The quality headphone market keeps on growing, with higher-end products now getting cheaper and cheaper. Indeed, some of the so-called budget devices really punch way above their weight.
One of the main contenders is the 1MORE Sonoflow, which you can get your hands on for well below the £99 RRP. 1MORE is behind the excellent EVO earbuds and so I was looking forward to what these over-the-ear 'phones had to offer.
Just like the EVOs, the Sonoflows support the hi-res wireless LDAC audio codec which means you can enjoy the best quality Bluetooth can handle. Just a heads up that you'll need a newish Android device to take full advantage of this.
The headphones really come to life using LDAC, pumping out a rich, immersive soundstage that reproduces every nuance. The bass is deep and impactful, without overpowering the mids and highs, while the clarity and balance in the sound signature are also up there, allowing for a great experience no matter what genre. It really is spectacularly good.
Build quality and comfort is decent. The Sonoflows are all black, sturdy plastic, with red cloth lining inside each earcup. The lightweight feel adds to the comfort, making them easy to wear for extended periods without any trouble. They come with a hard-backed, textured case, which also stores your charging cable and a very handy 3.5mm lead if you want to go the wired route.
The headphones do not in any way scream budget, although the control buttons - all on the right-hand cup - do feel a little cheap and are a little difficult to get used to.
As for the ANC, it's very decent and easily passes the vacuum cleaner test. The pass-through setting is a little less impressive but is by no means a deal breaker. If you download the 1MORE app you can choose from 12 pre-set EQs. You can't create your own at the moment but I understand that is coming down the pipe. The app also lets you activate the LDAC and monitor battery life. You can also try some 'soothing sounds' if so inclined.
The built-in microphones are good enough but it's the battery life where these headphones get epic, coming in at 70 hours with ANC switched off. And despite using Bluetooth 5.0, the connection is super strong. I was able to keep a connection even when on a different floor to my device where also devices with the more up-to-date 5.2 struggle. Through the app you can also activate dual device connection.
One minor niggle is there is no way of telling if the headphones are switched on at first glance.
If I was going for looks alone, I would probably still veer to the side of the similar OneOdio A10s which boasts a better pass-through performance as well. However, the LDAC support sets the Sonoflows apart. If you're an iPhone user you won't get this but the headphones still do a great job, but if you're on Android, and signed up to a high-res music streaming service (I was using Apple Music), then you won't get a better headphone at the price.
