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Our November Top Product pick goes to the Sony Ericsson Akono HBH-662 (Click to read review). The Akono has great sound quality and is comfortable enough that it can be worn all day without fatigue. It also has incredible range, smart styling, and over five hours of battery life, making it one of the best values you can find anywhere. |
Try It Now! Lowest Price: $110.00 |
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Setup (10/10)
The Cardo Scala 500 automatically goes into pairing mode the first time it is powered up. To pair the headset up with another cellphone, press the multifunction button for three seconds. The LED will alternate between bright red and blue, indicating that the headset is ready to be mated to a nearby cellphone. This is perhaps the most foolproof pairing process that we've seen to date on any headset.
Ease of Use (8/10)
The Scala 500 has only two controls, a "multifunction" button which both swivels to nudge the volume up or down and acts to put the unit in pairing mode. The multifunction button also swaps between calls and initiates conferencing (on supported phones). There is also a "Control" button which is used for connect, disconnect, mute, and redial.
One point of potential confusion with the Scala 500 is that (as mentioned above) the control button, used to answer calls, can not be used to swap to another incoming call while a call is in progress. Instead, the multifunction button performs this task. It takes some getting used to to remember which button is which. Hopefully this design quirk will be corrected on a future model.
Another potential problem with this headset (which we did not experience) is the brittleness of the plastic earpiece. Many Scala 500 users have reported that this piece has broken on their headsets, requiring them to order new ones.
Sound Quality (7/10)
Many headsets which use speakers rather than earbuds have problems generating sufficient volume. However, we had no difficulties with the Scala 500 at all. However, there was a slight bit of fuzziness on the unit we tested.
Outside, the unit did very well in noisy environments, but had some problem with the wind. Overall however, this headset delivers high quality sound.
Range (7/10)
The Scala 500 was a bit better than average here as well, with the effective working distance between headset and cellphone being around 20'.
Battery Life (10/10)
We logged nearly 8 hours of talk time on this headset, which really pushes the envelope in terms of battery life. The headset also has around 175 hours of standby time, meaning you can leave it unplugged for around a week before needing a recharge.
Comfort (9/10)
The unit is extremely comfortable and lightweight as well, weighing in at a mere 17 grams. The earpiece is comprised of a soft rubber outercoat surrounding a stiff plastic arm. This design works very well, as the Scala 500 has a firm fit and does not feel loose in the slightest.
As mentioned above, this headset uses a speaker instead of an earbud, which further reduces ear fatigue.
The only complaint we had is that after two hours of use, the stiff earpiece left an indentation in our ear, which was modestly painful.
Style (8/10)
Cardo has paid a lot of attention to design with this model. It's very small with an outer casing made from silver plastic and black rubber, a not unpleasing combination. The control button is distinctly shaped, which adds some flair, while the microphone is hidden behind vent slats blended into the teardrop shape of the headset. This is definitely one of the more attractive headsets available.
Additional Features (8/10)
The Scala 500 unit we tested came with a number of additional features including:
* Neck strap
* An optional hook to mount on the arm of glasses, should you wear them
* user guide on mini-CD
* leather carrying case with a belt mount
Additionally, the Scala 500 comes in a variety of colors, although these can be hard to find.
Summary
Cardo's Scala 500 is one of the best headsets available, especially given its modest price point. It features extended battery life, great comfort and style, decent sound quality, and lots of extras. Although it can be a little hard to find - you won't find it at your local Best Buy, for instance - it is worth waiting a few days to order online.
Setup (9/10)
To pair this Logitech unit up with your cellphone, you need to first turn the phone on, then off, then depress the multi-function button until the headset indicator light flashes blue and red. This takes about eight seconds. We had to try it a few times before we got it right, but once the headset was in pairing mode, our cellphone registered it without any problems.
Ease of Use (7/10)
The Logitech Mobile Freedom headset is very easy to use as it has only a single multi-function button which controls most of the functionality of the headset. By pressing this button for different lengths of time, you can make the headset do different things:
* Power on/off - hold button for 4 seconds
* Answer call - quickly press button
* Mute - hold button for 2 seconds
The unit also has a rocker switch which can be used to control the headset volume. Although the rocker switch is fairly sizable, you may miss it at first because it's not called out. Once you know it's there though, it's easy to find and use.
The Mobile Freedom headset uses combinations of LED flashes to indicate virtually everything on the phone. Unfortunately, in practice this is not very helpful as there's far too many combinations to remember:
This flashing LED scheme leads to a major annoyance with the unit: it's hard to determine if the headset is on or off. Pressing the button for four seconds turns the unit on, but because the LED is inside the multi-function button, it's effectively hidden by your thumb. The unit is emits a brief low-to-high tone when turned on, but this can only be heard if you have the headset mounted when you turn it on.
Sound Quality (6/10)
Sound quality was very good, with no static, hissing, or cutting-out. However, the volume was far too low as is common with headsets that use a large speaker that sits outside of the ear. This makes it difficult to hear if you in a noisy environment or outside.
On the positive side, the headset has a foam windstop glued directly to the microphone. This works very well at improving the sound quality of the microphone when outside. More headset manufacturers should consider incorporating this feature in their models.
Range (6/10)
The range on the HS-4W was worse than average and began to cut off around 10'. At 15' there was noticeable static, and at 25' it became very difficult to hear the conversation.
Battery Life (8/10)
Battery life on the Logitech unit is excellent, with between 6 and 7 hours of talk time. The company claims up to 250 hours on standby, but we were not able to confirm this in the timeframe of this review.
Comfort (4/10)
While this isn't an uncomfortable headset, trying to put this device on the ear requires a great deal of effort and then some. It hangs off the ear with no way to adjust it. The rubber ear piece doesn't pinch but it can be a little thick which will lead to ear fatigue for some. It almost seems like Logitech didn't bother to put this headset on enough people before shipping it out.
Style (8/10)
The Logitech Mobile Freedom is one of the better looking headsets out there. It avoids the cheap plastic look that other units have with an all-black casing, and its small form factor appears professional and elegant.
Additional Features (3/10)
This headset is very light on features and doesn't incorporate so much as an automatic redial. The only extras that ship with the phone are two replacement foam pads for the speaker cover, should the original wear out. This headset would be greatly improved if the company could figure out a better way to indicate the current on/off status of the unit and perhaps included an auto-off feature to extend the battery life.
Summary
The Logitech Mobile Freedom is a very basic, no-frills headset aimed at the low-end market. It is an attractive headset with good battery life, but the volume is poor and it doesn't sit firmly on the ear.
]]> logitech mobile freedom.gif]]>1. Better Sound Quality
It should go without saying that a superior headset should have the same sound quality as the cell phone it’s being used with. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. Even the top headsets suffer from a drop in sound quality and complaints of speaker-phone quality.
Why can’t headset makers get it right? If we can transmit perfect reproductions of CD quality music over the internet, we should be able to transmit near perfect reproductions of phone quality sound. Bluetooth 1.2 is a step in the right direction and promises to reduce that annoying static, but it can’t get here soon enough.
And put a foam windscreen in the microphone, out of sight. It works better than any of those sophisticated noise-cancellation gadgets and doesn’t eat up the battery life either.
2. Longer Battery Life
Eight hours of talk time is about as good as you can get today. But in the headsets of tomorrow, we’d really like to see hundreds of hours of talk time. For $100, I should be able to go without plugging my headset in for a week or two.
Also, “auto off” functionality should be required on every headset. It’s such a simple feature and greatly extend battery life, so why isn’t it standard? It’s obvious omissions like that which make us suspicious of the marketing behind these products.
3. Make Them Smaller!
Strangely enough, some of the most popular headsets today are absolutely gigantic – bigger than your ear, and bigger than most cellphones. This is not a desirable feature. Nobody wants to look like a borg (or do they?), and bigger headsets are more likely to break in transit. Shrink ‘em down, headset makers. Let’s shoot for the invisible headset.
4. How About a Headset That Doesn't Hurt?
After three generations of Bluetooth headsets, we’d expect manufacturers to get it right when it comes to comfort. But there are still basically only two options: Over-the-ear (stays put but hurts) and front-of-ear (comfortable, but flops around).
We’d really like to see some alternative designs. How about a super thin, bendable-wire headset? Or maybe a headset that stretches over the entire ear? Or how about headset-earrings (in stereo, of course)?
5. An End To Ugly Headsets
We’ve seen a mountain of headsets here at Gooroo and one thing is obvious: headsets are patently boring. In the race for high margins, most manufacturers use cheap-looking black and silver molded plastic. Headsets with programmable colored LEDs or replaceable plastic skins would be a welcome change. Or how about headsets that match your hair color?
6. And Now For Something Completely Different...
Finally, why don’t we push the envelope on other features? The most imaginative upgrade we’re seeing at this point is support for stereo sound (another Bluetooth 1.2 feature). While this makes for better sound quality with music, it isn’t that useful for anything else. A major improvement over this would be the ability to use two headsets simultaneously – true stereo, not a simulation. While this wouldn’t appeal to the casual buyer, gamers would welcome this with open arms.
Another obvious improvement: My toddler is fond of my headset and likes to crawl away with it when I'm not looking. It would be nice if I could press a button on my phone to page my headset (or vice-versa). Lost headsets would be a thing of the past.
Have a suggestion for a headset feature you’d like to see? Send it to headsets@goorooreviews.com.
What is BlueTooth 1.2?
Most cellphones and headsets today support Bluetooth v1.1. The newer ones are supporting the latest version of this technology, which is version 1.2. Version 1.2 offers a number of advantages over the previous standard:
* Better sound quality through echo cancellation and enhanced voice processing.
* Improved resistance to radio interferenace from cordless phones, microwave ovens, and certain wireless LAN technologies, all of which can degrade signal quality.
* Higher transmission speeds - not all that important if you just use your headset with your cellphone, but it can be important if you are using the headset (and perhaps other Bluetooth devices) with your laptop.
* The ability to listen to music via your Bluetooth headset - although you could listen to music with non-1.2 headsets, it would be much like listening to a friend's radio over the phone. This is because v1.1 heavily compresses the audio stream and can not transmit in stereo. For this reason, many phone and PDA manufacturers have disabled this feature with v1.1 .
* Contrary to some rumors, Bluetooth 1.2 does not use less power than 1.1, and you won't get longer battery life from a 1.2 headset.
Who Might Benefit From Bluetooth 1.2?
In short, if you plan to use your headset to listen to music, or perhaps with your laptop for gaming, then you should definitely go with version 1.2. You might also want it if you spend a lot of time on the phone and you are sure that your cellphone will support the new version.
On the other hand, if you aren't willing to spend as much on a headset, your cellphone doesn't support Bluetooth 1.2, or you just don't care about having the best sound quality on your headset, then a 1.1 headset will satisfy your needs.
Note: not all cellphones support Bluetooth 1.2. If you use your new 1.2 headset with one of these, it will automatically revert back to Bluetooth 1.1. Before buying a headset that supports this standard, check the documentation that came with your cellphone to make sure your phone supports it.
]]>Setup (9/10)
Pairing the unit up with our Nokia cellphone was a no-brainer, and in fact easier than most headsets. You simply turn it on and your (Nokia) cellphone should be able to find it. Other phones may require you to enter a passcode ('0000') but in any case, it's a very simple operation.
Ease of Use (5/10)
The Nokis HS-4W is not an easy headset to use because the buttons are miniscule and are flush with the plastic molding on the unit. This headset takes some getting used to, and even when you do, there's a lot of fumbling around involved.
This usage diagram will give you a better idea about this how the controls on the HS-4W are laid out:
1. Power switch - this is a very tiny little button which requires some force to be properly pressed down. Hold it for 2 seconds to turn the unit on or off, while a quick click (good luck) mutes the call.
2. Speaker - there are holes on both sides so you can wear it on either ear.
3. The LED - it blinks in red (charging), green (currently in use), and yellow (connected).
4. Volume rocker control - again, this control is very tiny and hard to use.
5. Boom microphone
6. "Call" button - used to answer and end calls, voice dial, and redial.
7. Charger connector - A thin piece of rubber has to be pulled away from the unit to expose the charging socket. It likes to snap back in place so it's a bit of an annoyance.
Sound Quality (5/10)
This headset uses a speaker, but the volume is just way, way too low. We had a lot of trouble using it without pressing the headset into our ear with our hands, which almost defeats the purpose of using a headset.
Ignoring the problem with the volume, the sound quality is pretty good indoors. We could make our the conversation quite well. Our callers were able to tell that we were on a headset, but there were no serious complaints. But that changed for the worse when we stepped outside. Any wind at all renders this headset virtually useless.
Range (6/10)
The range on the HS-4W was pretty typical and started cutting off around 15'. We were able to make out the conversation up to a distance of 30', which is about the maximum range of most Bluetooth headsets.
Battery Life (3/10)
Perhaps the most serious weakness of the Nokia KS-4W is the poor battery life. We got less than 2 hours of talk time and the unit needed recharging after about 12 hours of standby. There is no auto-off function on this headset, so you'll likely end up needing to recharge it once per day.
Comfort (4/10)
Getting the unit on is a little difficult at first and will require some experimentation. Basically, the headset needs to be tilted, brought to the top of the ear, and then slide down from the top. It takes a little practice. By itself, this wouldn't be a serious problem, but if you aren't wearing the headset when a call comes in, then you had better be prepared to spend the entire call holding the headset with your hand as you won't be able to slide it on without interrupting the conversation. This alone makes it unsuitable for business purposes.
And despite it being very lightweight (21 grams), the HS-4W pinches and will definitely irritate the ear after no more than an hour of use.
Style (4/10)
This is a large headset, almost as big as a cellphone, and the black-and-silver plastic molding looks cheap.
Additional Features (3/10)
This is a very minimalist headset that comes with few extras. In fact, it doesn't even come with a charger. Nokia (perhaps correctly) assuming that most people have Nokia cellphones, decided not to ship a charger with this unit. It uses the same charger your Nokia unit does, so if you don't have a Nokia cellphone, you'll need to shell out a few bucks for a charger as well.
And about that charger situation ... on one hand, it's a positive because it eliminates the need for another charger sitting around. On the other hand, you can't charge your headset and phone simultaneously. With a headset that runs this short on battery life, this is a serious problem.
Summary
]]> hs4w.gif]]>Setup (9/10)
Setup of the Plantronics M3500 was straightforward and the unit paired with our cell phone with no problems.
Ease of Use (7/10)
The M3500's buttons are simple to use, accessible, and easy to press, and include a power and "call" as well as a rocker switch. However, the headset doesn't have an auto-off function and the ear loops are brittle and could easily break in transit.
Sound Quality (8/10)
The predecessor to this model, the M3000, suffered from terrible audio problems. In response to this, Plantronics has added a noise cancelling DSP processor (Audio IQ), which filters out the background noise quite well. The sound is a bit thin and could use more bass, but overall audio comes across clearly and is easily understood.
The achilles' heel of this unit is its outdoor performance. We found that even a slight wind would disrupt the connection considerably. A foam sleeve could have probably done wonders here, but as it is, this is not a good unit to use outside.
Range (7/10)
The range on this unit was decent, with the audio connection becoming somewhat garbled at 15' and very difficult to hear around 20', making it a slightly better performer than average. While you could use it efficiently only in a small working space, it will certainly do the trick if you just like to keep your cellphone in your jacket or backpack.
Battery Life (5/10)
Unfortunately, the battery life of this unit is poor. The noise cancellation hardware consumes quite a bit of power and reduces the usable talk time to between 3 and 4 hours. It's rated at 76 hours of standby time, but we found ourselves recharging it after just about two days. An auto-off feature would have helped immensely in this regard, but unfortunately, you have to remember to turn the M3500 off manually.
Comfort (7/10)
Plantronics made some big improvements in terms of comfort with this unit as well. Although it is still heavy, it comes with two flexible rubber ear pieces for different sized ears. Chances are, one of them will fit you well. Despite this however, some people report that the unit is painful to wear for extended periods of time.
The unit sits firmly on the ear and doesn't flop around, and we also like the use of the ear speaker instead of an ear bud. This reduces the amount of contact between headset and ear and generally makes a more comfortable fit.
Style (5/10)
This headset is about as ordinary as they come in terms of color and style, but it is a very thick unit and looks massive in comparison to the Motorola HS850.
Additional Features (9/10)
Plantronics included some nice features with the M3500, including:
* Noise cancellation (Audio IQ) - this can be turned off by pressing the power switch twice quickly, which may save some battery time in a tight situation.
* Mute function
* Redial and call swapping (on supported phones)
* Pairs with multiple devices
* Leather storage/carrying case
Summary
The Plantronics M3500 is a run-of-the-mill headset that doesn't stand out in any way. It's good sound quality is offset with poor battery life. It comes with a few extras, but we're not sure they justify the higher price.
]]> m3500.gif]]>Remember Ear Buds?
Consider the headsets of a few years ago. These were little more than tiny speakers that lodged in your ear canal and were connected to your cellphone with a long wire. They were ugly and uncomfortable. The wires tended to catch on clothing and pull the speaker out of your ear. The internal connections were fragile and frequently came loose, causing the headset to cut in and out. And when you put the headset in your pocket, more often than not the wire became knotted up.
There were compatibility issues as well. Cell phones from different manufacturers had different types of sockets for their headsets. For instance, while some cellphones used a common 1/8" mike plug, others (such as some Nokia models) made use of complicated 14-pin connectors. To find the right headset for your phone, you often had to go to a local cell phone accessory store.
So the cellphone headset became the poster-child for Bluetooth. Bluetooth headsets don't have wires and are generally far more comfortable than the old "ear bud" type headsets. They are more durable and last a lot longer than the el cheapo headsets of the past. And these products are really compatible with just about any phone. That's right - any bluetooth headset from any manufacturer will work with just about any Bluetooth phone. What better application of technology could there be than this?
The Disadvantages of BlueTooth
But all is not perfect. Bluetooth has its costs as well. The most obvious of these is that you now have a second device that requires charging. And what's more, using a bluetooth device with your cell phone will drain your phone's batteries quicker. So you should expect to charge your phone more frequently with these headsets.
Second, the sound quality of Bluetooth headsets is generally not as good as the old wired arrangement. Some headsets come indistinguishably close, but most don't.
Third, setting up a Bluetooth headset isn't as easy as plugging in an ear bud. There are a few steps involved and you'll have to read the instructions, but the latest models are pretty painless.
Fourth is the price. Bluetooth headsets are more expensive than the old $20 headsets. Expect a decent headset to run from anywhere around $80-$150, with the luxury units costing as much as $300.
Finally, you'll either love or hate the way Bluetooth headsets look. Most are big and bulky and make you look like either a cyborg or a secret serviceman. Manufacturers are starting to get a grip on design though and there are plenty of models to choose from.
Picking the Headset That's Right For You
While we can do some of the legwork for you, such as testing the range, sound quality, and battery life of these units, you'll ultimately have to decide which headset to pick. If you go with our top picks, you really only have to consider price and style. When you get the headset home, you should wear it for a few hours to ensure that it has a good fit and won't cramp your ear. But whatever you do, just make sure you don't settle for whatever is on the shelf at your local Best Buy, as the selection there is very limited and as you'll find out on our site, most of the units there tend to be very poorly rated.
Ready to get started? Just pick a category on the left-hand navigation menu. If you aren't sure what you're looking for, start with "Our Top Picks".
]]>Setup (8/10)
Pairing the Voyager 510 with a cell phone is easy. To do so, you simply press the "call" and "raise volume" buttons simultaneously for a few seconds. An LED flashed blue and red to let you know it's ready for pairing.
Ease of Use (6/10)
Although it is easy to understand the operation of the controls, the biggest problem with this headset is the tiny controls. In particular, the power button is extremely tiny and requires a lot of force to depress. It also has a raised plastic protrusion on it that bites into your finger whenever you turn the headset on or off.
The Voyager 510 suffers from a few other usability problems as well. The volume control is mounted on the top surface of the earpiece, making it difficult to press due to a lack of resistance. Pressing the button just pushes the headset off your ear, so to change the volume you need to grab the entire headset in your hand or remove it altogether.
Another problem is the lack of an auto-off feature. If you forget to power down, you'll end up charging this headset every day.
Sound Quality (7/10)
The Voyager 510 sits nicely in the ear and has excellent sound quality and good volume while indoors. However, the quality suffered dramatically when outdoors, even with little wind.
Range (9/10)
The range on this headset is simply fantastic. We were able to maintain a usable audio connection with our cellphone from a distance of nearly 25'. This is considerably farther than most headsets, which tend to taper off around 15'.
Battery Life (6/10)
The talking battery life of the Plantronics Voyager 510 is rated at about 6 hours, which we confirmed in our tests. However, the standby battery life was significantly under the manufacturer's spec of 100 hours. We found that the headset would die after about only about 24 hours on standby. Combined with the lack of auto-off, this is a significant problem with this headset.
Comfort (9/10)
The Voyager 510 is extremely comfortable, all the more surprising for an "over-the-ear" model. It sits firmly on the ear and doesn't wiggle. And despite being a tad on the large side, it weighs in at an astonishing 15 grams, making it one of the lightest units we tested. You could wear this unit all day without any problems.
Style (7/10)
Although the Voyager 510 sports the robotic "over-the-ear" look, it's slim form factor results in this not being an entirely unattractive headset. It's a little on the large size, but it compensates for this with a sleek swivel boom mike. The mike sports an end-mounted LED which flashes blue and red which may be a bit over the top for most people.
Additional Features (7/10)
This Plantronics unit is very light on additional calling features. There's no ability to swap between calls, and the redial function doesn't seem to work with Nokia phones. And as mentioned previously, the lack of an auto-off function results in a short standby battery life.
On the plus side however, the unit can be cleverly adapted for use with the left ear, and it has a handy mute button (rare on most headsets).
Summary
Based on some of the rave reviews we read on the internet about this headset, we expected a little more. However, the Plantronics Voyager 510 was just a slightly better than average headset.
]]> voyager510.gif]]>Setup (10/10)
Pairing the Akono with a cellphone is very easy: press the "call" button for five seconds and it's ready to go. Our Nokia cellphone found the headset without any problems.
Ease of Use (9/10)
We found the Akono to be among the most usable headsets of all those we tested. Similar to other products, the Akono has just three buttons: two for volume control and one to pick up calls. Unfortunately, we could not get the automatic redial function to work with our Nokia cellphone.
the Akono makes judicious use of a super-small LED display which shows the current battery level when the headset is powered on. This eliminates the problem of not knowing the current status of the headset that many other products have. The LED display is also used for caller ID - a nice feature which means that you really can leave your phone in your pocket instead of picking it up to see who's calling.
Sound Quality (7/10)
Sound quality was mixed. On one hand, our callers all stated that they could hear us with near perfect quality, even in the wind. However, we heard a fair amount of static regardless of range (although not enough to distract from the conversation). Despite this, the call quality overall was good and the volume was more than sufficient.
Range (10/10)
The Sony Ericcson Akono had by far the longest range of any unit we have reviewed to date. At 30', the headset was just starting to cut out. This headset would be a terrific unit to use in the office if you like to keep your cellphone at your desk.
Battery Life (7/10)
At only 5 hours of talk time, the Akono doesn't have the longest battery life between recharges, however this should be sufficient for most people.
Comfort (9/10)
Unlike the "over-the-ear" models, the Akono makes use of a rubber ear loop which is flexible enough to fit most ears and doesn't cut off the circulation. And at 23 grams (a negligible weight), you can wear it all day without fatigue. This was one of the most comfortable headsets that we've tried to date. Perhaps our only complaint is that it could have a tad bit firmer fit on the ear - if you tilt your headset to the side, the Akono flaps just a bit. This minor complaint is the only reason we didn't award it a perfect score in this category.
Style (8/10)
The best phrase to describe the Sony Ericsson Akono is "discreetly stylish". It is a conservative headset, yet stands out by virtue of its sleek lines and use of real rubber (not black molded plastic).
Additional Features (8/10)
The Akono came with a number of extras you won't find with less expensive headsets:
* LED display
* Caller ID
* Neck strap (included)
* Can be adjusted to fit the left-ear
Summary
Incredible range, exquisite styling, decent battery life and good sound quality make the Sony Ericcson Akono HBH-662 one of the best values we've seen on the market.
]]> akono.gif]]>Setup (10/10)
Like other Motorola headsets, pairing the HS820 was quick and painless. Simply hold down the call button for 10 seconds and then activate the search function on your cellphone.
Ease of Use (9/10)
Like it's cousin, the HS850, the Motorola HS820 has three buttons: two volume control switches and a call button. The call button also acts as a power switch and a redial button depending on how long you hold it down, so there is some potential for confusion. However, we found operation of the headset to be quite easy.
Sound Quality (8/10)
Sound quality was surprisingly good for a headset in this price range, even better than the more expensive HS850. This is presumably due to the plastic molded speaker cone, which brings the sound closer to the ear. The unit does suffer in the wind however, so it isn't a good outdoor model.
Range (6/10)
The range of the Motorola HS820 wasn't as good, however. The maximum range seemed to be about 20', at which point the audio degraded considerably. At closer range though, there was no cracking or hissing that is common in many headsets.
Battery Life (8/10)
Our tests confirmed that the battery life is about 6 hours, as stated by Motorola.
Comfort (9/10)
Motorola seems to have a knack for making super-comfortable headphones. At only 19 grams, the HS820 can barely be felt on the ear. The model also makes use of a flexible rubber piece which prevents the unit from pinching the earlobe and cutting off circulation. This is the kind of model you could wear around the office or at home all day and not grow tired of.
Style (5/10)
If you're looking for a cool or fashionable headset, this is not the model. Unlike the more fashionable HS850, this unit makes use of the cliche black and silver plastic found in many headsets. Despite its good performance, the HS820 looks cheap.
Additional Features (3)
This unit is very minimal, offering nothing more than volume control, redial, and call switching. It is truly a minimalist headset.
Summary
The Motorola HS820 is a solidly performing product with decent range, good sound quality, above average battery life, and easy setup. It's also quite possibly the most comfortable and firm fitting headset Motorola offers. However, the unit looks shoddy and doesn't perform well outside. Overall, not bad product in the sub-$100 range.
]]> hs820.jpg]]>Setup (10/10)
The initial setup of the Motorola Hs850 was a snap, even easier than most phones. Pairing does not require a special stylus or the need to navigate through menu items. Simply shut the swivel mike, hold the call button down for three seconds, and open the mike again. The phone is now ready to pair with your cellphone.
Ease of Use (9/10)
The buttons are well placed, with one on top, bottom, and on the side, making it far less likely you'll hit the wrong one while on a phone call.
Another nice feature is that the power is tied to the swivel mike. Most headsets make use of a power switch and maybe an LED to let you know the headset is functioning. This is very cumbersome, particularly when driving, as you must take your eyes off the road to switch it on. The Motorola HS850 has a refreshing way of turning the unit on or off. Simply swivel the boom mike out and the headset powers up. Swivel it back in, and the headset powers down. No confusion, and you can easily tell the status of the headset at any time, even while driving or running on a treadmill.
Also, the HS850 does not use an ear bud - instead it makes use of speaker mounted in the headset. This further increases the comfort and allows you to quickly mount the headset when you receive a call. the drawback is that the volume suffers and you might have trouble hearing the conversation. You'll definitely need to turn the volume on your cellphone up as far as it can go.
Sound Quality (7/10)
Sound quaulity is the Achilles heel of this headset. The quality is similar to being on speakerphone, and there was a noticable drop in sound quality from the cellphone alone, even at close range. Nevertheless, the headset is still very usable for most purposes.
Range (7/10)
The range of this phone is better than most other headsets and will meet most people's needs well. We began to notice a severe drop in sound quality around 15'. At 25' the conversation was difficult to make out and at 30' the sound cut out completely.
Battery Life (8/10)
Fully charged, the HS850 will last for a full eight hours of talk time, or between 100-200 hours of standby time.
Comfort (9/10)
The HS850 is one of the most comfortable headsets we've used. Instead of a stiff plastic piece which sits behind the ear (pinching the earlobe and cutting off circulation), it makes use a flexible rubber piece similar to the high-end Jabra headsets. Unlike those however, this piece has a little bit of stiffness which keeps the headset firmly mounted on the ear. It's not perfect though - the headset can still feel a little wobbly at times, but we got used to it quickly.
Style (9/10)
This is one great looking headset. Motorola strayed from the beaten path of black and silver plastic and went with a nice combination of dark gray, chrome, and amber blue. The headset glows with an attractive blue color when an incoming call is received, and slowly fades from front to back, making a notable and classy special effect. This headset would be equally at home in the club or the boardroom.
The other stand-out styling feature of the HS850 is the swivel mike. When the headset isn't in use, swivel the mike back in and the headset shrinks to under 2" in length, making it small enough to easily fit in your pocket or even the smallest purse.
Additional Features (6/10)
The headset doesn't go overboard on additional features, but Motorola succeeded in making a great headset with everyday usability in mind:
* Pairs with up to 8 phones
* "Fade effect" while ringing
* Can be adapted for use on the left ear
* Last number redial
What would have made this phone truly great would be a USB charger and perhaps some additional ring-tones.
Summary
While the sound quality and range were average, the comfort and style of this headset are a leap beyond the competition. Easy setup and long battery life make the Motorola HS850 one of the best headsets you can buy for under $100.
Setup (3/10)
Setup for the BT250v was problematic. We followed the directions, but our Nokia phone just wouldn't find the headset. After many repeated attempts, the headset finally went into "pairing" mode and our cellphone recognized it. The BT250v will only pair with a single cellphone.
Ease of Use (5/10)
With so few features, the BT250v is very easy to use. However, the problems come in with the special charging cradle. We would much prefer a straight connection into the phone, as there is one less part to worry about losing. This is not a phone for people on the go: the huge size and flimsy plastic can easily break in transit and you'll have to pack the cradle with you.
Also, with a low battery, the headset beeps every 30 seconds while talking and every 5 minutes on standby. This is incredibly annoying, and if you happen to leave the headset on overnight, you might find it waking you up.
Finally, the Jabra BT250v can not be used while charging, which is yet another annoyance that people who live on their cell phones will have to put up with.
Sound Quality (3/10)
The sound quality on this headset is very poor. We noticed crackles and pops, even less than 2 feet away from our cell phone.
Range (4/10)
The sound quality begins to taper off just a few feet away from the phone, while at 10 feet the sound quality degrades considerable and distortion becomes a serious distraction. At 15 feet, it is very difficult to hear what the other person is saying.
Battery Life (9/10)
The BT250v does have a great battery life, with about 7 hours (give or take) of constant use, and over 3 days of standby time.
Comfort (7/10)
Surprisingly for a headset this large is how comfortable it is. Despite it's 4" height, it weighs less than an ounce and the flexible rubber earpiece made it a comfortable fit. However, the stiff plastic at the rear upper-ear pinches the ear after about 20 minutes, making this a headset for non-continuous use only.
Style (3/10)
Two words describe this headset: Ugly and Huge. At over 4" in height, it's larger than most cellphones.
This headset is the technology equivalent of the plastic pocket protector. Wearing it is a good way to let other people know that you're proud to be a nerd.
Additional Features (2/10)
Despite the $90 price tag, the Jabra BT250v comes with few features. No storage case, ringtones, or LED displays on this model. Call waiting is supported, but only on certain phones. Redial is supposed to be included, but we couldn't get it to work with our Nokia.
About the only additional feature that this headset has is a vibrating alert to let you know you have a phone call. This might be useful, if say you carry your cellphone in your luggage, but in any other situation, it's a fairly useless feature.
Summary
At almost $100, we expected a lot more from this headset. It does have a great battery lfie. However, the range was poor and the sound quality was even worse. There are no additional features other than a vibrating alert, and the styling is abysmal.
]]> BT250v.jpg]]>Setup (9/10)
Setup is fairly easy. First charge the Jabra with one of the included chargers. Then you insert a small stylus into a hole in the headset to activate pairing mode. Next, use the menu on your bluetooth enabled phone to discover the headset and confirm the pairing. Finally, you enter a passkey (0000) to finalize the pairing.
The Jabra BT800 can be paired with up to 8 devices, which is a big plus if you use multiple phones.
Ease of Use (10/10)
The Jabra BT800 works right out of the box. Dial a number on your phone, and the headset immediately kicks into gear.
There are three buttons and a jog wheel on this headset. The front button answers calls, redials, switches between incoming calls, and can place your caller on hold. The rear button ends a call and turns the phone on and off. The wheel button activates the menus and turns the LED backlighting on. Finally, the jog wheel controls the volume and flips through the menus.
One annoying feature is that the Jabra BT800 can't be used while charging, so if you are on the phone constantly, you'll need another headset to take its place.
Sound Quality (9/10)
Sound quality is very good. This headset includes a noise cancellation feature which effectively blocks most background noise.
Range (9/10)
Although the manufacturer claims the effective range is 30 feet, we found that the audio began to experience "pops" and "hisses" around 20 feet.
Battery Life (7/10)
The BT800 held up for 5 hours of talk time (manufacturer claims six). This should be long enough for most people who don't spend their entire day on the phone.
Comfort (6/10)
The earpiece is soft rubber, which makes it a snap to put it on your ear and it doesn't rub or pinch the earlobe. There are also no earbuds to irritate the inner ear. However, the lack of support causes it to hang loosely off the ear and "jiggle" whenever you twist your head, making it feel like it could fall off if you make a sudden move.
Style (7/10)
The Jabra BT800 is a conservative silver and black plastic headset which seems to have had a single "cool" feature built in at the last minute: the jog wheel button has a blue LED built into it which flashes every 3 seconds or so. On a slightly hipper headset, this would be a nice touch, but on the Jabra, it just draws attention to how plain this headset really is.
Additional Features (8/10)
the Jabra BT800 comes with two chargers: a standard wall outlet charger and short USB cable so that you plug it directly into your laptop. This is a great feature for people who work on laptop PCs. It also comes with a leather storage case. The backlit LED display at first appears to be a nice feature, but is not very practical for anything other than setting up the headset.
One of the coolest features of this headset are the five additional ringtones. With the exception of the annoying "old bell" tone, the other four are very hip and cool ... almost seeming out of place on a conservative headset like this one.
A potential major drawback to this model is that it works on the right ear only. If you prefer to wear your headset on the left, the BT800 just won't work for you.
Summary
In terms of features, the Jabra BT800 over delivers with additional ringtones, caller id, an LED display, background noise cancellation, and an extra USB charger. However, the comfort factor is a major problem with this headset - the soft-rubber earpiece is just too flimsy and this headset just might fall off at any time. And while this headset looks better than most, the styling is on the conservative side and the flashing blue LED seems out of place.
]]> BT800.jpg]]>9.0 - 10.0 Amazing - reserved for the few products that receive high scores in every category. Very rare.
8.0 - 8.9 Excellent - these products score high in all categories and have no meaningful disadvantages.
7.0 - 7.9 Good - The strengths of these products more than outweigh their weaknesses.
6.0 - 6.9 Fair - The strengths of these products outweigh the weaknesses, but there are no standouts.
5.0 - 5.9 Average - Functional but unremarkable.
4.0 - 4.9 Poor - Average products with additional major flaws.
3.0 - 3.9 Bad - Products with many flaws and perhaps only a single strength.
2.0 - 2.9 Awful - These products score low in every category and do not deliver any meaningful value.
0.0 - 1.9 Rip-off - These products are so bad they shouldn't have been made.
Specifically, we score each headset from 1 to 10 in each of the following categories and then average the individual scores to come up with an overall editors' rating. Products which receive a rating of 8.0 or higher are automatically placed into "Our Top Picks" category.
Setup
A high score is assigned if the headset can be setup and paired with your cellphone quickly and with no problems. Complicated setup procedures, lack of support for certain phones, or the need for additional equipment (such as a plastic stylus) will cause points to be deducted.
Ease of Use
A high score is given if the product works immediately and intuitively. Unnecessary buttons, lack of power status, complicated beeping codes, or the need for additional charging equipment (other than a wall charger) are common reasons for deductions in this category.
Sound Quality
Here, a high score is given if the audio is clear and sufficiently loud with the headset less than two feet away. Hissing, cracks, pops, or low volume are common reasons for deductions.
Range
The range is tested by carrying on a conversation as the headset is slowly walked up to 30 feet away from the headset. The score is assigned based upon the distance reached before the audio begins to degrade. A headset that scores well in this category will function well at 15', while a perfect score is awarded at 30'.
Battery Life
Both standby and talk time between recharges are considered in this category. The current crop of headsets tend to peak out at 8 hours of talk time, and over 150 hours of standby (depending on your phone).
Comfort
This category is scored based on how comfortable the headset is to use for a period of an hour or more. Generally, lighter headsets with the electronics mounted in the front of the ear do much better than bulkier headsets with the electronics mounted in the rear. Conversely, front-mounted headsets tend to flap around the head while rear-mounted ones tend to sit firmly on the ear, so there is some subjectivity involved here.
Style
Products are given high scores for use of aesthetic design. Small size and the judicious use of LEDs tend to score well here, while larger headsets with no LEDs score poorly. The average headsets today is made from cheap pressed plastic which comes in black and dull silver, so we look for designs which deviate from this middle-of-the-road standard.
Additional Features
Finally, we consider whether the phone has additional useful features, such as USB chargers, LED menu displays, swivel ("boom") mikes, additional ring tones, etc. A product which has nothing more than volume controls and a call/swap/redial button will receive a 3.0.
