Best Bluetooth Headsets

Best-value Bluetooth headsets

Last year's advanced Bluetooth headset technology is now available in most Bluetooth headsets. For instance, all the headsets in this section can stream music over Bluetooth (A2DP-enabled), can connect two Bluetooth devices at once (multi-point connectivity) and have improved wind and noise reduction features over last year's models. Good sound quality is now a given in mainstream and mid-priced Bluetooth headsets. Some models have voice controls and apps for text-to-speech and other services. While some reviewers highly rate the availability of these apps, others question whether they add anything of value to the headset experience.

Described in our last report as "a technological breakthrough," the Aliph Jawbone Icon (*Est. $40) retains its place as our Best Reviewed choice in this category, even though it's no longer considered cutting-edge. When it was first released, reviewers from professional sites, including CNET and PCMag.com, gave the Jawbone Icon rave reviews, and the accolades are still coming in with recommendations from TopTenReviews.com and PCMag.com, as well as from user reviews. Although no longer a leader technologically, the Jawbone Icon is the headset that most successfully combines functionality and sound quality with style and a reasonable price tag. Pocket-lint's Stuart Miles says that the Icon "ticks so many boxes that it's hard not to recommend."

Editors at TopTenReviews.com consider the sound quality of the Icon to be "nearly unrivaled." This headset uses a Voice Activity Sensor that adjusts volume automatically, which works best when the Bluetooth headset is resting against your cheek; it can then more easily distinguish your voice from background noise. While the Icon doesn't eliminate all background noise, its Noise Assassin 2.5 technology keeps the callers' voices clear and natural.

The real breakthrough of the Jawbone Icon was the inclusion of an internal chip that can be programmed using "apps" from Aliph's MyTalk website. You can choose from five different apps, such as voice dialing, as well as six different voices ranging from a deep baritone to a sultry bombshell, and six languages.

Over half of the almost 400 user reviews on Amazon.com gives the Jawbone Icon a maximum 5 stars. Drawbacks to the Icon, identified by owners, include a short battery life and some users say the earpiece is uncomfortable. User reviewers at CNET agree with this comfort assessment. Over half of the 50 or so reviews award the maximum 5 stars to the Jawbone Icon, finding it more streamlined than the Voyager Pro Plus, and with an easy-to-find on-off switch.

Our runner-up might be the BlueAnt Q2 (*Est. $50) , which receives rave reviews for its sound quality and excellent voice controls. The Q2 has a matte black case with a mesh cover that acts as a wind guard for its two microphones. Some user reviews at Amazon.com and at CNET describe a downside of the mesh in that, while looking attractive and cool, it attracts lint, dust and other tiny pieces of everyday debris.

Nicole Lee of CNET states that the BlueAnt Q2 has the best voice controls of any Bluetooth headset. "Answer," "ignore" and "redial" are just some of the voice commands that it recognizes and that contribute to the user's Q2 nearly hands-free experience. However, user reviews state that there are too many voice commands to remember. The Q2 provides advanced text-to-speech features on all smartphones, including iPhones, BlackBerrys and Android phones. PCMag praises the excellent audio quality and highlights BlueAnt's "Wind Armor" technology for clear audio in strong wind conditions, testing it by standing in front of a large fan. However, they conclude that the wind noise reduction of the Q2 is not as effective as that of the Aliph Jawbone Icon, and the reviewers at PC World agree. User reviewers on Amazon.com agree that voices often sound muffled and caller announcements are not always clearly read out.

A couple of other competitors in this price range are the Plantronics Savor M1100 (*Est. $50) and the Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus (*Est. $50) . You can read our full review on those two models by clicking on the links. Motorola's Finiti (*Est. $80) Bluetooth headset costs more, but uses "stealth" or bone conduction technology, and this makes it a favorite of the reviewers at CNET and PC World. This technology transmits voice based entirely on the vibrations of the user's jaw. Although this works extremely well in noisy environments, the trade-off is a voice that is rather harsh and robotic. The user reviews at CNET also highlight this problem. You can read more about its pros and cons by clicking on the product link to our full review.

What's next for Bluetooth headsets

The Aliph Jawbone Icon was a cutting-edge product about 18 months ago; now Aliph has a new Bluetooth headset debuting with what might be next year's trickle-down features. The Aliph Jawbone Era (*Est. $110) garners high praise from professional reviewers and users alike. Nicole Lee from CNET calls it the "most advanced headset of the lot," and highlights it as an Editors' Choice. The Era combines leading-edge technology with fashion-forward design to produce an ultra-stylish high-quality sound experience.

The Jawbone Era is the only Bluetooth headset to use the latest version of a military-grade noise and wind cancelling technology, originally developed for use in military tanks. The Jawbone Era uses Noise Assassin 3.0, while version 2.5 is found in the Jawbone icon. Reviewers from CNET, PC World and PCMag.com praise the Era's sound quality, especially the A2DP audio streaming. The PCMag.com reviewer describes his experience as the "best single-ear Bluetooth music experience I've ever had." The volume auto adjust works well in quiet indoor spaces as well as outside, and audio is available in HD, with a speaker that is 25 percent larger than on previous Jawbone models. PCMag states that the call quality of the Era is not quite as clear as that of the Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus, but it's close.

Perhaps the most innovative technology of the Jawbone Era is the motion-sensing software and built-in accelerator. Users can direct the Era to perform certain actions by tapping or shaking it. Double tapping (tap-tap) the surface of the headset allows you to answer, end or switch calls. Shaking it twice answers calls when you're not wearing the headset. The associated software is smart enough to figure out whether the shaking and tapping are intentional or accidental.

Aliph's MyTalk integrated web service offers customizable audio and dial apps, available also for the Jawbone Icon. A new MyTalk feature for the Jawbone Era is the ability to upload your phone's address book to the MyTalk website. The headset then reads out each caller's name in a recognizably human voice.

The design of the Jawbone Era continues the fashion-forward style of the Jawbone Icon. The Era has a three-paneled textured front is available in four low-key colors -- shadowbox, smokescreen, midnight and silver lining -- all with a metallic grid overlay. Its case is slightly larger than that of the Icon, and curves to better fit the face and to ensure that the Voice Activity sensor touches the user's cheek. With eight different sets of earbuds included, the Era is comfortable for everyone, no matter the size and shape of their face.

One drawback of the Jawbone Era, as identified by professional reviews, is that the adaptive volume is sometimes too loud indoors. Reviewers from CNET and PCMag are unhappy with the single volume button as they would prefer a volume rocker switch. Jeremy Horwitz of iLounge says that the Era is among the best Bluetooth headsets he's tested, but its inconsistent performance in real-world use denies it an "A" rating.

The excited buzz that the Jawbone Era has developed is as much to do with its potential as with the newest technology it uses. Users download software updates and applications from the MyTalk website, and Aliph Jawbone plans to develop apps beyond the standard ones now available. In addition, the Era's accelerator and dedicated applications processor could enable it to perform different functions, perhaps as a games controller or a pedometer.

The Plantronics Voyager Pro UC headset (*Est. $115) is not much different, style-wise, from its predecessors in the Voyager series. It has their excellent audio quality and clear and natural voice quality, along with the comfort of the large "retro-marketer" style headset. Where it differs, and qualifies for our high-end category, is in its Smart Sensor technology. The Smart Sensor technology can detect whether the headset is being worn. This offers a "seamless and intuitive user experience," according to the Plantronics website. You can automatically answer calls by placing the headset on your ear. If you put on the headset in the middle of a call, it routes the call from your phone to the headset. In addition, it locks the call button when you're not wearing the headset, avoiding placing accidental phone calls when the headset is moving around in your purse or pocket.

After awarding the Voyager Pro UC 4 out of 5 stars, Nicole Lee of CNET details some of its drawbacks. She states that it is not sufficiently different from the Voyage Pro and Pro Plus, and that it is too expensive. Additionally, the Voyager Pro UC is not compatible with the Plantronics Vocalyst automated phone service.

The Sound ID 510 (*Est. $110) is recommended by reviewers for use with the Apple iPhone. This headset is lightweight with minimalist style and a dedicated power toggle. With good sound quality and A2DP audio streaming, the Sound ID 510 provides a solid listening experience, making it one of PCMag.com's top 10 Bluetooth headset choices. Its special feature, though, is that it is the first Bluetooth headset to have an iPhone app that adds to its set of features. In particular, the app allows users to equalize the 510's sound, and the decibel meter indicates how loud you're listening to your music. This unique feature is also a drawback to the model. Previous Sound ID models, including the 400, have special sound-control features such as personal sound and environmental sound modes to customize and improve the caller's experience. These controls in the Sound ID 500 are now only available through the iPhone app. Physical drawbacks identified by CNET and PCMag.com are that the touch volume sensor is difficult to use and that the noise cancellation is not as good as that of the Jawbone Icon.