Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720 Review

Introduction and Design:

The Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720 is a fashionable and compact Bluetooth headset designed for those who value looks the most. But does that mean that it compromises quality for design? Not at all as we found the headset to deliver excellent quality in addition to its discreet modern looks. For those great many not wanting their inner geek to surface in weird wearable gadgets, the headset has a small size, while changing looks is easy with three different faceplates included in the package. And with the current price at around $50, looks are all the more affordable with this handset, so read on to find out all the details about its performance and changing faces.

Apart from the headset, the package includes a charger using the proprietary FastPort connector, two ear hooks, the three replaceable faceplates as well as a necklace and the user manual.



The first thing that you notice about the HBH-PV720 is its small dimensions – at just 2.7 x 0.6 inches the device is very small. It is equally lightweight at 0.35 ounces with a rectangular body, slightly curved around the edges, very elegant and pleasing to the eye. It complements the ear so well that you could easily wear it as an unconventional accessory. The three patterned faceplates will add some variety to the fashionable headset. In addition, you will also find a necklace for keeping the HBH-PV720 close.


On the negative side, however, we found that the earbud comes a bit too large and will not fit everyone's ear without the support of an ear hook. Using one of the two included earhooks the device fits lightly and securely in the ear. While we found the HBH-PV720 very comfortable for even longer use, we still wished we could wear it without the ear hook.

Smartly concealed, the operational key under the faceplate lets you take/end calls and it is the only button on the front side of the headset. The right side holds the volume rocker, which is somewhat small, but luckily you would rarely need to use it as the device comes with automatic volume control, which seems to do a great job in most cases. You might still need to pump up the volume in very loud environments, but in general use you might even forget about the volume controls.

The back side of the HBH-PV720 holds the power button, which is carved in the surface and hard to press. With that said, you should take into account that if you are not planning on switching devices often, you would rarely need to use it. Just below the power button, a light indicates the status of your device and its battery with different color notifications. Finally, on the very bottom you will find the microphone.

Performance:

With such an alluring design, the only thing that could break the deal for the HBH-PV720 would be poor audio performance. Luckily, the headset delivers outstanding sound quality with only slightly disappointing noise cancellation technology. The small package has some hidden functionalities as well – a single tap on the faceplate would answer/end a call, while a double click calls the last dialled number.

On the audio front things are good with clear and loud incoming and outgoing calls for the most part. If we have to be particularly picky, we would mention that voices didn't sound very natural to us. Also, it seemed that our callers sometimes had some trouble understanding us when we were in very noisy environments. The background noise could become an issue if you are planning on using the HBH-PV720 in busy surroundings. On our end things were even better and - apart from those few minor setbacks - we were happy with the clear voices and great quality of our calls.


Battery life on this handset rates at the generous 11 hours of talk time and could easily get you through the week without overnight charges. Such a battery life cannot go unnoticed as it outranks many devices and will definitely draw many people to this headset. In stand-by mode the battery will last for some 33 days (800 hours). The HBH-PV720 doesn't need to be charged all that often, but when it has to, you might notice its lengthy 3-hour charge.

Conclusion:

With a range of up to 10 meters and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720 is a well-balanced headset for its current price tag of around $50. Combine this with the sharp looks and the comfortable fit of the handset, and the positive sides outweigh the few setbacks significantly. The three faceplates allow the minimalistic design to change and make the HBH-PV720 a truly universal unisex solution, which you could wear with a different cover for business and play. For fashion-conscious folk, this is a perfect solution. And if looks are not that important, other similar models from Sony Ericsson's lineup such as the PV715 and PV740 could be an alternative. Not least, the sound quality is on par with the looks, and for the current price, the HBH-PV720 is a great offer.