We have this stylish, discrete and lightweight headset for review thanks to the folks at Mobile Fun. They currently have both black and white colours on sale for £59.99 and deliver worldwide. Click through to read our full impressions of the Stereo Bluetooth Headset SBH60.
The packaging for the SBH60 headset highlights the key features including NFC, Bluetooth A2DP, micro USB and a 10-hour streaming time (although the website quotes a 13-hour runtime). The specs of the headset include 30mm dynamic headphone driver units with a frequency range between 30 – 18,000 Hz.
Inside the box you will find a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (to physically connect the headset to a non-Bluetooth device) and a micro USB to USB cable to charge the headset.
Pairing the SBH60 headset with your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone is made easier through the use of NFC. The NFC chip is found on the left ear piece, along with all the key physical controls of the headset.
The left headphone includes all of the buttons to operate the headset. The button towards the far end on the picture below is the Music key/Call key. This is the button that is used to answer/reject calls as well as to play/pause media. Next to this sits the volume rocker and 3.5mm audio jack, which can be used to connect the headset to a smartphone using the included 3.5mm cable.
Call quality when using the headset was very good. We were concerned that when on calls, the sound might be muffled given the placement of the mic. However, the feedback we had was a very clear call from both ends. Most didn’t actually realise a headset was being used, which shows how well the headset performs.
Continuing to move round the left ear piece, there is a micro USB port for charging and a small notification light. The light flashes white when a call is coming in and flashes blue when the headset is in pairing mode. If the headset is running low on power, it will flash red.
The power level of the headset can also be determined by pressing the power key when the headset is on. The light will then flash, red, yellow or green highlighting the charge level of the headset. The three dots next to the power key is the microphone.
The right ear piece contains no controls whatsoever, which may or may not suit you. The headband can be easily adjusted to fit your head by sliding the ear piece over the metal band.
The SBH60 headset has soft cushions on each pad providing good comfort, thankfully the headband is also not too tight around the head, which can be the downfall of some on-the-air / over-the-ear headphones. The headset has a reasonable weight (125 grams), which weighs more than some other pure headphones out there like the Sennheiser PX 100-II or PX 200-II <90 grams), but didn’t find this an issue. In fact, the SBH60 headset felt secure given the slightly extra weight.
In terms of audio sound quality, the headphones provide a decent amount of punch for what they are, but felt the bass slightly lacking. However, this is comparing the headset against much more expensive headphones. For the price, we thought the SBH60 does a great job of offering good range.
Charging the SBH60 headset takes around one hour via the micro USB port. It is great to see Sony using such an ubiquitous connection. In our testing, we found that streaming audio wirelessly lasted easily over ten hours and approaching Sony’s quoted 13-hour mark. The battery life is excellent, which is really important for those potentially using the headset on a daily basis.
The one niggle we had was that the headset does not fold and given that there is no included carry pouch, it can be a bit awkward to store if being thrown into a rucksack on a daily basis. It’s a minor point, but we did feel a bit uncomfortable about how well it would cope being thrown around. However, the SBH60 has great build quality and didn’t notice any issues using it regularly over a two-week period.
Overall thoughts
Overall, we were very impressed with the Sony SBH60 Stereo Bluetooth Headset. As a pair of headphones, they offer good sound quality and comfort, whilst feeling sturdy enough to withstand the rigours of a daily commute. In wireless mode, the SBH60 kept a stable Bluetooth connection during out testing and NFC makes pairing the headset with your phone a cinch. We also found call clarity was not compromised by the unusual mic placement
What really impressed though was the battery life. Sony says that the headset is good for a 13-hour battery life and this was easily achieved in our testing. Also, it was good to see that the headset only took around an hour to charge. The Sony SBH60 Stereo Bluetooth Headset is a great all-rounder, especially if you are looking for a stylish headset but do not want to compromise on audio clarity.
Positives
– Very stylish and lightweight design
– Comfortable to use after hours of use
– Premium sound experience for music and clear calls
– Supports non-Bluetooth devices through a wired cable
– Strong build quality
– Solid Bluetooth connection, no disconnections
– Easy pairing with NFC
– Fairly priced
Negatives
– Controls on left ear piece may not suit all
– No carry pouch or case included
Thanks to Mobile Fun for providing the Sony SBH60 Stereo Bluetooth Headset for review!
