Introduction

The Sony SBH56 Bluetooth Headset with Speaker is a versatile audio device designed for seamless communication and entertainment. Featuring a sleek black design, it utilizes Bluetooth and NFC technology for wireless connectivity, ensuring convenience during use. This headset is equipped with an integrated speaker, allowing users to make hands-free calls without blocking out ambient sounds. The lightweight construction and comfortable fit make it ideal for extended wear. The price of the Sony SBH56 is $49.99. The SBH56 also includes a vibration alert for incoming calls and messages, enhancing user experience. 

Function overview

Your SBH56 Bluetooth headset with speaker is designed to make life more convenient when you're on the go. When paired with a compatible Android or iOS device, you can use your headset to:

• Answer or reject incoming calls.
• Take photos with the remote.
• Control music played on a paired Android or iOS device.

Hardware overview

#	Key/Port	Function
1	Power key ()	- Press and hold down to turn the headset on or off. - Press and hold for 5 seconds to pair your headset with a compatible Android or iOS device.
2	NFC detection area	- Touch other devices to this area during NFC transactions.
3	Charger/USB Type-C cable port	- Insert the cable to charge the battery.
4	Microphone	- Make phone calls or activate Voice Assistant.
5	Headphone jack	- Connect wired headphones to the 3.5 mm jack.
6	Speaker	- Make phone calls or play music without headphones.
7	Camera key ()	- Press to take photos. Install the host application on your Android or iOS device to enable this feature.
8	Multi-function key ()	- Press to:
		• Answer incoming calls or end an ongoing call. • Play or pause the current track.
		- Press and hold down to:
		• Reject incoming calls. • Mute the microphone during a call. • Initiate Voice search with Assistant or Siri.
		- Quick double-tap to:
		• Skip to the next track.
		- Quick triple-tap to: • Return to the previous track.
	Volume key	Press + to increase the volume. Press - to decrease the volume.

Detailed Specifications

The Sony Headset with Speaker SBH56 boasts several impressive features, including:

• Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity for wireless audio streaming and hands-free calling
• NFC pairing for quick and easy device pairing
• Up to 6 hours of battery life for extended use
• Built-in microphone with noise reduction technology for clear audio communication
• Multi-point connectivity for connecting to multiple devices at once
• Integrated FM radio tuner for listening to radio stations
• Built-in stereo speakers for high-quality sound
• Lightweight and comfortable design for long-term use

Description

The Sony Headset with Speaker SBH56 is a multipurpose audio device that offers crystal-clear sound for calls, music, and leisure purposes. With the headset's Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, you may freely stream music from your tablet, smartphone, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. You can quickly and simply connect your devices to the headset with a single tap thanks to NFC pairing. Multi-point connectivity is another feature of the SBH56 that lets you connect to numerous devices simultaneously and switch between them with ease.

The headset is ideal for hands-free calling and online meetings because of its integrated microphone with noise reduction technology, which guarantees clear and crisp audio connection. Your preferred radio stations can be listened to via the inbuilt FM radio tuner, and the built-in stereo speakers produce excellent audio for your pleasure and music. You may wear the Sony for lengthy periods of time without experiencing any pain thanks to its lightweight and comfy construction.

Sony Headset with Speaker SBH56 Basics

Charging

Before using your headset for the first time, it is recommended to charge your headset for approximately two hours with an official Sony charger.
To charge the device

1. Connect one end of the USB cable to the charger or the USB port of a computer.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to the USB Type-C port of your headset.

For the recommended AC adaptor, see www.sonymobile.com/products/accessories/.

Turning on and off

• To turn on the device
  • Press and hold down until the LED indicator flashes two times in green.
• To turn off the device
  • Press and hold down until the LED indicator flashes one time in green.

TIP: If the device is turned on but left idle, it will turn off automatically unless connected to an Android or iOS device.

Adjusting the volume

To change the call or music volume
During a call, or when listening to music, press to increase or decrease the volume.

TIP: If you are using the headset without headphones, press    to adjust the volume of the speaker.

Wearing instruction

You can use your headset with or without wired headphones. For best performance, carry your headset and Android or iOS device on the same side of your body to facilitate Bluetooth pairing.
NOTE: A set of wired headphones that support the CTIA standard is included with your headset at purchase. You can use other headphones but some may not work properly with your headset.

Getting started

Pairing your headset with an Android or iOS device

1. To pair your headset with an Android device, you can use either NFC or Bluetooth. NFC launches the pairing, connection and setup procedures automatically, while Bluetooth lets you set up your headset manually.
2. To pair your headset with an iOS device, use Bluetooth.
3. You must install the host application on an Android or iOS device to use all of the headset functions.

To install the host application

• For Android devices find and tap to open the Play Store. For iOS devices find and tap App Store.
• Tap the search icon, then search for "SBH56".
• Select the SBH56 host application, then follow the on-screen instructions. 

NOTE: You must install the host application to use all of the headset functions.

To pair your headset with an Android device using NFC

1. Make sure that your headset is fully charged.
2. On the Android device, make sure that NFC is turned on. Open the host application.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions and touch the NFC area of your headset against the NFC detection area of the Android device.

NOTE: If your headset does not respond to the pairing procedure, you can reset it. To factory reset your headset, first turn it off. Press and hold and at the same time until the LED indicator flashes green and the device restarts.

TIP: If your headset is turned off, it will turn on if the NFC detection area touches another NFC device. If you have problems pairing your device with an Android device using NFC, try to connect manually using Bluetooth.

To pair your headset with an Android or iOS device using Bluetooth

1. Make sure that your headset is fully charged, and that Bluetooth is turned on.
2. Turn off your headset.
3. Press and hold down on your headset until the LED indicator flashes in blue.
4. Scan for available Bluetooth devices on the Android or iOS device, then select SBH56 from the list of available Bluetooth devices.

Reconnecting your headset

If a connection gets lost or goes out of range, your headset automatically tries to reconnect. You can force your headset to reconnect manually by pressing any key on the headset, or by using NFC.

To reconnect manually

1. Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on for your Android or iOS device.
2. Press any key on the headset.

To reconnect using NFC

1. Make sure that NFC is turned on, and that the screen is active and unlocked on your Android device.
2. Touch the NFC area of your headset against the NFC detection area of the Android device.

Resetting your headset

To reset your headset

1. Press and hold down for approximately 10 seconds until the headset restarts.
2. Reset your headset if it does not respond to the pairing procedure. Paired data is not lost. 

To perform a factory reset on your headset

1. Turn off your headset.
2. Press and hold down and together until the LED indicator flashes in green and your headset restarts.

TIP: Perform a factory reset if your headset behaves unexpectedly. Factory reset restores the headset to its original settings.

Setup Guide

Setting up the Sony Headset with Speaker SBH56 is easy and straightforward. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Charge the headset fully before use.
2. Turn on the headset by pressing and holding the power button until the LED indicator blinks.
3. Activate Bluetooth on your device and search for available devices.
4. Select "SBH56" from the list of available devices to connect.
5. If your device supports NFC, you can tap it against the SBH56 to connect quickly.
6. Once connected, you can start streaming audio, making calls, and using other features of the headset.

Using your headset

Using your headset for phone calls

WARNING: For your safety, do not use your headset to handle calls while you are driving. Use your headset to answer or reject incoming calls. When the wired headphones are not connected, you can use the headset speaker to answer calls. For these functions to work, you must use an Android or iOS device that supports the relevant functions, for example, call handling and messaging. You must also have the host application installed on the Android or iOS device.

• To answer a call
  • When you hear an incoming call signal, press.
• To end a call
  • During an ongoing call, press.
• To reject a call
  • When you hear an incoming call signal, press and hold down.
• To answer a second call
  • When you hear an incoming call signal during an ongoing call, press. The ongoing call is put on hold.
• To reject a second call
  • When you hear an incoming call signal during an ongoing call, press and hold down.
• To mute the microphone during a call
  • Press and hold down.

Using your headset to play music

When your headset is connected to an Android or iOS device, you can play audio content such as music from the Android or iOS device using your headset. Open the relevant application on the Android or iOS device before you start listening to audio content.
To pause or skip music tracks

1. When listening to music, press to pause the track. Press it again to resume.
2. Quickly double-tap to skip to the next track.
3. Quickly triple-tap to go back to the previous track.

Using the Voice Assist function

To start the voice search and actions

• Hold down to talk to Google/Siri.

NOTE: For these functions to work, you must use an Android or iOS device that supports the relevant functions. You must also have the host application installed on the device.

Using your headset to take pictures

When your headset is connected, you can use the camera key on the headset to take photos remotely. To enable the camera key, you must install the host application on your Android or iOS device. Refer to instructions on the host application and follow the on-screen instructions.

NOTE: When you use the host application to enable the camera key, follow the prompt to select on-screen keyboard settings.

To take pictures with the headset remote

1. If you are using an Android device, press and hold down to open the Camera application. If you are using an iOS device, open the camera manually.
2. Press to take a picture.
3. Press twice to start the self-timer for group photos.

NOTE: If you are using an Android or iOS device with multiple camera apps, it is recommended to select the standard camera app when prompted. Other camera apps may not allow you to use your headset to take photos remotely.

Using Multipoint mode

You can use Multipoint mode to pair your headset with either two Android or two iOS devices at the same time. When you use your headset to answer an incoming call, the devices remain connected to your headset after you end the call. Turn off Multipoint mode manually to switch back to Singlepoint mode.

NOTE: When you use Multipoint mode, the camera key and Voice Assist features are not available.

To turn on the Multipoint mode

1. Turn off your headset.
2. Press and hold down and + at the same time for approximately one second. Wait until the LED indicator flashes in blue.
3. Pair the Android or iOS devices with your headset.

To turn off the Multipoint mode

1. Turn off your headset.
2. Press and hold down and - at the same time for approximately one second. Wait until the LED indicator flashes in blue.

When you turn off Multipoint mode, the device that was most recently paired with your headset remains paired.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues with the Sony Headset with Speaker SBH56, here are some troubleshooting steps to follow:

• Make sure the headset is charged fully.
• Check that Bluetooth is enabled on your device and that the SBH56 is in pairing mode.
• Make sure your device is within range of the headset (up to 10 meters).
• Restart your device and the headset and try pairing again.
• If you're still having issues, try resetting the headset to its factory settings.

Pros & Cons about Sony Headset with Speaker SBH56

Pros:

• High-quality sound for music, calls, and entertainment
• Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity and NFC pairing for wireless audio streaming
• Built-in microphone with noise reduction technology for clear audio communication
• Integrated FM radio tuner for listening to radio stations
• Lightweight and comfortable design for long-term use

Cons:

• A bit expensive compared to other headsets in the market
• Battery life could be better (up to 6 hours)