Sony SRS-NB10 -puettava kaiutin, valkoinen

Nice design and very useful.

Nice design and very useful.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] SRS-NB10

Disclaimer:

I am not being paid by the Sony Corporation, nor am I influenced by it.

Awaiting delivery, I read the user manual from The Sony web site and familiarised myself with the controls. I learned that eight different items can be paired with it; I treated myself to a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver so I could play some of my older music players which aren’t Bluetooth. 

Description:

The SRS-NB10 is obviously a premium product, well made and with good but not perfect sound quality; don’t expect HI FI sound, but it is equally as good as the TV or a radio. It looks a bit odd at first sight, but Einstein said that if people don’t laugh at you idea, it is not worth developing. I’m grateful Sony developed the SRS-NB10, it is affording me a great deal of pleasure. Charge time is good, and even in an emergency, a good percentage can be charged in a short space of time.

Comfort: The device is very light and easy to wear. I forgot I was wearing it once and took off my shirt; the NB10 flew across the room but did no damage to anything or itself, and even though it is light weight, it is not flimsy.

Sound quality: Pairing was easy on all my devices. Bluetooth range is good, around 30ft, and I can walk around the house and into the garden, and still hear my music in different rooms. Excellent, clear and well defined stereo, and good bass. You can listen to a film with a loud soundtrack without disturbing others and not risking your hearing with headphones or earbuds. Syncing with the TV is excellent, I watched closely to talking, singing, and complex guitar and violin playing and was very impressed. The speaker can enable you to skip to the next or previous track on a CD, and fast forward and fast rewind via the button between the volume controls. Make sure to turn down the volume or remove the SRS-B10 before closing the sound source or you hear a loud tone in your ear, it is very disconcerting, if the volume is high.

Uses: My major use is listening to music when relaxing in my deck chair in the garden and not disturbing the neighbours, but still be able to hear the phone or the door bell, or being called in for dinner. To make it even less discernable to others, you can put padding on your shoulders to move it closer to your ears then listen at a lower volume.

 I enjoy listening to Zen sounds while meditating, relaxed in my easy chair.
As it is so light and unobtrusive, I can use it in bed being soothed to sleep by Zen sounds from my phone; of course this depends on your own circumstances, e.g.:  partner, and sleep position. Cancel the auto off while doing this. The auto switch off can be cancelled if not needed. Another use, is on a long car journey when your passenger wants to doze and the baby in the back is asleep. You can open a sat nav app on your phone and listen to traffic reports, road work updates and diversions (and warnings of speed cameras) without disturbing the others.
Working from home and making conference calls is one of its useful features, but as I am retired, I can’t comment on this.
 I listened to the full range of music, vocal (no Rapp), Instrumental, sound tracks, spoken word, and nature sounds: I was pleased with the results every time.

Summary: Well designed and thought out. Premium build quality. Satisfying sound. Light and comfortable. Because of its unique design, it can’t be directly compared with other wearable hearing devices, except that it is more comfortable, more hygienic, and safer than any others. If I have influenced any one to buy this then I have done them a big favour.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] 2020 made video conferencing meetings an everyday occurrence. Wearing a headphone all day, ears get hot - earbuds can make it sore. This wireless neckband with upward-firing speakers enables you to do multiple calls or video conferencing, without discomfort. It is beautifully made, robust the 20-hour battery life means that this device can last most of the day plus there's a USB-C port for charging with a 10-minute fast charge if you should run out of charge. For both voice and Zoom, call clarity is impressive and if I am working out outside, I connect to the music player via Bluetooth. All in all and impressive package that allows you to transition from work to leisure easily.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Found it easy to link via Bluetooth.

It is comfortable to wear, in fact I sometimes forget I am wearing the neckband. I use it at times in place of earphones as I can hear what is happening around as well as listening to music or an audio book.

This is especially important when someone is speaking/talking to me; I can hear them and reply without disturbing my listening either to music or an audio book.

People don't always want to listen to my style of music so these make a convenient alternative to using the main speakers in the room. It also allows me to do tasks and listen at the same time.

All told a very good product which I enjoy using as a comfortable alternative to ear pods/earphones.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Saw a review of this product which interested me enough to buy one for Zoom conferences etc. The audio quality is good yet the clever design allows you to hear what is going on nearby. Excellent if you have children at home or need to listen out for a package delivery.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I ve recently received a sony neckband speaker and i must say its absolutely brilliant I can do my hoovering and listen to music with no issues at all. Much better than having headphones on your head or in your ears. Great if you suffer from bad ears which headphones can cause. Its connected to my phone and tv through bluetooth . The quality of the sound is very good and they are very robust. They have excellent battery life and are splash proof which is very handy for me as i m always washing up. give them a 10/10.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] To whom it may concern.

Many thanks for the opportunity to review the Sony Wireless Neckband Speaker.

It arrived promptly and well packaged. I have to tell you that within 30 mins of its arrival it was up and running, and for 28 minutes of that time it was on charge.

The instructions (quick start guide) were accurate and easy to follow, the controls of the device were clear and very easy to use. Once their location and function were known and understood it could easily be used in the dark.

It has a very strong bluetooth connection with no distortion or dropouts all over the house. After a while the most outstanding feature was the absolute comfort and total unobtrusiveness of the speaker. The overall feel of the speaker is excellent, it is smooth, light and very comfortable and yet has a substantial feel to it. There would be no problems with care of the speaker even after continued use it has a real quality feel.

I find the sound quality excellent and well to my liking. I was concerned that my enjoyment would irritate those around me but with sensible use of the volume control the sound was clear to me and did not disturb anyone else.

It is a wonderful device to use if you need to be active, maybe not as immersive as earbuds or headphones but it should not be directly compared with them, they serve a different purpose. Although the instructions caution against use while walking or cycling I found it excellent for both of these purposes. This is so much more comfortable and useable than earbuds or headphones. I accept though not as immersive.

I was unable to find in the instructions that a double press on the on/off switch announces battery percentage remaining, really useful.

My sister works with adults with a special needs and behavioural problems, she acquired one and found it to be really useful with this target group and was very grateful to the introduction of this device having never been aware of their existence.

In fact the whole family have been guinea pigs and I have not heard any negative comments.

Many thanks

Ray Duggan

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The wireless neckband speaker is very well made, it’s very versatile.I’ve found it performs excellently whilst gardening and when outside.

It is also more versatile than headphones.

An excellent product.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Good for zoom and phone calls. The neck band was very comfortable, it has good, solid connectivity which paired easily to my phone. Music played through the neckband is not so good but that’s not really what it’s for.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Like many people, I have been working from home regularly over the last 18 months. I have previously purchased kit to help me including a good quality headset and a good quality speakerphone. Neither of these has been perfect for my needs. I don't find wearing a headset comfortable or practical and sometimes can't hear participants on the speakerphone. I am hoping the Sony Neckband could offer the best of both worlds.

Firstly some initial observations;

My ideal set up would connect to both my laptop and mobile phone. Although the Neckband says it can connect wirelessly to two devices so far as I can tell only one can offer call making and the other music playback. This may be a general limitation of Bluetooth as the same happens with my other products unless I use a dongle or USB connection. My current setup is to prioritise my laptop as this allows me to use my work telephone and conferencing apps (Teams, Zoom etc). This works well.

The Neckband is not intended to replace hi-fi quality headphones. It offers better sound quality than my inbuilt laptop speaker but for quality music playback, more appropriate options are available.

The Neckband is a personal communication device in the same way as a headset and isn't intended for multiple participants in the way a speakerphone can be.

The Neckband itself is a clever design which sits comfortably on your shoulders and places a speaker directly under each ear. The speakers appear good quality with a set up that looks to favour voice frequencies as the sound is generally clear across the full range of volumes. The device is noticeable when you are wearing it, but I don't think it looks or feels ridiculous.

Bluetooth range is good which allows me to move around my workspace whilst still on a call without compromising quality. I often forget I have the Neckband on and have picked up calls from two offices away (I appreciate this is not a recognised unit of measurement but its good enough for me).

Set up is straightforward connecting to either a computer or phone (though I did experience drop out when connecting to two devices simultaneously). There is a multi language reference guide supplied but I found it easier to use the on-line help guide.

In the week I've had this I've used it in the family home and in my office. I don't know that it is either intended or suitable for an open plan office but in private or semi private workspaces I am pleased with how it has worked. I am told by other family members that whilst they can hear when I am on a call, they cannot hear what is being said. This of course assumes they are at a reasonable distance and I would generally feel comfortable on a confidential call by closing the door. If I was working in the same room, or close to a family member a headset might be a better option.

This leads me to what has been the major drawback. When I am on a conference call, participants are using a range of input devices of variable quality. Assuming there is at least one person with a poor microphone, the volume level has to be set to make this audible. That often makes those with a strong connection too loud. I have found the same limitation with speakerphones generally. On a one-to-one call or where everyone has a satisfactory quality microphone, the Neckband works well and has become my device of choice.

So what does this mean in the round? In my view, if you have a headset or speakerphone and are happy with your set up, then the Neckband may not offer a leap forward. Alternatively however, if you are looking for a device and have a private workspace or don't find a headset practical or comfortable, then I think the SRS-NB10 Neckband may be well worth considering.

For the record all three devices I have referenced are around the same RRP price point.