Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 31
 Pretty good start April 14, 2008
ak_9jsz (Brooklyn, NY)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
[Addition: I paired this up with my Mac. Good news and bad new.
Sadly, the sound quality was poor when i listened to my music (and no you cannot control (fast forward/rewind/stop the song you're listening to via this headset).
Good news is that the mic on this headset worked just fine with Skype.
Note when using this with your Mac: Go to System Preferences, then Sound, and finally the output tab. Select this headset as the output device otherwise, you won't hear anything.
Finally, the instructions for this device are written concisely, and clearly.
Finally, finally, thanks to those feel this is a helpful review.]
Seeing as how these devices are relatively new, I think it's a pretty successful end product.
The sounds is very good (still better than a lot of wired headphones you could buy for $50). Though i've noticed where it doesn't match the quality of my Sony MDR-CD580 headphones (the best i've ever listened through), I'm quite happy with the sound.
Usability is not an issue. It's easy to use. You can look at your address book, and navigate to the number you want. You can do the same for your "calls" list. You can change the volume, move to the next, or previous tracks, and check the time. I'd've liked to go to my list of songs that way i could pack my phone in my bag or something.
i like the way the earpieces don't snag because the plastic (or whatever) wire doesn't wrap around your neck. It's pretty cool how they make the length of the wires per piece adjustable.
I would've prefered the option to use my own headphones (which is available on other headsets from Sony-Ericsson). The get tired of having those things in my ears.
Wear and tear. I've had this at least 2 months and one of the wires is splitting open, and I've got tape holding together the casing for the mic/answering button.
Other than that, it's a good product. you'll be happy with it.
 Great for bluetooth April 17, 2008
Justin Wassel (Reynoldsburg, OH United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a great concept, and everything is good about it compared to a wired headset, except two things.
First, there is a very little bit of static or fizzing sound in the background of listening to music with it from my Smartphone. And second, much less important to most except those like me, it doesn't capture the ultra-low frequency bass sounds that I like to hear. It has very good low bass and overall range from highs to lows. Understand the difference between low range bass and ultra-low range bass.
I don't know if the slight hissing sound was due to the Smartphone or the speakers of the headset, but otherwise it's excellent.
Great device, so so battery, sony connector kills the fun. March 31, 2008
J. Brown (Ma. United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This lil gem is great if your in it for the wow factor. If you are a smart consumer you'll do your research tho. The sound was second to none, i have tryed plantronics, and jabra stereo headsets this sony was clearly better as far as the sound quality. Because its a Sony the form factor is top notch, but because its a Sony they pull the ol' Sony style connector(Sony always throws in some proprietery technology, makes for less of a value overall).Not only cant you switch out the phones for another pair, you have to charge it using
the ac adapter it comes with instead of the usual mini usb connectors which are sold everywhere.
All things considered if you can buy it for cheap on Amazon it may be worth the money for you. The mirrored screen is amazing, crisp, bright little window just the right size to handle caller i.d.,song # and title,and various animations.
The number one selling point for me was the ability to see my contacts through the mirrored lil screen, still a feature i havent seen anywhere else.
Kool product, hard choice.
Great device, small flaws, USES Any SE charger! October 6, 2008
S. Sidlov (Pompton Lakes, NJ United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Small flaws tarnish this great product. I used this with a SE Z750 debranded and loaded with updated firmware from SE.
Edit: I just discovered that my SE Z750 charger, charges this BT device! YAY! I only need ONE charger with me when I travel. Other posts elsewhere show that this is the same for other SE phone models, you can use the same SE charger with the device!
First point. Sony doesn't consider this device to be a BT Handsfree (even if they included the profile) they consider this unit 'music wireless speakers' or 'wireless stereo.'
Bluetooth profiles are:
Headset Handsfree
Audio Streaming Audio Remote Controller Audio Remote Control
Target
Background:
Well, I've always hated those Borg-like (or Uhuru-ish) ear clips for Bluetooth. They scream-- I'm so important that I must be connected all the time... Another problem with them is that it's very hard to tell WHO it is on the other end. And why would you want to put a RF device in your ear (not that I'm saying its harmful, but...). And then you have to pull them out to listen in Stereo to your music or podcast or if you have the service, the audio stream of your cell's TV/Video cast.
Sony has come very close to solving these issues with the HBH-DS980. This Bluetooth stereo device will allow you listen to a music/sound source while keeping you connected to your phone for calls. It could be the same device or it could be a different device. As I write this I'm listening to iTunes on my laptop (networked iTunes library) and connected to my cell phone.
The unit has a lightweight forefinger length control unit that hangs off of a neck string, so that you can pop the ear buds out and still wear the device, ear buds dangling. The length of the ear bud's cords can be adjusted so you won't have big loops of wire hanging. The entire thing could be tucked into a shirt pocket as you wear it, if you don't want it dangling and people will assume you have some sort of mini-player in your pocket. There is a 'safety release' in the connectors that hold the ear bud wires if someone (small child?) pulls on the unit.
The extra feature that makes this better than some other units is that the display is full featured and goes beyond just a few icons to twenty pictograms plus text for caller id and music track information. Normally invisible the display on an incoming call it lights up with the caller id information. So now, you can accept/reject the call if you wish. Either press the 'call button' on the microphone bulge that hangs closer to your jaw line and the unit will pickup the call, and blank out the music automatically. Reject the call by holding the button down. A mellow beep or the phone's ringtone can announce the call and a beep tells you that the rejection went through. You can interrupt the music to make a call also by pressing the Call button.
The OLED on the unit will also display the ID information of the track you're listening to - provided your Bluetooth sending device supports that information which is NOT available as just a stereo headset. It must support the more advanced headset profile A2DP or Audio Gateway. Along with a volume graph (different settings for music and cell phones allowed), time, battery power, the devices that you are sync'd to, and were sync'd to in the past. However, the OLED is not bright enough for direct sunlight - small flaw.
The 980 is also a remote control device. It has a dedicated Menu button that allows you to view the `Contacts List', `Call List' and `Device List' (and back up a level when using these lists). Using the rocker volume bar allows you to highlight these items and the Play/Stop button is also the 'Select' in this function. This works fine when your phone is the primary device. Sometimes the unit when connected to the laptop (in my case) disconnects from the phone. The call/contact list icons show, but as the phone is not primary there is nothing to display. Holding down the on/off button will resync you to the primary device (more later). But you may not realize that you are disconnected. Another small flaw. The manual says that you can easily transfer any call in progress on your phone to the headset by `pressing the Call button'.
Besides the manual method to either retrieve a recent call or dial one from your contact list (contact list is divided into alphabet; select a letter and scroll through listings with multiple numbers listed for each contact as they scroll by and can be selected with the Play/Stop button); you can also use voice dialing if your phone supports it. (Voice dialing on your phone will NOT negate the need to use the call button. Some phones support 'Call Control' by saying 'answer' or 'busy' and never have to move your hands. Magic Word (turn on the phone's voice command) and Voice Call Control however, doesn't appear to work with the unit, as it will not leave the microphone open all the time as it's a battery drainer. In my configuration, I could only press the Call button and then my phone would beep (in my ear) for the voice number that I recorded for each number. This could be a problem for some but, magic word is a battery drainer for your phone.
The Device List will also to allow you to connect to the additional devices. Select the previously paired device from the list and press the Play/Stop button and the `reconnecting Bluetooth' display will show. Adding a new device requires that the 980 be turned off, and then holding the on button until the `search for devices' pictogram shows. The unit supports auto-pairing, and if you're connecting device doesn't-- the pair code is the expected `0000'. Reconnecting or adding a device paired previously is done by the list and pressing the Play button until a reconnect icon appears. A problem exists where your phone and the unit will not always agree on what is connected all the time. Your phone might say it's not, and the unit may say that it is. Selecting a device that the 980 already thinks is connected won't show the `reconnecting' display. Just turning the unit on and off will resync the primary device, you'll have to reselect the secondary devices.
The unit can handle 'call waiting' by using the Call button as a flash button.
Headphones
Three different sized sets of silicon buds are supplied to give a good fit, you should be able to wash with soap and water. I found the headphones clear and bright sounding. 192bps media sounded very very good playing from my phone.
As an audio control:
I mentioned before that it can hold an independent volume setting for music vs. voice calls. The unit has independent Play/Stop, volume +/- rocker, Menu buttons and a skip/back slider. When connected to my SE phone; the Play buttons will startup or the media player at the last song in your playlist. You can scroll through the current playlist but you can not change playlists.
Also, the data for the music id on the unit is dependent on the software being used on the player and the Bluetooth profile being used. Right now, I don't have a Bluetooth profile beyond 'Headset (aka earphones and mic)' and stereo headset on the Bluetooth on my PC. So I am not seeing music information on the 980's display. The PC's `Audio Gateway' profile which `should' be valid is not working on the 980 and won't recognize it as a service beyond just headphones (but the Next/Previous buttons do work). My phone has a more sophisticated profile and it shows the data. I can however, go to the next/previous item in the current playlists on both my phone and iTunes.
Additional features:
Unit makes beeping noise and will (on my phone's display anyway) show `Battery Low on Headset" message. Really low battery will just shut the unit down; I got an hour of music playing after the first low battery message.
I think the proprietary charger connection is a plus. There is no question that the unit is correctly connected and the prong snaps into the units body. OLED lights up with animated charge pictogram.
Additional flaw: time display is 24hr there doesn't seem to be way to change it. My phone is set to 12hr AM/PM.
It would have been a big plus to be able to use your own headsets but then the mic would have to be in the unit, and that would have to be near your head.
Replacement silicon buds are 3 sets for $5 at some online sellers. Plus $5 shipping.
I hope that there is a firmware upgrade for this unit, the small flaws can add up to be annoyances for some, and it should all be `correctable' SE might update the firmware, they do for their phones.
Edit: I spoke with SE about some issues with the device, they don't expect to have a firmware update. One issue not mentioned is that the unit's display goes 'nuts' once in a while, and looks like static. Functionality is still there, you don't have a readable display. A full reset will correct this, it's described in the manual, shut off, hold call and menu buttons down together, and turn on, device will reset and correct it.
Also, you can setup your bluetooth profile in the phone to auto-answer calls without pressing the call/mic button.
My SE phone switches profiles when it detects that the 980 is in range automatically and transfers audio to the phone.
Happy with it but, for the price, could be better February 10, 2008
LegallyBlonde (California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this to pair with the new Verizon Voyager. In short, I'm happy with it but have a few complaints.
The goods: The sound quality for music is phenomenal - it makes the Voyager sound better than an iPod. It has great battery life- I can go four or five days without charging. I love that I can control my phone book from the headset. It fits well into my ears (without falling off like the full sized headphones) and it is very comfortable. . . .I wear it all the time.
The average: Not a great radius; if I go more than 10 feet from it I lose bluetooth. Not awful, but not great. It can be tricky to pair both the Voyager's phone feature and the Voyager's stereo feature - for some reason, each has to be paired separately. That may be a Voyager issue, not a Sony issue, though.
The bad: I have been told that, on the other end, my voice sounds muffled while I'm on the headset.
Overall, best one I've found and I'm keeping it. But for the price, I do think the call quality should be higher.
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