Review: Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705 Bluetooth Headset

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705
Weight	14g (0.5oz)
Body Size	60mm x 16mm (2.36" x 0.62")
Talk Time(1)	12:43
Ear Loop	Over ear
Left/Right Ear?	Both
LEDs	1, Glows Red and Yellow
Pairings	Unspecified
Headset Sound	Excellent
Mic Sound	Good with no noise reduction
Included Accessories	AC charger, neck strap
1) hh:mm. Music was piped continually through the headset in both directions, for a worse-case scenario

The latest Bluetooth headset offering from Sony Ericsson is the memorably named HBH-PV705. It is the upgrade model to the HBH-PV700, offering better battery life for both talk and standby. The HBH-PV705 looks like most other headsets, but as soon as you try to put it on, you start to notice the difference.

The physical design of the HBH-PV705 makes it look like an in-ear canal headset, when this is not actually the case. The speaker, which is shaped a lot like an in-canal bud, in fact sits about 15mm behind the opening of your ear. If you are not aware of this when you are trying to fit the headset (as we were not), you quickly form the impression that it is impossible to fit the headset properly. This being said, once we realized we were fitting it incorrectly, and actually started using it the way it was intended, it became apparent that it is indeed a lot more comfortable than it initially seemed. As well as being quite a comfortable fit for long periods, the ear loop is very secure. At first, the unusual nature of where the speaker sits made it feel like the headset was going to fall off, but in hindsight, it is actually a nice, secure fit. The HBH-PV705 can be worn on either ear by simply choosing which side to put the swivel point ear loop on. The button orientation stays the same regardless of which ear the unit is being worn on.

The HBH-PV705 has two main buttons - a multifunction button (MFB) and a rocker button for volume. The MFB is reasonably easy to find, located towards the back of the scratch plate, and it is raised against the rest of the unit. It is quite easy to press, and gives good feedback. Because the volume rocker is located on the flank, it does not cause any discomfort when pressed. It is easy to find while wearing the headset, but does not protrude enough to get in the way. The volume rocker is quite good, though pressing it causes creaking and movement from the joints of the headset. The HBH-PV705 has one LED, located adjacent to the MFB, and is capable of glowing both red and yellow.

Aesthetically, we did not find the test unit very appealing. The sandy colored scratch plate did not impress, but it does come in a much more appealing silver color. The body itself measured 60mm x 16mm (2.36" x 0.62"), and our test unit seemed to creak and move at every join. Weighing 14g (0.5oz), the HBH-PV705 is a nice weight and is well balanced.

Battery life is one of the main selling points of the unit, returning an outstanding 12:43 (hh:mm) of hours of talk time and coming with a manufacturer claim of 5 days (300 hours) of standby time. The charger that accompanies the HBH-PV705 is also convenient for those with a Sony Ericsson phone, as it uses the same port as a W800/K750/W810 charger. As well as a travel charger, a neck strap also accompanies the headset in the box.

 

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