Compare SonoFlow SE HQ31 Wireless Headphones vs Edifier WH950NB Gen 2 Wireless Headphones

The lack of a headphone jack was a clear drawback in the one review that evaluated analog input availability.

ANC was one of the strongest points, repeatedly judged effective for the price, especially against low, steady ambient noise.

Reviewers generally found ANC effective for daily noise and low-frequency sounds, though one reviewer said it does not block everything.

Advanced features were praised as unusually generous for the low price.

Software features were praised for giving broad control over listening modes, EQ, sound limits, and other headphone functions.

Discreet/aesthetic appeal was weak in Tom's Guide, which said the headphones paled next to other sub-$50 designs.

Reviewers consistently liked the understated, stylish, premium-looking design.

ANC background noise was present in one review, but it was not considered disturbing once music played.

ANC background-noise handling was praised for treadmill, commute, and low-frequency noise reduction.

ANC's effect on the sound signature was favorable where tested because the tonal balance stayed essentially unchanged.

ANC did not meaningfully harm audio in the reviews that evaluated it, with sound staying consistent across ANC modes.

Android compatibility evidence was positive through LDAC use, which a reviewer said could reveal more clarity.

Android users were presented as getting the strongest wireless-quality benefit from LDAC support.

The app was polarizing: reviewers liked its controls and simplicity, but others found it buggy, laggy, crash-prone or poorly translated.

The app was praised for fun listening control and useful ANC adjustment.

Audio-video sync was mostly strong, with several reviewers reporting no lag, while one reviewer heard no meaningful low-latency difference.

Bass was often praised as punchy, warm and adjustable, though one reviewer felt the low-end emphasis contributed to an unbalanced sound.

Bass feedback was mixed: some reviewers liked the punch and quantity, while one found heavy-bass tracks crackly and another called it bassy.

Battery life had the strongest agreement, with reviewers repeatedly calling 60-90 hour playback excellent, outstanding or top-tier.

Battery life drew some of the strongest praise across reviews, including long weekly use and strong remaining charge after hours.

Bluetooth behavior was praised for strong range, solid connection and fast pairing across multiple reviews.

Bluetooth range was praised as a practical bonus in everyday movement around the home.

Bluetooth 5.4 was praised for range, efficiency and current-generation capability.

Bluetooth 5.4 was framed as a future-proofing improvement.

Build quality was mixed: many found it solid for the price, while others criticized plastic feel, wobble or budget materials.

Build quality was described as solid, sturdy, and more premium than the price suggests.

Hi-res playback and LDAC were praised for capability, but one iPhone-focused reviewer found LDAC less useful.

Button controls were a repeated concern, with reversed or counterintuitive mappings offset by a few comments that basic controls worked.

Onboard button controls were criticized as frustrating and confusing because functions are doubled up.

Cable impressions were weak because reviewers repeatedly criticized the included USB-C cable as very short or stubby.

The travel case was repeatedly praised as sturdy, stylish, and protective.

Charging was praised for useful fast-charge behavior, especially five-minute top-ups that add hours of listening.

Fast charging was viewed positively, especially the short top-ups that provide several hours of playback.

Clamp force divided reviewers, ranging from secure and well balanced to tight enough to cause discomfort.

Clamp comfort was split: some reviewers found the fit gentle or glasses-friendly, while another warned that clamp force builds over time.

Codec support was praised mainly because LDAC appeared in such a low-priced headphone.

Codec support was valued for LDAC and hi-res audio, with the main caveat being limited benefit for iPhone users.

Comfort was highly split: some reviewers wore them comfortably for long sessions, while others found clamp, weight or pressure tiring.

Long-use comfort was mostly praised, but the rigid headband created a notable comfort caveat in one review.

Connectivity options were useful where reviewed, especially wired fallback and simple USB-C plug-and-play use.

Connectivity options were praised for dual-device use without constant reconnecting.

Design opinions leaned positive for a simple, modern or premium look, though one review found the aesthetics weak versus budget rivals.

Design was praised as sleek, understated, stylish, and elegant.

Long-term durability had limited but positive evidence from one reviewer who expected the construction to last normally.

The reinforced steel headband was credited with giving a durable impression.

Ear cup padding was consistently positive, with reviewers describing the pads as soft, cushiony or well covered.

Ear cup and pad comfort drew consistent praise for plushness, softness, and a comfortable seal.

The rotating earcups were useful because they helped the headphones lie flat and improve portability.

Ear cup rotation and tilt were praised for helping the headphones fit the user's head shape.

One reviewer noted earpad or fit-related walking noise and faint rustle as a limitation.

EQ customization was a strength, with reviewers valuing custom EQ and preset controls despite one review noting no custom EQ option.

EQ customization was praised for letting listeners reshape the sound to their preferences.

Feature set at launch impressed the reviewer because the specification looked unusually strong for the price.

Frequency balance varied by reviewer, from a pleasant non-harsh V-shape to unbalanced, dull overall tonality.

Frequency balance was described positively as well balanced.

Gaming or mode presets were not strongly convincing, with reviewers either noticing no difference or not finding the modes useful.

Headband adjustment received limited but positive evidence for helping achieve a good fit.

Headband adjustment was mixed, with one reviewer finding the slider slightly awkward and another praising the defined clicks.

Headband padding evidence was mixed, with one reviewer finding it too soft and another liking the padded feel.

Headband padding was praised as soft and comfortable.

Hinge durability evidence was negative in the one review that judged the hinged earcups too wobbly.

Immersive audio quality was mixed, as one reviewer liked vocal heightening but disliked artificial movie effects.

Immersive listening was praised in theater use, where one reviewer felt the experience resembled a big-screen setup.

Included accessories were a weakness because reviewers noted the bare-bones box, no case and limited included cable.

Included accessories were praised as a thoughtful, complete bundle.

Instrument separation was praised for revealing individual instruments and layers clearly.

The integrated microphone received positive limited evidence from one reviewer who found the captured voice good enough for calls.

The integrated microphones were praised as surprisingly excellent.

LDAC was treated as a strong perk, improving perceived clarity or adding high-resolution capability for supported devices.

LDAC support was praised for higher-quality Bluetooth streaming, though one reviewer noted it was wasted on iPhone.

Maximum-volume clarity was limited by irritating bass crackle at louder listening levels.

Microphone noise reduction was praised by some reviewers for cutting background noise, but one review noted robotic or distant voice artifacts.

Microphone noise reduction was mostly strong, separating voice from background chaos, with minor ambient noise leakage noted.

Call microphone quality was inconsistent but often positive, ranging from average or weak in cars/noise to excellent in several reviews.

Call microphone quality was praised, including calls going smoothly and the mics sounding excellent.

Midrange impressions were mixed, with clear mids in one review but dipped, coarse, meh or shouty vocals in several others.

Midrange and vocal clarity were generally praised, though one reviewer found the mids less refined than the Sony XM6.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive in the review that tested switching between iOS/macOS and Android devices.

Multipoint and dual-device switching were judged reliable and seamless where tested.

Multipoint connectivity was useful and mostly seamless, with only minor reminders needed in one review.

Passive isolation was decent overall, but one reviewer noted an imperfect seal while another praised low leakage and passive isolation.

Passive isolation was praised through the protein-leather seal's ability to reduce outside noise.

Overall recommendations leaned positive for budget buyers, though one critical review advised saving money for another option.

Overall recommendations were strongly positive, especially for value-focused buyers.

Portability was strong thanks to folding or flat-rotating earcups and compact storage.

Portability was praised for compact folding and easy case storage.

Premium feel was divided, from clearly not premium to surprisingly premium depending on the reviewer.

Premium feel was a repeated strength, with reviewers saying the headphones feel more expensive than they are.

Preset EQ quality was generally useful, although Tom's Guide found only about half worth selecting.

Preset EQ feedback was positive for Dynamic and Rock settings, which reviewers found more enjoyable or lively.

Smart listening features such as hearing protection and sound limits were viewed as useful additions.

Smudge resistance had limited but positive evidence from the matte finish resisting fingerprints.

Setup simplicity was positive overall, with reviewers describing the app or setup flow as simple, easy or seamless.

Software setup and control were praised as easy through the Edifier app.

Sound leakage evidence was limited but positive, with one review noting minimal leakage.

Reviewers split on sound: several called it warm, balanced or very good for casual listening, while others found it dull, average or uneven.

Sound quality was generally praised as good, engaging, clear, and strong for the price.

Soundstage evidence was mixed: spatial processing and some tuning added width, but other reviewers found the stage narrow or unimpressive.

Soundstage was praised as surprisingly wide for closed-back headphones.

Spatial audio was mostly seen as a pleasant width or immersion booster, with caveats that it is not flagship-level or can sound artificial.

Spatial and theater-style audio was mixed: theater mode impressed one reviewer, while another did not find extra modes useful.

Stability was mostly good and snug, though one reviewer reported sliding during gym bench use.

Stability was praised during running, with no distracting or unstable feel.

Transparency mode was generally useful and sometimes excellent, though one reviewer heard some distortion in ambient sound.

Transparency or ambient mode was praised as useful for awareness and dialing in outside sound.

Travel friendliness was positive, with reviewers tying the headphones to commuting, on-the-go use and long battery life.

Travel friendliness was praised through the slim case, foldable design, commuting fit, and compact storage.

Treble was a recurring weakness in the critical reviews, described as blunt or over-exaggerated and sharp.

Treble and high-end clarity were praised as clear, detailed, and able to let guitar layers shine.

USB-C was viewed positively for charging and plug-and-play wired use, though cable length remained a separate complaint.

USB-C charging was explicitly welcomed as the expected modern standard.

Value was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling the headphones high-value or a strong deal for the price.

Value for money was one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly comparing performance favorably against the price.

Voice assistant use was positive where evaluated, with reliable speech recognition and swift interactions.

Voice feedback was present and usable, but the reviewer described learning the non-verbal audio cues rather than clear voice prompts.

Volume output was split, with one reviewer saying it lacked maximum volume and another calling the volume good.

Weight comfort was mixed, with some reviewers calling the headphones light enough and others finding the weight noticeable or heavy.

Weight comfort was praised as balanced and not heavy.

Wind handling was mixed, with one reviewer praising wind resistance and another saying wind noise could still be an issue.

Wind handling was mixed: one reviewer found minimal interference, while another did not find wind reduction especially useful.