Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset Reviewed

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review4374_main21878.html' target='_blank'>http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review4374_main21878.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A new company called Aliph, has built their first offering around what they call Noise Shield technology. The idea is simple — the headset should only care about sound when the person is talking, which requires moving their mouth (and thus, the name "Jawbone" for their first device). The headset extends over the muscle that moves the jaw so that when the mouth moves, a small rubber piece moves. This acts as a switch that tells the headset, “Hey, there’s someone talking here!” Noise that occurs without the wearer moving their mouth is greatly diminished. Ventriloquists will want to look elsewhere."</i> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070601-Jawbone.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />I've heard some good things about this headset. I've used a number of different headsets over the years, and I keep coming back to a wired headset or this Motorola one I have. They're either too hard to put on quickly when the phone is ringing, or they sound like crap. So I'm wondering what you guys use? Is this one really as good as I've heard and read?

[vincenzosi]

Everything you've heard about it is true. I have one (and have had it for about 2 months now).

The noise reduction works pretty much as advertised, the volume is excellent, and the battery life is ridiculous. If I were building the perfect Bluetooth headset, this would probably be closer than I could come.

Oh, and no blinking blue light. The light is white.

Thank God.

[xyphos]

Best headset I have used so far.

[edgar]

I was driving my Wife's convertible, top down, music blaring and called my home and left a vmail. My voice was clear with a slight hum in the background. On my end I could hear fine even with wind and radio.

Love it. However, to your first point. they could mak it easier to put on and I find myself reaching up and adjusting it off and on. They need better more flexible earpieces is what I think. :idea:

Even still, I use more than any other headset I've had before.

[ctmagnus]

To those that've used this headset: Does it sit in the ear canal (similar to these (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&amp;storeId=10151&amp;langId=-1&amp;productId=11035863)), or does it sit against the little cartilage flap that protects the ear canal?

[Mike Temporale]

Wow, nothing but good things on this headset. Oh no, our affiliate store (http://software.smartphonethoughts.com/productAccessories.asp?id=11476) has them as well.... I feel a headset purchase coming on. Shhh! don't tell my wife. :mrgreen:

[edgar]

ctmagnus

In. Not as firmly as the jabra though.


Mike,
You're an editor, I think you need to ask for one for testing.

[hondaguy]

i bought one when they were first released and i culdnt wait to get rid of it. very uncomfortable no matter how many adjustments i made and just too damn big. the noise reduction does work pretty well IF you dont have any facial hair where the sensor touches your skin and IF you can adjust the earloop so that it pushes the sensor against your face. i have a friend using a tytn and the jawbone and half the time i hang up on him because the feedback is just brutal.

i looked in the mirror while washing my hands (with the headset on) and just started to laugh when i realized how massive this thing on the side of my face was. i bought a jabra jx10 and have been very pleased over the last 2 months (record for me)

[superfaron]

i bought one when they were first released and i culdnt wait to get rid of it. very uncomfortable no matter how many adjustments i made and just too damn big. the noise reduction does work pretty well IF you dont have any facial hair where the sensor touches your skin and IF you can adjust the earloop so that it pushes the sensor against your face. i have a friend using a tytn and the jawbone and half the time i hang up on him because the feedback is just brutal.

i looked in the mirror while washing my hands (with the headset on) and just started to laugh when i realized how massive this thing on the side of my face was. i bought a jabra jx10 and have been very pleased over the last 2 months (record for me)

I gotta agree. I returned mine for the plantronics discovery 655. It is the best I have ever used (and I have tried many).

[eric]

Not as good as the hype IMHO...I ordered mine direct so I could have the black version. Stunning display case &amp; good instructions. Outside wind was a similar issue to the Jabra 250v (which I was expecting from reading reviews).

Fit was not as comfortable as the Jabra 250v but worked OK for me. I didn't have a challenge with the sensor. As others have mentioned, it is quite large for a current bluetooth headset.

I was hoping to use it in a very noisy environment (as they advertised). In my case, I wanted to use it at an auto auction which has auctioneers voices blaring from speakers (not like the jackhammer test on Aliphs website but noisy). End result--as much as I wanted it to, it wasn't noticably superior to the Jabra.

My decision was to return the Jawbone and continue using the Jabra 250v (which has vibrate that I can feel). Since neither headset worked well enough for a conversation inside the auction, at least the Jabra warns me of a call so I can step outside and talk. I never tried it in a club like the Jawbone website suggests but the auction is not as noisy so I can't imagine it would work in an area with even more noise.

The return process was without hassle.