Sony's Bluetooth DR-BT21G wraparound headset does A2DP, AVRCP

While Sony's DR-BT21G was given limited facetime during CES, the wraparound stereo Bluetooth 2.0 headset is getting all official on us, and will now join the long list of other A2DP-friendly devices that Sony's known for kicking out. Sporting a behind-the-neck, foldable design, the 63-gram headphones come in black or white motifs, support A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP protocols, and boast a built-in microphone and control button in the earcup to pull double duty as a handsfree communicator. Aside from the receive / end call button, users can expect to control audio playback functions from the side of their dome, and considering the respectable 11-hour battery life, finding an AC outlet shouldn't become too much of an issue. No concrete information in regard to price or availability just yet, but we're hearing to expect these in April for around the $130 mark.

[Via Akiharaba News]

[Celebrity Poker @ Feb 26th 2007 12:08PM]

Anything more comfortable than those Logitech Freepulse headphones is welcome

[Arnie @ Feb 26th 2007 12:27PM]

I was wondering if this device can communicate with two devices i.e. my cellphone and my mp3 player(with separate bluetooth transmitter of course!) simultaneously? Also, will I be able to switch at any given moments notice?

[DAZA @ Feb 27th 2007 6:00AM]

I believe there was an iPod accessory (read about it on Engadget) that was a Bluetooth headset which would act as headphones for your iPod, and if your phone received a call, it would automatically switch over to the call, and when the call was finished, resume playback.

Search around for it a little and you'll find it I'm sure :) Wasn't too long ago either..

[Makito @ Jun 10th 2007 9:29PM]

Arnie, this headset definitely doesn't do that. Only one device can be connected to this headset at a time. Too bad...

[Simon @ Feb 26th 2007 12:49PM]

Does anyone know if you can use it on your PC? Like a normal headset?

[Gordy @ Feb 27th 2007 11:59AM]

"They're all gonna laugh at you!"

[chris @ Mar 8th 2007 5:34PM]

Yes, these can connect to a PC as long as it supports the A2DP Bluetooth Profile.

These look good, I just hope that the bluetooth radio used is a step up from Sony's other 3 bluetooth stereo headphones. I've tried four other bluetooh headphones (the Sony DR-BT30Q/S, the Logitech Wireless FreePulse, the Bluespoon Nextlink headphones, and the Samsungh SBH-170). So far only the Logitech and the Samsung have impressed me. The Logitech has by far the best quality and can easily recieve streams with extremely high bluetooth bitrates (that means little to no tell-tale bluetooth clipping sounds and high fidelity sound). It however was uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time, could not fold up into a more compact shape, and had no phone call support (no built in mic). The Samsung didn't have the sound quality of the Logitech, but it had EVERYTHING else and so it won out for me at least.

[Makito @ Jun 10th 2007 9:25PM]

Amazing headset... I picked one up a couple days ago. I have it pared to my M600i, w810i, laptop and PS3. when paired to my laptop in AVRCP, I can choose the mp3 codec stream bandwidth from 202kbps to 328kbps. HSP natually sounds bad, though it's really meant for voice afterall. I didn't get the DRBT10CX because although I prefer in-ear, the fact you still have the receiver dangling ment that it would be practical just to have normal in-ear buds and a nano instead. Although very similar I didn't get the DR-BT30 because I heard 2 major complaints, "clips to your ear lobe and it hurts" and "it's heavy resting on your ear."

Only complaint is the audio circuit really doesn't have the power to drive the 30mm speakers - there's no thumping base. Response is respectable, but leans a towards the treble obviously for the same reason. (also probably why it lasts 11 hours and not just 2 or 3...)

[Stefan @ Sep 5th 2007 4:35AM]

So Chris, i understood between Logitech Freepulse and Sony's DR-BT21G the logitech are bater ...in sound quality ...right? ... i am talking about...bass power.. clarity....stuff like that... (not the design)

[bbasso @ Oct 16th 2007 1:07PM]

Just out of curiosity, how did you pair it to your w810i? I assume you had to use a dongle since the w810i doesn't support A2DP, but I've always wondered why you just cant pair stereo headphones to a non-A2DP device, just in mono, like a bluetooth headset.

[Makito @ Oct 16th 2007 1:16PM]

The lack of A2DP is the W810's biggest downfall. Luckly SonyEricsson figured that out in their new cell phones. The Sony headphones are paired to the W810 in HSP mode - so it only works for calls and not music. If you want music, then yes you will definitely have to use a BT dongle.

[sharkbyte @ Jul 24th 2008 8:28AM]

I have recently been playing my ps3 through an hpw2408 tft monitor using an HDMI cable, so the picture is brilliant but the built in speaker sound is rubbish. I bought a bluetooth headphone set Sony DR-BT21G {compatible} it registered but I am not getting sound through them ...HELP !!

[acm4dino @ Jun 24th 2009 6:55PM]

I just bought these headphones, I like them a lot more than any of my previous headphones, the sound quality is great, the distance away the device still functional is great, and still good quality sound.

@sharkbyte, the ps3 is not designed send audio from the entire system to headset, just chat audio, and microphone.