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I have heard reports that bluetooth doesn't have the required bandwidth to support CD-quality sound. How does the overall sound quality compare with wired stereo earphones/headphones?
by schnogg - 8/21/08 11:57 AM
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Q: Overall sound quality of bluetooth audio
by schnogg - 8/21/08 11:57 AMI have heard reports that bluetooth doesn't have the required bandwidth to support CD-quality sound. How does the overall sound quality compare with wired stereo earphones/headphones?
A: Comparable
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 12:01 PMSo far, most of the Bluetooth headsets I've tried don't really compare to the high-end earbuds from Shure or Etymotics, but if you compare them to regular $20 earbuds, I think they match up pretty well. Sound quality is usually decent, though bass tends to be lacking.
Q: hearing impaired
by veridian56 - 8/21/08 11:50 AMNicole, I currently have a plantronics 590a that I bought to help me with hearing on the phone( have a hearing problem and wear hearing aids in both ears) They are kind of flimsy but have worked fairly well. I now run them at full volume and sometimes it is still hard to hear the caller so I'am looking for a new set. I have had nothing but problems with behind the head phones so there out unless the behind the head part is flexable. buds are hard to work with because by the time switching aids for bud its to late (happens with the 590's too but easier) I have seen some that look interesting but the phone conversation is only heard in one ear( stereo greatly improves speech understanding) I would also like to use them with my laptop for watching video but the lag is too bad. Lets see, volume, quality, no lag, etc ,any ideas. Thanks
A: Perhaps the Cardo S-2
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:58 AMI hope this will work, but perhaps you could try the CardoS-2, which is actually a behind-the-head style, but it does fold down and is pretty flexible.
Q: Stereo Bluetooth Headsets and Media Players
by thewirelessissue - 8/21/08 11:23 AMNicole, Love Dialed In. I wanted to ask a question about a problem I keep having with my bluetooth headsets and media players. I keep having a problem where I have noticed when I am listening to something on the media player and pause it that when I go back to it. I notice it has skipped ahead.
I believe this is due to the bluetooth connecting and reconnecting.
A: Distance?
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:57 AMThat does sound like a problem, with the music skipping. Do you think it's perhaps how far the media player is from your headset? As in, do you wander away from the player? Typically, Bluetooth headsets tend to stay connected unless power is an issue. You might look into trying it with another headset and see if that's the problem.
Q: Stereo Noise Cancelling Headphones
by tjoost - 8/21/08 11:22 AMSorry Nicole, I meant to ask about stereo BT noise-canceling headphones... are there any affordable products on the market?
A: Stereo noise-canceling
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:57 AMAh, I see what you mean. To be honest with you, I haven't tried out a lot of noise-canceling stereo headphones (they're more Jasmine France's territory), but I do know of the iLuv i913 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Stereo Headphones. They're a little pricey at around $90 though. I'll try to do a little more research about this. Thanks for bringing this up!
Q: Cell Phones & Bluetooth
by samantha01845 - 8/21/08 11:48 AMI'm not tech savvy at all so with this new hands free driving law I find myself needing to upgrade my phone. I'm torn between two options however I don't know which one is the best? I'm thinking about getting one of these two. Can you please tell me which one is best? All I need is hands free, texting, camera and good phone volume. My choices are either the Samsung SLM or the motorazor vx33.
Thank you!
Samantha
A: Razr probably
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:53 AMOf those two, I would probably pick the Razr V3X, if only because the SLM does not have voice dialing, and I think voice dialing is a pretty important feature to have when you plan to drive around handsfree in a car. Also, my colleague Kent German said in his review of the SLM that it has pretty poor photo quality. The Razr V3x appears to have much higher user ratings as well.
Q: BT Radiation issues?
by gogrimm - 8/21/08 11:42 AMMy associate believes that a BT headset gives off similar radiation as a cell phone, She uses a wired head phone she believes is safer. What does the research show regarding the three options for calls on a cell phone?
A: Bluetooth is safe
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:50 AMShe need not worry about the radiation from Bluetooth. The radio frequencies from Bluetooth is significantly lower than that of cell phones, as a headset need only work within 30 feet of the cell phone, while a cell phone needs to communicate with a cell tower that may be far away.
That said, using a wired headset is probably the safest option since there's no radiation at all.
Q: Podcasts
by thewirelessissue - 8/21/08 11:41 AMNicole,
I have the 3030 and I love it. I use it for when I am mowing the lawn. Any good podcasts you can suggest to listen to on a good bluetooth headset.
A: CNET podcasts?
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:48 AMOf course, I'll be suggesting CNET's own podcasts like Dialed In, Buzz Out Loud, and MP3 Insider. But if you want a high energy music podcast for working out, I like Podrunner personally. I also suggest checking out independent music podcasts from Indiefeed.
Q: Problem - 3 dead Aliph Jawbones
by 4j8d9m1 - 8/21/08 11:41 AMMy brother in less than 1 year is on his THIRD and already screwed up Aliph Jawbone bluetooth headset!! AT&T has been honoring the warranty and keep giving him replacement Jawbones obviously. At my direction he contacted Aliph yesterday for some help. They basically told him tough luck, talk to AT&T!!!!! Any ideas, suggestions? Isn't Aliph a San Francisco based company? We were very surprised at the complete lack of customer support from Aliph!
A: Unfortunate
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:46 AMThat really does sound like bad customer service. Hopefully someone from Aliph will read this and learn from it!
Q: MotoRokr t505
by mtsatut - 8/21/08 11:40 AMAny comments on the Motorokr t505? Seems like a pretty ideal device.
A: T505 speakerphone
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:45 AMI believe you're referring to the Motorola Rokr T505 Bluetooth speakerphone. While I haven't tried it out myself (I'll have to look into getting that in for testing!), I do think it's a good option for those who want handsfree calling in the car, but who don't want to use a headset. That said, I also suggest looking at other Bluetooth speakerphones on the market. The BlueAnt Supertooth 3 is good, as well as the Tritton AX Visor.
Q: Any high-volume headsets to recommend?
by Jimlake - 8/21/08 11:35 AMI am a little hard of hearing, and am having trouble finding a device with enough volume. Any you can recommend?
A: Sound ID
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:42 AMI think the best Bluetooth headsets for the hard of hearing are those from a company called Sound ID, which even manufactures specific headsets for people with hearing aids (I believe it's called Sound ID SoundFlavors). Their headsets are a little on the pricey side, but it's worth it if you really want a boost in volume and clarity. The Sound ID SM100 seems to be a favorite among our readers.
A: Yes and no
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:40 AMIf you already have the first Jawbone, there really is reason to switch over to the second one, unless you prefer the smaller design and you want the extra sound quality boost. I do prefer the Jawbone 2 over the first one, but if you can get the first Jawbone cheaper and you're happy with it, go for it.
Q: Exercise-friendly stereo bluetooth headset
by iorn claw - 8/21/08 11:29 AMCould you name some decent in-ear stereo bluetooth headsets? I need an affordable exercise-friendly headset. I had an eye on the motorola s9, but it hasn't got great reviews on the internet. My budget is about $100-150
A: Exercise-friendly
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:38 AMI was about to suggest the Motorola S9, since that seems to be the popular option for an exercise-friendly stereo headset. If you want another option, I hear a lot of people like pendant-style stereo Bluetooth headsets while working out, like the Jabra BT3030. It certainly fares better in call quality.
Q: BT Battery life
by abhinavlal - 8/21/08 11:27 AMWhich BT stereo headsets have the best battery life?
A: Battery life
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:34 AMI don't know if it has the best battery life out there, but the Cardo S-2 is one of our favorite stereo headsets, and it lasts around 8 hours, which I think is pretty good.
Q: cell phone and radio
by rootsmusic - 8/21/08 11:25 AMAre there Bluetooth earpieces that can receive both and switch between cellular signals and FM radio frequencies (either directly or indirectly)? Thanks.
A: FM radio and Bluetooth
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:31 AMI have not heard of any Bluetooth headset with a built-in FM receiver, if that's what you're asking. If there is though, let me know!
Q: Stereo Bluetooth Headsets and Media Players
by thewirelessissue - 8/21/08 11:23 AMNicole, Love Dialed In. I wanted to ask a question about a problem I keep having with my bluetooth headsets and media players. I keep having a problem where I have noticed when I am listening to something on the media player and pause it that when I go back to it. I notice it has skipped ahead.
I believe this is due to the bluetooth connecting and reconnecting.
A: Distance?
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:30 AMThat does sound like a problem, with the music skipping. Do you think it's perhaps how far the media player is from your headset? As in, do you wander away from the player? Typically, Bluetooth headsets tend to stay connected unless power is an issue. You might look into trying it with another headset and see if that's the problem.
Q: Stereo Noise Cancelling Headphones
by tjoost - 8/21/08 11:22 AMSorry Nicole, I meant to ask about stereo BT noise-canceling headphones... are there any affordable products on the market?
A: Stereo noise-canceling
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:26 AMAh, I see what you mean. To be honest with you, I haven't tried out a lot of noise-canceling stereo headphones (they're more Jasmine France's territory), but I do know of the iLuv i913 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Stereo Headphones. They're a little pricey at around $90 though. I'll try to do a little more research about this. Thanks for bringing this up!
Q: (NT) Are there Bluetooth headsets that work with BOTH phones and media bluetooth players?
by arbocorp - 8/21/08 11:12 AMA: Look for A2DP/Stereo
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:19 AMYes, look for headsets that are compatible with the A2DP Bluetooth profile, which allows you to stream music wirelessly (A2DP stands for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile). All stereo Bluetooth headsets will be compatible with both phones and media Bluetooth players.
However, if you want a standalone mono option, the Jabra BT8040 is compatible with the A2DP profile, while the Plantronics Voyager 855 can convert from stereo to mono.
Q: BlueTooth Security
by meligyxxi - 8/21/08 11:09 AMHi Nicole, what about the safety of using bluetooth headsets, are they safe regarding privacy of your calls and data? Also what about radiation, I know it is much safer to use a bluetooth headset than the phone directly on your ear, but what about bluetooth radiation? Thanks
A: Safety
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:16 AMThere is a concern about privacy in terms of Bluetooth hacking, or Bluebugging, where people can try to tap into your phone to make phone calls, or get contacts. But this phenomenon is rare enough that it shouldn't stop you or anyone from using Bluetooth. For extra precaution though, always check to make sure you pair your devices, and that you turn off your cell phone's Bluetooth signal when not in use.
As for radiation, the radio frequencies in Bluetooth technology is far lower than that of cell phones. Bluetooth signals work via a short-range radio frequency. That frequency operates at a much lower power level than your phone, so the threat from radiation is insignificant. If you think about it, this makes sense. A cell phone needs to communicate with a cell phone tower that may be miles away, so it requires more power. A Bluetooth headset need only operate within a range of around 50 feet, so it requires very little power.
Q: Noise-Canceling
by tjoost - 8/21/08 11:02 AMAre there any affordable BT noise canceling headsets on the market?
A: Affordable
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:06 AMA lot of the fancier noise-canceling headsets on the market do tend to be quite expensive, but there are a few out there that are affordable. The BlueAnt Z9i can be found for around $60 if you shop around online. Also, even though the Cardo Scala 700 is a few years old, it has decent noise-reduction and can be found for only $20.
Q: Sony Ericsson sets
by Gayle Edwards - 8/21/08 10:59 AMOf the sony ericsson stereo headsets which one is best?
A: Stereo Bluetooth?
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 11:03 AMI assume you mean stereo Bluetooth headsets and not just the wired variety. I haven't had the opportunity to try a lot of SE headsets, so I can't tell for sure, but I hear the Sony Ericsson Stereo Bluetooth Headset HBH-DS970 is pretty good. I'll try getting one in and reviewing it.
A: Welcome!
by Nicole Lee - 8/21/08 10:56 AMHi everyone! I'm here and ready to answer your questions. Fire away!
Incoming questions
Overall sound quality of bluetooth audio
hearing impaired
Nicole, I currently have a plantronics 590a that I bought to help me with hearing on the phone( have a hearing problem and wear hearing aids in both ears) They are kind of flimsy but have worked fairly well. I now run them at full volume and sometimes it is still hard to hear the caller so I'am looking for a new set. I have had nothing but problems with behind the head phones so there out unless the behind the head part is flexable. buds are hard to work with because by the time switching aids for bud its to late (happens with the 590's too but easier) I have seen some that look interesting but the phone conversation is only heard in one ear( stereo greatly improves speech understanding) I would also like to use them with my laptop for watching video but the lag is too bad. Lets see, volume, quality, no lag, etc ,any ideas. Thanks
by veridian56 - 8/21/08 11:50 AM
Cell Phones & Bluetooth
I'm not tech savvy at all so with this new hands free driving law I find myself needing to upgrade my phone. I'm torn between two options however I don't know which one is the best? I'm thinking about getting one of these two. Can you please tell me which one is best? All I need is hands free, texting, camera and good phone volume. My choices are either the Samsung SLM or the motorazor vx33.
Thank you!
Samantha
Thank you!
Samantha
by samantha01845 - 8/21/08 11:48 AM
BT Radiation issues?
My associate believes that a BT headset gives off similar radiation as a cell phone, She uses a wired head phone she believes is safer. What does the research show regarding the three options for calls on a cell phone?
by gogrimm - 8/21/08 11:42 AM
Podcasts
Nicole,
I have the 3030 and I love it. I use it for when I am mowing the lawn. Any good podcasts you can suggest to listen to on a good bluetooth headset.
I have the 3030 and I love it. I use it for when I am mowing the lawn. Any good podcasts you can suggest to listen to on a good bluetooth headset.
by thewirelessissue - 8/21/08 11:41 AM
Problem - 3 dead Aliph Jawbones
My brother in less than 1 year is on his THIRD and already screwed up Aliph Jawbone bluetooth headset!! AT&T has been honoring the warranty and keep giving him replacement Jawbones obviously. At my direction he contacted Aliph yesterday for some help. They basically told him tough luck, talk to AT&T!!!!! Any ideas, suggestions? Isn't Aliph a San Francisco based company? We were very surprised at the complete lack of customer support from Aliph!
by 4j8d9m1 - 8/21/08 11:41 AM
MotoRokr t505
Any comments on the Motorokr t505? Seems like a pretty ideal device.
by mtsatut - 8/21/08 11:40 AM
Any high-volume headsets to recommend?
I am a little hard of hearing, and am having trouble finding a device with enough volume. Any you can recommend?
by Jimlake - 8/21/08 11:35 AM
Exercise-friendly stereo bluetooth headset
Could you name some decent in-ear stereo bluetooth headsets? I need an affordable exercise-friendly headset. I had an eye on the motorola s9, but it hasn't got great reviews on the internet. My budget is about $100-150
by iorn claw - 8/21/08 11:29 AM
BT Battery life
Which BT stereo headsets have the best battery life?
by abhinavlal - 8/21/08 11:27 AM
cell phone and radio
Are there Bluetooth earpieces that can receive both and switch between cellular signals and FM radio frequencies (either directly or indirectly)? Thanks.
by rootsmusic - 8/21/08 11:25 AM
Stereo Bluetooth Headsets and Media Players
Nicole, Love Dialed In. I wanted to ask a question about a problem I keep having with my bluetooth headsets and media players. I keep having a problem where I have noticed when I am listening to something on the media player and pause it that when I go back to it. I notice it has skipped ahead.
I believe this is due to the bluetooth connecting and reconnecting.
I believe this is due to the bluetooth connecting and reconnecting.
by thewirelessissue - 8/21/08 11:23 AM
Stereo Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sorry Nicole, I meant to ask about stereo BT noise-canceling headphones... are there any affordable products on the market?
by tjoost - 8/21/08 11:22 AM
(NT) Are there Bluetooth headsets that work with BOTH phones and media bluetooth players?
by arbocorp - 8/21/08 11:12 AM
BlueTooth Security
Hi Nicole, what about the safety of using bluetooth headsets, are they safe regarding privacy of your calls and data? Also what about radiation, I know it is much safer to use a bluetooth headset than the phone directly on your ear, but what about bluetooth radiation? Thanks
by meligyxxi - 8/21/08 11:09 AM
Noise-Canceling
Are there any affordable BT noise canceling headsets on the market?
by tjoost - 8/21/08 11:02 AM
Sony Ericsson sets
Of the sony ericsson stereo headsets which one is best?
by Gayle Edwards - 8/21/08 10:59 AM
Nicole Lee, CNET mobile reviews editor live!
Ask the Editors Live: Bluetooth headsets and cell phone accessories
Got questions about Bluetooth headsets? Well, you've come to the right place.
Our next upcoming Ask the Editors Live chat begins at 11 a.m. Pacific Time (2 p.m. Eastern), Thursday, August 21. Our special host will be CNET mobile reviews editor, Nicole Lee, who will be here to answer your questions about Bluetooth headsets and other cell phone accessories. So if you are in need of some buying advice or have a question on a specific cell phone accessory, swing by the live event and ask Nicole. See you at the event!
Got questions about Bluetooth headsets? Well, you've come to the right place.
Our next upcoming Ask the Editors Live chat begins at 11 a.m. Pacific Time (2 p.m. Eastern), Thursday, August 21. Our special host will be CNET mobile reviews editor, Nicole Lee, who will be here to answer your questions about Bluetooth headsets and other cell phone accessories. So if you are in need of some buying advice or have a question on a specific cell phone accessory, swing by the live event and ask Nicole. See you at the event!
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 8/13/08 4:15 PM
