The best stereo bluetooth headset: Sony DRBT100CX

I'm hard to please, but these ear buds scored 9.5 on the Sasquatch Scale!

I've wasted a lot of money on bluetooth headsets over recent years, and I've never been satisfied—until now, that is.  The Sony DRBT100CX Stereo Bluetooth Headset does what it's supposed to do and addresses all of the complaints I've had with previous models I'ved tried.  I suppose it stands to reason; who better to trust with a headset than Sony?  Allow me to outline the advantages:

  • They stay put!  Previous models always felt "insecure" like they were going to fall out of my ear canal, bounce around, etc.  This is an "ear bud" model, and the buds fit in your ear canal nice and snug, never moving.  And just in case you have mutant ear canals, Sony supplies you with no less than three slightly different sized ear bud tips with which to experiment.  For me, the middle size fit perfectly—always snug in my ear.
     
  • They don't cut out!  Most models I've tried in the past work okay.  ...until I make the mistake of standing up and walking around, especially outside.  Isn't the whole point of this untethered technology to allow us to be more mobile and less restricted?  Nevertheless, especially with Motorola and Plantronics models, as soon as I walk outside, the sound starts cutting out.  Not so with the Sony DRBT100CX Stereo Bluetooth Headset.  Not only is the sound constant and reliable, but the audio fidelity of music playback is every bit what you would expect from a set of Sony ear buds—excellent!
     
  • Flexibility!  Because of the design, you can use the Sony DRBT100CX Stereo Bluetooth Headset in a lot of different ways.  Ultimately, on your melon, they're just earbuds, which are as unintrusive as you could ask.  This allows you to wear all sorts of hats, shirt collars, scarves (what?!?), etc, that would normally cause problems for certain other headsets.  In fact, the Sony DRBT100CX Stereo Bluetooth Headset is perfect for my favorite application—covered with a pair of hearing protection ear muffs.  I tried it, and the muffs cover the buds perfectly, allowing the wires to escape underneath the muffs without causing discomfort.  This will be great for mowing the lawn or whenever I want to enjoy the benefits of bluetooth wireless while blocking out as much external sound as possible.  The dongle style of this set also helps with flexibility.  You can clip the little dongle wherever you want—shirt collar, chest pocket, shirt sleeve, shirt placket, or wherever.  The dongle is small and light, and its controls are very intuitive.
     
  • Comfort!  They're so light, you won't even know you're wearing them.  And there's no annoying pinching of the ears, Plantronics, nor is there an annoying bar or heavy cable laying across the back of the neck, Motorola!
     
  • Easy charging!  I'm always amazed by other models with bizarre proprietary charging connectors that force you to use their power adaptor, buy their car charger, etc.  Why not go with a standard mini connector?  The smart ones do, and that includes the Sony DRBT100CX.  So you can use any mini USB charger you already have, or even plug a mini USB data cable into a computer and charge that way.  This saves you money, and it's good for the environment; we should not need a charger to be manufactured for every device we buy—they should be interchangeable.
     
  • Great sound!  Because of the securely fitting Sony buds, this set sounds great, whether you're listening to music or placing a call.  But the set also sounds great for the person on the other end of the call, because the dongle allows for a proper microphone that can be positioned anywhere.
     
  • Easy pairing!  You don't have to guess how to pair this thing.  There is an actual pairing button underneath the protective rubber flap that covers the charging connector.  Press and hold, and the set goes into pairing mode so that you can discover it with your bluetooth devices.
     
  • The price is right!  $52.98 with FREE shipping from Amazon is not a lot to pay, and a lot less than some of "the others."

I really feel this headset is the gold standard for stereo bluetooth headsets.  All the other manufacturers should start with this model and try to improve on it, rather than present us with a bunch of gimmicks that ultimately don't even do what they're designed to do.  The Sony DRBT100CX Stereo Bluetooth Headset delivers!

Verdict: 9.5 out of 10 on the Sasquatch Scale

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