Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: sadly, these live up to their nominal price tag
Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector: Two-minute review
The Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector are spectacularly unspectacular. For a pair of cheap wired earbuds, they do everything you’d expect – nothing more, nothing less: audio that’s average at best, a basic yet decently practical design and a lightweight feel.
So, of course, it’s worth starting with a disclaimer. These earbuds have a very low list price of just $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95. As a result, it’s unreasonable to expect great audio from these buds – even if Belkin itself insists that they offer “superior sound quality” (spoiler alert, they don’t). And perhaps unsurprisingly, the overall listening experience you get from the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector – which will here-on be known as the Belkin SoundForm USB-C – isn’t a good one.
The key issue here is that audio is often pretty tinny. When I compared them to the Skullcandy Set USB-C – which sit on our list of the best wired earbuds – I found the Belkin buds to offer less clarity and instruments often sounded inauthentic. For instance, when I tuned into Holy, Holy by Geordie Greep with the Belkin buds, bass was quite muddy, the choppy guitar lacked sharpness and the usually theatrical, showstopping vocals couldn’t find their defined, satisfying position in the overall mix. Percussion in the treble frequency range would often sound quite grating at higher volumes too, making for a pretty unimpressive listening experience.
I should say, though, that if you’re not too picky on sound quality and just want cheap buds, these can certainly do the job. There were no horrible technical hiccups like audio cutting out, low volume levels or compatibility issues with devices. Sure, a lack of instrumental separation and narrow soundstage can leave music sounding pretty restricted, but bass has a decent (albeit not booming) kick and treble – although sometimes grating – can be bright when listening to more upbeat tracks.
However, some sonic shortcomings could admittedly be quite frustrating, even if you’re a more casual listener. When listening to Rains again by Solji, the vocalist’s high notes came through in a rather brash manner, which was a little uncomfortable on the ear. On a slightly different note, I found cable noise to be pretty prominent with the SoundForm USB-C. This is accentuated when you’re on the go or moving around a fair bit, making these far from ideal if you need some buds for workouts or walks. In fairness, however, cable noise is pretty typical with wired earbuds and you often have to splash a bit more cash to avoid this – pricier models like the Shure AONIC 3 are pretty competent in tempering the issue.
Other than cable noise, I had very few problems with the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector’s design. The attached controller, although a little on the chunky side, is responsive, works well and has volume controls, as well as a play/pause button that can also be used to take calls or skip songs. The actual USB-C connector is decent too, didn’t protrude out of the port when using a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and isn’t too large when holding the device in-hand. To cap that off, these have a pleasingly comfortable in-ear feel. Unlike a lot of cheap buds, I never felt that these were falling out of my ears, even when listening for multiple hours consecutively. Belkin also includes a selection of different sized ear tips, so no matter your ear size you can form a pretty tight seal for use.
On the topic of fit, it’s important to get a strong seal when using the SoundForm USB-C. As wired buds; they’re not going to offer active noise cancellation and instead rely on passive noise isolation for banishing external noise. I used the medium-sized ear tips and found passive noise isolation to be quite good. I could still hear some external noises such as typing with volume at around 60-70%, but this was pretty dulled. For the price you pay, I definitely felt that the quality of noise isolation was above average.
If you’re concerned about the SoundForm USB-C accruing damage when walking in the rain, you can rest assured. These have an IPX5 waterproof rating, meaning they can survive direct contact with water jets – so even if it’s raining cats and dogs you should be good here. Alas, this is where my praise meets its bitter end.
That’s because it’s time to talk about the actual look of these buds. In my view, these aren’t at all easy on the eye. Sure, the rounded shape of the buds is decent and pretty practical, plus the Pink and Blue color options (available in the US and Australia) are quite appealing, but that’s about it. The buds themselves look very plasticky and the glossy exterior only really accentuates that. In addition, the wire is flat, rather than rounded, making for a not-so-elegant appearance. Beyond that, I found the wire to kink pretty easily, so don’t expect peak durability. The “tangle-free” claim is also an exaggeration – I found, like most wired buds, the SoundForm USB-C could get in a twist after pocketing them or placing them into tight spaces.
Finally, a word on the inbuilt mic, which Belkin says can offer “clear” call quality. But it can’t. I tried making a voice recording and I won’t dress it up – the results were poor. My voice sounded pretty tinny and there was an audible hiss present throughout the recording. When making a phone call, my voice was clear enough to hear on the other end of the line, but it wasn’t particularly clean and there was static too. So, if you want an upgrade on your phone’s inbuilt mic, don’t expect to be satisfied by what the SoundForm USB-C have to offer.
So, despite the low price-point of the Belkin SoundForm USB-C are they really worth considering? In my view, no. There are definitely some positives here – noise isolation is pretty good, you get a comfortable fit and the IPX5 waterproof rating is a nice touch. But as always, what matters most is sound and these buds don’t fare well in this department. Overall audio is pretty tinny, narrow and treble can get quite grating too. On top of that, mic quality is disappointing and the buds’ design lacks finesse. Sure, these have an ultra-low price and are totally functional, but you’ll certainly find better quality from competitors in our guide to the best cheap headphones.
Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Price and release date
- $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95
- Launched in 2019
The Belkin SoundForm USB-C earbuds released in 2019, so they’re not the freshest on the market, but will work perfectly well with any modern handset or device with USB-C. On Amazon UK they’re only available in Black and White, although Amazon US and Australia have them in more enticing Pink and Blue options.
These wired buds have a list price of $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95, meaning they’re a super-cheap option. This is a pretty competitive space – there are some good options from the likes of Skullcandy and Final, so make sure to assess alternatives before snapping these up.
Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Specs
Should you buy the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector?
Buy them if...
You’re searching for decent passive noise isolation at a cheap price
For all of their shortcomings, the Belkin SoundForm USB-C do offer pretty solid passive noise isolation. They’re super cheap too, so if you’re not picky about audio quality, these could be an option for you.
You hate charging your wireless earbuds
If you’re someone that often forgets to charge wireless buds, then it could be time to re-familiarize yourself with the way of the wire. Of course, you won’t have to charge these, although there are better wired options about.
Don't buy them if...
You’re an audiophile
At this point it’s a given, but if you have a keen ear, don’t buy the Belkin SoundForm USB-C. Audio is regularly tinny, there’s a narrow soundstage and treble can come through in a harsh manner.
You want a fancy feature-set
If you want exciting features like active noise cancellation or EQ settings, you need to look beyond these wired buds. In fact, the vast majority of wired buds have little in the way of a feature-set, so you may be better off going for a cheap pair of wireless buds, such as the great JLab Go Pop ANC.
Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Also consider
Skullcandy Set USB-C
If you’re looking for some better USB-C earbuds than these ones from Belkin, the Skullcandy Set USB-C are a very decent challenger. In honesty, they don’t offer amazing audio, but it is better than the SoundForm USB-C. The sound profile isn’t massively detailed and full-sounding, but grating sound and tinniness is less common with these – even at higher volumes. The main attraction here is the sleek, curved design of the buds, not to mention the diverse set of funk color options to choose from. Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review.
SoundMAGIC E80D
OK, reader, I’m fully aware that the SoundMAGIC E80D are a fair step up price-wise over Belkin’s buds, but these are still an incredible value pick. For less than $50/£40/AU$70 you get wired earbuds that boast detailed, balanced audio – in part thanks to an inbuilt DAC. You also get impressive noise isolation and a comfortable fit, making these a very strong option overall. Read our full SoundMAGIC E80D review.
Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: How I tested
- Tested over the course of multiple weeks
- Used in the office, while on walks and at home
- Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
I put the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector to the test over the course of multiple weeks. I predominantly used them while listening to music on Tidal with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, but I also played tunes on Spotify and watched video content via YouTube. I used the buds in an office environment and while out on walks near busy roads to trial their noise isolation capabilities, but also at home for more zoned-in listening sessions.
When listening to tunes I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a variety of genres, although I also spent hours blasting bangers from my personal library. When appropriate, I pitted these buds against the similarly priced Skullcandy Set USB-C, to compare audio quality, comfort and design choices, among other things.
- First reviewed: November 2024
- Read more about how we test
0 comments:
Post a Comment