Canon Puts Efficiency On Press
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"I'm liking it!" on by bigd1967
Pros: Pairs easily and very comfortable
Cons: Wish it came with more charging accessories...
Summary: I went ahead after reading the few reviews available at the time of this writing that I really do like this headset. Voices came through clearly and people said that they couldn't tell I was on a headset. I have to say although I wish it did come with the alternative charging units like the 640 and 655 this unit was meant to be more of a travel or on the go unit. I'm in my car most of the time while on it and makes sense for me. Fortunately my wife has the 640 and I can plug my charging unit into her wall charger etc. It will not fit properly in her charging cradle, but I just bring mine in the house and the adapter plug fits right into mine. The buttons are a little harder to push than I expected, but wasn't a big deal. I really like the car charger. Has a cool purple side lights that make you aware you have a call while it is charging. Just pick the unit out from it's cradle and it immediately answers the call. Learned the hard way after pressing the button hanging up on my wife! Oops... Charge seemed to last as stated and really just like how it feels in my ear. Now the technolgy to reduce background noise does help remove some noise but not all. They say 50 percent, but I think more like 30. Whatever the amount it does help. I bought it on ebay for 70 dollars and for that amount was worth the risk even if it didn't fully live up to my expectations. Happy to report that it does.
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"Very disappointed, many bugs to fix, QC issues, mine is going back." on by kazilee
Pros: Comfort, Weight, Stlye, Audio iQ DSP
Cons: Charging, Reception, Indicators, Durability
Summary: Having been in the technology field for over 20 years, and having tested products for Fortune 20 companies, I have had positive experiences with Plantronics products. While their products are "more expensive" than the competition, they have consistently produced products that are superior and innovative.
Unfortunately the Discovery 665 BT headset fell far below their standards.
Based on past experience with Plantonics, and experience alone, I gave the 665 a try.
Disappointing is the only word that comes to mind.
Style wise, the 665 is light, comfortable, and stylish. Its small form factor is desirable so I don't look like a "Cyborg". The jell ear piece fit well, was comfortable, and the included ear hook gave extra stability.
Beyond that, it was all down hill.
First, I charged the 665 using the included USB charger. Once plugged in, it flashed a purple light from the charging holster and that's it. According to the manual, it should flash a red light every 5 seconds while charging and turn off when charged. Not knowing if it had a full charge, I left it for 4 hours. (3hrs recommended for a full charge)
Setup to my KRZR K1m was simple and straight forward, no issues.
I placed a call using the voice activated feature, and found static on both ends of the connection. This seems to be an issue with many of the Plantronics products when near a wireless router, or 2.4ghz device. (many BT headset are prone to this)
I then tested the range of the 665. I left the phone in the living room, and walked about 45 feet to the bathroom and closed the door. To my surprise, the connection held, but was choppy and full of static.
To eliminate the possibility that it was either the phone or service reception, I conversed using the actual phones, and the call was crystal clear.(both were KRZR K1m)
Next, since the charging indicator did not flash as described, I thought it may be due to an insufficient charge. So I tried the included AC wall charger. This time the red light flashed every 5 seconds, so I let it charge for another 4 hours.
To my dismay, it was still flashing 4 hours later, so I let it charge longer... 6 hours later, still flashing... 24 hours later, still flashing!!!
Well needless to say there is something wrong. I placed a call trying the voice activation feature, saying the actual ###-###-####, and coupled with the learning feature of the K1m, connected the call with no issue. Once the connection was made, I still heard static as did the day before.
I then tried placing the K1m in my shirt pocket on the same side as the headset, roughly 10-12 inches apart, but still there was static.
Puzzled, I re-read all included documentation. I did not miss anything, and was clearly not doing anything wrong.
Then, a call came in. As stated in the manual, the holster rapidly flashed purple. I removed the 665 from the holster, which is supposed to answer the call, but it did not.
Subsequently, I missed the call. The holster continued flashing purple every 5 seconds, meaning I have missed a call.
Hey, something worked! Well, my enthusiasm was short lived, when I found the purple light would NOT turn off!
The manual says to press any button to cancel, I tried every button there was to try, but it still flashed purple, red, and blue.
Purple every 5 seconds for a missed call.
Red every 5 seconds for charging status.
Blue every 5 seconds meaning it's on.
Yes, I have tried every possible combo of on/ off, DSP on/off, and LED indicator on/off settings. Yes, I have tried removing the BT connection and re-connecting to the KRZR K1m, deleting the missed call log, and all call logs.
Now it has been 2 days, and the 665 is still not charged, and still flashing purple red and blue.
I revisited the USB charger, but once attached, there is no indication that it was charging, nor does the missed call purple light flash. Only blue indicating it is on.
Later that evening, my wife called using her K1m coupled with a Motorola H700. Living in Manhattan, it was a good test to see how it would perform with real world background noise like cars, wind, and people while she walked home. The static was still there on my end, and the audio quality was very poor and choppy.
The Audio iQ DSP seemed to do poorly processing her side of the call, but she said my side of the call was very clear. Since Audio iQ is supposed to process both ends of the call I asked her to make sure her hair was not brushing against the boom mic on the H700. Once she confirmed the mic was no longer obstructed, I could even hear her boots hitting the sidewalk!
So it would seem the Audio iQ DSP is performing as stated, but the test came to an abrupt end when the battery warning began to sound. It lasted a total of about 30 minutes talk time.
Finally, the ear hook and ear jell pieces.
While functional, light, and comfortable, the method of spring tension to attach the ear hook to the headset will fail after a short while. Since the hook is made of metal, the plastic is easily grooved or worn down, and the hook will eventually spin loosely. Mine is becoming loose already.
The ear jells are designed with a twist lock mechanism made of soft plastic. This is so the actual headset part of the mechanism will not wear down. This trade off causes the ear jell to become loose in a short period of time. Especially since people will adjust the ear piece by spinning, and rocking while placing in the ear.
Needless to say there are bugs to work out on this model, or I was just unlucky, and happened to get a defective unit. In this case, Plantronics has definitively got it wrong with the Discovery 665 BT headset, or quality control needs to be audited.
For $149, you expect near perfection.
Mine is going back. -
"Plantronics makes false claim" on by sca_bhinton
Pros: comfortable to wear
Cons: noisy, expensive, falsely advertised
Summary: I recently purchased the Plantronics Discovery 665 for use with my iphone. After several complaints from friends and clients regarding the noise of the head set, I called Plantronics support only to find out that the 665 does not have noise canceling even though Plantronics makes a claim that the Audio iQ makes calls clearer and eliminates background noise. Below is the conversation that took place between myself and the Plantronics support staff. After which I promptly returned the device for a different brand.
Tech Support: Hi, you have reached Technical Support. How may I help you?
Brian: I recently purchased the discovery 665 (using with my iphone) i seem to be having a problem with the audio iq however - i get a lot of complaints from callers that they can hear everything in the background but can barely hear me.
Brian: as well I can hear background noise like wind from my end static
Tech Support: The 665 doesn't have noise canceling it has Audio iq. The audioIQ processes the whatever is picked up by the mic and sends it through. So both your voice and the background noise will be clearer. The 510 and the 520 are the only blue tooth headsets with a noise canceling mic.
Brian: are the 510 and 520 compatible with the iphone? and I thought by the online demo that noise cancelling was what AudioIQ did.
Tech Support: All of our blue tooth headsets have the same compatibility.
Brian: even though they are not listed as compatible on your website? Just want to verify before I return this one and get a new one.
Tech Support: Yes, they are compatible.
Brian: ok, thank you - I will try one of the others with noise cancelling.
Tech Support: Ok, have a good day.
Also note that while the technician stated that all devices have the same capability - Plantronics only has a limited number listed as compatible with the iphone (which one is correct???) I have also included links to both the Plantronics demo of Audio iQ where they claim that it helps eliminate background noise all together and the headline from their site that states that Audio iQ is noise canceling.
The below claims contradict what Plantronics Technical support staff say in regards to device:
PLANTRONICS DISCOVERY™ 665 WITH AUDIOIQ® AND VEHICLE POWER CHARGER
Optimal road warrior conversation piece with AudioIQ® 2-way noise canceling technology and vehicle power charger
http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/technology/audioiq/ -
"My Jawbone went back and I found a winner!" on by expert47
Pros: Very good all around unit
Cons: The LEDs are too bright at night?
Summary: Hi all.
I'm a reviewing fool tonight. Just wrote a scathing review of the Jawbone, which I think is a piece of junk.
While returning it at BB, I looked at their other BT units and found the 665.
Truthfully, I had read a bunch of mediocre reviews about the 665 and was skeptical. But I'd spent a ton on the JB, so figured I'd at least be fair and try it.
I am simply shocked at how perfect it is!!
Lets look at the good and bad.
I'll start with bad, as I honestly haven't come across anything bad yet. If I do, i'll update my review..! Ok, the LEDs are too bright in the dark..
Ultra nit, the talk button could be easier to push..
The good stuff. Simply put, it's a marvel. It's sleek looking, and the easiest BT I've found to put on your ear. It'll stay easily without the ear clip, and they advertise not using it, but at $100, it's a risky plan as it is so light and comfortable, if it falls off, you might not even notice it's gone. The simple ear clip they invented is eye-glass comfortable. It's just the right size, for me at least, I didn't even need to bend or adjust it at all.
Sound quality is surprisingly excellent. Incoming sound is every bit as good as my Samsung M610. It's nice fit in your ear will give you ample volume, even in noisy locations. Outgoing sound in quiet environments is excellent as well. Everyone I called while sitting in my office actually thought I was on my landline.!! Noisy places may not be as good, but then that's going to be an issue with MOST BT's.. So turn the radio down!
Plantronics finally figured out the thing needs to be charged, and unlike virtually every other BT I've looked at, this one is the only one that INCLUDES a car charger. Sweet..!! Add a decent length USB and AC and you got it all.
And unlike all the rest, it's charging cradle acts as a case with a pocket clip.
It's a little pricy at BB, but i've found em online for around $70. Try it if you've been searching as I have and my bet is it'll be the last BT you buy.
Marty -
"Great Headset" on by rjanney
Pros: comfort, size, chargin options
Cons: None, really
Summary: Great little headset. Pairing was easy. Charges either with a car adapter or USB. Not very big and you can turn off the blinking light.
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