Entered CNET Catalog: 11/03/2004
SKU: CNETAliphjawbone
Manufacturer: AliphCom
Product summary
The good: Exceptional sound quality; adaptive noise cancellation; comfortable fit; eye-catching design.
The bad: Clunky cord setup; loose-fitting phone connector; a bit on the pricey side.
The bottom line: If you're looking for a cool, wired headset and have the cash, you can't go wrong with Aliph's Jawbone.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: Yes
- Reviewed on: 11/22/2004
The Jawbone has a striking design--in fact, it recently was featured in an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The basic form factor consists of two rectangles connected to the phone jack and each other by a thick wire. The first rectangle holds the ear loop, the earpiece, the microphones, and the voice-activity sensor (see below). Measuring 2 by 0.7 inches and outfitted in sleek silver, it has a highly flexible ear loop that swivels effortlessly for use on both ears and a smooth earpiece that protrudes only slightly into the ear. The overall result was an extremely comfortable fit, and the Jawbone slides on and off with ease.
The second rectangle holds the belt clip and the user-friendly control buttons. Slightly larger at 2 by 0.8 inches, it's styled in the same silver and has a ring-shaped light that glows green when the headset is activated and red when a call is on mute. A power switch turns the headset on and off, and an action button mutes calls on Motorola phones and answers and ends calls on Sony Ericsson and Nokia handsets. We had small complaints with the cord and the phone jack, however. While the cord is exceptionally strong, it's stiff and difficult to wrap up for traveling (a small bag is included). It was also quite long, which made the overall setup a bit cumbersome when on the go. Also, the fit of the phone plug was loose. We had to check it a couple of times while on a call to make sure it was secure.
While we like the style, the Jawbone's real attraction is its excellent sound quality. Using an adaptive sound technology developed at Lawrence Livermore Labs, the headset incorporates two microphones and a unique voice-activity sensor. When placed against the cheek, the sensor actually detects the vibrations produced by speech, rather than picking up the sound from your mouth. When we tested the Jawbone using a Motorola V600, the effect was immediately noticeable. Callers said we sounded crystal clear, and we heard similar comments when we loaned the headset out to other users. Be aware that there's no volume control on the headset so you must make any adjustments on your phone.
But that's not all. The Jawbone also uses adaptive microphones that capture and cancel out background noise, so incoming audio also is enhanced and adjusts to the varying noise levels for your location. We tested the Jawbone in a quiet room and on a busy street corner, and it performed well. We had no trouble hearing our callers in either situation, and they reported that they could hear almost none of the background noise when we were on the street. The noise-canceling feature does require power, however. Instead of running off an integrated battery, the Jawbone pulls power from your cell phone. Aliph promises that the headset draws only about 15 percent of your battery life, but if you often use the headset, you should frequently charge your phone just to be safe. In our tests, we didn't see any real impact on our V600's battery life.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39out of 39 user reviews
This can't be the best available product
Pros: It is sleek looking, that's the best thing about it.
Cons: I don't like the fit. I don't like the optional earpieces. I don't like the sound quality. I don't like that it turns itself off and on with no warning.
out of 39 user reviews
Fit and Audio Quality Compromised
Pros: Noice cancellation makes call possible when driving in vehicle
Cons: See Bottom Line Summary
The package comes with multiple ear loops and ear pieces. This is a nice gesture on the part of Jawbone.
I could not get the earpiece to fit properly against my face. This is crucial for the noise cancellation to work. Worse off, if you wear glasses or sunglasses, you will be completely frustrated at any adjustment you make to your specs as this will make the earpiece move out of place. This said, the noise cancellation will not be able to function properly.
The sound is tinny at best. It is difficult to make out who is calling by voice alone. I did find that when I could get the earpiece to fit, the noise cancellation worked rather well. However, the louder the background noise, the more your voice to your caller sounds synthesized and will occasionally break up.
The ?talk? button is very sensitive. Any attempt to re-adjust your earpiece during a call in progress easily disconnects your call. This I found to be the most annoying issue with the Jawbone.
For the noise cancellation, you have no idea if it is on or off until the other end states that they are hearing a lot of background noise.
For the iPhone, which I know of, you have to answer the call using the Jawbone in order for the audio to come through the earpiece. If you answer directly on the phone, the audio will be directed through the phone.
out of 39 user reviews
9/10 Very Good
Pros: Very Clear Doesn't Sound Like I'm Under Water
Cons: Flimsy Ear Loops Breaks Easy ,Extra Accessories Such as Chargers Not Available
out of 39 user reviews
Jawbone eargels improvement
Pros: Very good sound quality
Cons: Only average sound volume due to standard eargels
out of 39 user reviews
Outstanding product - best on the market!
Pros: Very comfortable, sound quality very good, really blocks background noise
Cons: Volume control a little difficult to use
out of 39 user reviews
Poor Support from Company
Pros: Cool Technology
Cons: Company does not support customers
out of 39 user reviews
Dont buy this headset. I wish I could rate it 0
Pros: Nothing about this product is good
Cons: Bad sound quality. customer suppor is poor
DONT NOT BUY IT!!!!
out of 39 user reviews
Save your money
Pros: I have found nothing good
Cons: doesn't do what it says it can do
out of 39 user reviews
FINALLY!!! A BLUETOOTH HEADSET THAT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!
Pros: EXCELLENT!!!!
Cons: I have no complaints!!!
out of 39 user reviews
Jawbone Junk
Pros: It works, comes on I mean
Cons: 0 to 10 - I give it a 3
2 the buttons are very hard to push and also hard to fine
3 too big and heavy and the quality of the sound isn't miraculous as stated in their Video.
Blueheadsets.com said "Never heard that before. One of the best headsets on the market".
Response: Perhaps the other people who thinks that this is the best headset on the market haven't tried multiple headsets
Blueheadsets.com DOES NOT have 100% satisfaction guarantee policy multiple emails then a large 20% restocking fee and a lot of attitude and the d.xx form that I have to fill out and return to get a return Authorization #.
out of 39 user reviews
Contact Starfleet Command, Lt. Uhura!
Pros: works well in noisy conditions
Cons: Nothing significant
out of 39 user reviews
worthless warranty
Pros: good sound for person called
Cons: poor sound for caller; warranty worthless
out of 39 user reviews
Jawbone's volume/mic has issues
Pros: Noice cancelling works
Cons: Volume is low, other end also does not hear me loud enough
out of 39 user reviews
Overall good.
Pros: good (not great ) sound quality;
Cons: buttons are hard to press; ear loop is fragile.
my only complaint so far is that the ear loop is fragile. when i'm not using it, i keep my bluetooth in my pocket; this was a bad idea because the ear loop ended up breaking.
i was supposed to get free replacements for filling out their survey, but they haven't done that.
i just had to order a replacement and it'll cost me almost $20.
out of 39 user reviews
AVOID THIS PRODUCT - Died after 2 weeks; company won't stand behind warranty
Pros: good sound quality while it lasted
Cons: uncomfortable to wear
The shocking part was that the company does not stand behind their warranty unless it is purchased directly from them or from an AT&T store. They claim that getting it from anyone else means that you are not the "original owner" and the warranty only applies to the original owner.
They were steadfast in their refusal to help.
out of 39 user reviews
Perfect mic/Speaker static/Volume control bad
Pros: The mic on the other end of the call is the best I have heard.
Cons: Random static and sound not up to par. Volume contols are bad.
out of 39 user reviews
It just doesn't work for normal use
Pros: Looks cool.
Cons: Fits poorly, too quiet, people couldn't hear me, kept cutting out.
I tried to talk on the phone with a vacuum cleaner in the background. Sure the people could kinda hear me and it cut out the vacuum noise, but in a normal setting where I am 90% of the time, they couldn't hear me! Don't buy it.
out of 39 user reviews
Awful sound, despite the rave
Pros: cool looking
Cons: Sounds like a screaching train at the other end!!!
out of 39 user reviews
Jawbone Bluetooth " The Best of the Best"
Pros: Sound Quality the Adaptive Headset Technolgy is Awsome , It's comfortable to have on, Look's Great
Cons: No Cons as of yet.........But I'll let you know
out of 39 user reviews
Two of them failed
Pros: Good when it works
Cons: Often fails
Ear support also broke.
Product apparently has serious bugs. I would get no where near this product until the bugs are clear out.
out of 39 user reviews
Disappointing execution of great promise
Pros: beautiful packaging, light weight, fashionable
Cons: uncomfortable, sounds hollow/tinny
I am in the car and outdoors almost all day. Those with whom I spoke on the Jawbone noticed no improvement over my old Jabra. I, on the other hand, noticed a tinny, hollow sound. It sounded like the speaker was in a tin can over my ear. Lastly, I couldn't find an ear piece to fit well. The headset flopped around a bit and became very uncomfortable by the end of the day.
I am returning my Jawbone (ordered from their website), and instead ordering a Plantronics 510. At least it's comfortable.
out of 39 user reviews
Won't support known defects! Falls out of ear.
Pros: Does have good sound quality.
Cons: Won't support known defects! Falls out of ear.
Biggest issue is they admit they have a KNOWN issue with tight chargers tearing off the black end caps. Then the quiet button no longer works. They will ONLY support their own product if bought from THEIR website. so beware!!
Has been a very negative experience!
out of 39 user reviews
Meets all that is advertised
Pros: no background noise, easy to use, best sound yet
Cons: Have not had any
I turned the music up very loud on my home office computer and called into the office and they could not hear any background noise - ot bad for surround sound with a sub way up! Others have said that the sound is very clear and the voice is the best they have heard on any phone or headset.
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
out of 39 user reviews
Garbage. Damn thing can't even stay on my ear for me to test
Pros: Technology
Cons: Doesn't fit!!! Returning it immediately
out of 39 user reviews
Looks better than it works
Pros: If it works it would be great
Cons: Cuts off during phone calls, this is the second one I have received from the company
out of 39 user reviews
Best on the Market
Pros: Sound Quality/Style
Cons: Not available everywhere
out of 39 user reviews
compared to others, noise cancellation in REAL WORLD environment is effective!
Pros: perfect for nite clubs, construction sites, noisy restaurants, movie theaters :), crowded areas, and driving in the car
Cons: short battery life, a bit bigger than other headsets
I purchased the bluetooth spec2 headset from cingular. I also bought a few extra as gifts and to sell to those interested: hxxp://*******.com/y86cru
Finally, they built a product that cancels out enough noise to make it worth using in noisy areas.
out of 39 user reviews
If only it was wireless
Pros: noise-cancelling technology
Cons: wired connection
a 4-5 hour talk time would be sufficient to keep the size and weight down.
I'd gladly spend $150 for something like this.
out of 39 user reviews
GREAT idea but not comfortable or stylish an too much cord
Pros: Jabra is better
Cons: I use a headet all te time in the car
out of 39 user reviews
I have used it on the Washington DC Metro, at Fed Ex Field, Dulles Airport, in Europe, and in a Mall
Pros: It cancels out all of the background noise so everyone thinks that I am sitting alone in a room.
Cons: Obviously it doesn't work for every single phone and is still wired (not blue tooth)
And for once there is a headset that is somewhat stylish. Compared to my old motorola and plantronics headset Jawbone is a fashion statement!
Sorry if I am glowing, but I just struck gold.. I am surprised that I had to find out about this 3rd hand, and surprised that it is not carried at retailers nation wide... What gives?
out of 39 user reviews
Works on Chicago's "EL" trains perfect!
Pros: Outstanding performance! This is the first headset that allows people to hear me when I'm standing next to the Chicago "EL" with a train going by! This thing is awsome!
Cons: A little expensive but worth every penny. Wish it was bluetooth...but I hear a wireless version is in the works.
out of 39 user reviews
Amazing Sound Quality
Pros: Fantastic sound quality in a jawbone-dropping beautiful desing.
Cons: No mute capability and a I'd love to see a wireless version. Still, it's the best headset I've ever owned.
out of 39 user reviews
The jawbone is a must in noisy situations.
Pros: The comfort level is great, as the design, but the real deal is the noise suppression. Testing it in various atmospheres, it is awesome at filtering out background noise. The uses are endless!
Cons: None
out of 39 user reviews
Cumbersome to use, uncomfortable, expensive
Pros: Sound cancelation works reasonably well in harsh conditions. Looks kinda cool.
Cons: Poor fit. Painful to wear. Thick cables get in the way. Very expensive.
out of 39 user reviews
Too Big. No Volume Control
Pros: 4 out of 5 people I talked to loved it. 1 person reported a very annoying beeping occassionally. The design is very cool looking and seems solidly built. Comfortable and light to wear. Amazing technology. I bought it within 5 minutes of hearing about
Cons: The default volume is so low I couldn't hear the person on the other end without pressing the product tightly to my ear. There is no easy way to boost the volume and voice recognition no longer worked. I probably needed to re-record all the voices using
out of 39 user reviews
Great Tech, Shabby Fit
Pros: Fantastic Noise Cancellation! Even at highway speeds, people were always shocked when the found out I was driving. It is a pretty device, looks sharp and not too space-agey.
Cons: It is a fight to stay in my ear, the thing always pops out. My ears are small, but I wish the had an earbud size option.
out of 39 user reviews
Good Tech - At a price
Pros: Sounded great- really delivered on the noice cancelation qualities
Cons: Wired set up cumbersome, could not plug in charger while headset was plugged in,hard ear piece actually hurt my ear-Returned product
out of 39 user reviews
Got mine yesterday...AWESOME!!!
Pros: Does what its supposed to. Works like a charm. Surprised no one else came up with this idea in the first place...
Cons: None, except that its expensive and not wireless. Check out http://www.millenniumsystems. com/jawbone.htm if you want to get one...
out of 39 user reviews
finally, a technology that makes a huge difference to everyday life
Pros: It works as advertised and kills background noise which is an everyday problem when using the cellphone.
Cons: want a wireless one
