Review of the Sony SBH50 Bluetooth headset. User reviews of Sony SBH70

01.10.2021 Diseases

A sports version of the good SBH-80 headset, the shape of the headphones allows you to hear a signal or noise while running, and the SBH-70 is not afraid of water, works for a long time and has excellent sound quality...

Design, construction

I would like to remind you that Sony already had a headset with a similar form factor, called SBH-80, we have a review on our website, you can read it.

I really liked the product, and now from time to time I charge it and take it with me on walks or when I work outside the home. The device is not felt on the neck, excellent speech transmission quality due to two microphones, the sound quality is also excellent. There are not so many differences between the seventieth and eightieth, but this is only at first glance. I also remembered about SBH-80 for the reason that this product from last year is quite worthy of your attention now, and even next year.

The headset in question is available in five colors: black, white, yellow, pink and lime.





The headband is flexible, made of rubber, I repeat, you don’t feel it on your neck at all. This is not the first time Sony has seen such headphones; similar ones are used in the STH-30 sports headset; they have protection against water.


Naturally, the SBH-70 also has such protection. If you suddenly get caught in the rain, you don’t have to worry about the safety of the accessory (IP57 standard). Sony knows how to take beautiful product photos, here's one of them.



I feel like I don’t even have to take pictures of this device.

The shape of the headphones is reminiscent of Apple EarPods, so they will suit some people and not others, I didn’t have any problems wearing them. The SBH-80 is simple in-ear headphones with silicone attachments, if you can’t wear the seventieth, pay attention to the SBH-80. The seventieth also has virtually no passive noise reduction; when no music is playing, you can hear everything perfectly. This is a plus for those who run. By the way, I tried running with the headset on the track, the headphones stay in place, and the headband doesn’t move much either. It can be used in the hall, and outdoors too. In this case, the lack of noise insulation is a plus; you hear the sound of the signal from behind or from the side and do not fall out of reality.




The control buttons are located on the headband, these are volume control, a power button, a multifunction button for answering calls and starting playback. There is an NFC area for quick connection to Android devices, as in the case of the SBH-80, a vibration motor is built into the headband, which works, for example, when making a call. If desired, vibration can be turned off.



The weight of the headset is only 27 grams, there are no complaints about the assembly. Since the headset is made of rubber, the body attracts dust and fingerprints; they are most visible on black, so I advise you to buy a mint or white– it’s just summer, the sun is out, enough of the black mourning clothes.

A few interesting points. The headset supports HD Voice, that is, if your operator supports this function, communicating with your interlocutor is much more pleasant, as if the person is standing next to you. This works very well with the SBH-70. There is a function to mute the microphone; to do this, you need to press and hold the Play/Pause button. The volume buttons can be used to move from track to track, that is, to rewind. It supports working with two devices at once, for example, a smartphone and a tablet - watch a movie on the tablet and immediately receive calls from the smartphone. Comfortable. The headset works with Sony's Life Log application, and with its help you can make so-called Sound Memos. If you are a Sony fan, you can use this function, I haven’t tried it - I think it’s some kind of whim.

Working hours

The stated operating time is about 8.5 hours of talk time, 6.5 hours of music playback. Charging takes about two and a half hours. Fast charging not here, sorry. You can check the operating time by looking at the indicator light, it is located next to the buttons:

  • The indicator is red, 5-15%
  • The indicator is orange, 15-50%
  • The indicator is green, 50-100%

Everything is implemented in a similar way in headsets from other companies.

Sound quality




If you do not take into account sound insulation, then there are no complaints about the sound quality of the SBH-70. Quite universal item for any genres.

The quality of speech transmission is excellent, the microphones are located next to the mouth, during a conversation you can tilt your head a little lower, if it is noisy around, you can hear even better. But it is unlikely that this will have to be done.

Some characteristics:

  • Frequency response: 35-18000 Hz, (mid-high frequency range with diffuse field focus for dynamic and clear sound)
  • Max. SPL: 100 dBA (EN 50332-1)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion:
  • Microphone: ECM (HD Voice compatible)

conclusions

Let's summarize. The headset is comfortable to wear, the operating time is acceptable for such a product, the voice quality is excellent, and I can’t complain about music playback either. The waterproof case and shape of the headphones is a gift for those who run or ride a bike; the noise of the street is not lost, this is important. But if you work in a cafe, you can even hear a conversation nearby.

I would also like to note the bright colors of the product, just perfect for summer. The device is still rarely found in retail; the cost is about 4,500 rubles, which is more than adequate. I highly recommend paying attention to the gadget, and, I repeat, it is better to choose the SBH-70 in white, yellow or mint color.

Sony has a range of wireless headsets that vary in both functionality and cost. We recently got acquainted with the Sony SBH80 and SBH54 models, and today we’ll talk about the latter. What can surprise you with this advanced accessory?

Design and construction

Compared to the previous headset model – SBH52 – the SBH54 model received a noticeable “facelift”. The manufacturer decided to change the case material: the comments of SBH52 users who complained about the easily soiled case of the device were taken into account. In general, the aesthetic appearance of the headset corresponds to the current design direction of Sony, so paired with smartphones from the Xperia Z line, it will look very harmonious. The body color can be graphite black or matte gold.

At the end (which, by the way, is made of metal) there is a microUSB port for charging. There is a small display hidden on the side with the Sony logo. On the reverse side there is a clip, behind it there is an NFC area for quick pairing with smartphones or tablets. The case has a power button, playback control, answering a call, going back, and a volume rocker. In other words, the Sony SBH54's controls give the headset full autonomy, so you don't have to constantly put your hand in your pocket for your smartphone to turn up/down the music, change the track or perform other functions. Speaking of functions...

Features and Specifications

As with the SBH52, smartphone notifications are sent directly to the SBH54's display. You will also see information about incoming calls. This will eliminate the need to take your smartphone out of your pocket or bag every time you receive a notification. For those who travel by public transport, this is a real salvation.

Add to this a built-in FM radio with a digital tuner and a built-in speaker that allows you to use the SBH54 as a standalone mini-phone (yes, you can have a dialogue through the SBH54 without headphones, just by holding the device to your ear), and you will get more than just wireless headset, but a multifunctional gadget, which is also housed in a waterproof case.

General characteristics

  • Bluetooth version: 3.0
  • Profile: Handsfree, Headset, A2DP, AVRCP
  • NFC support: yes
  • Range: 10 m
  • Dimensions (WxHxD): 17.7x70x16.8 mm
  • Weight: 26.8 g

Sound and power

The playback quality through the included headphones will not disappoint: Sony knows a lot about this matter. But at the same time, no one deprives you of the opportunity to connect any other headphones.

There are also no unpleasant moments when using built-in speakers and microphones. The interlocutor will hear you well, and you will hear him even more so. The microphones have a noise reduction system.

The stated operating time is 4 hours of talk time, 8 hours of music playback, 300 hours of standby time. The actual figures are approximately consistent with those stated. Charging from zero to 100 percent takes exactly one hour. If you wear SBH54 constantly, using all its functions, then you need to resort to this process approximately once a day.

Final impressions

Sony SBH54 is designed for those users who are often on the move, but do not like to take out their smartphone to answer calls, read notifications or control music. That is, this is an ideal option for athletes, drivers and residents of large cities whose trips on public transport fall during peak hours.

You can now buy a Sony SBH54 in Russia for about 6000-6500 rubles. Of course, you can find more affordable headsets on the market, but this model will give a head start to most competitors both in the number of functions and in the quality of their execution.

Sony SBH50 is a small and useful device that will help you in everyday life. SBH50 is positioned as a wireless Bluetooth headset, but it also contains other functions, for example: installation of mini-applications, weather viewing, FM radio, player control. If you are interested, please see cat.
Included with the headset are: quality headphones. The advantage of the SBH50 is that it has a standard 3.5 mm jack, so you can safely connect your favorite headphones to it.


In addition to the audio jack, the SBH50 has a microUSB input, protected by a plug. Although the headset is not protected from water and dust, as is the case with many Sony products, it feels great in the rain, but it is not recommended to test it for moisture accessibility.


The headset has convenient music switching buttons, a volume rocker, a back button, a screen lock button, and a call acceptance button. This headset is a little different from the type of headsets we are used to: It is rectangular and instead of a behind-the-ear attachment there is a clip, thanks to which you can attach the SBH50 to any clothing. On the clip you can see the NFC icon, thanks to which you can connect the headset to your smartphone with one touch. This assistant has an OLED screen with a resolution of 128 x 36 pixels. Everything is readable even in bright sunshine. Sony SBH50 has two colors - white and black options.


We all know that Bluetooth headsets degrade sound quality, and this did not happen with the SBH50. You will immediately understand that the high and low purities are cut off, but do not be upset, the deterioration is not so strong that you should spit in the direction of this headset. After playing around with the equalizer in PowerAMP, I found the sweet spot where the SBH50s shine in all their glory. In order for the headset to work with your smartphone, you need to install two applications. The first is Sony's Smart Connect apps. The second is the Stereo Bluetooth Headset SBH50 application, thanks to which the headset works.


On the Play Store you can find a number of applications that make the headset significantly more useful as an assistant. You can set a calendar reminder, notification of missed calls, reading SMS messages, even showing the weather. Everything works great, no complaints. In general, the SBH50 software is well optimized: it never froze, everything works without twitching or loss of contact with the smartphone. Even if you don't install all the widgets, you will still have access to features such as: showing the title, artist and album, showing the time, taking calls, calling contacts - all this is available when you connect the headset to your smartphone. Without this you can listen to the radio. The SBH50 has multipoint, which allows you to connect two devices to it at the same time. This is useful, for example, when you are talking on Skype via your computer and listening to music via your phone. Talking through a headset does not cause any inconvenience. The interlocutor hears you well even through a jacket, there is a large volume reserve.


The SBH50 has a standby time of 400 hours, a talk time of 8 hours, and charging takes only 2 hours. If you listen to music every day, you have to charge the headset once a week.


Conclusion: Sony SBH50 is an excellent headset for every day, which should appeal to both music lovers and people who are forced to constantly be in touch. Am I happy with the purchase of this device? Undoubtedly. average price in Russia 3,590 rubles (according to Yandex.Market). The choice, of course, is yours, but if you are looking for a small and functional assistant, then turn your attention to the Sony SBH50.

I know that the material about SBH70 should have been published much earlier, but it turned out to be done only now. Therefore, I want to apologize for the delay. However, thanks to this, it was possible to get a comprehensive impression of the headset.

This material will be useful for those who are going to buy a wireless headset for an Android smartphone/tablet and are looking for an interesting device for more or less reasonable money.

The Sony SBH70 will definitely appeal to fans of active sports, but first things first.

Before the review, you can take a look at the first look and unboxing of the SBH70:

Appearance, design

If we consider the black color option, the SBH70 headset will look quite neat and inconspicuous, especially if you adhere to a casual clothing style. The company's designers managed to create a beautiful and high-quality product using extremely simple materials - rubber, silicone and chrome-plated plastic.

Sony SBH70 has a neutral appearance, neither overtly sporty nor classic.

The easiest way to describe it is as Urban Sport, a kind of cross between sports and street styles. This means that many people will like the headset.

However, this all applies to the SBH70 headset in black; other shades (for example, bright yellow or red) no longer look so casual, and they can hardly be worn constantly with any clothes.

Ergonomics, ease of use

Ergonomics- this is the main thing that Sony focused on when creating the SBH70. In fact, unlike the design, this element of the device received the main attention.

This can be seen in the design of the headset itself, as well as in the control elements. The SBH70 will fit comfortably on almost any neck, both men's and women's. And due to the silicone coating with a soft touch effect, the device holds perfectly during active activities (running, cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, exercise in a rocking chair, etc.).

Moreover, this also applies to the SBH70 earbuds themselves, which, surprisingly, sit firmly in the ears, without falling out even when running fast. It's all about the weight of the earbuds, which is quite small and noticeably lighter than most conventional wired headphones.

It is also surprising that the SBH70 does not tire your ears at all. The first signs of fatigue may appear after an hour of use, and even then this does not always happen.

If you play sports and are looking for something that can stay in your ears well, then the Sony SBH70 could be one of the best options. In any case, I haven’t tried anything even close to being more convenient.

As for the controls, that's okay too. The buttons are easy to reach, even if you have large hands. The keys themselves are pressed clearly, with a characteristic crunch; there are no accidental presses. Tracks switch quickly, and most importantly, this can be done during any active actions.

The only thing that bothers me is the ubiquitous dust and fabric fibers. In the black version of the SBH70, the dust is very noticeable, and removing it is quite difficult; it’s easier to accept. So, if you don’t like dust on your devices, then I advise you to take the color or white version.

The stated duration of operation within 6 hours of listening to music completely coincides with reality, which could not but make me happy. Sony SBH70 can be safely classified as a long-lasting one Bluetooth headset m. Full charging occurs in approximately 40-50 minutes.

Now it's worth stopping at mine personal experience using the Sony SBH70, which was not so happy. As many people thought, the thin wires of the headset turned out to be flimsy enough to break.

Of course, you won’t be able to tear out the wire with one simple tug, but the thin SBH70 cable definitely won’t withstand really strong voltage. It is worth recognizing that Sony Mobile engineers honestly tried to protect the integrity of the wire using a synthetic fiber thread. But the thread itself, in my opinion, is too thin. This is the weakest point of the SBH70, but otherwise the design of the headset should be considered successful.

By the way, one of the representatives of the new line of h.ear headphones has the same design as the SBH70, but with different ear pads, and you can see with the naked eye that the headset wires have become more voluminous. Most likely, Sony Mobile engineers took into account the experience of the SBH70. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the reports were related to insufficient cable strength.

Sound

Sound, or rather its quality- this is the last reason why you should buy this headset. Yes, this is no joke, choosing the SBH70 for the sake of quality sound is obviously a bad idea.

SBH70 is primarily a device for active actions, which means the quality of the music played is not decisive here.

By the way, the very shape and design of the headphones does not allow us to count on any sound quality. Still, despite all the advantages of open headphones (lightness, good audibility environment, ears do not get tired), sound quality is clearly not included here.

Music, of course, can be heard perfectly, while riding a bike or running in the stadium you will hear everything perfectly, but you will not get the same sensations from listening to it that you can get with high-quality earbuds. This should be taken for granted.

Once again, for those who love thoughtful listening and expect unreal quality, don't bother with the Sony SBH70.

Before purchasing, I was aware that I shouldn’t expect anything like that, so I wasn’t particularly surprised by the sound of the SBH70; for my purposes, the gadget was perfect. Of course, I tried to listen on it.FLAC, but quickly gave up this nonsense, deleting all the heavy files and replacing them with the good old mp3 320, which is enough for the eyes here.

The only complaint What is really worth highlighting is some instability of the Bluetooth connection; sometimes there are delays when playing tracks. These are similar to micro-cuts, lasting about a second. They didn’t happen often, so I can’t give a clear answer as to why they happened, but they did happen. Perhaps this is a feature of Bluetooth data transmission technology.

There are no questions about the built-in microphone. In a calm environment, the interlocutor is unlikely to understand that they are not talking to him on the phone. During movement, the picture, of course, changes for the worse. However, audibility is quite tolerable even when riding a bicycle.

It’s also worth briefly talking about the effective range of the Sony SBH70 from the transmitting device (smartphone or tablet). Without lag, music can be transmitted over a distance of approximately 4 meters. If you move further away, you can hear slight distortions or even minor stutters.

Impression

Did I like the Sony SBH70? Definitely yes. Would I buy it again? No.

Why? My musical preferences are very broad, and playback quality is perhaps the determining factor when buying headphones or a headset. The SBH70 doesn't have this.

But there are excellent ergonomics, convenient controls and tailoring for various activities. Cyclists and daily joggers will appreciate the ability to hear their surroundings through music. In general, the SBH70 was primarily created for this category of consumers. Others may not understand.

Sony's most advanced headset at the moment - although not only Sony, its competitors have nothing like it. It can be used as a mini-phone, it has a built-in radio, NFC, convenient player control buttons and other interesting features.

Design

A small black rectangle, an unusual, elongated shape, this is due to the fact that the SBH-52 can be used as a telephone. On the front panel there is a small display that displays the headset charge indicator, track name (works with iOS), phone number and subscriber name (works with Android), sound level, and whether speakerphone mode is on or off. The headset is very similar to the SBH-50, only it has been stretched out - most likely due to the intended use cases. A big plus is the 3.5 mm jack at the end, you can connect any headphones. The kit includes a model with a short cable, it’s a pity that they weren’t generous with the “three hundredths”, as in the kit with Sony Xperia Z. I’ll say right away that the MH755 sound good (for an unpretentious listener), if you attach the headset to a jacket, the cable does not interfere, one section is longer than the other, you can hang it around your neck. The kit comes with three sizes of nozzles; the medium ones suited me.




Splash protection is claimed, I have not tested it. I believe that in the next version they will go even further and make it completely waterproof.

Dimensions are 88 x 25 x 8 mm, weight 23 grams.



Control

At the end there are buttons for controlling playback, Play/Pause, and moving from track to track (fast rewind works). Nearby there is a return button, on the front panel there is a multifunction button, needed to answer a call. There is a separate power button on the end. The screen helps in control,





NFC

There is an NFC sensor on the back that will make your life easier when connecting to an Android (or other OS) device. With the Sony Xperia Z1, everything happens very quickly, literally in a matter of seconds. After this, it is proposed to install special software, which is necessary to activate additional functions and update the firmware.


Voice quality

I’ll say right away that the SBH-52 supports Voice HD technology; you can enable it in the headset settings in the Android program. True, I didn’t find where to turn it on - maybe it’s all a matter of firmware. More interesting things about the program: you can select the connection mode to one device or two (it works, I checked), text-to-speech conversion, turn on or off the call log (displayed in the headset menu). Let me remind you that the utility can be installed on any Android smartphone, I recommend doing so.








An interesting nuance is that the SBH-52 can be used as a miniature phone; there is a microphone and speaker on the front panel. The voice transmission quality is excellent, even better than with headphones connected, I specifically tested this and tortured my friend with calls. This is what it looks like in real life.


I have come across similar solutions before, but the SBH-52 seems to me much more interesting than unknown, scary things that hang up at every turn. It’s clear what Sony wanted to do - a full-fledged addition for a large smartphone or tablet, it could be the Sony Xperia Z Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Note. You go for a walk, the device is in the inner pocket of your jacket, the SBH-52 is at hand - you can always answer a call, view notifications, connect headphones and control playback. By the way, there is a call log here; you can dial a caller directly from the headset. Names written in Russian are displayed normally.


Nutrition

The stated operating time in music playback mode is about 11 hours, in hands-free talk mode - about 4 hours (without headphones), this is not bad. The battery is 115 mAh, charging time is about two hours. Excellent performance for a miniature device. In real life, the headset works about as long as it does; sometimes it lasts longer than an Android smartphone - we’re talking about constant use throughout the day.

Special Features

It supports connection to two devices at once, there is a built-in FM tuner with RDS, it can be used without connecting to a phone.



Music

You can listen to music in three ways. I wrote above about radio, this is the first option. The second option is when connecting via Bluetooth with headphones. Well, thirdly, transmitting music without headphones, via speakerphone, is not the most necessary thing, but one cannot fail to mention this possibility. The quality greatly depends on the headphones, with the included ones the sound is clear, but don’t expect anything special, it will do for an unpretentious listener (I’ll repeat this mantra again). With EX-300 everything is much better and more interesting. The connection is reliable, there were no failures, the operating range is about six meters, I tested it in the office. I didn’t notice any interference or noise either. The headset can be used while jogging, the clip is reliable, and that’s when headphones with a short cable come in handy.





conclusions

In retail the device costs 2,990 rubles, it seems to me that there will be people willing to buy it. In the end, in terms of functionality, this is an amazing thing - it can be used as a mini phone, you can listen to music from a smartphone, tablet or use a radio, convenient controls, good quality sound and good voice quality, everything is fine with operating time. It is clear that all these functions can scare away a simple user, but on the contrary, they can attract an advanced user. Especially if you have a large smartphone, Z Ultra or Note. I especially recommend the SBH-52 to phablet owners; this little thing can make your (us) life easier.


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Sergey Kuzmin ()