No booms
If looking like a telemarketer isn't your thing, consider these unique boomless headsets, where the microphone is located on the earpiece. Sitting just on the ear or even wrapping behind it, the models may look a little odd when they're on. All headsets paired with each of the phones we used in our tests.
10.Epox BT-HS01 Bluetooth headset
Comfy, secure, and extremely light, the Epox is smaller than most headsets, which is a bonus. It also has a bit of style that makes it look less dorky than some other models. It took us a few seconds to get it working correctly, but once we did, volume and clarity were by and large good.
11.Sony Ericsson Bluetooth headset HBH-65
Clad in blue and silver, the rectangular Sony Ericsson is so light we hardly felt it at all. That said, the ear loop is mostly plastic and snaps off easily. Sound quality was mixed as well. While we could hear callers easily, the signal cut out a few times.
12.Step 1150 Bluetooth Wireless headset
Resembling a silver shrimp, the Step is the most uncomfortable headset we've tried to date. Though it's designed to fit behind the ear, it's much too small, and we constantly thought it would fall off. Likewise, the headset's performance also was below par, with fuzzy reception that cut out a few feet away from the phone.
Cardo Allways
Bluetooth headset
We were divided on the Allways. Though it had a decent design and user-friendly controls, callers said we sounded hollow, and we detected an audible buzz. Also, while it included a hook for eyeglasses, the headset still felt heavy, and we didn't notice any real advantage in terms of comfort.
13.Nokia Clip-On HS-3W
The bizarrely designed Nokia uses a wire to connect a normal earbud with a radio pod, which made us wonder: what's the point of a wired headset if you have Bluetooth? Not only does the wire get tangled easily, but the comfort level is no different from a standard cell phone headset's. Call quality was generally fine, but callers sounded a bit metallic.
14.Plantronics M3500
While it has a cool style, the Plantronics is comfortable and secure for only about two minutes--then it hurts, as the hard plastic pinches the ear, and the overall fit is too tight. Also, the small buttons took some acclimation. Performance mostly was good, but it picked up wind noise easily.
15.Bluespoon Digital Bluetooth headset
The tiny, beetlelike Bluespoon certainly has the most unusual design of any headset we've seen to date. We discovered, however, that's not always a good thing. To put it on, you need to twist the headset until a small springlike appendage catches inside your ear. Unless you do it exactly right--which takes a few tries--the earpiece digs uncomfortably against your ear canal. Once it's on though, audio quality is good.
16.Jabra BT110 Bluetooth headset
As a lower-range alternative to Jabra's FreeSpeak BT250, the Jabra BT110 has the power to bring Bluetooth to the masses. To keep the headset affordable, Jabra uses a standard AA battery, but the resulting design isn't the best. The bulbous battery compartment makes the BT110 seem somewhat lopsided, and while the BT110 is comfortable, we don't particularly care for how it looks on the ear. The controls also take some acclimation. Fortunately, Jabra doesn't compromise sound quality for economy. Pairing takes a few seconds, and conversations are clear.
17.Nextlink Bluespoon AX Bluetooth headset
Like Bluespoon's earlier model, the tiny AX (available in both clear plastic and black) has a soft stem of rubber that bends to fit inside of the earlobe and manages to hold it in place. As was the case before, putting the headset on took a few tries, but the process was simple once we mastered it. Considering its predecessor, we worried about how secure the fit was, but we encountered no problems. In addition, unlike the earlier model, you can wear the AX in either ear. Also on the plus side, pairing the headset was a breeze, and call quality was mostly good and clear.
18.Jabra BT800
While all
Bluetooth headsets offer basic hands-free operation, the Jabra BT800 takes it a step further. Through a tiny rectangular LCD screen, BT800 users can view caller ID information and browse through a Recent Calls list using only the headset. It's an outstanding and useful addition that works as advertised, and we also appreciate the vibrate mode and the choice of ring tones. With a design different than most Jabra models, the BT800 is nonetheless comfortable. Call quality is admirable as well, but the pairing process for cell phones could be improved.
19.Cardo Scala 500 Bluetooth headset
Cardo must have listened when we reviewed its previous product--the company's new Scala 500 has most of the improvements we asked for. It's half the size of its predecessor, it fits comfortably, and the form factor is more streamlined and less conspicuous. The controls are user-friendly, and the pairing process is simple, but audio performance is mixed. We encountered static with some calls, so you should test the Scala 500 with your handset before buying.
20.Tekkeon EzTalker Mini
Though this is the first
Bluetooth headset we've reviewed from Tekkeon, we were impressed by the unit's comfortable fit, its compact form factor, and its quality performance. The EzTalker is one of the smallest and lightest headsets we've seen to date, and you can choose to wear it with or without the ear hook. Controls are minimal, but the volume buttons are much too little and are difficult to press when on a call. The pairing process is straightforward and takes only a few seconds. Likewise, call quality is very admirable. We enjoyed clear conversations and adequate volume on our end, and callers reported the same.
