INTRODUCTION

   Christmas is perhaps the only holiday where people buy presents to each other and although at first this may sound as something simple when the time comes not many know what to get. True the market is filled with everything anyone could ever hope to use as a present on Christmas but at least for us men i think that things are quite easier (always compared to our other halves). For example most gamers will probably like a new console, PC monitor, gaming keyboard and/or mouse or a powerful graphics card while gadget lovers will probably like to receive a new watch, camera, TV screen, better smartphone and/or tablet, high capacity powerbank or new portable HDD. We also believe that wireless headsets can make a fine Christmas present and so today we're taking a look at one of the latest wireless headsets released by Sandberg the Bluetooth Stereo Headset Pro.

   Sandberg stands for quality and user-friendliness. If it is important for you that accessories are high quality and easy to figure out how to use, then choose Sandberg. Our ideology "IT is for everybody" is part of everything we do. Since its inception in 1985, private consumers, institutions and companies have benefited from this simple philosophy. Distributors and dealers appreciate the availability, range, simple procedures and the exceptionally low failure rate. Every year over half a million Sandberg products find their way to users in more than 30 countries. Choosing Sandberg means choosing a safe and conscientious product that meets all applicable regulatory requirements. A product manufactured by subcontractors who are committed to following Sandberg's Code of Conduct to ensure decent working conditions and reduce the environmental impact of the production and waste disposal.

   The Bluetooth Stereo Headset Pro is yet another wireless model that features Bluetooth v3.0 + EDR connectivity (supports NFC, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP) and follows the typical around the ear closed type design. Fortunately although most of the headset is made out of hard plastic (it does feature an aluminum frame but doesn't extend all the way to the earcups) and thus is nothing special in terms of build quality (like most in the market) Sandberg chose to pair two 50mm neodymium drivers that feature a 20Hz-20KHz frequency response with 100dB (+-2dB) sensitivity and 32 Ohm (+-15%) impedance with a Omni-directional microphone (30Hz-16KHz/-54dB) and a 380mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery which can power the device for up to 10 continuous hours. So could this be the right present for Christmas? Let's find out.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Sandberg ships the Bluetooth stereo headset pro inside a clear plastic box which allows you to see the product from the front, left and right.

At the rear there's a piece of paper inside the box which has a few words about the product in 6 languages placed right above the specifications and bundle contents lists.

Placed inside the box next to the headset is a microUSB to USB charging cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm mini jack and the user guide.

THE BLUETOOTH STEREO HEADSET PRO

As mentioned earlier the exterior of the Bluetooth Stereo Headset Pro is primarily made out of hard plastic but it also has some aluminum parts.

Comparing it with the compact REVO Wireless headset by Jabra you can see that it's a medium sized model.

On the exterior of the left earcup we find a brushed aluminum plate with the company logo on it.

Left and right markings are placed right above the exterior of both earcups.

The right earcup has all the navigation buttons on its exterior so from here you can adjust the volume, jump onto the next/previous track (can also be used to fast forward/reverse tracks) and answer/end calls.

Earpads are covered with synthetic PU leather and are also mid-sized so if you have large ears they may not fit well.

On the base of the right earcup we find the microUSB charging port and the 3.5mm mini jack.

Sandberg has used a strange folding design for the earcups but it works quite well.

The headpad is also covered with synthetic leather and is quite comfortable.

You can increase the length of the headband by up to 3cm on each side via 9 increments (8 visible ones).

Sandberg has placed their logo on the exterior of the headband but i don't know if this is part of the aluminum frame or just an extra piece of aluminum.

CONCLUSION

   We already mentioned numerous times in this review that the exterior of the Bluetooth Stereo Headset Pro is made out of hard plastic and unfortunately that's a small drawback since the feeling and design of this model leaves much to be desired (we also noticed some scratches when rotating the earcups). The right control buttons with the two pieces of aluminum with the Sandberg logo on them look very nice but still for some reason no one here was impressed in terms of design. That's however where the drawbacks end since in terms of quality the aluminum frames is very durable while in terms of audio quality you can expect very good Bass with equally good mids and highs. Of course when used right next to the AKG K845BT the difference in clarity and soundstage is easily noticed (as is the difference in build quality) but we never expected something else to begin with. The headset is also quite comfortable although for people with large ears the medium sized earpads may not be the best so do take this into consideration. Last but not least even after 6 full recharge cycles the battery never exceeded the 9 hours mark no matter the volume level used but i guess that even 9 hours is more than what any of us would ever use a headset for continuously. As for the microphone nothing new here, average performance on par with most similar wireless headsets but you don't really get a wireless headset to answer calls all the time right?

   When testing products like the Bluetooth Stereo Headset Pro by Sandberg it all comes down to price and with a current one set at 20Euros inside the EU (offer currently by Amazon.co.uk) there's really nothing to hold us back from recommending it to all of you. Unfortunately once again Sandberg only sells their product inside the EU something which we hope will change sometime in the near future. That being said the Bluetooth Stereo Headset Pro is nowhere close to being the best wireless headset out in the market but it features surprisingly good audio performance with earcup controls and you just can't get those for such a low price which is why it grabs our Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Mids & Highs
- Very Good Bass Levels
- Good Volume Levels
- Wired & Wireless Use
- Earcup Controls
- Foldable Design
- Good Battery Life (Up To 8+ Hours)
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Design
- Overall Build Quality / Exterior Finish