Buzz
Assessing the Design of Sony SRS-NB10
The Sony SRS-NB10 resembles a neckband that you'll wear on our next occasion. It's a thicker and wider strap than the neckband headphones that have been popular in recent years. But this is indeed a Bluetooth speaker, which explains its size. So, the two ends of the neckband wrap around our neck to the sides of our face, housing the left and right speakers. This means the sound actually sits beside your ear rather than inside it, as we're accustomed to.
There's a power button and a mute button on the right side, and volume controls on the left side alongside the play/pause button. The band isn't overly heavy, ensuring it doesn't become a literal pain in the neck on subsequent wears.
How to Utilize the Sony SRS-NB10?
Well, setting up is pretty much like any other wireless earphones. Music plays around your head, and you even get a fairly decent surround sound effect. I've used them for long work calls and even weekly calls to my parents. During calls, I feel the volume tends to be slightly lower when the NB10 is playing music. This is good as calls require more privacy, and you don't want everyone at home hearing everything. Remember, this is akin to conducting your call on a speakerphone.
Yes, even when you're playing music, others can still hear it. At maximum volume, my son in another room could detect I was playing 'Closer,' one of his favorites, and he came over to sit with me to listen. It could even hold a conversation with his mom during some home calls. So, keep this in mind when making important calls on the NB10.
But if you're alone in the room, this is a great way to stay connected for fairly long Zoom calls for work, from your laptop or phone. And over a week or longer, this is what I've been doing, and the folks on the other end never complain about not being able to hear me nor do I have any difficulty hearing them.
In fact, this has an advantage over headphones on Zoom or Google Meet calls. You don't hear a lot of things you really don't want to hear, like someone in the call munching on lunch without muting. You hear voices clearly, and here's the thing, you don't really have to listen to the side banter of your peers' kids in the online meetings.
I've found another use for the SRS-NB10. Just bought a big screen TV for the family, and I've always been worried about waking up my son or even the neighbors during a late-night binge-watching session. But with the NB10 connected to the TV, you can enjoy Netflix shows with plenty of clear sound and surround sound that others in the room might not even recognize.
How's its sound quality?
You can listen to music with NB10. But somehow, that wouldn't be the main reason for me to buy this, unless I encounter some issues that prevent me from using headphones. Having something on my ears to listen to music is a sensation I've been accustomed to since childhood and would be quite challenging to adjust to when the music is playing from around my ears. It doesn't mean the sound quality is bad or anything, it's just a slightly unnatural feeling for me. On the other hand, it's a more natural experience when listening to podcasts.
Battery lasts about 20 hours per full charge, or let's say two full workdays if you're constantly connected. There's a quick charge feature to top up in about 10 minutes to finish up that important remote meeting.
Should you buy Sony SRS-NB10?
Yes, if you frequently receive calls and need a way to alleviate the constant pain on your ears. But remember, this is a new experience and requires some time to get used to, especially the privacy aspect. But it's something you can get accustomed to, especially during your work hours. At 13,990 Rupees, the Sony SRS-NB10 is a good accessory for working from home. Just consider music as an added convenience.
