Don't buy these Bluetooth headsets
Nicole Lee,
Associate Editor
May 18, 2006
With so many Bluetooth headsets on the market, it can be a challenge to find one that works for you. Not only must the headset have great audio quality, but it should also have an appealing design and a comfortable fit. So while a particular model may excel in one or two of those areas, you'll be wise to avoid it if it doesn't cover all three. Here at CNET, we've seen our fair share of Bluetooth headsets, so we have strong opinions on what--and what not--to buy. As for the following headsets, we'd give these a pass. The Belkin Hands-Free and the Gennum Zen Bluetooth headsets have satisfactory sound quality, but we don't care for their fit. The Jabra BT500 has a comfortable fit, but we weren't thrilled with the design and the stiff volume buttons. While the Motorola Razrwire may feel comfortable and has decent sound quality, we were not impressed with its hefty price tag and the clip-on-style Oakley sunglasses. Fortunately, there are alternatives. For a better-quality headset, we recommend the Jabra JX10, the Plantronics Discovery 640, or the Motorola H700.
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| Price | $63.99 | Check Prices | Check Prices | Check Prices |
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| Review date | July 20, 2005 | July 01, 2005 | November 11, 2005 | February 14, 2006 |
| The Bottom Line | While the Belkin Bluetooth Hands-Free Headset is plenty sleek and cool-looking, its horrible fit makes it virtually unusable. | The Gennum Zen offers great audio quality, but its comfort and fit are disappointing. | The slim Jabra BT500 fits comfortably, but its performance and styling aren't up to the company's usual standards. | The Motorola Razrwire Bluetooth Eyewear is great for those who want a pair of high-fashion sunglasses, as well as a Bluetooth headset in a single package, but we were not impressed with the overall idea. It's also very expensive ($294.99), but that includes the glasses and the headset. The Bluetooth headset is limited to use with the included pair of sunglasses only. |
| Similar Products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products |
| Features | ||||
| Headphones Form Factor | Over-the-ear | Over-the-ear | Over-the-ear | Ear-bud |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless - Bluetooth | Wireless - Bluetooth | Wireless - Bluetooth | Wireless - Bluetooth |
| Headphones Type | Headphone - Monaural | Headphone - Monaural | Headphone - Monaural | Headphone - Monaural |
| Product Type | Headset - Wireless - Bluetooth | Headset - Wireless - Bluetooth | Headset - Wireless - Bluetooth | Headset - Wireless - Bluetooth |
| Recommended Use | PDA Cellular phone | Cellular phone | Cellular phone | Cellular phone |
| Product Description | Belkin Bluetooth Hands-Free - Headset | GENNUM Z-E-N Z-470 - Headset | JABRA BT500 - Headset | Motorola Oakley RAZRWIRE Bluetooth Eyewear - Headset |
| Remote Control | None | None | None | Info unavailable |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices |
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Visit the manufacturer's Web site to purchase this product. |
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