Review Ericsson HBH-20 bluetooth-headset

New bluetooth-headset from Ericsson has unusual appearance: transmitter separated from ear-phone gives it similarity with standard headset, strengthened by wire going to pocket of shirt. There is no phone, but small, almost weightless box with bluetooth-transmitter. In principle, it is possible not only to put the box in pocket, but also to place somewhere on clothes - on jacket or sweater. All rests against the wire's length, limiting user's imagination by the shirt's pocket level.

The sizes of the device make 68х35х22 mm, transmitter's weight - 18 grammes, gross weight - 26 grammes. The weight of the headsets, which transmitter is not separated from ear-phone, makes about 25-30 grammes and, as a rule, is not felt by the user; in case with HBH-20 I have not noticed any difference in comparison with using usual ear-phone.

The headset is produced in silvery execution, thus are available replaceable panels for it (one of them is dark blue, there is no information about other variants of coloring till now).

Let's take up, how is arranged HBH-20. On the case there is a dial key (activation of voice dial) and release key, used for incoming calls rejection. The headset allows using the Magic word function (for phones Ericsson where it's present), representing the real voice dialing. It is possible to adjust volume during talking with help of lateral keys. Above these keys there is a socket for ear-phone connection near to which the microphone is located.

Keys are deeply sunk in the case, and to press them blindly it happens inconveniently (remember also, that the set hangs enough high). After a while, certainly, you adapt and you start pressing keys easily, but sometimes, it happens, you miss - it is insulting!

The standard kit traditionally doesn't include the charger: the matter is that with HBH20 it is possible to apply any standard charger (CTR-10, CST-13, CLA-11). It is connected from the end face - it's enough to unbend the rubber lid. Full charge time of the built-in battery makes about 1 hour, it was not possible to find data about the capacity of the lithium-ionic accumulator. During charging time burns the red indicator on the obverse panel, upon process termination changing the color on green. The operating time of the device makes about 3 day at 40 minutes of talking (this was checked with SonyEricsson T68i).

The set supports the necessary minimum of functions: it is possible to find out the approximate rest of battery’s charge (three positions are displayed by LED blinking), is stipulated microphone's switching-off during conversation. To connect the set to phone it will be possible even to the most inexperienced user (code 0000). Further it is desirable to null all values and to remove the phone from the list of paired devices: though they can be several, the set simultaneously works only with one.

The sound in ear-phone is quite good, the interlocutor is audible well. Unfortunately, the design in which the microphone is located on the wire, suffers bad quality of voice transfer in the certain conditions - here is the same. In windy weather or in bustling street the microphone should be cuddled closer to mouth, otherwise extraneous noise will be audible. Similar lack is inherent also to wire sets with microphone fixed below the ear-phone. HBH-15, for example, doesn't have such problem, because the microphone in this device is directed strictly aside mouth.

The price of 200-250 dollars, as well as strict design of the set, testify that this device is addressed to business-users. Functionally the set is analogue of HBH-15: their characteristics coincide practically completely. Summing up, I want to tell, that HBH-20 is an interesting decision which could come on change to standard headphones, but by virtue of its high cost will not receive wide expansion.

Eldar Murtazin (eldar@mobile-review.com)
Translated by Andreas Von Horn (andreas@mobile-review.com)

Published — 24 May 2003

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