Compare SonoFlow SE HQ31 Wireless Headphones vs Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

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

The lack of a built-in 3.5mm analog jack was a repeated drawback, even though USB-C-to-3.5mm wired listening is possible.

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

ANC was usually judged good, solid, or decent for daily use, but several reviewers said it still trails Bose, Sony, or the top tier.

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

Advanced software features were considered solid and modern, but reviewers did not see them as uniquely class-leading.

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

Aesthetics were distinctive and often praised, but some reviewers noted the retro Marshall look will not suit everyone.

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

ANC background noise performance was decent: one review measured strong overall noise reduction, and another said white noise was not bad.

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

ANC-off listening measured slightly better in one review, suggesting ANC can subtly affect the sound signature.

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

ANC slightly affects audio performance, with one review noting higher sound-quality scores when ANC is disabled.

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

Android compatibility was positive in one review that found the headphones sounded good on Android.

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

The app was viewed positively for customization, controls, battery options, and a generally intuitive experience.

aptX support was criticized as absent, especially for Android or lossless-codec users.

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

Audio-video sync was a concern for gaming because one reviewer tied the lack of low-latency codecs to more noticeable latency.

Auracast support was treated as a positive future-facing feature, especially for Android and LE Audio readiness.

Auto-play and wear detection worked but was slow to react in one test.

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

Bass was usually described as punchy or well-balanced, though several reviewers said it could use more impact, cleaner control, or stronger low-end weight.

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

Battery life had the strongest agreement: reviewers repeatedly described it as class-leading, incredible, extraordinary, or far ahead of competitors.

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

Bluetooth performance was praised in one review as stable and high-performance.

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

Bluetooth version support was tied to a stable, high-performance wireless connection in one review.

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

Build quality was generally strong and rugged, with praise for durability and materials, offset by one report of creaking.

Hi-res playback support was a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted no hi-res Bluetooth audio support.

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

Button controls were a standout strength, with reviewers preferring the tactile joystick and physical buttons over touch controls.

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

Cable quality received praise in one review for the black cable with brass tips and premium-feeling presentation.

The carry case was usually praised as sturdy, compact, premium, or travel-friendly, though a few reviewers found it bulky or unnecessary.

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

Charging was praised for fast top-ups, with reviewers citing up to 12 hours of playback from a short charge.

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

Clamping comfort was rated very highly, with reviewers reporting little to virtually zero pressure.

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

Codec support was a clear weakness because reviewers noted no hi-res, lossless, or low-latency codec support.

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

Comfort was one of the strongest consensus wins, with reviewers repeatedly praising all-day wear, soft fit, and low fatigue.

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

Connectivity options were mixed: wired and wireless playback were useful, but the lack of a built-in 3.5mm jack and coiled cable hurt convenience.

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

Design and aesthetics were mostly praised for the distinctive Marshall look, premium detailing, and rugged styling, though taste varied.

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

Durability over time was viewed positively because reviewers described more durable, repairable construction and long-term toughness.

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

Ear cup padding was widely praised as extremely soft, plush, pillow-like, and important to comfort and sealing.

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

Ear cup rotation and swivel helped portability, though one reviewer found the twisting mechanism odd on the head.

Earpad/body-borne noise was a notable negative for one reviewer, who heard footsteps and heartbeat-like sounds.

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

EQ customization was broadly useful and responsive, though one reviewer wanted more precision than the five-band setup provides.

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

Features at launch were adequate but not standout, with one reviewer saying the standard feature set lacked a truly distinctive tool.

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

The default frequency response was judged broadly listener-friendly, especially for casual listeners.

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

Headband adjustability earned a small positive note for visible adjustment numbering.

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

Headband comfort was praised for reducing top-of-head pressure through light weight and support-strap design.

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

Hinge durability was praised for being able to twist without showing signs of breaking.

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

Immersive audio quality was mixed, with some reviewers enjoying the added atmosphere and others finding the effect limited or not truly immersive.

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

Included accessories received praise for the attractive red-velvet case and included cables.

Instrument separation was a consistent strength when mentioned, with reviewers noting solid layering, instrument placement, and separation across bass, mids, and highs.

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

Integrated microphone feedback was mixed, with clear/crisp quiet-room results but criticism of vocal clarity or noisy-environment performance.

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

LDAC was only discussed as an absent higher-quality codec, making it a codec-support weakness.

LE Audio readiness was treated as a positive future-proofing feature by multiple reviewers.

Maximum-volume clarity was strong in the reviews that addressed it, with no audible or max-volume distortion reported.

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 praised for handling simulated or real wind well, despite some vocal-clarity caveats elsewhere.

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

Call microphone quality received strong praise from one reviewer, especially for windy phone calls.

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

Midrange impressions were mixed: some praised vocals and instruments, while others heard under-emphasized mids, prominent high mids, or occasional clutter.

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

Multi-platform compatibility was positive where tested on both iOS and Android.

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

Multipoint reliability was strong where tested, with seamless switching or extremely reliable two-device use.

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

Passive isolation was praised for the soft cushions and seal, which helped block noise even before ANC was considered.

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

Overall recommendations were positive but caveated: reviewers liked the package, especially for travel and rock-focused listening, while noting ANC, codecs, and wired tradeoffs.

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

Portability and foldability were major strengths thanks to the compact folding design and small travel footprint.

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

Premium feel was praised through richer materials, superior build impressions, and a luxurious presentation.

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

The preset EQ experience was praised in one review, especially the bass boost setting for adding dynamic sound without excess bass.

Replaceable earpads were praised as easy to remove or replace and useful for longevity.

Replaceable pads and headband parts were a repairability plus where described.

Sensor performance was a concern because one reviewer reported random wear-sensor triggers.

Smart listening features were mixed: adaptive volume, Spotify Tap, and battery preservation drew praise, while missing convenience features held the score down.

Smart Pause performance was criticized for random triggering in one longer test.

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.

Setup simplicity received praise from one reviewer who called pairing/setup easy.

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

Sound leakage was viewed positively in one review because the plush ear cups helped minimize leak.

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

Reviewers generally liked the sound, describing it as pleasing, energetic, balanced, or excellent, with the strongest praise for rock and instrument-driven listening.

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

Soundstage width drew mixed reactions, from solid or opened-up presentation to narrow, cluttered, or not true-spatial enough.

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 audio was divisive: some liked the extra space, but others found it unnatural, underwhelming, or below true Atmos-style experiences.

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

Connection stability was praised as stable and high-performance in one review.

Streaming service integration was praised strongly for Spotify Tap, especially for starting playback without pulling out a phone.

Sustainability and repairability were praised for replaceable parts and repair-minded design, with a caveat that batteries are not user-replaceable.

Sustainability materials received a modest positive note for recycled plastic use.

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

Transparency mode was considered usable and sometimes natural, but reviewers also noted hiss, limited realism, or weaker performance than the best rivals.

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

Travel friendliness was a major strength due to battery life, compact folding, wired flexibility, and protective case design.

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

Treble feedback was split between clear, impressive highs and complaints about sibilance, fatigue, or sharpness on some tracks.

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

USB-C was useful for charging and wired listening, but reviewers criticized the one-port limitation and need for power in wired use.

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

Value was generally fair to good, especially on sale, but reviewers noted strong cheaper or better-performing rivals.

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.

Voice prompts and feedback added personality through Marshall-style guitar sounds during power and pairing.

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

One reviewer found the headphones plenty loud, with comfortable listening volume well below maximum.

Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because reviewers noted the headphones are not waterproof and should avoid rain or gym use.

Wear detection auto-pause was only moderately successful, working but reacting slowly.

Wear detection performance was a weakness in one longer test because the sensor randomly triggered.

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

Weight comfort was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the headphones light for the class and easy to wear.

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 wind susceptibility in ANC/transparency, while another found moderate wind manageable.