 Irrevocably, wireless street styles |
| Review Date: October 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Maki, Minneapolis |
The only headphones I've ever trusted are Sony classic Street Style - they're comfortable, affordable, and have fantastic sound quality. When I realized Sony had released this wireless pair, I was all over them.
I had earlier tried the Motorola HT820 Bluetooth headphones because I've long been interested in wireless audio, so most of my evaluation will be to those.
Design
The Street Style form of these headphones is brilliant - I prefer this style compared to over-the-head headphones, and I have a terrible time with earbuds.
The neck band is nearly just so the same as a pair of wired Street Style headphones, with a small less bulk and no rubber "ear rests" that would sit on top of your ear. The band doesn't seem to grip your ears as well as a pair of wired Street Styles, but they are nearly as comfortable.
The "foldable" design is a touch I could do without. I wouldn't care whether or not they folded, but the stock photo does not show how they redesigned the neck band to accommodate the fold. Instead of being a exact curve, the neck band comes to a subtle keen shape where it folds. Less striking, but it makes no variation while you're wearing them.
Performance
These headphones offer brilliant sound quality, but only expect to get this when using the A2DP (well ahead audio) Bluetooth profile (this goes for any Bluetooth headphones). This is only available on certain cell phones, with an adapter, or with special software on a notebook. In my circumstances, I set these up with my MacBook Pro's built-in Bluetooth, but I have to use a software workaround to broadcast A2DP in Mac OS Tiger (a Google search will help you find that).
The sound is surprisingly rich and nourishing. I don't reckon of myself as an audiophile, but if the sound is terrible, I can't get into the music - and with these I've had very small vex focusing on my music.
In order to get a excellent weigh of music and vocals, I did have to adjust the equalization in iTunes (unlike wired headphones, which I naturally just plug in and go). With too much low frequency sound (bass) I did find that some music had an occasional popping noise - lowering those levels eliminated that issue and the phones still produce a excellent amount of bass. The effective frequency range on these is restricted but I'm not sure if this is a result of the wireless technology or the speakers. I can't presume Sony would use lousy speakers in a touch with an MSRP ten times the amount of a fine pair of their wired headphones.
These headphones hold a very steady tie, within range. The Motos often cut out during simple movements like bending over to pick a touch up. I can safely exercise and go about a room without these tumbling the tie.
The battery life is more than conventional for my use. I've used them for about 2 hours a day for the past 3 days and haven't had to do a second charge yet.
Bluetooth/Wireless Faults
There are a few issues which I blame on the Bluetooth/wireless technology, as it's just not exact yet.
There is a very subtle amount of static that can be heard when no music is before a live consultation, and sometimes in songs with less social class music. This may also vary based on the device you're connecting to. I have tried eliminating interference and the static seems continuous. It ordinarily fades into the music while listening.
If you're connected to a stationary object like a notebook, don't expect to leave the room with these on. Bluetooth has a very restricted range. If you use them with a cell phone or just in a single room, you'll be fine.
I can't use my wireless Mighty Mouse while I'm listening to these. Both in commission on Bluetooth, the mouse causes the audio to cut out every few seconds. Not sure about other Bluetooth devices, but expect interference. Wireless router doesn't seem to cause disconnection though.
Synopsis
My expectations of wireless headphones is very low. These are certainly a step in the right management though. While the Motorola HT820 may have decent sound quality with A2DP (not tested), the Sony DRBT21G triumphs in comfort due to it's lighter and less bulky design.
If you are able to join to a device with A2DP and don't mind the caveats of wireless technology, I would urge these as the best I have found so far. I bought these for about $95 but they're worth the $129.99 retail price. The bluntness is worth it! |
Fantastic for every circumstances.
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| Review Date: September 4, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Kevin Boonsiri, |
These headphones have performed fantastic everywhere I've used them. They sound fantastic both at home and out-of-doors (while running) and I have yet to have a single problem with the BlueTooth greeting. Sometimes I'll place my phone in a thick leather case and then place it in my pocket and still the BlueTooth greeting is unaffected.
The fit is excellent as well. They are frivolous and comfortable, while still casing the ears completely to provide the best sound. The controls are simple to use and intuitive. You don't really save that much space when you fold these up, but it's still nice to have that option.
They also work well as a headset. I was very surprised at how well the microphone picked up my voice taking into account where its located. Also the incoming call is routed to both ears, a touch other stereo headphones won't do.
The battery life and charge times are about what the manual states, 3 hours to charge a completely dead battery and around 11 hours of usage.
By and large I highly urge these headphones. I use them with a Samsung Blackjack. |
superb bluetooth headphones/headset!
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| Review Date: September 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Anchit Panchal, Chicago, IL USA |
I know of all the horror tales about bluetooth headsets/headphones. too much static/hiss, frequent tie drops, small-lasting battery, just stopped working at random, etc. although i had absolutely no issue with them at all, i was really getting sick of my wired $15 behind-the-neck sony headphones, because of backpack issues and having the wire just flail around even if i get rid of the slack.
after years of watching bluetooth headsets come into the market, i irrevocably waited for sony to bring out some behind-the-neck style ones. sorry to say, there were hardly ANY reviews on this particular model. none of my acquaintances knew they existed, and the reviews online were mixed/sporadic (cnet), and hardly useful to be honest. i wanted to see how excellent (or terrible) they were for myself...and thank god, they are fantastic.
pros:
-it pairs with my macbook pro perfectly. i have a late 2008 15" macbook pro, and it paired wonderfully without any hitches. it detected the headphones straight away and set it up for headphone mode (used for listening obviously) and headset mode (as a microphone). sorry to say, there isnt any way to use them at the same time though, so you're stuck with using the headphones to listen and the built-in mic on the mbp to speak, or vice versa. ive paired them successfully in 10.5.7/10.5.8, and 10.6.0/10.6.1. in snow leopard, it also gives you the option to use it in mono mode or stereo mode, but im sure most people will use it in stereo mode. :)
-it pairs with my iphone perfectly. i have an iphone 3GS and it detected the headphones straight away. the best part is that the iphone DOES use them at the same time! you can be listening to whatever you have on your iphone (ipod, live streaming from an app, etc), and if a call comes in, the headphones will make a noise indicating that you have a call. also, if you own a 3GS and have updated to 3.1, you can press the button on the right earpiece and it will go to voice control! now that is pretty handy!
-the controls on the right earpiece are nice too. in addition to the power button and the "voice control" button that i just clarified above, there is a rocker thing that you push up to go to the next track and push below to go to the before track. if you push the rocker/button thing itself, it will pause/play. there are also dedicated volume up/down buttons too. for my 3GS, these took over in terms of varying the volume, and it was nice taking into account i didnt have to pull out my iphone just to change the volume.
-the battery life is superb. ive gotten 10-15 hours on this thing frenziedly.
-works in airplanes too (in case anyone was wondering). ive used it internally and internationally without any tribulations! but, one time my iphone's audio was skipping/hissing loudly at one point, but a restart solved that and i never experienced that issue again.
cons:
-the left and right earpieces are heavy, so it makes the fake feel a small cheap and a bit loose. maybe its because it is foldable, but mine was loose from the beginning since i opened it. for example, you can hold either the left or right earpiece and you can see how heavy it is, because the entire other half of the thing will sag down a small. its not a dealbreaker by any means, but know that its not going to be exceptionally rigid/lasting and perfectly made if you are used to really nice headphones.
-while people can certainly hear you if you use it has a bluetooth headset on the phone, their volume owing to the headphones is a bit low for my expectations. i was hoping for it to be loud, but even at the max volume, its still a bit too low...and sorry to say, if you are at max volume, you will certainly hear the hiss along with your callers voice. you can still hear the caller visibly, but the hiss might drive some people crazy.
-as of 3.1, AVRCP still isnt supported in the iphone 3GS bluetooth profiles. so this means you cant change/scroll owing to the track on the headphones itself, but only do play/pause, increase/decrease volume (separate from the iphone as i clarified before), and the voice control button. of course, your mileage may vary, depending on what device you use these headphones on.
-even though i am an audiophile, i knew that getting bluetooth headphones meant static and hiss. even though this set has noticeably less of it than any other bluetooth headsets/headphones ive used, its still present, mainly when cranking up the volume to its max.
-it would have been nice to have sony make this charge from usb and not from their well-known "yellow plug" ac adapter. i dont like transportation around an extra ac adapter just to charge and i would rather have a usb cable instead, but its just a minor quirk though.
-i got my set from amazon.com's 3rd party seller for $40. prices seem to have gone up since then sorry to say...doubtless because they are so excellent! :p
-is there really a need for such a huge package/box for these to come in? sony needs to get on the bandwagon with "frustration-free" packaging. doubtless only me of course...:)
-using A2DP doubtless will drain your mobile devices' battery really quick and heat it up quite a bit. my iphone 3GS lasts just a few hours with bluetooth on/streaming, but that is to be expected from a phone that already pushes the limits of energy conservation right? :)
by and large, this was certainly worth the $40 i paid for. if you see it online for more than $50, i wouldn't personally get it because i reckon that is too much to pay for a manufactured goods thats been out for a small more than 2 years. if you can get over the static/hiss at its max volume, then this pair is brilliant. its has all of the facial appearance i wanted from a bluetooth device - A2DP, AVRCP (currently not supported by apple...yet, i hope), dedicated volume, track, play/pause, and voice control buttons, fantastic battery life, behind-the neck style, foldable, and best of all, the iphone supports it nearly just so how i want it to. i just wish it would make everyones calls sound loud at the max volume, and be able to charge via usb. other than that, i highly urge it.
reviewed on late 2007 15" macbook pro (2.2Ghz, 8600GT 128MB) and late 2008 15" macbook pro (2.53Ghz, 9600GT 512MB) running both leopard 10.5.7/10.5.8 and snow leopard 10.6.0/10.6.1, as well as the iphone 3GS 32GB and ipod touch 16GB 2nd/3rd age group. |
Exact headset to listen to music from your PC
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| Review Date: April 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: E. Laneville, Los Angeles, CA United States |
Installation is honestly straigthforward. Once your PC finds the Bluetooth device, it installs drivers involuntarily (Windows Vista) owing to Windows Update and will stream your PC Audio to these.
Battery life is decent, a full charge lasts about 8 hours I'd say, at medium volume. |
A very excellent headset to buy for the money!
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| Review Date: January 11, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Lou Mac, Stratford,Ct. |
| I teamed this headst with a Samsung YP-P2JCB/8GB mp3 player and they go well. If you are in need of deep base sound then you need to look elesewhere. This headset fits me fine and the controls take a small getting use to but what piece of gear doesn't? I wont be looking for any better quality sounding headsets because they will cost more! If you don't have to have Bose quality sound then these will work fantastic for you. They switch to the next song back and forth.I also teamed the headset with Sony Ericson W300i, I havent received a call to see how they cooperate with the phone. By and large, I am very satisfied with the sound quality they provide and the distance from the player is unevenly 30' but don't run in front of a microwave oven,they will cut out but that is to be expected. They won't dissapoint for the price. |
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