Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphone

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 14 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 5 stars

  Battery life is a drain!

  by EBRRBE on March 16, 2009

  Pros: Size and compatibility with cell phones is excellent.

  Cons: The battery life is advertised at 3.5 to 4 hours of talk and listening time. I got on average 75 minutes of talk and listening time. The right ear bud (which is where the battery is) heats up and is not comfortable at all. Expensive and don't last.

  Summary: Sound quality wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I'm sure that 2010 will produce similar ear buds for the wireless market, so I would wait if I ...

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  Summary: Sound quality wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I'm sure that 2010 will produce similar ear buds for the wireless market, so I would wait if I were interested in these ear buds. The IS800 are nice but offers only a taste of what most of us are waiting and wanting. Save your money and stick with your current set for now.

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  4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 1 stars

  unlistenable (is that a word??)

  by doctorvik on June 17, 2009

  Pros: look nice, small form factor

  Cons: sound horrible -which makes them useless in my book.

  Summary: I am by no means an audiophile but I do usually use decent headphones (right now I am using atomic floyd ones for the iphone - awesome) - anyway with ...

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  Summary: I am by no means an audiophile but I do usually use decent headphones (right now I am using atomic floyd ones for the iphone - awesome) - anyway with iphone 3.0 I had high hopes that my previous experiences with be stereo bluetooth headphones would all be in the past and I could get a pair that actually sounded good - um yeah -- not so much - within the first two minutes of opening these up they were back in the box ready to go back to the store. I really wanted to like these but it's not there yet .

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  3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 3 stars

  Good...Just for the Compactness...but doesn't fit ALL..

  by Alex_Eathan on March 10, 2009

  Pros: Franckly I was waiting to get this one for the last couple of months as the model was not available in store. Finally when I got it.. First look was so amazing especially the design of it..Hidden look design.

  Cons: The cord length is too short. No multi channel. I can't use it with my iphone along with infinxx blue tooth adaptor. I can either listen to music through blue tooth or use it for phone. Both dont work together.. THe purpose of me buying this is lost

  Summary: The sound quality is not at par with other blue tooth models of sony ericsson. I used before several blue tooths from Sony ericsson and this is one is the ...

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  Summary: The sound quality is not at par with other blue tooth models of sony ericsson. I used before several blue tooths from Sony ericsson and this is one is the worst of all. Lot of disturbances while active call. I'm totally dis-appointed with the product.

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  2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 1 stars

  Great product with major defect-Do Not Buy This!!

  by beyondballistic on August 15, 2009

  Pros: Love this product when it works at first. Unobtrusive, great sound, great battery life. Easy to pair.

  Cons: Product has major manufacturing defect that appears after about a month of steady use. Becomes inoperative and manufacturer acknowledges this.

  Summary: I bought my first IS800 at Fry's in January 09. Since then I've gone through 4 of them. The problem is always the same, after a month the ...

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  Summary: I bought my first IS800 at Fry's in January 09. Since then I've gone through 4 of them. The problem is always the same, after a month the headset ceases to function. The battery light is always green when charged but is totally nonfunctional once unplugged. Action button won?t light up white light or activate pairing or activate tones. Sony Ericsson customer service rep confirmed that the current model does have a manufacturing defect and since my 4th model is outside the manufacturers warranty for my original purchase I am sending it back to their corporate HQ in North Carolina for a model without the defect supposedly. This product should be recalled.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 4 stars

  Really wanted to like but mine may have been faulty

  by ghengismccann on March 24, 2009

  Pros: The size and the package were great. Small form factor was very impressive. Liked the case.

  Cons: Mine suffered from frequent sound drop outs. I live in Central London which is obviously an electromagnetic nightmare for bluetooth devices. These headphones didn't seem to cope. Also had a problem with fit as they're quite large in diameter.

  Summary: I hope that the problem with sound drop outs was caused by a fault in my particular set. I chose not to have a replacement set because I wasn't ...

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  Summary: I hope that the problem with sound drop outs was caused by a fault in my particular set. I chose not to have a replacement set because I wasn't convinced that it was a faulty unit and may have been a general design fault. I didn't want to spend a lot of time sending another set back.
  
  I'd be interested to hear if any other readers experience the same problem.
  
  Happily, Play.com the retailer were very good and refunded my cash and postage without a quibble. A much better experience than I had with the execrable Carphone Warehouse which I'm still trying to get a refund from for a previous unsatisfactory bluetooth headset purchase.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 6 stars

  this headset doesn't live up to my (high) expectations

  by puntareyes on March 6, 2009

  Pros: no wires !! I had been waiting for this product, because I was fed up with seeing onlookers struggling to stiffle laughter on the metro as I struggled for long minutes to untangle the cord for my glasses from the headphone cord on my MP3 player !

  Cons: I'm a serious music listener, and not familiar with bluetooth headsets, so was disappointed in the sound : not as clear and not nearly as loud as with wired headphones. The battery doesn't last nearly as long as the MP3's battery - annoying.

  Summary: I agree with the CNET review that the fit to the ear is not good (altho there are 3 different size earbud rubber ends). The ear buds are small for ...

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  Summary: I agree with the CNET review that the fit to the ear is not good (altho there are 3 different size earbud rubber ends). The ear buds are small for bluetooth headsets I guess, but heavier than the normal buds I'm used to.
  The difficulty in getting a good "seal" to the ear is probably the main cause of my disappointment in sound quality and volume.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 8 stars

  Smallest stereo BT headset in the world.

  by shinklee on October 20, 2009

  Pros: Very small, no loop in the back, excellent sound quality.

  Cons: Short battery life, heavy ear pieces, no volume control (hence NOT iphone compatible).

  Summary: The sound quality of this BT in ear headset is the best I have tried.
  Far better then the Motorola S9-HD and even better then most of Son's other ...

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  Summary: The sound quality of this BT in ear headset is the best I have tried.
  Far better then the Motorola S9-HD and even better then most of Son's other BT stereo headsets. Good enough to listen to classical music and enjoy the nuances. Its even better then the $79 wired in ear headset sold by Apple (which isn't very good actually). The sounds are very realistic, good enough, that a nature CD fooled me into think I heard animal sounds and wood crackling when I was hiking with the music on.
  
  I was really surprised at how good it sounded when I used the PSP Go as my MP3 player. Only problem was that the PSP's BT signal is sooooo weak I had to place the PSP in line of sight of the headset or else the signal would be interrupted. Even my arm or hand was enough to block the signal, but I am pretty sure thats the fault of the PSP and not this headset.
  
  I didnt test the mic because Skype on the PSP wasn't working properly with any of my BT headsets. Skype really should be a background daemon on the PSP rather then a application that takes up the entire PSP when its running.
  
  The ear piece was a little big for my ears, but manageable. I was able to jog for 30 minutes with it on and it didn't fall off.
  
  The battery on its highest volume setting lasted 2.5 hours for me. Literally as I got home at the end of my day and just after I took off my jacket the unit shut off. About 15 minutes after the battery warning.
  
  I imagine if I used the mic the battery would have been shorter.
  
  The unit is NOT iphone compatible. Why? Because in Apple's often weird driver policies, they disabled the ability to control the volume on bluetooth headsets from the phone itself. So this unit not having a volume control on the headset itself, the volume defaults to a low setting, too low to use it for a phone conversation. Just above a whisper.
  
  Summary:
  
  Good -
  1 - size, smallest stereo headset in the world.
  2 - sound quality. Awesome base and very detailed mid and treble.
  3 - no back loop that interferes with lying down or sitting.
  
  Bad -
  1 - not iphone compatible, due to its inability to control volume (always on low).
  2 - low battery life. only about 2.5 hours listening to music at highest volume.
  3 - highest volume is equal to only about mid volume on a wired headset. Hence, in a noisy area one can not hear the sound coming out of the headset.
  4 - the weight and leverage of the earpiece and wire is less then well designed for jogging and other active sports.It could fall off easily unless properly secured and adjusted constantly. The Earpieces should have been made lighter. and not so long.
  
  5 - NO USB charger ! It can only be charged off of a AC power supply. The plug is so proprietary, there is nothing else like it on the market. Its a low amp, 5 volt charger, hence it would have been easy to make it USB. Extra mobility except when its being charged !
  
  6 - Volume is too, I couldn't hear the music when I used it in the gym and there was background music being played on the overhead speakers. A opened car window while driving i enough noise to drown out the headset. The maximum volume is just too low.
  
  
  Conclusion:
  
  I think I am gonna keep it, simply because its sooo small and the sound is excellent.
  Its just a shame that Apple does not allow volume control of a BT headset from the phone itself. They'll probably make us by the next generation iphone just to get volume control. Sheesh, corporate America.

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• 2 stars

  Good for nothing

  by leandrojuanbosch37 on September 3, 2009

  Pros: Convenient do to the size, the sound quality is not so bad

  Cons: Connectivity between the headphones and the Iphone is horrible.
  It cuts in and out the whole time your trying to listen to music or a conversation

  Summary: Don't waste you money, keep what ever wired head set you got now.

  Summary: Don't waste you money, keep what ever wired head set you got now.

• 10 stars

  Freedom from the cord

  by Life_on_Mars on August 31, 2009

  Pros: Reasonably good sound quality, range, and ease of use.

  Cons: Slight warming on right earbud, some drops (Bluetooth Con), earbud adapters need work.

  Summary: These are exactly what they claim to be, nothing more, nothing less. The sound quality is at least, if not better than most sub $100 wired sets, the extra premium ...

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  Summary: These are exactly what they claim to be, nothing more, nothing less. The sound quality is at least, if not better than most sub $100 wired sets, the extra premium in cost is the Bluetooth capability, which is well worth it in my opinion. Walking at least 3 miles a day in all weather conditions (including snow, rain, and summer heat), I've gone through a number of headsets ranging in price from $30-$200, so I know what to expect in sound quality and durability. So far, the Sony headset lives up to or exceeds my expectations.
  Pairing it with my iPod Touch was simple, but I did have static and poor sound quality when I first connected it; turning Bluetooth Off and then back On on the iPod resolved this. The main problem is an Apple issue and their idea of A2DP compliance; no volume control which isn't too much of a problem if you experiment with your EQ settings. It would also be nice if you could use the button on the headset to start and stop play. There is slight warming in the right earbud, but not enough to be uncomfortable (may actually be nice in the winter). The connection does drop due to interference occasionally for a brief moment, but reconnects without problems. The earbud size adapters could have a better range, the medium were a little too loose and the large a touch too big, but I've experienced the same with wired in-ear sets of all price ranges. Charging is simple and straightforward. The carrying case works well also.
  I also have paired it with my Nokia 3555 without any problems; being able to leave my iPod at home sometimes and listen to music on my phone was another big selling point to me. The button features work as advertised and the sound quality is better than expected.
  Bottom line, if you're looking for a replacement for super high-end headsets, this isn't for you. If you're looking to get rid of the physical tether to your music device and get well above average sound, then this is definitely for you.

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• 10 stars

  BEST BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES!!!

  by stvmtz44 on August 21, 2009

  Pros: lays nice on the neck, fits comfortable in the ears, sound quality great! size and portability, easy to pair - easy of use... range and soud quality for ear piece/phone use is great as well...

  Cons: all the bad reviews people put kept me away from them for a while until I gave them a shot and I am very happy I tried them..... very hard to take reviews serious now

  Summary: I tried all the Bluetooth stereo head sets and this one was the best... all others are to bulky, do not fit comfortable in the ears or get in the ...

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  Summary: I tried all the Bluetooth stereo head sets and this one was the best... all others are to bulky, do not fit comfortable in the ears or get in the way. I do not want to put names out there to make my comparisons, so Ill try to just keep this about the positives about these headphones. 1. They give you different sizes for the in-ear use of the headphones. You have to try all sizes to see which one fits you best. You?ll know when you have selected the perfect size- they cancel sound out and you will here the crispy sound and bass difference. So for the people that complained about the sound- more than likely they didn?t put them on right. Plus keep in mind they are WIRELESS! stop comparing them to wired headphones.... 2. The sizes of the headphones are perfect. They fit snug in your ear and all you have is a little wire around your next that after a while you forget its there. The benefit of this is that you can have one in your ear and the other out and it lay on your shoulder- and even then you forget it is lying on your shoulder because it is so small. This is perfect because I work in an office environment and I need to have one ear available incase some one calls or is talking to me but I facing away from them. Some of the other sets I tried looked goofy ? they looked and felt like I was wear a pair of sunglass backwards on my neck and that how they felt too. If I would lean back they would be pushed up against my neck and they would because the ear pieces to fit uncomfortable in my ears. These, no worries lean back in my office chair, lay down or even just slouch and they do not get in any type of way..3. On the same note about the office environment- it?s nice to walk to the printer or get a drink and not have to worry about wires or the range... or even missing a call on my cell.... they have never! dropped a call or have skipped, chopped... ect.... 4. I think the battery live is great.... I mean seriously look at the size of these things... 4 hours I think is a good amount of time. When I am working out, working, or just fishing..... I have yet to find a situation where I would say I needed more than four hours....
  
  Look guys these are wireless so stop comparing them to wired ones. If your deal is about sound quality then get wired ones- wired ones (for now) will always out perform wireless especially for the price comparisons. If you are looking to wireless then I highly recommend these ? but don?t take my word for it?. Do what I did try all the sets out there and you will see the difference? at the end of the day if I have to pay an extra 50 dollars for comfort, size, quality and reliability ? I think I come out on top?
  
  
  Used with
  G1
  Powerbook
  Dell
  Imac
  
  Updated on Aug 21, 2009

  One last thing I forgot to put.... remember people depending on the actual file you are playing, that is the sound quality you are going to get out of your headphones. So make sure the sound quality of the song or movie your are playing is in high quality. I have a couple of song that are not in high quality and yes the headphones don?t sound so great but when I listen to songs that are higher in quality or even my movies they sound perfect - just like any wired headphones (deep bass and crisp highs).... but let me reiterate my point - make sure you have then in correctly.....

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