Review | Belkin Soundform Flow: headphones to enter the wireless world

At the end of this month, the premiere in Chile of Soundform Flow, the new model of headphones wireless from the still young American brand Belkin, founded in 1983. For the writer, this is a complete novelty, since he had never had the opportunity to try any of their products before.

On paper, the Soundform Flow have characteristics that resemble the 3rd generation Airpods, although at a more economical value: while the Apple model exceeds the barrier of 150,000 pesos, the Belkin would have a maximum of 100,000.

• Diaphragm size: 12mm.
• Noise Cancellation: Yeah
• Ambient sound: Yeah
• Touch control: Yeah
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
• Distance range: 10 meters
• Headphone battery life: 7 hours
• Charging Case Battery Life: 24 hours
• Raincoat: IPX5

Inside the package you will find a pair of additional silicone pads, totaling three alternatives of different sizes – small, medium, large -, in addition to a USB-C charging cable of only 20 centimeters, a very short extension which, for the discomfort of writing, has been standardized even if it is not the most practical: it is better to have a clear surface when you need to recharge your device.

Inside the package you will also find the charging case, a device with a modern, clean and at this point traditional design, as it follows the line of several other models and brands. Its dimensions (about 7 centimeters wide, 6 centimeters deep and another 3.5 centimeters high) make it very suitable to be carried comfortably in bags or pockets, although perhaps a little large for a trouser pocket . There are some doubts about the resistance that the cover of the case, made of a thin plastic material, can offer, given the pressure that this type of object can face.

Viewed in perspective, the charging case looks like a miniature of a modern football stadium or concert arena. And inside, face down, those in charge of putting on the show: the Soundform Flow headphones, type in the ear and a traditional design. Perhaps its trunk is a little longer than, for example, what we can see in the Huawei Freebuds and Xiaomi’s Redmi Buds Pro, which are short in front, but quite similar to Apple’s AirPods.

Hidden in its semi-oval head lies, in terms of presentation and figures, the first surprise: dynamic transducers of no less than 12 millimeters, practically double the size of the Sony WF-1000XM4 speakers, and also larger larger in volume than the Sony WF-1000XM4 speakers. diaphragms contained in the Freebuds 5i and the Redmi 4 Pro, respectively 10 and 11 millimeters.

In theory, a larger diaphragm can provide better audio quality, especially when it comes to low frequencies. But this is nothing other than theory and practice have shown that this does not always happen. You’ll have to try.

When it comes to ergonomics, the Soundform Flow passes the test without issue, achieving a solid fit in the ear. They exert a tolerable pressure on it, which generates a closed chamber that ensures passive noise cancellation: in themselves, the headphones function as a plug for external noise, without causing a sensation of encapsulation, as occurs with other models from other brands. This seems to be a good sign, for example, for those looking for headphones to accompany them in their sporting activities.

On the back of the earbuds, a small blue light indicates that they are charged and ready to pair. The Soundform Flow have Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, a specification that, although not the most recent, is ideal for audio devices, since the compression and decompression of data is very efficient and has a low complexity communications codec (LC3). All this results in greater fluidity, fewer communication interruptions and lower latency, within a 10 meter radius of the “parent” or source device.

Added to the above is the possibility of pairing two devices simultaneously; for example, to the smartphone and the computer, something very useful in the workplace. It also has very good battery life, offering up to 31 hours of battery life, between the earbuds and the case. In this sense, it exceeds the offer of the previously mentioned models, with the exception of the Redmi 4 Pro, which reaches 36 hours of charge.

In testing, all of these features generally worked well, although the headphones were somewhat sensitive in terms of remote connection stability, generating a few skips in audio playback.

On the other hand, the Soundform Flows have touch controls, another feature that has become a standard in recent years, especially in headphones. true wireless stereo (tws) designed to stay tuned to the ears of users accustomed to hyperconnection for as long as possible. The idea is that there is no need to take them off – unless the devices need charging or it is time to sleep – nor do you need to take out the cell phone to answer a call, pause or listen to music.

In this regard, the operation of the headphones was decent. The Soundform Flow emits an audible signal after receiving each command: as if it were Morse code, a said represents a point and dah, to the scenario. A said to play or pause, and to answer or end a call; two to go to the next track and three to go to the previous track; A dah to activate noise cancellation, ambient mode or deactivate the function. This allows a certain orientation that is missing in other models, since there is no greater reference than success or error after trying to command by touch.

In the use of touch, this model has very good sensitivity: a light touch on the spine of the headset is enough to give the desired command. But on the other hand, the economy of construction materials becomes evident, which inevitably leads to the fact that the touch – especially when there are several of them, as when passing the track – has a percussive impact on the ‘interior of the auditory pavilion which, sooner or later. , it will turn out to be unpleasant.

Unfortunately, Belkin does not provide information on which codecs this model supports. However, it is clear that these are not high-resolution audio headphones. Compared to other budget Hi-Res models, such as the Sennheiser HD 250BT, the Soundform Flows have less definition and sound image, even when playing music from platforms such as Tidal, recognized by Tidal. flow in high quality: up to 24 bits and 192 kHz.

They also don’t have much power, although the volume they support is sufficient and does not generate noise or distortion. We could think that Belkin is betting on something moderate and safe for the health of our ears, both in terms of bass and high frequencies, with a sound that, although not defined, has certain qualities that make it pleasant to the ear. ear. For example, the way its dynamic transducers handle kick drums.

These appear with a very well measured thickness and air, with a good balance of bass and midrange which gives naturalness and even a physical presence to the perception: they gently hit the ear, as would happen in a performance live.

What’s missing, however, is a little more sparkle in the vocals, strings and brass, as well as a cleanliness in the overall sound that brings more clarity and enhances the musicality of each instrument. In short, the bass drums are probably the most notable element of the sound offered by the Soundform Flow.

Regarding the calling function, the model responded well, both for listening and capturing the user’s voice, allowing for smooth experiences without interruptions caused by technical problems.

The evaluation of the active noise cancellation function in this model is more positive and consistent. For operation, the headphones have a front microphone that intelligently filters out external noise. By activating the Noise cancellation —by pressing one of the earphones for a few seconds—, the difference becomes clearly perceptible compared to the mode in disabled. While it doesn’t cancel ambient sound, it reduces it enough to listen to music without major interruptions from traffic or other people’s conversations.

More notable and more effective is the ambient mode function, called in this case by Belkin as “Listen». This is a modality designed to stay attentive to what is happening in the environment, without having to remove the headphones, even while listening to audio or making a call.

In this feature, instead of filtering outside sound, the front microphone opens and enhances it to pass through the earphones. The result is rather positive: voices from the outside, in fact, are heard very clearly and, unlike other models, there is no feeling of encapsulation or artificiality that tires the ear or causes an unpleasant feeling. In other words, the environmental mode is compliant.

The Belkin Soundform Flow are an alternative entry into the world wireless. They offer simplicity and ease of use and very good ergonomics. Their cut makes them suitable for the practice of sports activities, for which their resistance to water jets, sweat and dust is also very useful, since they are IPX5 certified.

Its Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and its level of autonomy also make it a good work or study tool, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously and guaranteeing smooth and sustained data traffic for up to 31 hours of continuous use.

However, those looking for a more advanced model, both in terms of high-definition audio and compatibility with voice assistants or an app to configure the operation of the device to your liking, might not be up for the Soundform Flow and its offer.

In short, this model is an alternative to the basic AirPods, notably the 3rd generation, with which we find more similarities in the features. Its true value and weight for potential users will be determined once the market has determined its price.

Note: ⭐⭐⭐★★