Sony - Bluetooth Wireless Neckband Speaker - White

The Sony NB10 Bluetooth Wireless Neckband Speaker is a new tool for use in the workplace environment or most situations where personalized audio is required. After trying out this unit for a few days in these types of situations, here are the pros and cons. This neckband is extremely light weight. My scale weighed it at just 3.9oz or just under .25lbs which means Sony’s claim is accurate. When you place it on your shoulders, you can barely feel it once you get used to it. The shape is ok for most body types but I can see where maybe issues might arise for very large individuals. Also the speaker placement might move from person to person slightly due to shape/size of their body. They will be in the general vicinity of directly under your ear, however. The microphones are very good. I made several calls from Zoom and also traditional phone calls with no complaints whatsoever. I even listed to someone wearing this unit to hear for myself on the phone and the audio was probably better than a regular cell phone microphone in all honesty. The controls on the unit itself are volume up and down, play/pause, mic mute, and power on/off. I think the placement is good for aesthetics but since the unit is so small they really didn’t have a choice. The speaker quality is really where I am disappointed in this product. Sony states “A full range speaker unit with upward-firing speaker placement and a passive radiator bring excellent sound quality and minimal feedback to everything from work calls to your favorite music and podcasts”. I believe the speakers on this unit are some of the flattest sounding I have ever heard. They clearly favor voice rather than any sort of midrange or bass. Using them for any type of listening outside of phone calls/video calls is honestly not pleasurable. I have another product which integrates speakers into sunglass and projects them into the ear without touching the ear and they sound 10x better than these. Sure they sit closer but the NB10 has larger drivers. Overall, I am somewhat disappointed in the audio quality of the NB10. I realize these are targeted specifically for workplace use but most buyers would likely use them outside of that area as well. If you plan to use them for music while walking, listening to TV, or for other general entrainment listening, I would have to consider other headphone options. If you want/need the touch free, open air, lightweight listening/call experience for phone calls only and something with good microphones, then this is one of the only options I am aware of and it does it fairly well. Pros: • Light • Quality Build • USB C Fast Charge/Battery Life • Dedicated Mute and Volume Buttons • Microphone Quality • IPX4 Water Resistant Cons: • Speaker Sound Very Flat • Sound Leakage to Others (Past 40% or so)

While the concept of a neckband speaker has been around for some time, this is the first I find that is targeted for audio conferencing. Since I'm now working from home, using headphones is a bit isolating, so being able to hear around me while on audio meetings is interesting to me. The neckband is very light, all rubberized and barely notice is there, weight wise, it's comfortable to wear during the day. The controls are very large and intuitive, that can be used without having to look at it: On the left side, there's a volume control and play/pause/assistant button. The left has a power button and a mic mute. Pressing the power lightly announces the battery level. Holding it when turning it on puts it into pairing mode. There are no lights except for the power/pairing light that goes off after it's on. Overall it works like a generic Bluetooth headphone. There is no app from Sony and no desktop controls nor USB adapter. It's a straightforward Bluetooth headset. The headset remembers pairing with the phone and computer, but it works with one device at a time. If I force the connection from either the iPhone or the MacBook, it switches devices. Audio, it sounds as one would expect: Good, clear sound, but not as immersive as a headphone. It sounds a bit tinny, and without the richness of a good headphone. At first it sounds like someone is speaking right behind the neck. A bit disconcerting the first day, but got accustomed to it by the second day. Mic quality seems excellent. No complains from the other side of my calls. The mic mute button, when activated, there are no lights on the headset but it plays a voice remainder that the mics are muted very frequently to the point it's too annoying. Because there is no integration, when muted just turns off the mic. Doesn't tell apps like Zoom to go on mute. Playing music is OK. It's acceptable. Not as good as a good headphone but that's not the point. It's good to be able to hear the environment around me and relieve pressure from my ears. Battery is excellent. Rated at 20 hours. More than half the charge at the end of the week. Charging is via USB-C. Comes with an USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Bluetooth is 5.1 and supports SBC and AAC codecs. Range is about the same as other Bluetooth headphones. My '17 MacBook disconnects it when two rooms away from it, with some walls in between. The sound is not as directional as I expected. I can hear the conversation, although not as clearly, when leaving them on a table near me. Overall it's good to alleviate stress on my ears being on conference calls much of the day.

Sony Bluetooth Wireless Neckband Speaker Charcoal Gray When it comes to Bluetooth speakers that you can use to connect to your phone or listen to your music (or both), it just doesn’t get any simpler than this. With this Sony Neckband Speaker, you no longer have to worry about those pesky earbuds falling out of your ears, as has happened to me (and may others I’ve talked to) numerous times. And you don’t need to have to clip anything to your glasses, as you do with Frames. Charging is done via the supplied USB cable. Once fully charged, you can expect to get up to 20 hours of use, and a quick 10-minute charge will give you another 60 minutes of use, so power management shouldn’t be a problem. After connecting the neckband speaker to your devices via Bluetooth (you can connect it to both your phone and computer), you simply place this lightweight device around your neck and you’re good to go. After that, it connects reliably without any effort on your part whenever it’s turned on and in reach of your phone or other paired device. It has handy raised dedicated buttons for mute, volume, and power, so your operational choices are easy to identify and quick to implement. Since it’s a new product, some folks might ask about that “thing” around your neck when you’re out in public. Whenever folks asked me about it, I explained what it was and let them put it on their shoulders and listen to the music I was playing. I then got remarks such as “I love it.” and “Neat. I want one of those.”. Since it’s a new product, early adapters may experience the same inquiring reaction for a little while, but I expect these things will become mainstream pretty fast, so I don’t think you’ll be getting those questions for very long. The incoming sound quality is excellent, since the speaker placement is directed upward, towards your ears. And there are two microphones to make sure that your outgoing voice quality is clear during your phone calls. If you play your music at full blast, like I sometimes do, nearby folks may be able to hear it, but if you keep your volume at mid-levels, you’ll be able to hear just fine, but other folks won’t. And when you have strong background sounds, like loud traffic on busy streets or the waves crashing ashore in my daily beach walks, with full volume, some folks could hear the cars and waves in the background, but they stated that my voice was still strong and clear, and that, despite being able to hear the background noises, they didn’t interfere with our conversations. While I’m no longer a daily runner, I did want to see if the speaker might come off when a user was running. I jogged for a few blocks, and, while there was a slight bit of movement, there never was any discomfort or threat of the unit coming off. And it’s good to know that the unit has a splash-resistant rating of IPX4, so it’s suitable for everyday use and can stand up to splashes and sweat. Finally, Sony’s literature claims that it’s so light that you’ll forget you’re wearing it. I wore it for long stretches of more than eight hours and still couldn’t feel it. In fact, I found myself reaching for it more than once during that time, just to make sure that I still had it on and hadn’t lost it. So, I can assure you that that Sony claim is certainly true. At $149, you’d expect top quality, and this Sony Wireless Neckband Speaker delivers. Highly recommended.

I bought this speaker to lull me to sleep. And it serves this purpose wonderfully. I have Bluetooth portable speakers, headphones and earbuds. None of these is comfortable (when I lie on my side) or aurally satisfying (even when I place the speaker close to my head). This neckband speaker meets my needs perfectly - close enough to my ears to deliver a good stereo sound, and plenty comfortable regardless of my sleeping position. I have also taken to wearing them around the house to listen to podcasts and Youtube videos rather than cranking up the traditional portable Bluetooth speakers which really should be reserved for enjoying music when one is up and about rather than trying to fall asleep. Final thought: The volume I can muster from this speaker with my Android phone is adequate for a relatively quiet environment (indoors) but I do wish the speaker can be a tad louder. Sony has the SRSNS7 that looks sonically more robust but it costs twice as much and may be less comfortable to wear when lying down. I any case, I have already bought this SRS-NB10 and so can't justify another neckband speaker. Recommended if you have a use case like mine.

Sony - Bluetooth Wireless Neckband Speaker - Charcoal Gray Summary: Lightweight neckband that allows you to listen to music (or whatever) while on the go while also allowing you to listen to the world around you. Pros: * Form Factor. This neckband is just the right size. The fit overall is a good one. * Lightweight. The unit is light and doesn't feel heavy while equipped. * Audio quality. For a device that plays music up at your ears, the quality is quite nice. It won't be the experience of in-ear buds or cups, but that is the trade-off for being audibly aware of the world around you. * USB-C charging. Standard charging interface cable means fewer cable types to carry around. * Works for Intended Purpose. It definitely serves the purpose it was designed to fill. Music on the go while maintaining awareness. * Voice Feedback. Since this is a portable unit, you don't have tons of buttons. Voice feedback on operating status is super helpful for devices like this. "Bluetooth pairing mode," etc. Cons: * USB-C charging. It doesn't come with its own adaptor. You can use any USB adaptor, sure, but the tricky thing about USB-C is that some devices won't necessarily charge with high-output chargers (like one that I have) or ones that are too low (or the rate itself is too low). I list it as a con, but it's a potential inconvenience at best. * Directional audio is nice and it definitely delivers, but it wasn't as focused/targeted as I expected. As a result, it still isn't a device you would listen to on a plane, a bus, or a subway. Those around you will definitely hear the headset even on the lowest volume setting. Use: I seldom walk or jog with earbuds on. There are lots of bicyclists where I live, insane traffic, and also critters and animals roaming in the brush-covered preserves, sanctuaries, and groves I like to frequent. Being able to hear what is around you at some level is important and it is something you can't do with earbuds or cups. That is where this neckband shines. It just sits on your neckline and lets you absorb the surroundings and be aware all while enjoying some "ambient" music. Note: If I am holding a workout session at home, I still prefer a BT speaker on the shelf or possibly earbuds. The nature of the neckband means that gravity or sudden movements can cause this unit to fall off. My intention is to use this while I am working outdoors or going on hikes. Music makes the day go by quickly and who doesn't like to finish work "early?" ;)

I've purchased this product specifically looking for a video conferencing solution to use together with my notebook and after reading other reviews that indicated this would be a good choice. I recommend you read other reviews on this page because they've helped me make my choice. I've been spending sometimes 6 consecutive hours in meetings back to back and no matter which headset I'd try, my ears could not put up with those long hours of video calls anymore. This Sony neckband is light, comfortable and non-obtrusive. It sits on your neck smoothly and after a few seconds we forgot it's there. The bluetooth connection is strong. I'm able to walk around the entire first floor of my house without losing the connection to my notebook. Gaining mobility has eased the burden of my constant video conferencing calls. Other people on calls with me tell me that my voice remains clear and strong while I move around, even at 45 feet away (on a direct straight line). I work on a den on the first floor and can get a reliable connection in the living room, in the dining room, in the family room, in the kitchen and even on the 2nd floor around the stairs. The neckband has no screen and only minimalistic buttons - power on/off, mute on/off, volume up and down and call start/end. It has no direct integration with Microsoft teams or other conferencing software, so you can't answer a call remotely; you have to first accept it on the computer and then you can walk away from it if needed. If you connect it to a cell phone instead, I'd expect you to be able to accept and end calls using the button, but I haven't tried using it with a cell phone. The speaker quality is good enough for calls and to listen to human voice. I have not used it for any other purpose, but I can tell that if you want to use to listen to music, likely the quality will leave you a bit disappointed. Volume is good and you don't need to go to full volume to understand other people well. The speakers sit just below the ears, and this makes you feel like the people on the calls are actually sitting next to you. You can still keep awareness of your surroundings while on calls. Forget about the privacy aspect, though: if you use this in a public environment, everybody will listen to your conversations clearly, even at reduced volume. You'd have to keep the volume to near whisper level to protect your privacy, and then I'm not sure you'd be able to actually keep the conversation flowing smoothlessly. Battery life seems really good. I've managed 8 hours of straight continuous calls with no breaks and battery dropped to somewhere between 60% and 40%. There is no visual battery indicator, and the neckband reads battery out loud to you in categories "fully charged", "near 80%", "near 60%" etc. Charging is excellent, it charges proportionately very fast considering the number of hours that you get from charging. It takes +/- 90min to charge back to full after a day of 8 hours of calls. According to the manual, you can connect this neckband to 2 separate devices at the same time, but in this configuration one serves a call source, the other as music source. This was a disappointment; I'd have connected it to my cell phone and computer if it could be taking calls from both and switch between them seamlessly. In summary, this is a good solution for working from home if you spend many hours on calls and want to save your ears from some headset pain. I think it could offer more integration options, but the excellent wireless range and strong battery performance are a plus, Overall, 4 stars for use as a home office equipment. If you plan to use it for other reasons, I have a feeling you'd give it 3 stars only and as such it turns out to be a bit on the expensive side, as is the case with Sony stuff. It was money well spent for me given my specific use case.

Good concept. Just not as loud as I would like it to be. Therefore giving it a 4-stars

Good product. Would give a five star if I can adjust volume louder