue Car Thing, stating, “We’re discontinuing Car Thing as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offerings.” Ladies and Gentlemen, that's a poor ass excuse to screw over customers. An extremely poor ass excuse. Like... WTF?!

If a company burns customers like Spotify plans to do people who purchased Car Thing, forget about these customers buying anymore hardware from Spotify unless it's completely standalone with a Spotify sign-in option. They may even go out of their way to not buy Spotify's first party hardware... regardless of the safety net being added. It doesn't stop there, because word of mouth gets out and a burned customer will tell other potential buyers to beware. That tarnishes a brand, and customers bought the Spotify Car Thing for $89.99... that's nearly 100 freaking bucks only to have the rug pulled from under them. That's a slap in the face with an expectation for you to understand. On top of that... it required a Spotify Premium Subscription.

Spotify went on to say, "We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users." Like I said, poor... ass... excuse and I don't think most supporters will accept it. Create a gen 2 or provide a solid firmware update for the device that can allow them to sign-in. It's worth it.

You'll love this (totally being sarcastic)... Spotify recommends that you take your device, reset it to the factory settings and dispose of it safely following local electronic waste guidelines. While I do appreciate the instructions over it just being tossed on the ground somewhere, it's like... how dare they try and recommend how you dispose of something thats working because they don't want the product to be active anymore?

If you want to try and request a refund, this link was provided by Spotify. Good luck! As for the developers, this is another reminder of what not to do, because poor decisions can certainly come back to haunt you.

There are options out there like the two you see below (connect your phone):

Nulaxy Bluetooth FM Transmitter | $26.99

Bluetooth 5.0 / AUX port / USB drive / Micro SD (a OneTreePlanted member)

Camecho 10.26" Touchscreen Bluetooth FM Transmitter | $77.99

Bluetooth / Apple Carplay / Android Auto / Spotify / Pandora / Waze / Video / Etc.

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1More Fit Open Earbuds S50... Reviewed!

Before I get started, shout out to the 1More Team for supplying these headphones for review. My opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure what to expect with these open earbuds, especially when you consider the fact that they sit on the ear canal instead of being inserted within it. These are meant to be the ideal headphones for fitness, hence "Fit" is in the name, but... do they check out? Let's jump in and find out after this unboxing!

Save even more... below!

Quality + Comfort: I have to speak on the quality of this packaging first. 1More S50s basically come in a hardbound case (basically a hardbound bookcover) keeping them safe and... sound. This has been a trend that 1More has maintained for well over a decade for their higher-quality headphones and it definitely makes the case worth keeping (which works great for those upgrading, because the case won't fall apart ahead of a future reselling).

Now as far as the clamshell charging case, it's a durable plastic shell with an additional layer on the interior top and bottom. The connection point is nice and open for cleaning too, which is great if things begin to get a little gunky in there... especially if you're working out consistently. There's space to run a Q-Tip and get them nice and cleaned up for a clean connection so that they can properly charge. If you've owned earbuds before... you know exactly what i'm talking about.

Now in terms of the earbuds, you get earhooks that keep the earbuds in place quite well.

The 1More Fit S50s themselves surprised me in regards to how they fit, because they sit on the ear canal, so... I was (honestly) unsure how they were going to remain on my ears while working out. The only thing I didn't do to test these was... roll around on the ground or flip, but pushups, walking, jogging/running around with my daughter at the park (and running across a wall or two on occassion)... didn't result in them falling out or getting loose. Leaning my head from side to side and rotating it to stretch my neck (btw great for headaches caused my neck tension) didn't cause them to fall out either... but I did a slight adjustment to push them back over the ear canal if I was doing something on my side.

For the most part, the built-in memory wire in the ear hook does its job well... and I'm glad it's flexible because that aids in the comfort instead of a stiff piece of plastic.

Speaking of comfort, my tolerance for these headphones was strong... except for the times I attempted to sleep with them on. They stayed for the most part, but the comfort level wasn't there for me to get zzz's with them on for the full night so I took them off. It wasn't discomfort on my ear canal, it was the earhook. I think it's an okay trade-off when you compare it to in-ear earbuds at times (at least for me) because if I feel any itchiness in my ear canal during workouts... they have to come out. These weren't made for sleeping (at least for me), so they check out for use other than calling the cows home.

Sound: In terms of sound, I want to touch on a few things here. I'll skip the obvious one for now, so that I can speak on the open-air tech that allows you to hear the world around you. Situational awareness is a must when you're out and about being active... but I was concerned about the audio. Luckily, I've tested it... and the quality of the sound isn't affected for the most part. 

The only thing that you may not be thrilled about when it comes to hearing the outside world a bit more... is when you are listening to ASMR, so make sure to find a quiet room and your good.

By the way, Luca Bignardi was the sound engineer on these too, which also serve up 12 studio-level EQ presets from Sonarworks. Basically what that means is that a grammy award winning sound enginner tuned these earbuds to deliver a natural, authentic sound. Plus... the 10+ Authoritative Music Industry Award winning Sonarworks software, delivers presets recommemnded by grammy award winning sound engineers that are also used by over 200,000 studios.

How do these open HiFi earbuds sound to me? These are some damn good earbuds according to my ears. Right out of the gate, I played:

Gerald Albright - What you see is what you get... it's just one of those songs that should have a "Play in HiFi" label on it or something... because the instruments deliver a beautiful combination of awesome that put me in vacay mode every time I hear the track. These headphones pick up the various instruments and their placement when recorded. I hear Gerald on the sax front and center, the vocalists (left, right, and center), maracas or shakers to the left, the thump of that bass and... everything in between. By the way, the Eastrock stainless steel shaker set and the Kandu Clever shakers are pretty cool instruments.

From there I made a shift into ASMR based on the time. So I utilized a nice quiet space to kick back and indulge in what I consider as the headliners for my ASMR experience. There are different styles and approaches, and these are the ones I prefer:

Tingting ASMR, Gentle Whispering ASMR, and Frivolousfox ASMR... are my faves because they take the quality of their productions seriously. Their soft sound takes advantage of the diamond-like carbon diaphragm of these headphones that picks up subtle details well (trust me).

I've listened to ASMR for well over a decade now, and you can tell who aims to deliver without unwanted background noise, quality sound through a good 360 mic (using ambisonic technology)... and they know what they're doing. They aren't harsh with the mic or mics, they keep things gentle and pleasant for great results, and... I salute that by... (ummm) going to sleep.

Once I got up, I hit continue on the party by listening to:

Gerald Albright - Slam Dunk

Dr. Dre - The Watcher

Keybeaux - On Point

Mink Slide - Got That Feeling

As far as shows go, I watched:

mr.&mrs. smith... is an interesting show, with some hot & cold audio. Not hot and cold bad, but instrumentals and sound effects kick up at various points and they like to zero in on elements of combat (i.e. gun shots). The earbuds don't mesh up the audio, you can hear the separate sounds and where they are in the environment thanks to the PurePower Driver that boosts those suble nuance sounds. I could hear movement in the background (behind me) with these headphones... which increases the immersive spatial audio experience. I know some people don't see the value in anything above a base audio set up, but... (good luck with that) you don't know what you're missing.

SWAT... starring Shemar Moore, has some action packed audio too. I think I noticed more boom and thumps from gun fire in the episodes of this show.

Fun fact: I know Shemar's friend... Romeo, he's a pretty cool dude. He's the reason I know... Keybeaux.

I also had the pleasure of playing, Pacific Drive and listening to the audio with these headphones. This was an enjoyable experience for sure. Not every game or track delivers the same quality, but the ones delivered with quality in mind... will stand out with HiFi audio like the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50. Also another plus is if you're pressed for time and the tech juice is running low, fast charge comes to the rescue. You can get 2 hours out of a 5 minute charge... to work out.

By the way, I heard the guitar strumming the melody more to the right side in the Mink Slide track... which I think stood out in a pair of headphones that were 2 to 3 times the price of these. Some headphones don't pick these things up, but despite the specs of these headphones I was still surprised that the sound is as clear... despite the openess. I thought that I'd get a potential sound loss for the sake of them not being in-ear and being open.

Last but not least... the calls are clear ladies and gentlemen, even with my lower tone of voice. I can be heard, and I was able to hear without asking or being asked to repeat. The AI noice reduction most likely has something to do with that. It picks up the human voice with the goal of minimizing background noise that isn't identified as such through the 4 MEMS microphones. Even when it comes to a crowd at the store (like the ones who have yet to implement self check out), it can reduce the background noise by 30dB.

The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 use an AI Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology to make your calls that much clearer by weeding out what shouldn't be in the call basically. I'm not fully familiar with the tech and the layered structure it follows regarding data... so I won't even attempt to try, but I haven't had to repeat myself in calls that've I've made using these earbuds. If DNNs sound familiar, you may have heard about it regarding self-driving cars, drones, games, and things of that nature.

In the box + Features:

Charging case

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50

USB-C Cord

Storage bag for the charging case

Earbud Battery Capacity: 60 mAh

Earbud Charging Time: 80 mins

Case Battery Capacity: 500 mAh

Case Charging Time: 90 mins

Bluetooth  5.3

Bluetooth Protocol: HFP / A2DP / AVRCP

Wireless Range: 10 m

IPX7 Waterproof Rating

AI-Powered Noise-Reduction for Calls

Tuned by Multi Grammy Award Winning Sound Engineer

Open-Air Tech for Situational Awareness and Safety

Price: There's currently a sale for these headphones on the 1More site for 33% off, bringing them from $149.99 down to $99.99. Great price, but... after doing some digging, if you use the coupon, and the promo code, you can save $43... here. That brings the total down to $86.99 before taxes, but... you're still saving over $7 bucks after taxes.

Quality + Comfort 5

Sound 5

In the box + Features 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

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