With the move to the Samsung SCH-u740 phone (still lovin that name!) I’m somewhat forced into the bluetooth headset world. It’s sad, as I absolutely love my Shure headset – hey, I may look like a telemarketer with it on, but it’s super-comfortable, the sound quality is great, and the microphone works in a windstorm. At under $50 (on Amazon), it’s the best bargain around for a wired headset.
The SCH-u740 (say it out loud with me… the “ess see aich you seven forty”) has an adapter that works with analog headsets, but it’s kinda janky to carry it around. So I’m going for Bluetooth. The good news is, I’ve got the what many call “the best” units around to try: the Jabra JX10, Plantronics Voyager 510, and Aliph Jawbone (which came in about the sexiest packaging I’ve ever seen for any gadget, ever).
I’m still in testing, but I’ve learned one thing so far: wearing an in-ear headset for more than 7 hours straight can cause a multi-day lasting earache! I see a lot of people wearing these silly things all day long (psst, if you are in a restaurant and having dinner and wearing a bluetooth headset, you don’t look cool, you look stupid), and I don’t know how they do it. It hurts, and no matter which one makes the cut, you can rest assured it only goes on during a call.
Full review to come, and if you missed out, check out Ron’s report on the Jabra BT620s bluetooth stereo headset from earlier this week.
I met the Jawbone guys at CES and the product seemed stellar – didn’t get a chance to put it through many rigors though…
Kudos on the continued use of the word janky, which I continue to enjoy and only hear from you.
Peferct timing! I have recently been on a quest to find a headset that actually works and lets me not yell or ask people to yell while in normal conversation. I have tried both wired and unwired versions of nearly everything on the shelves of Fry’s, Best Buy and most office supply stores.
I ran into the gentleman that created ‘The Boom’ (www.theboom.com) about 2 years ago at CES standing in a cabline. I think I spent about 18 hours with him that day, thanks Las Vegas Transportation Dept…. I had a chance to use one of his products while we swapped every story we knew. It was a) the most amazing headset I have ever used and b)the most expenive phone headset I have ever seen. It was $200 but has dropped to $150.
Being as it is purportedly the same technology used in military helicopters I would expect to get one of those helmets that controls the movements of a machine gun for that kind of money…
The only reason I bring this product up is to illustrate how desperate I am for a good, stylish headset.
Please find a winner in your lineup there, I don’t want to look like a telemarketer either 🙂
On a side note: No Mr. Toeman, I would not like to subscribe to Sports Illustrated. A football phone you say?
I recently bought the jawbone and returned it. It started off great and clear and with every passing day the individuals on the other side complained of the sound quality. They said it was choppy and very staticy. So I too am desperate to find a good quality bluetooth headset to use w/my cell. Help!
I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on bluetooth headsets and even spent $140 on the new Gennum NX6000. BY FAR, the best bluetooth headset is the Plantronics Voyager 510. Go to Amazon and buy it for less than $50. It will be the best money you ever spent. This headset also has the highest user reviews on CNET.
When is this review going to be completed?
I recently purchased the Jawbone. I do not like it at all, it has a terrible lag before it connects. When I first got it, I could not get a comfortable fit no matter what I did. It said it came fromt the factory set for the right ear, but FWIW, I looked at it and ended up putting the left hook on the right ear and it has been quite comfortable since then, even though I still don’t like the performance.