follow us on twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube, foursquare and google+

 “where cheap is chic” — wisebread

Home » Electronics » Bluetooth Headsets » Bluetooth Headset Reviews

Bluetooth Headset Reviews, Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headsets

Related Guides: Smartphones and Universal Chargers

Even a budget Bluetooth headset shouldn't fall short on sound quality or comfort. Bluetooth headset reviews make very clear that experts and consumers do not want to sound like they're in a bathroom or tunnel, either to themselves or the party on the other end.

Reviewers also snub earpieces that fall out or are too uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. Controls should be easy to use and the range should be long enough that there's no crackling noise if the phone is on the other side of the room. Syncing a headset with a phone or other device should not be an all-day affair, and the battery life should be good enough that the headset doesn't have to be charged daily unless it's constantly in use.

Bluetooth Sound Quality.

Bluetooth headset reviews indicate that the affordable Bluetooth headsets on our list deliver decent sound, for the most part. The Motorola HX550 (starting at $39, Amazon) might be as good as a cheap headset gets in that department. Users posting Bluetooth headset reviews on Amazon say the sound on their end is perfectly clear and the person on the other end cannot tell whether the caller is indoors or out. Sound quality is vital to the LG Tone HBS-700 (starting at $45, Amazon), because it acts as stereo headphones for music. It works just as well for phone calls, according to its many admirers. An audiophile complains that the bass is a bit low but deems the call quality superior in a rave review on Amazon.

The mike on the Jabra Wave (starting at $47, Amazon) sits close to the user's mouth, which may help explain the good sound quality reported in Bluetooth headset reviews. A PCMag reviewer notes the warm tone -- not that "computery" sound that tells the person on the other end that you're on a headset. The Jawbone Icon (starting at $43, Amazon) earns generally positive reviews on Amazon for the sound quality on both ends of the line, although some consumers report distortion.

According to a Bluetooth headset review at PCMag, callers sound pretty clear through the Motorola Finiti (starting at $45, Amazon), although each word had a distinct hiss surrounding it, the reviewer found. The Samsung WEP460 (starting at $17, Amazon) sounds tinny at times, according to an expert reviewer at CNET. People on the receiving end also occasionally hear an echo and sometimes have difficulty hearing the caller.

Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headsets.

The chief downfall of cheap Bluetooth headsets is their mediocre ability to cancel out background noise, according to reviews. Most headsets employ some type of noise-cancellation or noise-reduction technology that filters out sounds from the surrounding environment. All the models on our list except the Samsung WEP460 are noise canceling Bluetooth headsets, although their proprietary technology is adequate at best.

A user who posted a review of the Motorola HX550 at Amazon reports that the volume increases automatically when water is running so the user can hear callers on the other end quite well. Another poster on Amazon used this noise-canceling Bluetooth headset in an airport as a plane was landing, and the person on the other end of the phone couldn't hear it. Because the LG Tone HBS-700 has two earbuds that seal well, the noise cancellation is better than average, according to users posting reviews on Amazon. One consumer, who uses the LG at the gym, says the noise-canceling Bluetooth headset effectively blocks out noise during his workouts.

In a review on Amazon, a driver of an 18-wheeler praises the Jawbone Icon, with its Noise Assassin technology, for functioning perfectly even in his super-loud rig. A user who posted a review at Walmart says the Jabra Wave may block out wind noise, but she still hears other background noise that makes it hard to hear the caller on the other end.

The "stealth mode" on the Motorola Finiti may make your voice sound unnatural, but an expert reviewer at Phone Arena says this noise-canceling headset is very effective at blocking out all external sound. The Samsung WEP460, on the other hand, picks up every sound and transmits it clearly, according to reviews. On Amazon, one consumer reports that the person on the other end of the line could hear the radio playing on the headset user's end, even though the user couldn't.

by Elizabeth Sheer (Google+ Profile)

Back to top »

 

 

 

Plantronics M100 Review
Motorola Finiti Review
Samsung WEP460 Review
Jabra Wave Review
Jawbone Icon Review
Motorola HX550 Review
LG Tone HBS-700 Review

 

Electronics 3D TVs Batteries Blu Ray Players Bluetooth Headsets Camcorders Cheap LCD TVs Cordless Phones

Digital Cameras Digital Photo Frames DSLRs Electric Guitars Ereaders GPS Headphones

Home Theater iPod Speakers MP3 Players Paper Shredders Turntables Universal Chargers

blog  about us  contact us  sitemap  in the news  privacy  terms of service  jobs

Follow us on Facebook Twitter Sign up for our Free Newsletter