Bluetooth Headsets Reviews

CNet.com currently has the most expansive collection of reviews for Bluetooth headsets for mobile phones. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that allows for hands-free cell-phone operation. Most have a single earpiece, but some models have two earpieces, letting you hear stereo sound wirelessly from a cell phone that has music-playback capability. CNet's editors review new headsets as they are released, even though a discontinued model may occasionally pop up in their roundups. Consumer Reports' latest article looking at Bluetooth headsets is recently done and covers a large number of models. Reviews from both sources are based on extensive product testing and comparison to competing Bluetooth headsets.

Bluetooth headsets seem to have a polarizing effect on some reviewers. For example, the Aliph Jawbone (*est. $85), which receives the highest percentage of favorable reviews for comfort and sound quality, is still ranked at the bottom of a few roundups. That's likely because the comfort of Bluetooth headsets is highly personal, and can vary from user to user. Since certain elements of design and comfort can be subjective, CNet.com's Nicole Lee states that "it can be a challenge to find one that works for you."

However, we were still able to find a couple of favorable reviews even for one of the models that Lee does not recommend, the Jabra BT500 (*est. $30). Lee says its "design and stiff volume buttons" are problems, although it is comfortable enough. In contrast to this, Which.co.uk -- an independent UK review source similar to Consumer Reports -- touts the Jabra BT500 as a Best Buy. This demonstrates the subjective nature of Bluetooth headsets. For this report, we looked to identify the headsets that are highest rated in multiple reviews.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

In our findings, the Aliph Jawbone is far and away the winner when it comes to Bluetooth headsets. Its superb noise-cancelling technology coupled with comfort and a nice-looking design hoist it to the top of the pack. Other offerings from Plantronics and Jabra also fare extremely well in comparison tests. The Plantronics Voyager 520 is a good alternative to the Jawbone, and costs about half the price. For those looking for an entry-level model that can still perform well, experts point to the Jabra BT125.

There are a few options for the increasing number of cell-phone users who wish to listen to music on their devices. Of the models that we found reviews on, the Jabra BT8010 was given the most praise. Be aware that you'll get the best results if your cell phone is A2DP compatible.