Compare SonoFlow SE HQ31 Wireless Headphones vs Marshall Major V

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

The 3.5mm input was valued for wired listening and audio sharing, with several reviewers calling the sharing trick useful or cool.

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

Launch feature set was criticized as limited, especially compared with competitors that include ANC, transparency, cases, or richer apps.

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

Reviewers praised the distinctive vintage style and compact visual identity, though one found the look inconspicuous or barebones.

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

Reviewers repeatedly flagged the absence of ANC as the Major V's biggest feature gap, especially for commuting, flights, and loud environments.

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

Codec support was mixed-to-weak: LC3/LE Audio helped, but reviewers criticized the lack of higher-quality codecs.

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

Physical button controls were one of the strongest points, with reviewers repeatedly praising the joystick-style knob as intuitive and reliable.

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

Sound leakage was mixed-to-negative, with some office-safe results but several warnings about leakage at higher volumes.

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

LDAC was criticized as a missing advantage versus a competing Android-focused headphone.

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

Android compatibility was weakened by missing higher-quality Android-friendly codecs such as aptX or LDAC.

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

Treble was described as crisp and detailed by some reviewers, while others found the top end harsh, exaggerated, or clustered.

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

Low weight was a consistent strength, with reviewers calling the headphones light, barely noticeable, and easy to wear.

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

Cable impressions were mixed: one reviewer liked the retro detail, while another disliked the tangling coiled cable.

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

One reviewer found normal listening volume more than sufficient, with extra output available if needed.

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

Midrange clarity was often praised for vocals and detail, but some reviewers heard recessed or deficient mids.

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

One review praised the ear cups' 90-degree tilt as part of the flexible fit system.

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

Multi-platform use was positive where one reviewer reported seamless switching between phone and laptop.

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

Marshall's guitar-riff feedback tones were described as a nice brand touch by reviewers who mentioned them.

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

Value was split: reviewers liked the battery, design, and sound for the price, but many felt ANC competitors offered more.

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

Build quality was generally praised as rugged, tough, and durable, though not always premium-looking.

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

Setup was easy out of the box in one review, but app responsiveness and connection reliability were criticized elsewhere.

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

Advanced software and feature impressions were mixed: battery preservation impressed, but feature depth lagged some competitors.

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

Wind handling was only discussed in microphone-test contexts and was generally positive alongside noisy-condition call performance.

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

Durability-over-time comments were positive where reviewers expected the headphones to survive years of use or abuse.

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

Headband adjustment was praised for smooth sliding rails and flexible adjustability.

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

Clamp force feedback was mixed, ranging from gentle or moderate to too tight or uncomfortable depending on head shape and use.

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

Measured frequency-response commentary was negative, with one review saying the tuning deviated drastically from the preferred curve.

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

Portability and foldability were consistently praised because the headphones collapse very small and fit easily in bags.

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

Ear cup padding was consistently praised as thick, soft, plush, or squishy enough to help the on-ear fit.

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

Connectivity options were praised for wired listening, sharing audio, and useful device switching.

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

One reviewer disliked the way the metal hinges stick out when folded, making hinge design a minor caveat.

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

The integrated mic array was praised in one review as working well for clear recordings.

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

Call quality was usually praised, with reviewers hearing loud, clear, understandable voice capture; one found it noisy but usable.

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

Microphone noise reduction received positive comments for cleaning up office, cafe, and ambient noise around speech.

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

The retro Marshall design was widely praised as distinctive, classic, stylish, and aligned with the brand's rock identity.

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

Long-wear comfort was highly divided, with many praising light padding and hours-long comfort while others reported pressure, heat, or glasses discomfort.

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

App opinions were mixed: support and customization were major upgrades, but some reviewers found the app buggy, basic, or limited.

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

Premium feel was mixed: the design could look special, but some reviewers said the materials did not feel expensive.

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

Passive isolation was mixed: the pads muffled some office chatter and ambient sound, but on-ear fit still let plenty through.

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

Headband padding feedback was mixed, with one review praising full soft coverage and another calling it thin.

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

Most reviewers liked the lively Marshall-leaning sound, but several found it average, treble-heavy, distant, or not competitive for audiophiles.

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

Bass impressions skewed positive for punch and warmth, though a few reviewers found the low end light or uneven depending on tuning.

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

Soundstage ranged from surprisingly wide and dynamic to compact, intimate, or under-imaged depending on the reviewer.

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

Fit stability was mixed: some reviews praised secure fit, while others found head movement could shift or dislodge the headphones.

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

Travel friendliness was mixed-to-positive: small size and battery helped, while no ANC and no case limited flights and loud travel.

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

USB-C charging was viewed positively, especially as a more reliable option than fiddly wireless charging.

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

Included accessories were criticized as skimpy because reviewers expected more protection or extras for the price.

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

Multipoint generally worked well, though one reviewer noted playback must be paused on one device before switching.

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

EQ customization was useful and often praised, though some reviewers said its effect was subtle or insufficient.

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

Preset EQ feedback was limited but positive when reviewers singled out balanced or useful presets.

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

Charging was mostly praised for fast, USB-C, and wireless charging, though several reviewers found wireless placement fiddly or unreliable.

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

Battery life was the clearest consensus strength, with reviewers repeatedly praising the 100-hour class endurance and real-world longevity.

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

Overall recommendations were mixed-to-positive: many reviewers recommended the headphones for battery, design, and casual use, but with clear caveats.

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

Reviewers who discussed sync reported no noticeable delay or expected LE Audio benefits for video use.

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

Bluetooth was described positively where reviewers referenced modern or useful wireless capabilities rather than just listing the version.

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

One review said Dolby Atmos playback still had kick despite the lack of noise cancelling.

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

Voice assistant use was positive in the review that tested Google Assistant and Siri.

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

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.

aptX support was criticized because reviewers specifically noted that aptX or aptX Adaptive was missing.

Auracast support was praised as rare and forward-looking, though some comments depended on future firmware or ecosystem adoption.

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

Carry protection was a consistent weakness because reviewers repeatedly complained that no case, pouch, or tote was included.

The detachable analog cable was praised for enabling the music-sharing trick with another pair of headphones.

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

Reviewers who focused on separation generally praised stereo placement, detail visibility, and the ability to follow individual sound elements.

LE Audio readiness was treated as a forward-looking advantage for streaming, sync, and Auracast-related future use.

Reviewers noted that the headphones could play loudly without obvious strain and still had headroom.

Replaceable earpads were a plus in reviews that noted removable pads or replacement cups.

Smart listening features were useful for quick Spotify, EQ, or assistant access, though one reviewer found the M button nonessential.

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

Spotify integration was praised by Spotify users as genuinely useful for starting or cycling music quickly.

Repairability was viewed as a plus because reviewers noted battery replacement through Marshall's repair program.

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

Reviewers treated the lack of IP or water resistance as a real limitation for rain, sweat, hikes, and outdoor use.