Bluetooth Headsets for 明

[scotty1024]

While I was at the soon-to-be AT&T Wireless Store today I found they had the Plantronic Discovery 640 Bluetooth 1.2 headsets in stock.

This headset and the BT800 are the only two headsets I know you can charge off a USB mini-cable, making them very 明 friendly.

The Discovery 640 also comes with a charger clip that lets you charge it off a AAA battery. A typical alkaline battery is said to give 15 hours of talk time. I regularly employ Energizer E2 Lithium batteries which give me about 5 times as much so this was a very appealing extra feature for me. Take a AAA EEL and get 65 hours of talk time? Don't need to worry about sharing the mini-usb charger.

I charged the unit up, bonded it to my 明 and took it down to my 60 second Bluetooth headset test range. The Wells Fargo Plaza, located across 2nd Avenue from the Seattle Federal Building is surrounded by 37 WiFi access points!

Needless to say, if the phone and headset can stay bonded and working whilst in that WiFi overload zone then their Bluetooth 1.2 interference reduction is truly working. There are also bus stops close by to test audio noise rejection with as well.

The Discovery 640 and the 明 passed the WiFi challenge. The Discovery converted the engine noise from a poorly maintained Metro diesel bus engine into a gentle "water fall" sound but my test partner reported that I was still intelligible.

In an interior environment my test partner reported I sounded like I was on a wired phone line. For the ultimate test I called my Fiancee, whom has no idea she's getting a 明 for a wedding present, and she thought I was on a regular phone.

For my part I was able to hear my test partner clearly under all test conditions. The Discovery 640 uses an ear gel that seals the ear canal and provides excellent noise rejection.

There is an optional ear hook but I find I don't need it.

The unit is tiny, light, and doesn't make you look like a Borg.

Verdict: its going to China with me, along with the AAA charger and a EEL AAA. The BT800 is staying home.

[loramarthalas]

Sounds like the way to go. I've been considering the Razr headsets, but I think I like the sound of this one much better. Cheers for the review!!!

[wangr]

They are coming out with a Discovery 645 with digital noise reduction in a few days. Might want to check that one out!

[redone]

I just picked up the 640, and I can't get it to connect to the Ming. What were the steps that you used.

[tlsyim]

great review, wish i saw this before i picked up my H700. The H700 is good, but for some strange reason it disconnects and reconnects from time to time. I know it isn't a fake as I picked it up from a local retailer here in vancouver.

[dolemite]

I've got the jabra jx10, and it works great with the ming... pairing it was super easy and sound quality has been excellent.