Sony Ericsson Wireless Stereo Headphone (Black)
Manufacturer: Sony Ericsson Part number: HBH-IS800
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The solid-sounding Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphones are an excellent option for anyone looking for the very smallest Bluetooth headset money can buy to use with an A2DP-compatible music phone or MP3 player.
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CNET editors' review
Sony Ericsson Wireless Stereo Headphone (Black) price range: $99.99
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 02/26/2009
The good: The Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 headphones are ultracompact and let you cut the cord from your A2DP-compatible music phone. The earbuds offer deep bass and generally solid sound quality, and the package includes a storage box.
The bad: The Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 headphones may not fit all users well, they're pricey, and the sound quality is not on par with wired models.
The bottom line: The solid-sounding Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphones are an excellent option for anyone looking for the very smallest Bluetooth headset money can buy to use with an A2DP-compatible music phone or MP3 player.
As an increasing number of mobile phones incorporate a music player into their features, more and more stereo Bluetooth headphones are unleashed onto the market. The audio quality offered is still not on par with wired models, but the headsets offer the advantage of cord-free listening. Still, size can be an issue for some: very few models offer an earbud-style design, and even then, there are often larger earpieces attached. Sony Ericsson addresses this issue with its HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphones, which are the tiniest wireless earphones we've ever come across. With an MSRP of $200, this set is far from the cheapest, but if you're after a cord-free pair in the most compact package, the HBH-IS800 is the best option.
Rarely are we in awe of a product's design, but the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 headphones are nothing short of incredible. The company managed to cram all the technology required of a stereo Bluetooth headset--a receiver, a transmitter, and a battery--into two tiny earpieces, each measuring just an inch long and less than half an inch in diameter. The earbuds are attached by a single black cable, which incorporates a thin module containing a mic and call-answer button close to the left earpiece. The 'buds themselves offer a modicum of style, with silver accents and the green Sony Ericsson logo stamped into their ends.
Popping off the end cap of the right earpiece reveals a port for charging the HBH-IS800 headphones. Sony Ericsson includes a wall-wart power adapter for this task. The package also contains a circular box for storing the headphones, a shirt clip for managing any extra cable, and three sizes of silicone ear tips. However, there's no guarantee you'll get a good fit. Although they are small for wireless headphones, the HBH-IS800s are actually on the large side compared with typical earbuds, so some users may not be able to achieve a secure and comfortable fit. Another thing about size: the overall compactness of the unit doesn't allow for any playback or volume controls on the headset.
Surely, the most obvious draw of the HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphones is their ultracompact design, but you might also be pleased to learn that they deliver in the audio department, as well (presuming you can get a decent seal with the ear). The earphones offer tight, enveloping bass that generally does not overshadow the other sonic elements, though certain frantic rock and electronica tracks can sound messy. Mids are rich and warm, but get lost among other audio at times. High-end detail and clarity is good, but not quite as sparkly as what you would expect from a wired set in this price range. Still, you're mostly paying for the ultratiny form factor, and Sony Ericsson delivers here without sacrificing sound quality, which is on par with or better than most other stereo Bluetooth headphones.
User reviews
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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 ...
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.
7 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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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 ...
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.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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So happy with my purchase!
by rickmcclanahan on December 4, 2009
Pros: Extremely small and lightweight
Clear microphone - callers don't even know I'm on a headset
Battery life lasts around 5 hoursCons: Hasn't affected me so far but a volume control would be nice
I can live without it but a track skip would be niceSummary: Almost didn't buy these because of the negative reviews about not having a volume control but I also read one where someone said he was glad he didn't ...
Summary: Almost didn't buy these because of the negative reviews about not having a volume control but I also read one where someone said he was glad he didn't listen to the reviews and was happy. I took a chance because I use mine at the gym and the cord is constantly pulling on one of the earplugs and has become a nuisance. I did not want to wear the big hearing aid style headsets or one with a hard plastic connector due to laying on benches etc. These are a godsend! The volume is totally acceptable, not blaring at all. They fit my ears just fine after I put the biggest rubber pieces on and the battery lasted 5 hours the first time. I totally recommend these over any other for their svelt design and awesome clarity. The built in microphone allows me to take calls at the gym without switching anythign and I can't wait to use them in the car on trips. This headset is a must have, only sorry I didn't buy them sooner.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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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 ...
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.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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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 ...
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 .
3 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Think twice, be aware of impulse purchase
by baolei79 on June 20, 2010
Pros: * Wireless stereo with compact size
Cons: * Sounds quality is sub-standard, FM radio like sound quality.
* Poor connection to phone.
* Poor ear fitting. Fitting is not firm enough for use in exercise.
* Short wire between the two buds.
* Battery is only 3.5 hour.Summary: * Sounds quality is sub-standard, FM radio like sound quality.
* Poor connection to phone. I have a N52. Sometime the call gets disconnected automatically.
* Poor ear fitting. Fitting is not firm ...Summary: * Sounds quality is sub-standard, FM radio like sound quality.
* Poor connection to phone. I have a N52. Sometime the call gets disconnected automatically.
* Poor ear fitting. Fitting is not firm enough for use in exercise.
* Short wire between the two buds. Turning my head tends to pull the already lose buds out, especially when there is friction between wire and clothes.
* Battery is only 3.5 hour. I used it in commute to work. Barely enough, definitely need to charge every day.
If you were considering this product, I guess you are excited about the concept, like me. I think it is how stereo bluetooth earphone should be. However, with the right concept, IS800 didn't deliver in the implementation.
Users looking for Bluetooth stereo earphones are generally looking for two things:
1. Freedom to move. However, IS800 will not hold firmly when you move, even walking for me. A bracket over the ear wouldn't hurt much.
2. Sounds quality. I wanted a stereo earphone, not a one ear model, hoping to find a balance between freedom and quality. But IS800 doesn't even meet the basic sound quality. I guess this comes with the low power budget due to the compact size.
In summary, this is a product with inspiring design, but has yet deliver a solid product. If you are compelled by the design and the price doesn't stop you, chances are you want something with pretty high standard, maybe like me. Then you may get disappointed with IS800. So think twice before you purchase. You can wait or go for a move practical, meaning slightly more ugly but works product, like the Backbeat 906.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing form-factor, needs work in Audio Department
by akvasu on June 6, 2010
Pros: Auto Pairing with most models, easy to use, excellent form-factor. 3 size provided for good ear fit. Completely un-obtrusive (except inside the ears!) Decent audio quality...
Cons: Audio can be better..... much better.... however a bit of work with the equalizer does fix part of the problem.
Summary: Setting up was a breeze specially with my Sony mobile phone. My laptop also detected it easily. I find the unit comfortable to wear since I am used to (and ...
Summary: Setting up was a breeze specially with my Sony mobile phone. My laptop also detected it easily. I find the unit comfortable to wear since I am used to (and prefer) in-ear designs.
Call quality is pretty good and very easy to use for that. pretty invisible and fits in with the wardrobe quite easily....
Audio needs work... if your cellphone or mp3 player doesn't support an equalizer you need to think a little on the product because the audio is always very high side and mushy. Setting the equalizer bars to the lower ends does address most of the audio clarity issues.... So that is an important feature.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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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 ...
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.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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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 ...
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.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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almost not even there
by smy168 on October 3, 2011
Pros: light weight, decent sound
Cons: speaker for call use is a little loud
Summary: I'm a bluetooth headphone nut. no, you won't get the quality sound as you would from a wired set and if you didn't realize that then bluetooth ...
Summary: I'm a bluetooth headphone nut. no, you won't get the quality sound as you would from a wired set and if you didn't realize that then bluetooth isn't for you. I have had Jaybirds, Plantronics, Motorola, Sony and Nokia. these are by far the best ones for me. I use them for my gym trips, commuter rides and walk arounds. I get about 4-6 hours of steady music play since my phone functions as my music player now. If you're looking for something to hear music decently, answer your phone calls, light weight and comfortable and are in ear buds...I would recommend these. i paid 65.71 with tax in NYC this year (2011)
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony Ericsson
- Part number: HBH-IS800
- Description: Listen to music on your mobile phone and answer calls wirelessly with this lightweight Bluetooth stereo headset. Boasting a lightweight design fused with superior audio quality, this headset is ideal for wearing hours on end. A short cord lies almost hidden across the back of your neck to deliver high-quality audio to in-ear stereo headphones.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Available Body Colors black, silver
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Additional Features Voice dialing,
Auto volume adjustment Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear ear-bud
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
Microphone
- Type Built-in
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Power
- Battery Headset battery
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony Ericsson products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Sony Ericsson
- Address:
7001 Development Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 - Phone: 1-866-766-9374
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