The AirPods are incredibly popular and many Apple users have a set in their possession. However, you do not have to use the headphones from Apple, there are also other players on the market. For this review we tested the Belkin SoundForm Pulse (AUC007).
The SoundForm Puls are compact earbuds with active noise cancellation and smart features. With the SoundForm app you get the most out of the earbuds and with the included charging case you can easily store and charge the SoundForm earbuds.
Belkin SoundForm Pulse
Belkin is a major player when it comes to accessories for Apple products. Not only MagSafe chargers, external batteries or cases, the company also brings interesting products to the market in the field of audio. The Belkin SoundForm Pulse are one of them.
Enjoy high-fidelity sound and premium features on these smart earbuds. The three microphones in each earbud are equipped with hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) technology to reduce ambient noise. The earbuds also include a ‘Hear-Thru mode’ and other smart features.
In this review, we list the most important features of the SoundForm Pulse and list the differences with the AirPods. This way, you can make a well-considered choice whether these earphones are for you.
SoundForm Pulse design
The Belkin earbuds have an AirPods-like design. That is to say, a head in which the audio technology is incorporated with a rod for microphones and the battery. The Pulse you insert in your also with a silicone ear tip. The box contains 3 sizes (S/M/L) so that you can create a comfortable and good fit.
The SoundForm Pulse have a matte black finish and can be operated with touch thanks to a touch-sensitive sensor in the head of the earpiece. The earbuds can be stored and charged in the included case.
Sound quality and noise cancellation
Belkin’s SoundForm Pulse feature 12mm dynamic drivers and offer premium sound quality comparable to AirPods 3rd generation. Unlike those earbuds, Belkin’s earbuds feature well hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC). This feature detects and filters out ambient noise to improve call intelligibility and provide a perfect listening experience, without noise or distraction.
The noise suppression is good for this type of headphones. Ambient noise is filtered out well while listening to music. Loud ambient noises remain audible, but that is always difficult to filter out with these types of small earphones. The fit and the right choice of silicone tips are also important here.
Smart audio features
In Hear-thru mode, just the right amount of background noise is let through so that you remain aware of what is happening around you. You could say that this is the opposite of active noise cancellation, except that you determine how much sound is let through.
Another handy option is the mono mode. This makes the Pulse suitable for using only one of the two earbuds for longer battery life or to stay aware of your surroundings. The audio is perfectly tuned to one earbud so you don’t miss any important parts of the music or a conversation.
Battery life and charging
The Pulse earbuds have a usage time of 35 hours in combination with the charging case. The earbuds themselves offer a playtime of 7 hours (with ANC) and by charging them with the charging case you can extend this to 28 hours. You can charge the charging case using the included USB-C cable or wirelessly on any Qi charger.
SoundForm App
If you want to use the Belkin SoundForm Pulse with your iPhone or iPad, it is recommended to use the free SoundForm app. This allows you to further personalize the earphones and operate different modes.
In the app you can quickly switch between noise cancellation or Hear-thru mode. You can even personalize the latter and minimize or increase the ‘sound to be let through’ in the app.
Scenes and equalizer
In the application you can choose and set scenes on the SoundForm Pulse, these are preset audio settings that you can find in the equalizer. For example, you can use the Belkin Sinature Sound, Immerse for more bass, Voice for phone calls or Relax for less loud sounds. Of course you can also fully personalize the sound using the equalizer.
Change touch
The SoundForm Pulse can be controlled using touch. Tap once to pause or resume music, tap twice for the next track, etc. Place your finger on the left earbud to switch between noise cancellation, hear-thru mode or no sound mode. By holding your finger on the right earbud you can activate the voice assistant of your iPhone or Android. You can personalize all touches via the SoundForm app.
Connect to multiple devices
The advanced Bluetooth chipset supports Multipoint connection. This allows you to enjoy premium sound while seamlessly switching between multiple devices. This means that you can connect the Belink Earbuds to two devices at the same time, such as your game console and iPhone. This allows you to make a phone call via the earphones while playing a game. This works flawlessly and well. Do you not want to use this function? Then you can disable it in the app.
Suitable for multiple devices
Of course, the Belkin SoundForm Pulse earphones can not only be used with your Apple products, you can also connect the earphones to other devices using Bluetooth. For example, I used them with my Windows laptop and Nintendo Switch. Thanks to the Multipoint connection, I could also pair them simultaneously with my iPhone.
In addition, the Puls earbuds also support Google Fast Pair. The earbuds are then immediately detected and you can connect them to your Android devices with one tap.
Compared to AirPods
Perhaps the most important question of this review is: How do the Belkin SoundForm Pulse earbuds perform compared to the AirPods. In terms of performance, the Belkin earbuds can best be compared to the AirPods 3rd generation, but with active noise cancellation.
The noise cancellation is good, but the AirPods Pro are slightly better. They are better at filtering out loud noises that are suddenly generated. But white noise or background noise is suppressed well by the Belkin SoundForm Pulse.
Thanks to the SoundForm app, you can get more out of the earphones and personalize them further. A nice example is the Hear-thru mode. In the app, you can adjust the level of sound passing through. Apple’s transparency mode is not adjustable and only available on the Pro models.
In addition, the different scenes and the equalizer are easy to use within the app and you can adjust the sound to your personal preferences.
Conclusion: Belkin SoundForm Pulse (AUC007)
REVIEW SCORE
If you are looking for new earbuds to listen to music, the Belkin SoundForm Pulse is a must. The design is sleek, matte and has a light weight. The earbuds are also comfortable and you can adjust the fit by using one of the three sizes of silicone tips.
The SoundForm Pulse have a good hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce ambient noise and with the smart Hear-thru mode you can determine how much ambient noise is let through. With the SoundForm app you can personalize the earphones even further by choosing from different scenes or manually with the equalizer.
The included charging case allows you to store and charge the earbuds at the same time. On the inside of the lid you will find a handy overview of the touch controls that you can use on the earbuds.
- Sleek design with matte finish
- Comfortable, lightweight with a good fit
- Long battery life of 7 hours + 28 hours with charging case
- Good active noise cancellation
- Hear-thru mode that you can customize yourself
- Multipoint support: connect to two devices simultaneously
- Touch controls are sometimes sensitive
- Does not include fast charging of charging case or earbuds
Buy Belkin SoundForm Pulse
