Customer Reviews

Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Headset HBH-DS970

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I use this with my phone -- Sony Ericsson w850i. Now whem i use the stereo buds that comes in the package -- sound quality is pretty good. I also tried it with Sony MDR-EX81LP Bud-Style Stereo Earphones -- and it sounded even better.

However this bluetooth baby is a different storey altogether. Sound quality is noticably (U'll have to be deaf no to notice!) lower. There is no BASS (forget Mega Bass). Further you notice that the range is distinctly lesser.

If you listen to more that 2-3 hours of music the battery will die on you, And it ain't fun carrying arround the charger. If you use this while jogging, well connectivity will go on and off quite often.

Also the functions like controling volume, fwding tracks will not synchronice between the devices too well.

However it is quite attractive accessory to wear. Operations are simple.

So if you want a simple wireless device to answer calls, and may be listen to music once in a blue moon, you may like this. However if you'r a serious music lover -- STAY AWAY FROM THIS!

I am using the DS970 with a SE K790a phone and so far it has been great. For comparison purposes I used a set of Sony MDR-NC11 to compare earbud sound/noise cancelling qualities and SE HPM-82's for remote/handsfree functionality. Using those two leaves you with almost 8 feet of wires and three modules to contend with, the DS970 got rid of that. The volume is louder with the DS970 vs NC11, although the noise cancellation is not as effective. It still however blocks out the majority of ambient noise, and works well in NYC subways. SQ wise is on par with the NC11's though don't expect audiophilic quality (remember it was made for noisy environments). The silent hissing is not as pronounced as it is with the NC11's. For remote functionality, plusses are the backlit display and positioning of the controls (somewhat similar to the stick remotes found with Sony's MD walkmans). Unfortunately it does not have a clip and dangles freely. The mic isn't very good compared to the HPM, most callers complain about sounding "far", though reorienting the mic does help. Battery life isn't much of a concern for me, though 6 hours is plenty enough (the phone will only last for 4 hours of music playback with a full charge). The battery indicator is deceptive, showing full most of the time (~3 hours) then dropping rapidly afterward. No problems with the charger as the phone charger can be used as well (a plus of using a SE phone). It is more sensitive to interference than standard BT devices, and you will notice it (music starts clipping/dropping). Overall it is great for those who use their phones as a music player and wear ear buds all the time.

Sound volume is low and indistinct. Increasing volume does not make it easier to understand, just louder. Does a fairly good job of limiting outside sound.

Lanyard style can be inconvenient. Earbuds can be hard to insert when you get a call. Fob on end only display caller's number, not the programmed name.

Other side of line frequently has problems with hearing, microphone doesnt work well.

Like most bluetooth devices, lacks a user friendly on/off mechanism to decline using headset when it isnt convenient. User must go through the disconnect or power down process to use phone handset instead.

Overall, not a purchase I would recommend. Reconsider your desire to have earbuds.

I bought this to use with my LG VX8500 because I was sick of dealing with over six feet of wires, with jack adapter and the actual headset, to
just listen to my music.

My first complaint is about the battery. It does not last for six hours, not even close. In fact the little battery life monitor on the LED screen will, at some point in time, jump from being 3/4 full to having enough juice left for five minutes.

Second, the whole necklace design is awkward. Quite often the strings attached to the earbuds will get tangled underneath the thread the forms the necklace, this makes it much easier for the buds to fall out of my ears.

In fact that's my next complaint, the ear buds suck. None of the three sizes they sent with the headset would stay in my ears. Just the vibrations of driving on a bumpy road, or walking was enough to knock them loose. This REALLY ticked me off. Nothing I did would make them stay in there, even jamming them into my ear canal. (Which I do not recommend, it drastically increased the pressure in my ear canal and it felt like my ear drum was going to pop.)

Finally, the sound quality is not that great. It's most noticeable on heavily percussive songs because the drums just sound like they're being struck with brushes instead of sticks.

And there's no bass to speak of, none at all. After using this headset even the bass on my car speakers is enough to bother me now, and they're just normal car speakers.

This unit pairs great with my T-Mobile MDA, laptop, and Motorola DC800 music streams, switches flawlessly between calls and playback, supports voice dial and compatible with ms voice command. The battery life is only under 6 hours for music listening and needs improvement (consider getting 2 headsets to double the playback time!)

I have used three different bluetooth stereo headphones so far including this one. This Sony one has very good sound quality for music. It pairs up easily, and fits in the ear comfortably. I would give 4 stars for these.

However, I was very disappointed at its way short range. The spec said it works up to 30 ft, in reality the connection completely stops at about 10 ft. If you don't mind the short range, this is a great bluetooth headphone. if you need longer range for your application, better look for something else. -1 star for this reason.

I bought this for use with my phone so it would be easier to listen to music. It does the job pretty well, but you can't wander too far away from your phone. I usually have my phone in my purse, so that's not a huge problem. It works with the remote, I can adjust the volume or skip tracks and so on. My display doesn't show anything though, but I don't care too much about that. I only mention it because it may be a dealbreaker to some. There's probably an easy fix for this, but I am really not bothered by it, so I haven't looked it up. I also use it to make calls, and according to people I talk to on the phone, the sound quality is about the same as if I was just using my handset.

I've used this with two phones now, and it works well with both. My current is the LG VX8350 and it connects and works with no problem. The stereo sound is great and the earbuds are very comfortable. The charger is light (contrary to a previous reviewer) but its always a hassle to carry a charger. The unit lives up to the 6 hour talk time (about the same for music listening) so I can't complain even though I wish for a longer battery life. There are more than 6 hours in my days.

Paired it with SonyE. W710 with no problem. Sound quality is pretty good. Not as good as the wired headset but good enough. Battery is good, at least 5 hours. The earbuds would fall if you don't wear them over the ear. The biggest problem is that if my phone is not in my shirt pocket at least 3 inches from the pendant, like say in my pants pocket, it will be nearly impossible to listen to the streamed music. It keeps losing the signal if there's anything in between the phone and the headset pendant. I'm not sure if it's my phone or the headset but I have a S.E. W710 walkman phone. You think they would work well together.

When I originally purchased this, there were virtually NO bluetooth stereo earbud adapters. All were huge/clunky open-ear types. Some had mics, some not.

There are lots more options out now, including a newer version from Sony. I would suggest that since it has a better battery life as well as better support for 2, 3 or more plus devices.

The DS970 is only set for two devices max. Any more than that and you'll have to delete and pair it up again.