With its tiny design and deep, in-ear fit, the SoundFlavors also costs four times as much as other noise-cancelling headsets. Could it possibly be worth the price? Find out in our SoundID SoundFlavors review.
Review summary of the SoundID Soundflavors:
 |
|
Gallery » |
 If the SoundID did not have such an embarrassingly high price, we might feel a little better recommending it. As we are thankfully not hard of hearing, we're not sure if we've understood the full effect of the "moderate sound enhancement," but to our ears, it could not possibly justify a price four times higher than other, better headsets. Though the headset was admittedly loud enough that we could hear callers while the subway approached, they certainly could not hear us. Additionally, the charging cradle had serious problems keeping contact with the headphone, and the additional accessories, which may have added value to the headset as a walkie-talkie or hearing aid, are just as expensive as the device itself. In all, we would have a hard time recommending the SoundFlavors headset. Release: March 2007. Price: $400.
Pros: Able to hear callers in loud environments. Comfortable, deep fit, though maybe not for everyone. Interesting options, with extra accessories.
Cons: Call quality does not live up to exorbitant price tag. Adaptive noise compensation is not as effective as noise cancellation tech we've tested.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
55%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
|
Full SoundID Soundflavors Review:
|
Design - Good
When we say that the SoundID SoundFlavors headset is an in-ear headset, we mean it goes way deep into your ear. We prefer in-ear headphones to those that rest on your pinna, so we didn't mind the fit, but it might be intimidating to those who don't want an earbud deep within your ear canal. The headphone did little to block out external noise, however. The entire unit was nice and small, with large, rubber buttons that control volume (and switch "flavors," more on that later). With the earloop, which keeps the unit securely in your ear, we found the fit to be very comfortable.
Sound - Good
SoundID advertises the SoundFlavors headset with lofty features such as "Adaptive Noise Compensation," which we understood to be like noise cancellation, and three "Sound Flavors," ranging from mild to moderate enhancement. In practice, the sound flavors seemed to be different levels of amplification. And the noise compensation was very disappointing when it came to cancelling background noise. The tests through which we put the SoundFlavors headset were similar to those we used while testing the Aliph Jawbone, a headset that features military-inspired noise cancelling technology. We made calls in a quiet office, on a busy street corner and right next to oncoming subway trains. All tests were made with at least two bars of reception, using our borrowed Sony Ericsson W880i.
In the office, the SoundID SoundFlavors headset sounded great, very clean and perhaps even better than our phone's built-in microphone. As we moved closer to the office Muzak, we noticed some background noise, but could still be heard clearly. Outside, the headset had some noise problems and seemed to do little to reduce background noise. Traffic was slightly dulled, but the truck backing up nearby could be heard over our voices. We heard callers clearly, though. In the subway, the SoundFlavors' performance was abysmal. Though we could hear callers with mild or moderate sound enhancement, at no point could callers hear what we were saying. We were completely drowned out by the oncoming train. By comparison, the Aliph Jawbone did a much better job with such intense background noise, though its call quality was less impressive in quieter environments.
Calling - Good
The SoundID SoundFlavors includes almost all the calling features you'd expect, with the notable exception of last-number redialing. Otherwise, the phone can handle call waiting and can make calls using voice dialing. Connecting was very easy with our W880i and our Palm Treo 700p, and the phones had no problem pairing with the device automatically when it was powered down and then up again. The only problem we had was that many features require listening to an audible signal, which meant pressing the headphone's buttons while it was buried deep in our ears. This was not a comfortable way to use the device.
Odds and ends
The SoundID SoundFlavors has a couple options that we could not test without additionally accessories. First, the SoundFlavors can connect to other SoundFlavors headphones for a walkie-talkie-style connection. Second, you can purchase a separate "CompanionLink" microphone that broadcasts directly to your headset. If a friend were to wear the CompanionLink, or if it were well placed near a sound source, the headset would work as a hearing enhancement.
The SoundFlavors headphone comes with a cradle charger. Though the charger looks nice and fits the headset perfectly, we found that the connection between the device and the charger was very loose. Occasionally, we would lay the headset in the cradle to charge and after a few minutes it would lose contact with the charging prongs. Should this happen at home, it would mean your headset would not be fully charged when you need it. This sort of design flaw is simply unacceptable on a device this expensive.
Value - Poor
The SoundID SoundFlavors headset costs $400, which is a ridiculously high price for this device. The CompanionLink costs an additional $350, or you can buy a kit for $700 that includes both. We're not sure what sort of technological advances could possibly justify the price tag, but we've seen plenty of headsets of comparable, and in some cases better, quality for a fraction of the price. The Samsung WEP200 and the Nokia BH-800 make calls of equal quality in quieter environments, and military or construction workers will appreciate the Aliph Jawbone's more active noise cancellation technology. The SoundID didn't seem to have the quality to live up to its price, or even the fashion appeal to merit the luxury cost.
Price and availability
The SoundIF Soundflavors Ear Module is available immediately from the SoundID site for $400.
|
|
|
|
|
Archive