» Price: $218 » Available: From authorised resellers
IF YOU like your songs discreet, then this neat set of wireless stereo Bluetooth earphones will be music to your ears.
The two earbuds do not just allow you to answer phone calls hands free.
They deliver stereo music too.
This is a neat two-in-one peripheral and Sony Ericsson has once again not failed to impress its fans.
The standard-sized buds fit into the ear canal and stick out about 1cm.
The protruding parts house the battery on the left bud and the Bluetooth circuits on the right.
However, they are slightly large for me and constantly slip out.
This means I cannot jog with them but they will offer good companionship for those long MRT rides to work.
A wire joins the two earbuds.
A small bulge along the wire holds the microphone and a control button.
Hold the control button down for a couple of seconds to switch it on and off and press it quickly to answer or make calls.
One con is that there are no controls on the headset for bringing volume up or down or navigating music tracks.
You still need to control your music from the phone.
Prying open the cover on the back of the right earpiece reveals a proprietary power connector - yes, yet another charger to add to the electronic clutter.
If used for the first time, the headphones need to be paired with the phone.
Once paired, the gadget reconnects to the last-used mobile phone or Bluetooth music player automatically when powered on.
The sound quality is generally good - the treble is clear and there is a good amount of bass - for a Bluetooth device.
There is no background static or hollow sound that had riddled past generations of Bluetooth earpieces.
Still, the audio quality of the HBH-IS800 is no match for wired models.
There is no unwanted audio compression involved when music is transmitted over wires.
Final say
Pricey, but worth it if you like your gadgets small and your music discreet.
This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.
