Sony sports up new Bluetooth headphones

Sony's bringing a little more sporty swoop to its Bluetooth headphone line with the splashproof DR-BT160AS wireless cans. The A2DP headphones have a built-in mic and controls for phone calls and track / volume adjustments, and there'll be a version with a bundled Bluetooth adapter when they go on sale in October -- too bad we don't have a price yet.

[Tim @ Sep 9th 2008 5:17PM]

Those things could crap gold and I still wouldn't touch them.
The designer deserves to lose their job over that heinous POS.

[Boarderwoot @ Sep 9th 2008 5:18PM]

is it just me or does it look like those fin things seem to be designed to send the bluetooth waves through your skull....

[Kennyb123 @ Sep 9th 2008 5:21PM]

I might have to grow a mullet to hide those things...

[JimReaper @ Sep 9th 2008 5:55PM]

Or you could just buy some different headphones? :P

[derX @ Sep 9th 2008 5:36PM]

EWWW, WTF IS THAT?!

Okay, who ever designed those needs receive a SOUND flogging. Those little poles with the Sony logo on it looks like a pair of AAA batteries. And those big wedges on either side are just weird.

SONY, since when did you all begin making products full of aesthetic fail?

Sony, wow us with the next iteration. Back to the drawing board. Make it work.

....no dinner until it's good.

[iRawr @ Sep 9th 2008 5:39PM]

raaawrrrrrr

[grull27 @ Sep 9th 2008 5:42PM]

And even when I update my iPhone 3G to 2.1 this Friday, I still won't be able to use those earphones with my iPhone 3G.

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 5:51PM]

Mew...

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 5:53PM]

This reminds me of my daughter. Whenever she hears some kid talking about his "cool new thing" she immediately brags about having her own cellphone (she's 6 years old).

[Husker86 @ Sep 9th 2008 6:42PM]

Pretty sure he is putting down the iPhone since such a "revolutionary" piece of equipment doesn't even support AD2P.

[iHoppipolla @ Sep 10th 2008 9:27AM]

If you don't give a damn...

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/18/brando-offers-a2dp-adapter-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 5:57PM]

I would not feel productive while I run with these on...

[Taylor @ Sep 9th 2008 6:17PM]

This is perfect for my needs. I've been looking for 2-3 years for a wireless solution to wear around my head while road biking. I can put the ipod or whatever in a pouch on the bike or back of my jersey. As long as it doesn't weight a ton, it should work well for my needs.

[roadiesnob @ Sep 9th 2008 6:38PM]

I've just run the line for earbuds out of the back jersey pockets underneath through to the front. Being able to answer calls while riding though will rock. My old Motorola HT820s or whatever their name is are just too damned bulky.

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 7:22PM]

For biking, yes. Perfect. Now to buy a bicycle...

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 9th 2008 6:32PM]

I know there is nothing more sacred on Engadget than asking for A2DP support, but I simply don't get it. Why on earth do I want headphones that I need to charge? I've got enough assorted chargers and battery-dependent devices as it is. Bluetooth headphones are inevitably going to be a pain to keep charged, heavy, and unwieldy.

Also, get off my lawn!

[eggothewaffle @ Sep 9th 2008 6:40PM]

It is hugely convenient when you're running, lifting, or doing any kind of exercise.

Then again, your username is UnixSystemsEngineer...

[Lars @ Sep 9th 2008 7:24PM]

UnixSystemsEngineer, you make a surprisingly sound point for someone with an Apple avatar.

I've never understood the whole bluetooth phone headset thing... Do we really need to cut the cord between ear and hand? Especially at the expense of higher cost and battery power. Why can't we just make much smaller phones that can attach to your ear instead?

But I will say this makes a bit more sense for walking around the house or doing yardwork while listening to some tunes. Still, I'd rather get some bigger, over-ear (enclosed), noise-canceling headphones instead of this travesty.

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 7:30PM]

For running? Really? Well I wouldn't know until I incorporated one into my run, but anything more than earbuds would annoy me. I do not like big objects on my person while I run and these look too cumbersome for my comfort. I would rather have a thin line to my mp3 player than this wreath. I wouldn't even be able to take advantage of its phone-answering feature for I would dare not run with mobile (HTC Tilt)!

I find it kind of ugly, but I'm sure it compliments a bike ride or trail running (in which case you would do better with wired buds anyway), but not distance running.

[Matt @ Sep 9th 2008 7:54PM]

hmm..perfect for my meter reading job. I'll pick these up with the Dream in a month or two.

[borisisinvincble @ Sep 9th 2008 9:21PM]

Or, you could just get these better designed (imo) Sony Ericsson headphones that are due to drop in the 4th quarter of this year instead...

http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/accessories/overview/hbh-is800?cc=&lc=

Mind you, they only last for 4 hours and don't have music controls built into the unit like the one in this article, however considering the size and ergonomics trade off I think they're perfect if you only want to use them for running or a bike ride.

[Dubb @ Sep 9th 2008 9:53PM]

Anyone interested in good A2DP Bluetooth stereo headphones that you can buy today, look up the Sony DR-BT21G's. They've been great for me. I can't seem to use all the battery in one day, I use them for about 8 hours, they are rated at 11 hours, but I've never tried to use them for more than 11 hours.

I use them with a Samsung P2.

[Rafa @ Sep 10th 2008 4:24AM]

These actually seem nice. I guess they don't have the mic functionality to be used for phone calls, ah?

[iHoppipolla @ Sep 10th 2008 9:34AM]

Google 'em. They support A2DP and thus have mic functionality.

The mic is hidden pretty well but it's there...

. DR-BT160AS's vs. DR-BT21G's . If you find the newer ones ugly, wait til you see the DR-BT21G's.

[iHoppipolla @ Sep 10th 2008 9:38AM]

Oh, and I think these and Sennheiser's MX W1's should fight.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sennheisers-new-mx-w1-earbuds-get-wireless-with-kleer/

[Amy @ Oct 16th 2008 9:55AM]

They are huge! and the design doesn't look good at all. Anyone have the JayBird Bluetooth wireless headphones? They look pretty cool but want to do my homework before coughing up the $$. Looks like they have good reviews. I hear they are water resistant and can be used to pair 2 devices at the same time, they are also a good small size which I like.