Belkin Belkin Soundform Rhythm Active Noise-Canceling Review
The Belkin Soundform Rhythm offers ANC for just $33. We dug into the data to see if 'shockingly cheap' also means 'surprisingly good,' or if you're better off spending a little more.
The 30-Second Version
For $33, you get what you pay for: basic ANC buds that work. They're fine, but 'fine' is the best thing about them.
Overview
The Belkin Soundform Rhythm is the $33 earbud that makes you go 'huh, that's not bad.' The one thing to know is this: you're getting a functional, no-frills set of wireless buds with basic ANC and decent battery life. It's not going to wow you with sound quality or block out the world, but for the price, it's a surprisingly competent little package. If your budget is tight and you just need something that works, these are worth a look.
Performance
Honestly, the biggest surprise is that they work at all for this price. Our database shows the ANC lands in the 38th percentile, which means it's fine for a constant hum like an airplane cabin but don't expect it to silence chatty coworkers. The sound quality is similarly middle-of-the-road, scoring in the 40th percentile. They get the job done for podcasts and casual music, but audiophiles will be disappointed. The battery life is actually a bright spot, sitting in the 61st percentile, so you'll get a full day of use without hunting for the case.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The price is almost impossible to argue with at $33. 94th
- Battery life is solid for the category, beating more than half the buds we track. 93th
- They're IPX5 rated, so sweat and light rain won't kill them. 89th
- Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint is a nice modern touch for the money. 86th
Cons
- Sound and ANC are just okay, scoring below average in our benchmarks.
- Comfort and build quality are in the bottom third, so they feel a bit cheap.
- The microphone is mediocre, so calls will be passable at best.
- They're terrible for gaming, scoring a dismal 6.1 out of 100 in our tests.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Wearing Style | Dual Ear True Wireless Earbud |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 10 |
| Drivers | 1 |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Range | 10 |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 8 |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 20 |
| Case Charging | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | No |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 4 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | No |
| App | iOS, Android |
| Volume Limiting | No |
| Water Resistance | IPX5 |
Value & Pricing
At $33, it's hard to call these a bad value. You're getting functional wireless ANC buds for less than a nice dinner. Just don't expect them to compete with models costing three times as much. If your expectations are set correctly, they're worth it.
vs Competition
The most obvious competitor is the Nothing Ear (a), which often dips near $50. For that extra $15-20, you get significantly better sound and ANC. If you can stretch your budget, the Ear (a) is the much smarter buy. Closer in price, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are a wildcard with their physical dial, but they're harder to find. Against the JBL Tune Buds 2, the Belkin wins on price but loses on JBL's more fun, bass-forward sound signature. The Sony and Technics options are in a completely different league and price bracket, so they're not really in this fight.
| Spec | Belkin Belkin Soundform Rhythm Active Noise-Canceling | Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Technics Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Apple Airpods Pro 3 Apple AirPods Pro with Wireless MagSafe Charging | Jabra Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-A UC Earbuds with USB-A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Headphones (Black) | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life Hours | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | 20 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | IPX5 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | IP57 |
| Multipoint | true | true | true | true | true | true |
Common Questions
Q: Is the noise cancelling any good?
It's basic. It'll take the edge off constant noises like a fan or plane engine, but it won't silence voices or sudden sounds. For the price, it's about what we expected.
Q: How's the call quality?
Meh. With four mics, you'd hope for better, but our data puts the mic quality in the 34th percentile. People will hear you, but it won't be crystal clear, especially in windy spots.
Q: Can I use these for working out?
Yeah, the IPX5 rating means they can handle sweat and rain. Just don't expect them to stay super secure during high-intensity moves, as the comfort score isn't great.
Who Should Skip This
If you care even a little about sound quality or effective noise cancellation, this isn't it. Go get the Nothing Ear (a) instead. Also, hardcore mobile gamers should look elsewhere immediately—these buds are terrible for gaming latency.
Verdict
We can recommend the Belkin Soundform Rhythm, but with a big caveat. Buy these only if your budget is absolutely locked at $30-$40 and you need ANC. They're a functional tool, not an enjoyable experience. For everyone else, saving up another $20 for the Nothing Ear (a) will get you a dramatically better product that you'll actually like using.