There are few things rarer than a wired wireless headset: Editor-in-Chief Jørgen Sundgot fondles Sony Ericsson's HBH-200 Bluetooth headset and is left partially pleased.
Having pioneered Bluetooth since its very inception, Sony Ericsson has today managed to carve itself a solid presence in the market for wireless headsets. A barrage of models has brought frequent updates, as well as the odd - well, odd addition, including the company's line of Bluetooth headset solutions with corded earpieces. Harking back to the HBH-20, through the dual purpose-serving Music Handsfree HBM-30 with its MP3 playback capabilities, we have arrived at the HBH-200.
At 33 grams, the HBH-200 is neither particularly heavy or light - although given its peculiar design, it could probably weigh more without this hampering its use. Why is that, you ask? Well, as opposed to most Bluetooth solutions designed to let you keep your hands free while talking on the phone, the HBH-200 employs an uncommon two-piece approach in where a conventional, corded earphone bud extends from the main body, which is designed to clip onto a jacket or shirt.
This solution has both its advantages and disadvantages, the former including the level of comfort ranking among the very best of Bluetooth 'headsets' we've ever tried and a high level of functionality being harboured by the headset itself. As for disadvantages, there is only one: the HBH-200 isn't quite as hands-off as other headsets - yet it still works well in the vast majority of scenarios.
 | | Sony Ericsson HBH-200 |
Moving on to the specific parts of the headset, we first arrive at the main body which clips onto almost anything imaginable thanks to a large, tight spring clip on the back with a rubberized grip. One side sports a dual-purpose Call/Voice Dial button, whilst the other harbours separate buttons for volume up and down controls. Unfortunately, the latter two mentioned are somewhat difficult to discern as they are flush with a silver decorative strip, but all three offer good tactile feedback.
The front is where all the action is, boasting a dual-purpose Power/Hangup button, as well as an LCD display for Caller ID purposes. A nice touch in itself, there's more to the LCD display as owners of a limited number of Sony Ericsson handsets will also be able to access the call list of their phones, viewing dialled, missed and received calls. And finally, users can choose between four different melodies as their ringtones, invariably set off on incoming calls - yet another nice touch.
Pairing the headset is, as one could tediously expect, a simple and unproblematic affair. The HBH-200 chalks up extra points for being able to retain pairing with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, and - as should be expected - supports both the Handsfree and Headset profiles.
Using the HBH-200 is quite a pleasant experience thanks to its truly excellent level of comfort, although its uncommon design is bound to alienate some users. Those favouring sweaters over shirts will for instance find themselves looking more than a bit odd clipping the headset to their garment of choice, and those jumping in and out of their jackets frequently are bound to get annoyed sooner or later. Also, despite it actually being possible to replace the corded part of the headset, the bundled cord is just a tad on the short side as it won't reach as far as your typical inner pocket.
Audio quality proved excellent with the HBH-200, however its transmission range was found to be slightly below average. Crystal clear audio was obtained at a maximum of 4 meters distance when facing transceiving handsets, dropping to a mere 1 meter when facing away. On a positive note, battery claims proved more or less correct - although woefully short - at 3.5 hours of talk time and a standby time of up to 70 hours.
Availability
The Sony Ericsson HBH-200 available in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, and at the time of writing sells for $99 USD.
Conclusion
The Sony Ericsson HBH-200 is a bit of a puzzle. Scoring high for being innovative with its semi-corded solution, the headset proved superbly comfortable and offered excellent audio quality, also adding some nice extras for owners of certain Sony Ericsson headsets to the mix. On the other hand, battery life and transmission range both proved to be below average, and these days dual profile support is to be expected rather than commended. Overall, the HBH-200 comes recommended - but make sure it fits your usage pattern.
- What's positive: Superbly comfortable; excellent audio
- What's negative: Poor battery life; below-average transmission
Overall: 
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