Sony DR-BT21IK/B Bluetooth Headset Pictorial/Mini-Review

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I finally visited the local SonyStyle store here in Atlanta the other day* and had a great experience along with my girlfriend. My mission was to buy the DR-BT21IK/B bluetooth headphone and iPod transmitter combo. The DR-BT21IK/B is actually a combination of the DR-BT21G bluetooth headphone and TMR-BT9iP stereo bluetooth transmitter. This rechargeable set of headphones will provide you with approximately 11 hours of music playback time on a single charge and they fold neatly for storage. Sony fans will expect the usual quality sound from the 30mm driver units, while a remote control of play, stop, fast forward and rewind on the earpiece is fully compatible with the iPod, iPhone, and iTouch. A subtle built-in microphone is also included for recording your voice, or for making bluetooth phone calls on the iPhone.

Most people that I regularly talk to, and are very critical of bluetooth headsets, admit that it’s the best sounding bluetooth headset they’ve ever heard. The sound quality is A2DP so it’s pretty solid for wireless, and has the usual 10m range. It’s sweet to have your iPhone 10 feet away from you with zero loss in quality. Most people shouldn’t expect jawdropping sound, but it is more than sufficient for portable use and the additional novelty of wireless seems much less like a novelty this time around. It’s also really nice that I can use these headphones with my iPhone, Vaio TX (with bluetooth), and my PS3.

Unfortunately, you cannot pair this headphone with the iPhone and through the stereo bluetooth transmitter at the same time. This means that if you want to use it for phone calls, you have to unplug the dongle from the iPhone and turn on the bluetooth in the iPhone and then connect the headset to the phone. However, most people will just have this plugged into their iPod, iTouch, etc and will enjoy the awesome portability that can be attained in a world of no wires. Battery charging takes about 2.5 hours, with a red/pink LED for charging, and a blue flashing LED while its synchronized. Battery life is about 11 hours for continuous music play back, and 100 hours continuous communication/100 hours idle. Supported Bluetooth 2.0 profiles include: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP (1.0), and HSP (Ver. 1.1).

SonyStyle Atlanta had the DR-BT21IK/B on sale for $99, a price I haven’t seen advertised anywhere else.

* – I will write a seperate post about my SonyStyle Atlanta visit soon. I have big ideas and hopefully can work with SonyStyle closer soon.

Here are some more pictures:

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10
Feb 2009
POSTED BY Christopher MacManus
POSTED IN

Audio, Hardware

DISCUSSION 24 Comments
  • Charles

    wow, i actually work at Sony Style in Atlanta! when did you go?

  • Charles

    wow, i actually work at Sony Style in Atlanta! when did you go?

  • Stan M

    Hey Chris, these are the exact headphones I use when you and I play LBP! Glad you picked those up.

  • Stan M

    Hey Chris, these are the exact headphones I use when you and I play LBP! Glad you picked those up.

  • http://www.blueunplugged.com/c.aspx?c=53079 becky

    this is really amazing…looks too sharp sony has created another master piece.and its even compitable with iphone and psp thats really amazing.it is for all in one go…

  • http://www.blueunplugged.com/c.aspx?c=53079 becky

    this is really amazing…looks too sharp sony has created another master piece.and its even compitable with iphone and psp thats really amazing.it is for all in one go…

  • Xbot

    Yeah i want one of those too, looks pretty awesome.

  • Xbot

    Yeah i want one of those too, looks pretty awesome.

  • tkspyder

    Chris,
    When you say that they can be used with the PS3, do you mean it can be used in online gaming as a headset and wireless headphone at the same time? I can’t seem to find one that does both simultaneously.
    I’d like to talk to friends AND listen to the background gaming, without disturbing the rest of the Family. Currently, I have an RF Wireless Headphone in one ear and my bluetooth headset in the other.

  • tkspyder

    Chris,
    When you say that they can be used with the PS3, do you mean it can be used in online gaming as a headset and wireless headphone at the same time? I can’t seem to find one that does both simultaneously.
    I’d like to talk to friends AND listen to the background gaming, without disturbing the rest of the Family. Currently, I have an RF Wireless Headphone in one ear and my bluetooth headset in the other.

  • Anthony

    I have a similar set up.
    Sony DR-BT22A Bluetooth Headphones and Sony WLA-NWB1 Bluetooth Transmitter for my NWZ-A818 Walkman

    Really pleased the SQ.

  • Anthony

    I have a similar set up.
    Sony DR-BT22A Bluetooth Headphones and Sony WLA-NWB1 Bluetooth Transmitter for my NWZ-A818 Walkman

    Really pleased the SQ.

  • http://www.broadsighted.com Broadsighted

    Jeez, I’ve been looking forever for something like this. Supposedly this headset is capable of phone calls, but Sony’s own specs don’t even say so outright. Can you clarify something for me? I don’t understand what you wrote:

    “Unfortunately, you cannot pair this headphone with the iPhone and through the stereo bluetooth transmitter at the same time. This means that if you want to use it for phone calls, you have to unplug the dongle from the iPhone and turn on the bluetooth in the iPhone and then connect the headset to the phone.”

    You see, tomorrow my Blackberry Curve 8900 is coming in and I’d listen to lots of music with it. But I’m having trouble finding this:

    I want a headset with high audio quality.
    I want to answer phone calls easily through it.

    Anyone know if this will suit my needs? Or have other suggestions? I’m goin nuts here, 3 days of searching for bluetooth crap. Advice via email is mucho appreciated. 8)

  • http://www.broadsighted.com broadsighted

    Jeez, I’ve been looking forever for something like this. Supposedly this headset is capable of phone calls, but Sony’s own specs don’t even say so outright. Can you clarify something for me? I don’t understand what you wrote:

    “Unfortunately, you cannot pair this headphone with the iPhone and through the stereo bluetooth transmitter at the same time. This means that if you want to use it for phone calls, you have to unplug the dongle from the iPhone and turn on the bluetooth in the iPhone and then connect the headset to the phone.”

    You see, tomorrow my Blackberry Curve 8900 is coming in and I’d listen to lots of music with it. But I’m having trouble finding this:

    I want a headset with high audio quality.
    I want to answer phone calls easily through it.

    Anyone know if this will suit my needs? Or have other suggestions? I’m goin nuts here, 3 days of searching for bluetooth crap. Advice via email is mucho appreciated. 8)

  • MS_Goat

    I use this headset with my 580i Walkman phone. The work very well for phone use, they support voice dialing and the integrated mic is good quality (though it doesn’t replace a noise assassin in loud environments). Music automutes when a call comes in. They have a full featured control set for volume, call answer, shuffle, music on/off, etc. They’re also the best sounding Bluetooth 2 speakers I’ve heard yet. I often pair them to my laptop when I want to watch movies quietly. I can’t speak to shortcomings regarding the IPhone.

  • MS_Goat

    I use this headset with my 580i Walkman phone. The work very well for phone use, they support voice dialing and the integrated mic is good quality (though it doesn’t replace a noise assassin in loud environments). Music automutes when a call comes in. They have a full featured control set for volume, call answer, shuffle, music on/off, etc. They’re also the best sounding Bluetooth 2 speakers I’ve heard yet. I often pair them to my laptop when I want to watch movies quietly. I can’t speak to shortcomings regarding the IPhone.

  • Robert Sardes

    These headphones continually cut out when using them as headphones. I’ve tried using them with a transmitter plugged into my iPod, and with the built-in Bluetooth in my IBM ThinkPad (T60). Maybe it’s just my pair, but I would steer clear if you haven’t made your purchase.

  • Robert Sardes

    These headphones continually cut out when using them as headphones. I’ve tried using them with a transmitter plugged into my iPod, and with the built-in Bluetooth in my IBM ThinkPad (T60). Maybe it’s just my pair, but I would steer clear if you haven’t made your purchase.

  • http://twitter.com/cfw123 cfw123

    I bought a Sony Bluetooth Stereo headset DR-BT22A along with it's 3 v recharger transformer. It did not come with a bluetooth USB2 transmitter, which did not worry me at first since I use a MacBook which has support for headphones under it's bluetooth menu. But when I tried to pair it with my MacBook, it would not pair, and thus I have been unable to use them for my intended use with my Macbook.

    I would like to get the transmitter to see if that wouldn't make it work for me, but I don't know how to get it. Can someone tell me why it doesn't work with the built-in blue support on my MacBook, or if I still have to get a transmitter, how I can get one.

    I also have an iPod Touch, and want to use my headset with this also, but don't know how, and don't have a transmitter for that either. How can I get one for this also?
    Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.

  • http://es-la.facebook.com/people/Luis-Perez/672156085 Luis Perez

    I bought an sony dr-bt22a for my blackberry but dont paire why?

  • mantassabas

    What is better? Those or iMuffs?

  • binas

    where can i buy this????
    i gues sony no longer sell just this headphones….i need it really badly

  • binas

    where can i buy this????
    i gues sony no longer sell just this headphones….i need it really badly

  • Dragana

    Hi there,
    can anybody tell me how to pair Sonu dr bt22 headphones withSony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for iPod. I had to buy a new pair and it came without the transmiter, so I need to pair it somehow with the old one?
    Any ideas?
    Thanks,
    Dragana