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Bluetooth Headsets: Ratings of Sources
Total of 19 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. CNET
As of Aug. 2009
Best Bluetooth Headsets
by Nicole Lee
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This article lists CNET's top five Bluetooth headset choices. All headsets get a rating, and reviewers make useful comparisons between models. A recent Editors' Choice award goes to the Plantronics Voyager Pro for comfort and excellent sound quality, despite its bulky size. BlueAnt's voice-activated V1 headset also gets an Editors' Choice award for ease of use and excellent sound quality.
2. PCMag.com
May 13, 2009
The Top Five Bluetooth Headsets You Can Buy
by Jamie Lendino
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Jamie Lendino focuses on five recent Bluetooth headsets in this article, though elsewhere on the site editors review older models. Write-ups include a rating, and most headsets are compared to others. The… latest Editors' Choice award goes to the Plantronics Voyager Pro for superior sound and comfort at a reasonable price, though Sascha Segan, another PCMag editor, thinks the Aliph Jawbone Prime performs better under windy conditions.

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3. PC World
May 6, 2009
Top 10 Bluetooth Headsets
by Aoife M. McEvoy
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This top-10 list of Bluetooth headsets includes models from 2009 and late 2008. Ratings are given for easy comparison, and reviews are fairly detailed. Aoife McEvoy gives the Aliph Jawbone Prime a Best Buy… award (even though it's the most expensive model listed) for superb sound quality and comfort. The Plantronics Voyager Pro isn't far behind in sound quality, though Aoife McEvoy says fit can be tricky.

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4. PC World
June 16, 2009
Stereo Bluetooth Headsets Offer Strengths and Weaknesses
by Aoife M. McEvoy
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Six stereo Bluetooth headsets are covered in this article. Listed side by side, it's easy to compare them based on their ratings. The full review gives details of Aoife McEvoy's hands-on test. Motorola's Motorokr S309 gets the Best Buy stamp for good music quality at an affordable price, though McEvoy finds call quality inconsistent.
5. ABC News
May 27, 2009
Review: New Headsets Let You Shoot the Breeze
by Peter Svensson
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Technology writer Peter Svensson compares three recent contenders in the Bluetooth headset arena: Aliph Jawbone Prime, Plantronics Voyager Pro and BlueAnt Q1. He gives a thorough description of his… experiences with each. Svensson's favorite is the BlueAnt Q1 because it responds to voice commands and performs well under noisy and windy conditions. Though the Voyager Pro effectively suppresses noise, he is turned off by its old-fashioned design.

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6. The New York Times
April 22, 2009
A Hands-Free Headset Cool Enough for a Teenager
by Bob Tedeschi
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In The New York Times' Phone Smart column, technology writer Bob Tedeschi compares the Aliph Jawbone Prime with the Plantronics Voyager Pro. During his informal tests, Tedeschi says the Voyager Pro delivers better sound quality and noise reduction, though like most reviewers, he admits the Jawbone Prime is more fashionable.
7. Laptop Magazine
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Device Reviews
by Editors of Laptop Magazine
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Though not very extensive, the reviews at Laptop Magazine are hands-on and some comparisons are made. Each model gets a rating. Dana Wollman gives the Aliph Jawbone Prime an Editors' Choice award for its… effective noise-cancelation and wind-blocking capabilities. She admits, however, that the Plantronics Voyager Pro sometimes outperforms the Jawbone Prime, but she gives it a lower rating because of its bulky design.

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8. GoodGearGuide.com.au
As of Aug. 2009
Mobile Phones: Accessories
by Editors of GoodGearGuide.com.au
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This Australian gadget-review site reports the results of hands-on testing of both mono and stereo headsets, though not all are available to American consumers. Ratings are helpful when comparing models, though no editor awards are given. The BlueAnt Z9i is rated highly for noise isolation technology and comfort. Plantronics's Discovery 925 performs well in tests and it's also deemed attractive.
9. MobileTechReview.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Headset and Hands-Free Car Kit Reviews
by Editors of MobileTechReview.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Though Bluetooth headsets reviews on this site tend to be outdated, write-ups are in-depth and cover design, features, sound quality and battery life. Editors compare similar models and test them with several different phones, which is unusual and helpful. Plantronics Discovery 925 gets an Editor's Choice award for comfort, style and sound quality that holds up well with different phones.
10. iLounge.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Headsets -- iPhone
by Jeremy Horwitz
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

iLounge reviews iPod- and iPhone-compatible accessories, including Bluetooth headsets. Unfortunately, there are only a couple of 2009 models covered, but editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz provides detailed… write-ups, giving special attention to aesthetics, sound quality and battery life. The discontinued Aliph Jawbone is Horwitz's favorite for its noise-canceling capabilities and comfort, but he also gives the BlueAnt V1 a thumbs-up for decent sound quality and effective voice-controlled functionality.

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11. Treocentral.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Headsets
by Editors of TreoCentral.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment TreoCentral.com is a site for Palm Treo enthusiasts, and their reviews include Bluetooth headsets and other accessories. Review quality is patchy, but the site covers many popular models, though many are old. Comparing ratings isn't very useful as they all tend to be high. Blueant's V1 gets a thumbs-up for intuitive voice control functions and excellent noise canceling technology.
12. WMExperts.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Headsets
by Editors of WMExperts.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The Windows Mobile Experts site focuses on products using the mobile edition of Windows and compatible accessories. Reviewers give detailed descriptions of Bluetooth headsets, including some of the newest… models, but review quality is spotty. Most headsets receive high ratings, making comparison difficult. BlueAnt is a favorite manufacturer with this site, and contributor "Malatesta" says the V1 has great sound and voice control capabilities that function smoothly.

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13. LegitReviews.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth
by Ken Brown
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

LegitReviews.com has been around since 2002, but there aren't many Bluetooth headsets covered here. Reviews give details on sound quality, comfort and functionality. There are no ratings, though some… comparisons between models are made. The Aliph Jawbone from 2008, now discontinued, gets an Editor's Choice award, but Ken Brown has just as much praise for the Plantronics Discovery 925, which excels in sound quality, style and comfort.

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14. ConsumerReports.org
Jan. 2009
Bluetooth Headsets
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment ConsumerReports.org rates 25 Bluetooth headsets from 2008, though six have since been discontinued. Recommendations are separated into several categories. Editors say comfort and voice quality are two of the most important considerations when purchasing a Bluetooth headset. Unfortunately, this article is now somewhat dated, and reviewers don't give much information on their top choices.
15. Which? magazine
As of Aug. 2009
Computer Speakers
by Editors of Which? magazine
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This U.K.-based consumer magazine tests products extensively, similar to ConsumerReports.org. Unfortunately, more than half of the Bluetooth headsets covered have either been discontinued or aren't available to U.S. consumers. Reviewers don't give many details, but the Motorola H680 gets a Best Buy award for "crystal-clear sound", though background noise can leak in.
16. Amazon.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Accessories: Headsets
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

User-written reviews can be a valuable tool in researching Bluetooth headsets. Although they may not have as much weight as professional reviews, sifting through a collection of user critiques can expose… some major product flaws. Not surprisingly, reasonably priced headsets with a reputation for quality, such as the Plantronics Voyager 520 and Voyager 855, get a high average rating from hundreds of reviewers.

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17. NewEgg.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth Cell Phone Accessories
by Contributors to Newegg.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Newegg.com is an online retailer of electronics that lets users post reviews of what they buy. While there are fewer headsets and fewer reviews than at Amazon.com, users here are generally more tech savvy than average. Favorites include reasonably priced models from reliable manufacturers, such as the Plantronics Voyager 520 and Motorola Motorokr S9.
18. Treonauts
As of Aug. 2009
Treo Bluetooth Headset
by "Andrew"
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Treonauts is a blog that's devoted to the Treo (a smartphone), but it includes a section on Bluetooth headsets. Models are compared and reviews are detailed, but the rating system is inconsistent, and the… reviewer hasn't added any reviews since late 2008. He lists two Editor's Choices, the Aliph Jawbone (now replaced by the Jawbone Prime but still being sold) and the Jabra BT530, which both deliver great sound quality and a comfortable fit.

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19. Mobileburn.com
As of Aug. 2009
Bluetooth and Wireless News
by Editors of MobileBurn.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

MobileBurn.com focuses on mobile phones and accessories. Bluetooth headset reviews are mixed in with news reports, so you'll need to do a lot of scrolling. Top headsets are "highly recommended," but reviews… aren't very critical. The site hasn't updated its reviews since 2008, though plenty of popular models are covered. Editor Michelle Ruhfass is impressed with the voice command capabilities of the BlueAnt V1 as well as its comfort and sound quality.

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