Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The only headphones I've ever trusted are Sony classic Street Style - they're comfortable, affordable, and have great sound quality. When I realized Sony had released this wireless pair, I was all over them.
I had previously tried the Motorola HT820 Bluetooth headphones because I've long been interested in wireless audio, so most of my comparison will be to those.
Design
The Street Style form of these headphones is excellent - I prefer this style compared to over-the-head headphones, and I have a terrible time with earbuds.
The neck band is almost exactly the same as a pair of wired Street Style headphones, with a little 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 something 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 perfect curve, the neck band comes to a subtle pointed shape where it folds. Less attractive, but it makes no difference while you're wearing them.
Performance
These headphones offer excellent sound quality, but only expect to get this when using the A2DP (advanced 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 computer. In my situation, 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 satisfying. I don't think of myself as an audiophile, but if the sound is bad, I can't get into the music - and with these I've had very little trouble focusing on my music.
In order to get a good balance of music and vocals, I did have to adjust the equalization in iTunes (unlike wired headphones, which I normally 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 good amount of bass. The effective frequency range on these is limited but I'm not sure if this is a result of the wireless technology or the speakers. I can't imagine Sony would use lousy speakers in something with an MSRP ten times the amount of a fine pair of their wired headphones.
These headphones hold a very steady connection, within range. The Motos often cut out during simple movements like bending over to pick something up. I can safely exercise and move about a room without these dropping the connection.
The battery life is more than acceptable 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 perfect yet.
There is a very subtle amount of static that can be heard when no music is playing, and sometimes in songs with less background music. This may also vary based on the device you're connecting to. I have tried eliminating interference and the static seems constant. It usually fades into the music while listening.
If you're connected to a stationary object like a computer, don't expect to leave the room with these on. Bluetooth has a very limited 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 operating 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.
Summary
My expectations of wireless headphones is very low. These are definitely a step in the right direction 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 connect to a device with A2DP and don't mind the caveats of wireless technology, I would recommend 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 freedom is worth it!
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Neck band type Bluetooth® stereo headset
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