Entered CNET Catalog: 12/01/2006
SKU: 10028783
Manufacturer: Giro
Manufacturer description
Giro's new TuneUps Wireless system lets riders take their tunes to the slopes, the street and everywhere in between while staying connected with their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Designed in conjunction with Motorola, this system combines top-quality digital audio and hands-free cellular communication via Bluetooth wireless speakers that pop into a helmet for riding - and into a plush DJ quality headband when the riding session winds down. So riders get incredible stereo sound and integrated wireless communication in a package with sleek street style and all of the benefits of a premium snow sports helmet. In addition to great styling and performance, the TuneUps Wireless system features fully integrated controls for Volume, Track Select, Pause-Play and Call Connect, and they hook-up with Bluetooth-enabled phones, streaming audio devices and computers with an operating range of up to 30 feet.Product summary
The good: The Giro TuneUps Wireless kit features a unique, modular design with large, easy-to-use controls. Audio quality for music is great for wireless headphones.
The bad: The Giro TuneUps Wireless kit is pricey, especially if you opt for a compatible helmet. It's out-of-the-box compatible only with the iPod or A2DP cell phones, and cell phone call quality is poor.
The bottom line: Skiers, snowboarders, and wire-haters alike will be well suited by the Giro TuneUps Wireless headphones, which can really pump out the tunes. As a cell phone headset, however, this unit fails.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/04/2006
Once you get your hands on them, it's obvious that the TuneUps Wireless are just distantly related to their predecessor. The design is dramatically different. Rather than earpads with integrated headphones, the TuneUps Wireless kit comes with a set of speaker pods. These can either be snapped into the included DJ headset, which has a padded headband and full-size cushioned ear pieces, or into a compatible Giro helmet--the Omen, Fuse, G10, and Nine.9 models--which must be purchased separately. We found both items to be sufficiently comfortable after brief periods of wear, and the helmet definitely will keep your head nice and warm.
In addition to the DJ headset, Giro includes an iPod-compatible Bluetooth transmitter, which is actually a NaviPlay unit made by Ten Technology. This transmitter also makes up one part of the Ten Technology NaviPlay Bluetooth headphone kit, an Editors' Choice winner, and as expected, it works very well and pairs seamlessly with the speaker pods. It also includes a pass-through syncing port for the iPod. The pods themselves have an array of controls: the right piece features a large, backlit play/pause button, and twisting the outer ring of the pod serves to shuttle through tracks; the left side has a call-answer button, and twisting the ring controls the volume. Oddly, the Omen helmet that came with our review sample had improperly labeled earpads that reversed the pod controls--a bit counterintuitive, as we then had to twist backward to go forward through tracks and vice versa. And unfortunately, we couldn't switch the pods because the cable is connected in such a way that makes this impossible. Hopefully, this quirk will be addressed in production models of the helmet.
As mentioned, pairing the TuneUps pods with the included NaviPlay transmitter was a completely painless procedure--we didn't even need to look at the instructions. You can also pair the pods with a Bluetooth cell phone for taking calls wirelessly. In addition, if your phone has A2DP (essentially, stereo Bluetooth) you can listen to music that's on your phone. Initially, we tried pairing the headset to a Treo 700p, but calls were not ringing through. Swapping in a Treo 680 solved the issue, though.
Unfortunately, call quality was pretty poor in testing, with both ends suffering from a fair amount of static, hiss, and echoing. The landline caller also complained that she could barely here the responses given by the headset-wearer. However, when put to the music test, the Giro TuneUps Wireless headphones really hold their own. We noticed no background hiss during music playback, and tunes sounded rich, clear, and encompassing, with ample bass response. Quality remained consistent across many genres of music--we tested hip hop, rock, electronica, and jazz.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5out of 5 user reviews
Use once then throw away
Pros: Cool design, easy to use buttons / dials
Cons: Motorola doesn't stock these anymore, forget about charging overnight, it will kill the system.
out of 5 user reviews
amazing battery life!
Pros: great sound quality for a wireless solution
Cons: wish it had more thump
This can also be used as a high quality pair of wired headphones, even when the batteries are dead. Just plug in the cable adapter that comes with it into any standard 3.5mm stereo output.
This can also be used as a high quality pair of wired headphones, even when the batteries are dead. Just plug in the cable adapter that comes with it into any standard 3.5mm stereo output.
out of 5 user reviews
DOESN"T INCLUDE ADAPTER!!!!!
Pros: Works great...but you must but adapter separately.
Cons: Expensive...especially after you buy the required adapter...
However, when everything is hooked up it's a GREAT product...just very expensive!
out of 5 user reviews
Great if you have the money.
Pros: The wireless feature and the cool blue light. Sound is Good, better than my Tuneup's 2 for my Giro helmet. Perfect for anyone that hates wires.
Cons: Took a while to pair with my Jabra ipod A125s bluetooth adapter, but finally got it to work. Bass on it doesnt hit that hard as I'de like it to be.
out of 5 user reviews
Great for lonely days on the mountain
Pros: Simple solution to listening to good tunes while hitting the slopes
Cons: Please do be careful of other skiers when you're using it.
