Online gaming is not always safe. Not only do you have to hold your own and prove that your screen name deserves the top spot of the leaderboard, but you also have to deal with other players, all of whom are actually people with human flaws. Is it selfish to turn the volume on your mic as loud as it will go so other players can hear your wheezing? Is it kind to scream at your 12-year-old daughter for coming home too late wearing that dreadful outfit? Do you really expect your squad to beat your opponents when you’re barking out orders through a static haze?
You can probably catch where we are going here. When playing a game online, it’s inevitable you’ll run into these people. While you can’t overcome your human-like flaws of being an over-protective father, or the seasonal sniffles that cause you to breath like a steam train, you can arm yourself with a killer Bluetooth headset that will relieve some of your responsibilities and let you focus on what matters – the game.
Sony’s latest official Bluetooth Headset is the upgraded version from its inaugural headset of 2008. Its guts are completely reworked, it’s 30 percent smaller than the original model, and offers plenty of the same features that you’d find in other modern Bluetooth headsets. These standard features include a dual microphone design with noise cancellation technology, which helps filter ambient noise while speaking.
But the technology goes a bit further in this first-party headset. There are nice on-screen volume indicators, an extremely simple charging station, and an even simpler sync for your PS3. Its sleek design will make you feel like an important business man, even if you are just talking about pawning newbs. When using the headset with your PS3, you’ll see that Sony gives you battery, connection, and volume displays directly on your XMB. The little device also supports the console’s High Quality headset mode.
Installation is extremely simple. You sync the headset to your PS3 the same you would a controller. Plug the mini-docking station into a free USB port, and you’ll be ready to go in seconds. A cool feature Sony added into the device is the ability to use the headset while it’s charging. LED indicators let you know if the headset is synced properly.
The headset offers a nice black polished finish with little buttons for control. While we love the high quality versatility of Bluetooth headsets, we tend to get frustrated with the small buttons. Sony’s product isn’t all that different, but the mute button is perfectly located and big enough that your finger can quickly push it when you need to belch. It fits as comfortably in your ear as any Bluetooth headset, but if you don’t like earbud style headphones, you won’t like this either. While we are not crazy about Bluetooth headsets in general, Sony’s latest official model for the PS3 is one of the best out there, and for the same price as the original ($49.99 USD), it’s really a great deal.
Sony touts the fact the headset works well with mobile phones, and it certainly does. The added features of call waiting and redial for smartphones only sweetens the deal. If you are in the market for a new Bluetooth headset, we recommend checking Sony’s official PlayStation model for its versatility, high-quality audio, and overall ease of use.