Bluetooth Headset Roundup

An anonymous reader writes "Here is an interesting comparison of four of today's best Bluetooth headsets. These devices are becoming increasing popular, both as a gadget and accessory, but despite how stylish they get, performance and comfort are still serious issues. Joe Selim takes a look at four very different products, two from Jabra and two from Plantronics, in order to make some sense of things."

Comments

Already out of style

[robogun]

A bunch of guys were wearing these in public a couple month ago, but not so much anymore it seems. I guess people are still not ready for something that makes you sound like a spaced out homeless man talking to himself.

Motorola?

[Yonkeltron]

I looked at all of these models and my Motorola was more comfortable in addition to having better clarity. I would love to see some of the higher-end Motorola offerings thrown into the mix for comparison.

Stereo headsets

[sonamchauhan]

Good to know the best of the mono headsets, but how come these stereo wraparound headsets+microphones aren't more popular?

Motorola Stereo Bluetooth headset

Generic Bluetooth Headset : Headphone MP3 Player FM Stereo Radio

Re:Stereo headsets

[Plunky]

Good to know the best of the mono headsets, but how come these stereo wraparound headsets+microphones aren't more popular?

Normally Bluetooth headsets use the Headset profile for transmission of audio data over low latency isochronous links and is mono only, but these boys are using the newer "Advanced Audio Distribution Protocol" (A2DP) which operates over rfcomm (emulated serial) links and is not well supported in cell phones as yet.

In fact, the first link you posted said that the only phone that supports it properly is only available in Asia, though I saw on Nokias website recently that a few of their newer models will be supporting it (eg 6125).

What about while wearing glasses?

[HockeyPuck]

Why doesn't someone review these headsets/earpieces while wearing glasses?

Re:Security and other Bluetooth bits

[Malor]

Security people don't like it because it's totally insecure.

Awhile ago, they'd figured out how to hijack the 'introduction' process between two devices, but it only worked during introduction, so it wasn't a terribly useful attack.

But then someone else discovered how to force a reintroduction at will. Between the two holes, Bluetooth has no security whatsoever, unless something pretty dramatic has changed in the last six months.

Be sure to read replies, as I've not been paying close attention to this. But as far as I know... don't send anything over Bluetooth you care about.

Re:Security and other Bluetooth bits

[plover]

A year ago Tom's Hardware ran this article describing how some guys built a "Bluetooth Sniper Rifle". It has over a mile of range, and cost only a few hundred dollars to build. Less if you build it without the gratuitous gun stock.

Not even close to a "roundup"

[mmmbeer]

So four devices from two manufacturers constitues a roundup now? Motorola isn't even represented despite being a major player in the market. The devices also cost 2-3x more than the bluetooth headsets everyone I know has.

If you're looking for a bluetooth headset, don't use this roundup at all, since there are plenty of great headsets which cost less than half the ones reviewed.