Half the Size, Twice the Performance: Logitech Next-Generation Wireless Headphones

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/news/US/EN,contentid=12814,crid=34

"Logitech today introduced the Logitech® FreePulse™ Wireless headphones, its stylish second-generation cordless headphones for iPod® and MP3 players, which deliver the complete freedom of experiencing digital music with no strings attached. The FreePulse Wireless headphones are half the weight (only 2.1 ounces/60 grams) and size of Logitech´s award-winning first-generation product — but, they are more flexible and durable, thanks to the high-carbon spring-steel headband. The new version delivers twice the performance as well as enhanced bass with its special bass boost feature. And it offers improved wireless performance with Bluetooth® 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) wireless technology. People can simply plug in the adapter to any player with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, put their player in their pocket and enjoy their music wirelessly. No more cord tangles, snags or kinks."



I'd like to hear from Smartphone Thoughts readers that have Bluetooth headphones - I've never used a pair before, largely because I strongly prefer the in-ear headphones. Do most Bluetooth headphones sound decent, or does it vary widely based on brand? Anyone own the previous version of this Logitech product? And how do you feel about having the big Logitech logo on the side of your head?

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/news/US/EN,contentid=12814,crid=34

"Logitech today introduced the Logitech® FreePulse™ Wireless headphones, its stylish second-generation cordless headphones for iPod® and MP3 players, which deliver the complete freedom of experiencing digital music with no strings attached. The FreePulse Wireless headphones are half the weight (only 2.1 ounces/60 grams) and size of Logitech´s award-winning first-generation product — but, they are more flexible and durable, thanks to the high-carbon spring-steel headband. The new version delivers twice the performance as well as enhanced bass with its special bass boost feature. And it offers improved wireless performance with Bluetooth® 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) wireless technology. People can simply plug in the adapter to any player with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, put their player in their pocket and enjoy their music wirelessly. No more cord tangles, snags or kinks."



I'd like to hear from Smartphone Thoughts readers that have Bluetooth headphones - I've never used a pair before, largely because I strongly prefer the in-ear headphones. Do most Bluetooth headphones sound decent, or does it vary widely based on brand? Anyone own the previous version of this Logitech product? And how do you feel about having the big Logitech logo on the side of your head?

[Mike Temporale]

I've played with the Moto ones, and they aren't too bad. I felt they had too much low end and not enough high end sound. But I think that's an issue with the actual headset and not the fact that they are Bluetooth based.

[gai-jin]

I have the original version of the ipod headphones, which were infamous for the weak headband which cracks in the middle within weeks of purchase.

I recently called in to file a warranty claim on mine and was told they're refunding purchase price rather than replacing, because they had so many problems.

Wonder if I could call back and get them to replace mine with this new model?

[michaelp]

I have the Jabra 620s headphones, and they sound great! The only thing is that I play from from my SDA, and I had to hack it to make it work. It usually plays just fine, but sometimes they drop the signal. Normally though (i.e. when you don't hack your phone's registry), bt headphones don't drop the sound.

[spokrie]

I have the Motorola HT820 headset, and I think they sound pretty good. Not as nice as my wired noise cancelling, but I like that I can pause my music and take a call on my phone, then go back to my music.

Scott

[Sven]

Have the original HP ones (which Logitech made and then sold as iPod ones and then as their own), the Motorola HT850s, some iTech ones that are actually ear buds (you can take one earbud of and just use it as a BT phone headset), and another set that comes with a BT transmitter that plugs into an audio out jack of a player, and a receiver that accepts any 3.5mm headset/headphones you want to plug in.

For the TX part, I have an HP3715, which the HP headphones were sort of designed for, with drivers that HP created (or had created), a hacked K-Jam (XDA developer drivers), a BT dongle for my Media Center PC, that supports A2DP, and of course the mentioned dedicated TXr that came with as a set with the RXr.

The HP system wasn't bad, even with the other receivers. The KJam with any of the headsets, drops a lot. The PC with USB BT dongle drives any of the RXs just fine, and the little kit that has the TX that plugs into a headset jack, with the RX that you can plug about anything with a 3.5mm plug into it, sounds great (depending on what you use to listen with).

Seems there are some givens.
1) If the system is designed to do this, it works pretty well, i.e, the HP set, the PC, the TX/RX pair. The hacked sytem is marginal, probably due to stressing the processor, and un-optimized driver code. (I expect this is one reason you don't see more of this natively).

2) Should be obvious, but the actually transducer that puts sound in your ear makes a difference. I don't think Logitech is known for their KickA$$ headphones. They did a good job on the A2DP part, but they probably didn't go all out on the actual headphone part. That is going to be a personal thing though.

3) Given a dedicated TX, or a PC with plenty of spare processing power, and the ability to use headphones that already sound good to you, BT audio is pretty darn good.

Seems these come with a TX, so the BT Audio processing doesn't need to be done by the music player. Not sure I like this 'feature' though "Logitech´s adapter and headphones are paired during manufacturing so that when they are charged and powered on, they automatically connect." That implies to me I couldn't use them with my PC which supports an Audio BT profile, or with some other device that does, without using their adapter. One drawback to that is that it undoubtedly cannot control the player, as in pause, play, forward/back. It indicates it does volume, but that is done on the headset itself, via the intenal amp, not by changing the volume remotely on the player. All my devices handle volume that way...on the RXr, though most will control the other player functions, if the player has the BT processor.

[rdecker]

Check these out; they are in ear...

http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wire...FU6JCwodKhjv3w

[ARW]

What I want is a Bluetooth module that I can plug my ear buds into. If it's got caller ID and a microphone that's great, but what I'm mainly after is the ability to use headphones/ear buds of my choice via a Bluetooth adapter, which would communicate with my phone wirelessly using the A2DP profile.

Anybody know where I can find such a thing?

[Sven]

Originally Posted by ARW

What I want is a Bluetooth module that I can plug my ear buds into. If it's got caller ID and a microphone that's great, but what I'm mainly after is the ability to use headphones/ear buds of my choice via a Bluetooth adapter, which would communicate with my phone wirelessly using the A2DP profile.

Anybody know where I can find such a thing?

This what I have. http://www.datatek.com.tw/BTH-820_BTA-830.htm you can buy them at www.gpsnow.com.

i.tech sells some nice ones too, like http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/produ...id=2&pid=02041 I think you can get those at MobilePlanet (Expansys)

Both let you plug in any 3.5mm whatever.Bear in mind that your phone needs to support A2DP for these to work without a TX, like the round part of the BTH-820_BTA-830 combo. For a non-3.5mm earphone socket, you would need to find an adapter for the TX part.

I know mine will actually let you pair both a music device and a phone in handsfree mode, and will pause the music and let you answer the call.

[jvanliew]

I have a set of Jabra BT620 wireless stereo headphones. They are great! They reproduce the sound really well. They sound just as good as my Sony wired pair. I use them with my 8125 and my 3125.

I highly recommend them!!!