Bluetooth headsets

03.Product profiles

Product profiles - the best

Plantronics Voyager 510

Price: $99

Good points

• Best microphone sensitivity.
• Easy to attach.
• Received the most positive trialist comments.

Bad points

• Must press two buttons to connect to mobile Couldn’t initiate voice dialling with the Nokia 6280.

Plantronics Explorer 340

Price: $79

Good points

• Excellent rating for earpiece frequency response and sound quality.
• Easy to attach.

Bad points

• Wouldn’t reject call on either phone.
• Some trialists reported pain or discomfort after one hour of continuous use.
• Loud click when microphone starts broadcasting.

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705

Price: $85

Good points

• More than 10 hours talk time in tests.
• Excellent rating for earpiece frequency response and sound quality.
• Excellent microphone sensitivity.

Bad points

• No redial function.
• Couldn’t initiate voice dialling with the Nokia 6280.
• Some trialists reported pain or discomfort after one hour of continuous use.

Sony Ericsson HBH-610a

Price: $99

Good points

• Excellent microphone sensitivity.

Bad points

• Couldn’t initiate voice dialling with the Nokia 6280.
• Some trialists reported pain or discomfort after one hour of continuous use.
• Quietest at maximum volume but loud enough for most people.

Product profiles - the rest

SONY ERICSSON HBH-PV700

Price: $69

Good points

• Excellent microphone sensitivity.
• Natural voice quality.
• Loudest earpiece on minimum volume.

Bad points

• Couldn't perform redial when paired with Nokia 6280 or Sony Ericsson 810i.
• Several trialists found it distracting or intrusive to wear.
• Beeps when microphone is switched on.
• Uses Bluetooth 1.2, rather than the faster, lower-powered Bluetooth 2.0.

MOTOROLA H350

Price: $99

Good points

• Excellent earpiece rating for frequency response and sound quality.

Bad points

• Most trialists found it distracting or intrusive to wear
• Phone couldn't initiate voice dialling with the Sony Ericcson 810i.
• Had a constant low buzz while using microphone.
• Shortest talk time during battery life testing.

MOTOROLA H500

Price: $89

Good points

• Excellent earpiece rating for frequency response and sound quality.

Bad points

• Could not perform redial on the Nokia 6280.
• Could not reject call on the Sony Ericsson 810i.
• Phone couldn't initiate voice dialling with the Sony Ericcson 810i.
• Several trialists found it distracting or intrusive to wear.
• Had a constant low buzz while using microphone.
• Uses Bluetooth 1.2, rather than the faster, lower-powered Bluetooth 2.0.

NOKIA BH-202

Price: $94

Good points

• Excellent earpiece rating for frequency response.

Bad points

• Would not reject call when paired with the Nokia 6280.
• Several trialists found it distracting or intrusive to wear.
• Second lowest talk time during battery life testing.

JABRA BT125

Price: $49

Good points

• Excellent earpiece rating for frequency response and sound quality.

Bad points

• Volume toggle is small.
• Several trialists found it distracting or intrusive to wear.
• Instructions only provided on CD.

NOKIA BH-200

Price: $69

Good points

• Second loudest earpiece.

Bad points

• Phone couldn't initiate voice dialling with the Nokia 6280 or Sony Ericcson 810i.
• Several trialists reported pain or discomfort resulting from an hour of continuous use.
• Model was a bit less comfortable for those wearing glasses.

NOKIA HS-26W

Price: $60

Good points

• Loudest earpiece at minimum and mid-volume.

Bad points

• Seven trialists reported pain or discomfort resulting from an hour of continuous use.
• Least comfortable model.
• Hardest model to attach.

BLUEANT T8

Price: $69

Good points

• Battery provided more than 10 hours talk time, during testing.

Bad points

• Trialists found it harder to attach while wearing glasses.
• Equal least comfortable to use while wearing glasses.
• Phone couldn't initiate voice dialling with the Sony Ericcson 810i.