Bluetooth headset buying guide - CNET Reviews

In the past few years, Bluetooth headsets have become must-have accessories for cell phone fanatics. The benefits of these hands-free, wireless devices are obvious, particularly in the wake of state and local laws that require the use of a headset while driving. And just as the number of headsets has exploded, the number of Bluetooth cell phones has increased as well. Integrated Bluetooth is now present in a broad range of cell phones--from high-end smartphones to low-end functional models. Of course, cell phone Bluetooth usage is not limited to just headsets--you can also use Bluetooth to stream music wirelessly, connect to the Web, transfer files, and more.

 
The Aliph Jawbone Icon is 
one of our top Bluetooth headsets of 2010

A little history

Before we delve into the different kinds of Bluetooth, it may help to know a little bit about Bluetooth itself. Even though the technology has been around since 1999, many consumers are still a little confused about what it is and how it works. Even its oddball name is somewhat mysterious; the technology was named after a 10th-century Danish king with an affinity for tooth-staining blueberries.

Though it may sound complicated, Bluetooth really is quite simple, inexpensive, and easy to use. In Bluetooth technology, two devices communicate with each other over low-frequency radio waves in the 2.4GHz range. No cables or wires are needed, and the only requirement is that both devices be Bluetooth compatible. Unlike infrared ports, the connected devices don't need to be in direct line of sight, but they do need to be relatively close to each other. And like a wireless Infrared transfer, Bluetooth doesn't cost anything beyond the initial investment in the devices. In addition to connecting a cell phone to a headset, Bluetooth is used to connect PCs to keyboards and mice, handhelds to other handhelds, and cell phones to computers. Many cars are even equipped with Bluetooth so that you can use the car's audio system for hands-free cell phone functions. For more information, check out our Bluetooth car compatibility wizard.

Pairing up
The process of connecting devices via Bluetooth starts with pairing, a procedure wherein a Bluetooth-enabled phone and another Bluetooth device search for and recognize each other. Once your connection is made and secured via a PIN (personal identification number), the two devices will "talk" to each other and exchange information. You can connect as many as seven devices simultaneously at speeds of 500Kbps and higher. Bluetooth does have limitations, however. Its range is limited to 30 feet, which makes it good for connecting a handful of devices but not appropriate for an entire network of computers--you're better off with Wi-Fi for a network. Also, you can connect only devices that have compatible versions of Bluetooth (more on this later).

Though Bluetooth itself may be easy to understand, choosing a Bluetooth headset for your phone isn't so simple. The number of Bluetooth headsets continues to grow rapidly. Styles, features, performance, and compatibility vary, so it's important to take the time to find a device that's right for you. CNET editors have tested a full range of headsets; here's a list of all the Bluetooth headsets we've reviewed, plus a list of our favorites.

Most Bluetooth headsets have basic call features like the ability to answer and reject calls, last number redial, and so forth. Since sound quality is a priority with headsets, more advanced headsets like theJawbone Era and the BlueAnt Q2 also feature dual-microphone noise cancellation for better sound quality. Some headsets boast resistance to wind-noise, which is quite a difficult task, and the Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus is one headset that performs that job admirably. Perhaps most interesting is the Motorola Finiti, which actually uses bone conduction to transmit so as to eliminate background sound altogether.

Another advanced feature is multipoint technology, which lets you connect up to two different devices at the same time. This is useful if you use one headset with two phones, for example. Headsets with multipoint technology include the Plantronics Savor M1100 and theJabra Extreme. And speaking of innovative features, the BlueAnt Q2 is one of the only Bluetooth headsets to offer full voice command control. This meant we could say things like "Call Home" and if you've programmed the headset to do so, it'll do just that. The voice command on the Q2 is independent from your phone, so you can use it even with phones that don't offer voice dialing.

There are multiple versions of Bluetooth, and not all Bluetooth specifications are the same, so you might want to make sure your two chosen devices will work with each other. All of the newer Bluetooth versions are backward-compatible, however, so as long as you're using the more basic Bluetooth features, you won't have much to worry about. Most products currently work on Bluetooth version 1.1, which offers such basic features as voice dialing, call mute, and last-number redial.

In 2003, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a body that oversees the technology's development, released version 1.2 and rolled out version 2.0 a year later. Bluetooth 1.2 introduced new features to eliminate radio frequency interference through frequency hopping and added greater security to protect against snooping and tracking.

Bluetooth 2.0 brought higher connection speeds (as much as three times faster, in some cases), improved performance, and less power consumption. The SIG then introduced version 2.1, which improved pairing without the need for a PIN, requires even lower power consumption, and offers more security. Created in 2009, Bluetooth 3.0 added the ability to use a Wi-Fi connection to increase data transmission speeds but didn't enjoy much adoption by manufacturers.

Most recent is the new Bluetooth 4.0 spec which major feature is Bluetooth Low Energy, essentially strong power management skills. Check out the various profiles and their features in the chart below.

Specifications	Bluetooth 1.1	Bluetooth 1.2	Bluetooth 2.0	Bluetooth 2.1 plus EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)	Bluetooth 3.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Voice dialing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Call mute	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Last-number redial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Improved resistance to radio frequency interference		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
10-meter range	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
100-meter range			Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fast transmission speeds			Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lower power consumption			Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Improved pairing (without a PIN)				Yes	Yes	Yes
Greater security		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth Low Energy						Yes
NFC Support			Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Aside from these different versions of Bluetooth specifications, there are also quite a number of different Bluetooth profiles. A Bluetooth profile is an interface or a behavior through which different Bluetooth devices can communicate with each other. Both devices must support the same profile to communicate with one other in that way. The most common Bluetooth profile in cell phones is the Headset profile which supports the use of standard mono headsets for making calls. Here's a list of the more frequently used Bluetooth profiles in cell phones, as described by the Bluetooth SIG:

Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Also widely known as the stereo Bluetooth headset profile, A2DP allows for a dual-channel audio stream through a stereo headset. A2DP is an especially popular concept with MP3 and music phones because it lets users listen to music wirelessly. It also can be used to make calls, and users can switch between music and calls at the touch of a button. 

Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
AVRCP provides a standard interface to control TVs, hi-fi equipment, and so forth. This profile is used to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all the AV equipment to which a user has access. AVRCP defines how to control characteristics of streaming media. This includes pausing, stopping, and starting playback and volume control as well as other types of remote control operations.

Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
DUN enables access to the Internet and other dial-up services over Bluetooth wireless technology. The most common scenario is surfing the Web from a laptop by dialing up via a mobile phone, wirelessly.

Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
HFP lets you use a gateway device to place and receive calls for a hand-free device. A typical configuration is in an automobile using a mobile phone as a gateway device. In the car, the stereo is used for the phone's audio and a microphone is installed in the car for sending outgoing audio of the conversation. HFP is also used for a personal computer to act as a speakerphone for a mobile phone in a home or office environment.

Synchronization Profile (SYNC)
The SYNC profile is used in conjunction with GOEP (Generic Object Exchange Profile) to enable synchronization of calendar and address information (personal information manager items) between Bluetooth-enabled devices. A common application of this profile is the exchange of data between a PDA and computer.

Object Exchange (OBEX) Protocol
OBEX is a transfer protocol that defines data objects and a communication protocol that two devices can use to exchange those objects. For Bluetooth enabled devices, only connection-oriented OBEX is supported.

SIM Access Profile (SAP)

SAP allows devices such as car phones with built-in GSM transceivers to connect to a SIM card in a Bluetooth-enabled phone. Therefore, the car phone itself does not require a separate SIM card.

Headset design

 
The Jabra Stone is a headset 
housed within a portable charger

Most mono Bluetooth headsets can be grouped into two categories: models with a boom and models without. A boom is an extended microphone that arches toward the mouth and looks a bit like a telemarketer's headset. Though the mic's proximity to the mouth can result in better audio clarity, boom headsets have a tendency to be on the bulky side. Boom headsets are pretty rare these days, but there are still a few of them out there. There's the Jabra Supreme Headset, which has a boom mic that flips open and close. In fact, when you do so, you actually power on and off the headset. Our favorite boom headset, however, is the Plantronics Voyager Pro, which has a rotating boom mic that extends down the side of the face. It's not a very attractive headset, but it's actually quite comfortable due to the ear-hugging design.

A lot of headsets these days opt for a more compact and discreet design. Some of the more attractive ones include the very stylishPlantronics Marque that's made complement iPhones, and the very tinyMotorola Elite Silver, which comes with its own case that also serves as charger and battery pack. Some headsets try to stand out from the rest with innovative designs, like the unique Plantronics Discovery 975and its pin-like design. We also like the Jabra Stone, which is a tiny little swoosh of a headset housed within a pebble-like portable charger. If you don't care too much about design, there are also a lot of cheaper models like the Samsung WEP850 and the Sound ID 200.

What's more, an increasing number of headsets fit directly into the ear rather than just resting against it. As a result, they don't need to be worn with ear loops or other equipment. Keep in mind, though, that some users may not like the feeling of a headset's earpiece resting in their ear canals. It's important to check a few styles to see what is most comfortable for you.

 
The Nokia BH-905 is a very comfortable 
stereo Bluetooth headset with great audio quality.

Stereo Bluetooth headsets generally look and feel a lot like wired music headphones. Older devices were ear buds that came with a pendant-style controller for taking and placing calls or interacting with the phone's music player. Examples include the Iqua BHS-702 and the Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth headset, both of which earned high marks for comfort and sound quality.

Lately, behind-the-neck headphones like the LG HBS-700, which uses a neckband that's very comfortable. We especially like the Outdoor Technology Bluetooth Tags that sound great plus stay put during active use. Two of our favorites are the Nokia BH-905 and the Samsung SBH-600. The BH-905 is even one of the first stereo headsets with active noise-cancelling.

A few Bluetooth headsets combine several different functionalities into one design. The Plantronics Voyager 855 is both a mono and stereo Bluetooth headset; simply attach a secondary earpiece to the main mono headset and you immediately get stereo sound. The Samsung WEP870 has the same idea, where you attach the headset to a pair of stereo earbuds.

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