Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Headphones?

[gadgeTT]

Hi All,

Now that (beta) OS 3.0 supports A2DP, I've been on the hunt for a great set of BT stereo headphones. Found the Sony-Ericsson HBH-IS800's and thought I'd give 'em a try. To those who are not aware of these headphones, they are essentially earbuds that connect to each other with a thin wire, and that's all. The battery, the radio, etc. are all in the buds themselves, so the only thing on the short cord is the microphone with a multifunction button. Very slick!

Anyway, they sound awesome, but they don't have local volume controls and the iPhone's volume slider doesn't appear to work when routing audio to a BT stereo headset. Is anyone else noticing a similar issue whereby the volume slider moves but doesn't affect the volume when routing audio to BT headphones?

I'd really love to keep these headphones, but not if there's no way to adjust the volume.

[ddenson]

That's too bad, as I was thinking about getting the IS800's after the 3.0 upgrade. I noticed that behavior (the volume slider not working) when using a dongle for stereo bluetooth, but was hoping it would work with the new software. As the volume buttons work for mono bluetooth earpieces, I guess it's a bluetooth profile issue. Is there any way in the new software to change what bt profile is used?

Also, out of curiosity, does the button work to play, pause, skip forward, etc. like on the wired headphones?

Thanks.

[gadgeTT]

Even without the volume slider, I'm loving the IS800's! They supposedly have an auto volume adjustment which I'm sure isn't intended to replace a phone-mounted volume control, but so far it's been workable. The sound quality is great, the size is amazing, and the button works, too. You can play/pause, answer/end and redial. No track skipping, but I'm OK with that. I have a few bug reports in with Apple on the lack of volume controls, so hopefully beta 5 will fix that as A2DP stuff has been getting with each build.

[ddenson]

I would love to have track skipping too, as I use it all the time. I'm curious what Apple has up its sleeve in terms of peripherals to utilize the A2DP functionality. Maybe they'll release something similar, but with volume buttons like the new iPod touch headsets? Here's hoping...

The IS800's are tempting, even with the limited functionality, but volume control of some kind is a must. Nobody makes anything close - have you seen the jaybirds? http://www.jaybirdgear.com/

[gadgeTT]

While those Jaybirds look nice and it's great that they have on-unit controls, they are HUGE in comparison to the IS800's. The retail price is far lower than the IS800's, but I got mine at $135 from Fry's, and the Jaybirds are about the same. I'm sure that Apple will figure out the volume control aspect, and while it would be nice to have local track skipping control, the IS800's are way too sexy to worry about that :-)

And as you said, with Apple dumping its BT headset, I'm sure they have something coming out soon that may be a true competitor for the IS800's and have more control than that single button ala the Shuffle.

[ddenson]

Any update to functionality now that 3.0 has gone gold?

I'd love an excuse to buy the is800's...

[gadgeTT]

Just tried my IS800's with the GM Seed and no change. Connecting the headphones automatically routes audio to the headset (good), sound quality is still quite good (good), but still no volume control for this headset (BAD!).

[ddenson]

Thanks, but that's pretty disappointing. Without volume control they're unusable IMO. Any other recommendations for a good stereo bluetooth headset? I have the moto s-9's and they're horribly uncomfortable.

[gadgeTT]

Even without the volume control, the IS800's are awesome headphones; incredibly tiny, comfortable, good enough battery life, and sound great. They supposedly have automatic volume leveling to compensate for outside noise. I have been using them for about a month and even without the volume control, they're usable. Of course, I still think it's absurd that Apple didn't put volume control capability in the software (I have a valid bug listed) but they're still awesome headphones.

[ddenson]

Don't tempt me with that automatic volume control thing... I really want them, but I need to be able to lower the volume way down for sleeping on my commute.

[gadgeTT]

In that case, these might not be the headphones for you. I checked out the other similar models like the Jaybirds, and they're all HUGE in comparison, but at least they have on-unit volume controls... best of luck!

[babacksh]

I have read that the new 3.0 GM does not support volume control for stereo bluetooth headsets. this is a huge problem and for me when I attach the IS800, the volume is at the highest setting and is is WAY TO LOUD to make listening even worthwhile. Going to send a bug report to Apple hoping they will implement this missing feature!

[marksskram]

Boo! I just bought these today at the Sony Style store in NYC for $180+tax and think they are great for their size and quality. What's up with Apple not letting us adjust the volume? It's definitely too loud for my day-to-day use -- I need to be able to adjust for my setting and be able to hear if someone is behind me, yelling for my attention.

I'm very sad to see that there is no bluetooth audio controls in 3.0 GM.

[Olternaut]

Why the hell must I learn about these things AFTER I BUY THE PRODUCT!!!
I research and research but I still get screwed.

Why would sony not include voice controls for a product they knew would get a lot of attention? Why would Apple lock volume controls if they knew there are bluetooth profiles that enable volume control?

I can't even go back to the store because they say they only allow exchanges on defective units.
Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:

[gadgeTT]

FWIW, I still love my Sony IS800's for their small size and good sound quality, but I have also decided to get another pair of BT headphones that work a little better with the iPhone and OS 3.0. I tried out the Jaybird 200's which are on sale this week at Target for $99. They didn't fit well and the charging dock was a tad cumbersome so they went back. I then picked up a set of Altec-Lansing Backbeats at Fry's for $99 (not on sale but still an OK price). While they are huge in comparison to the Sony IS800, they have volume controls, still sound great, and have a cool audio pass-through feature; tap the play/pause button when playing music and the music pauses while audio from the headset's microphones is passed through to the headset's speakers so you can hear others more easily without having to remove the headset. So far, so good. I don't like having to buy ANOTHER $100 pair of stereo BT headphones to compensate for Apple's lack of volume control, but there's not much we can do about that, is there.

[Olternaut]

FWIW, I still love my Sony IS800's for their small size and good sound quality, but I have also decided to get another pair of BT headphones that work a little better with the iPhone and OS 3.0. I tried out the Jaybird 200's which are on sale this week at Target for $99. They didn't fit well and the charging dock was a tad cumbersome so they went back. I then picked up a set of Altec-Lansing Backbeats at Fry's for $99 (not on sale but still an OK price). While they are huge in comparison to the Sony IS800, they have volume controls, still sound great, and have a cool audio pass-through feature; tap the play/pause button when playing music and the music pauses while audio from the headset's microphones is passed through to the headset's speakers so you can hear others more easily without having to remove the headset. So far, so good. I don't like having to buy ANOTHER $100 pair of stereo BT headphones to compensate for Apple's lack of volume control, but there's not much we can do about that, is there.

I also have the jaybirds. And I also didn't like the fit with them either. Why don't these companies think these things through when they design the products?
Its especially annoying when it comes to software on Apple's side of things when they could have used a bluetooth profile that supported volume control.
Why do these people continually hurt us like this? We're paying them money dang nabbit!

[marksskram]

I was unhappy with these as they didn't fit in my (small?) ears well along with the lak of volume controls with 3.0. The Sony Style store was very friendly and took these back. I hope Apple takes a stab at making Bluetooth earbuds that will fully work with 3.0!

[Olternaut]

I was unhappy with these as they didn't fit in my (small?) ears well along with the lak of volume controls with 3.0. The Sony Style store was very friendly and took these back. I hope Apple takes a stab at making Bluetooth earbuds that will fully work with 3.0!

Well, I'm going to try to take these back to J&R tomorow to see what they say. I'm going to claim that they are defective.

[coryt87]

... I then picked up a set of Altec-Lansing Backbeats at Fry's for $99 (not on sale but still an OK price). While they are huge in comparison to the Sony IS800, they have volume controls, still sound great, and have a cool audio pass-through feature; tap the play/pause button when playing music and the music pauses while audio from the headset's microphones is passed through to the headset's speakers so you can hear others more easily without having to remove the headset. So far, so good. I don't like having to buy ANOTHER $100 pair of stereo BT headphones to compensate for Apple's lack of volume control, but there's not much we can do about that, is there.

So these headphones DO have volume control? Are these the only ones so far known?

[babacksh]

Yes they do and they sound pretty good. Still not as good as the Sony but very functional.

[gadgeTT]

Also an update - I went back to Fry's and discovered that the one that I bought included a BT transmitter that sends audio to the headset from any device that has a headset jack. I didn't need that part now that the iPhone has a stereo BT transmitter built-in. Fry's had another model of the Altec-Lansing Backbeat without this transmitter for $30 less - for only $69.99. Even though Fry's has the IS800's for $119, the Backbeat's are still nearly half the price and work great with the iPhone's.... limitations.

[ddenson]

I just had an idea for a work-around for the IS800's. While you are listening to music with the IS800's, go into settings>ipod>volume limit and adjust the slider down. Does this work? Please test this for me if you can, because I would really like to get the IS800's but can't without some volume control.

[ctrob]

Well I have the Jabra BT620s and volume isn't my problem, because it has local volume control and it works fine there. My issue, is that because 3.0 doesn't have a AVRCP Profile, I can't skip tracks or go to previous tracks.

[gadgeTT]

Sorry, but I have confirmed that both EQ and Volume Limit don't apply to BT headsets. I applied the lowest Volume Limit setting and the IS800's still were at their normal volume.

[Olternaut]

I just had an idea for a work-around for the IS800's. While you are listening to music with the IS800's, go into settings>ipod>volume limit and adjust the slider down. Does this work? Please test this for me if you can, because I would really like to get the IS800's but can't without some volume control.

Sorry dude but that doesn't work. Believe me, I tried that, moving the slider back and forth on the volume control in the ipod touch. But it doesn't do anything to effect the volume.
:(

EDIT: By the way, I went to JR in manhattan and they took back the sony hbh-is800s with no fuss. I get my refund back to my card in a few business days.
Gawd, so close yet so far. Perhaps Apple themselves will come out with a similar product at their fall ipod event.

[rolexconfuse]

Just like everyone here I was thinking about the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 but I wasn't sure if it would fit right and opted for the
sony ericsson HBH-DS205. It's the size of a AA battery and it has a 3.5mm jack which allows you to use your own headphone.

[rolexconfuse]

not sure about the Ipod touch, I think if you have the 2nd gen IPOD touch it should be fine. On the iphone, the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 lets me pause, play, change volume. I haven't tried the fast forward and back feature yet to know if it'll work.

[gadgeTT]

Are you sure about the volume? These headphones don't have dedicated volume controls and the iPhone implementation of A2DP and AVCRP do not include volume control capability. They also don't include track fwd/rwd capability.

[jarofclay73]

Are you sure about the volume? These headphones don't have dedicated volume controls and the iPhone implementation of A2DP and AVCRP do not include volume control capability. They also don't include track fwd/rwd capability.

I have the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Headphone and it indeed DOES control volume with my iPhone 3G - OS 3.0. It DOESN'T control track foward/back, however, because of the AVRCP limitation in 3.0.

[rolexconfuse]

My bad, I'm using the Iphone 3Gs and the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS205. And the Sony Ericsson HBH-205 does allow you to play, pause and control volume. I do not have the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800.

[Fudd]

You might want to consider the Sony Ericcson HBH-DS220 Stereo BT headset.

Pluses:

Onboard volume control works with A2DP and v.3.0 firmware.

You can plug any stereo earbud / headset into the unit which is the size of a AA battery.

When you yank out a wire on your earbuds, the above replaceable function means your BT adapter isn't instant junk.

Half the price of the 1800's. Street price in the $70-80 range - delivered.

Cons:

Uses a non-USB funky two-pronged Sony Ericsson charger port.

Link here: http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/accessories/overview/hbh-ds220?cc=CA&lc=en

[rolexconfuse]

That's the same one that I have but the older version. The version I have does not have in ear style headphones. They're like regular ear plugs. And I swapped them for my own headphones

You might want to consider the Sony Ericcson HBH-DS220 Stereo BT headset.

Pluses:

Onboard volume control works with A2DP and v.3.0 firmware.

You can plug any stereo earbud / headset into the unit which is the size of a AA battery.

When you yank out a wire on your earbuds, the above replaceable function means your BT adapter isn't instant junk.

Half the price of the 1800's. Street price in the $70-80 range - delivered.

Cons:

Uses a non-USB funky two-pronged Sony Ericsson charger port.

Link here: http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/accessories/overview/hbh-ds220?cc=CA&lc=en

[kewldos]

es, I too have the same problem, in that I cannot control the volume of the music being streamed to my Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 bluetooth headphones, via either the hardware or software volume controls on my iPhone 3GS.

The volume level seems to be "locked" when the headphones are used, and it is locked at such a high level, the listening to streamed music would probably damage your hearing!

Is there any chance Apple will update their bluetooth settings to allow music volume to be adjusted via the iPhone?

How does one contact Apple to ask them?

[houser]

How does one contact Apple to ask them?

This is an anhancement request for Apple.
Use this if you want this http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

[EEZ123]

Hopefully apple will include avdp, or whatever profile its called in the 3.1 update coming soon. I would be all over those sonys then.

[gadgeTT]

3.1 beta 3 does not affect how the Sony headphones work (or don't work) with the iPhone. BTW, the new Jabra Halo is really nice - has on-headphone volume controls, sounds great, and doesn't look too bad when being worn, too.

[2JZ GZE]

Does the iphone volume control work now?

[gadgeTT]

Nope. BTW, I picked up a set of Sony DR-BT50 headphones yesterday. List was $229 but they were on clearance at my Sony Store for $129. They're a larger headset - not a small earbud type, but the sound is fantastic for BT and they (supposedly) run 17hrs of music on a charge. Check 'em out! BTW, they have onboard volume controls and the voice command feature works with the 3GS, too.

[2JZ GZE]

thanks for the reply! =)

Jeez is it that hard to get this to work? come on apple

[deadlydeal]

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[billrobert]

http://www.gadgetsnews.co.uk/images/Sony_ericsson_HBH_IS800_stereo_headphones.jpg


A2DP Bluetooth support; you can stream high-quality stereo music from your phone to your wireless headset and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Well, a microphone, call answer key and 3.5 mm jack to swap headphones are all built-in!

[DW999]

Just curious...I hear the SE HBH-DS220's can adjust volume by holding down the play button even though it does not have on board volume controls. Has anyone tried this on the IS800's?

I am very interested in getting a pair of the IS800's but the lack of volume controls is a deal breaker.

Can someone with a pair of the IS800's give this a try?

Thanks!