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Apple Bluetooth headset...came, saw, bought, returned.

I have one, yesterday was the first time I got a chance to try it in a 2-way conversation (vs checking my voicemail).

I got some of the static initially that others are mentioning. It went away though, and I don't recall doing anything special to make it go away.

I've tested with both the iPhone and an LG XV8700 I have with Verizon, and calls on both went fine. My fiance didn't complain about call quality, and couldn't tell I was on a headset.

As far as fit goes, it fits me well without the foam cover. I'll give it another couple of days before I decide to keep or return it. I have a Jawbone that's going back Friday (first chance I'll have to get to an Apple Store).
 
I had an iPod Nano b4 and the earbuds that came w/ it totally SUCKS. You can't walk 30 steps w/o wanting or needing to adjust it. I think the earbuds are one of the WORST vital accessories Apple has included.

When I saw the Appletooth had the same earbud design, I already knew a review like this would surface.

There is no replacement for the silicone ear insert type earbuds. I have V-Modas for my Shuffle and they are just FREAKING awesome. You can't beat those for the price of about $25. They are worth every penny. Even my mom loves them and now she won't give them back.
 
thanks for the warning on the ear bud part. I will make a note never to buy the apple bluetooth for myself. The ear buds for me fit like crap so I going to figure the same for the head set.

I wish apple had a hook on their headset like a lot of the current ones on the market have. It just makes it stay on one ear a lot better. Plus you do not really feel them. Yes I know it removes that clean look but it does make the headset a lot more functional in my book and work on a much wider range of people. Plus it says on stays on everyone ear a lot better.
 
Rodimus Prime said:
I wish apple had a hook on their headset like a lot of the current ones on the market have. It just makes it stay on one ear a lot better. Plus you do not really feel them. Yes I know it removes that clean look but it does make the headset a lot more functional in my book and work on a much wider range of people. Plus it says on stays on everyone ear a lot better.
Click to expand...

While I agree that they "hold on" better, the problem with headsets that hook over the ear is that they interfere with eyeglasses.

For short duration, it might not be a big deal, but having both a headset and an eyeglasses stem can get literally painful after awhile. Susceptibility will vary, but for my 'over ear' headset, its around an hour, maximum.


-hh
 
liberty4all said:
How silly! The boom mic is SO short! Also Apple SHOULD have made it a STEREO set,
Click to expand...

The boom doesn't need to be long to work. My Nokia BH-800 is shorter than the apple one and had me thinking 'dang that apple boom is so long.' ;)

Totally agree on a stereo headset except I've not yet seen or used a bluetooth stereo headset that was worth it. For music listening I'd much rather have wired and for phone calls I don't need stereo.

Re: the comments on the static this is the same as other phones i've used. I have had this nokia headset with two phones and my mac. The samsung phone had static depending if the phone was on the opposite side of my body as the headset. The HTC vox I have is much better than that. The mac g5 had the best range of all. All of this can be worse depending on your surrounding RF interference as well.

-Jim
 
I was able to go jogging with my Apple BT in last night - didn't pop out once. I see no need for an over-the-ear hook. I actually like this heaadset better than any moto or Jabra I've had.
 
aricher said:
I was able to go jogging with my Apple BT in last night - didn't pop out once. I see no need for an over-the-ear hook. I actually like this heaadset better than any moto or Jabra I've had.
Click to expand...

that applies maybe to your ears but there are a lot of people out there that the non hook design will just not work.

and yes I agree with glasses it might get painful. for me the hook type bluetooth's hook does not touch my glass so it is a non issue for me. But the ear only things would never stay in my ear.
 
I would just like to throw in my 2cents. I bought one and quickly found out that if you put it in your left pocket and had it in your right ear, it just didn't work. If you put it on the desk and walk 15 feet away and then turned around so the earpiece wasn't facing the phone, it doesn't work.

I bought another one just in case mine was defective and it was both. I spent all day travelling around constantly trying my old headset and my new Apple one, the old one ALWAYS worked and the Apple was always static and cutting out and completely unusable, I have taken both back.
 
mcdj said:
I was *hoping* the earpiece was slightly different than the stock earbuds. The only way to know for sure was to try it and the only way to try it was to buy it.
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Me too...but alas...

I love the design, had no static and didn't wear enough to have an opinion on range.

The Apple earpieces just don't fit my ears. There seem to be many people in the same position and then there are many where the fit is perfect. I never knew ears differed that much. Now people find me staring at their ears...
 
How much more of a difference does it make with leaving bluetooth on? I'm thinking of getting either the apple headset or the jawbone to use in the car because the speaker just isn't cutting it now. I just would like to leave it on so every time i get in the car i don't have to go into settings and turn it on. i'd just like to put it in my dock turn on the ipod and drive.
 
conshok26 said:
How much more of a difference does it make with leaving bluetooth on? I'm thinking of getting either the apple headset or the jawbone to use in the car because the speaker just isn't cutting it now. I just would like to leave it on so every time i get in the car i don't have to go into settings and turn it on. i'd just like to put it in my dock turn on the ipod and drive.
Click to expand...

I've left mine on all day and made calls on it and it lasts the whole day.
The other nice thing is that I'll leave it in my ear because I forget it's there. It's probably no more obtrusive than wearing a large earring.

Oh, and I'm much happier with it now that I've figured out how to play music and listen to podcasts through it.
 
Solution to Earbud for Apple BT headset

Somewhere I read (maybe on here) that the Jabra Eargels work great with the Apple BT headset. So, I bought them off Ebay, tried them and they are awesome! Perfect fit for me and they came with 6 pieces, 3 sizes for the right and 3 for the left ear. So, I found another pack of them as backups for $4.99 at my local Radio Shack. If your headset is slipping and you're worried about it falling out of your ear, give this a shot. It has worked for me, and I love my Apple BT Headset.
 
I didn't have the fit issues that some others did and, while I LOVED the design and form factor of the device, the sound quality was just horrible.

The static on the incoming voice signal I can deal with, as long as it's minor (which it sometimes wasn't). The amount of background noise the mic picks up, however, is a deal breaker for me. Standing in medium-busy social settings (Starbucks, Borders Books, in a car with the sunroof open, my local deli), other people on the line often commented that they could hear the people standing around me better than they could hear me! I kept having to switch the the phone's internal mic which, while not a ton better, allowed me to have a reasonable conversation.

I returned the Apple headset and, despite being slightly turned off by its size and ear hook, got a Jawbone about a week ago. Man, I couldn't be happier with it!!! The sound quality is solid in my ear - not as good as tethered headphones, but no static at all. The noise canceling is absolutely astounding! I've had conversations right next to the espresso bar at Starbucks, in my car with windows down and radio on, in a crowded bart train, etc. Never once did the person on the other end notice the noise. For kicks, I turned the noise canceling off while talking to my wife and she was like "Aaah! What the heck just happened?!?" Pretty impressive technology, I must say. For the long battery life and stellar noise canceling, I'll make the size sacrifice any day. Just my 2 cents...

Cheers,

Kevin
 
I own both... iPhone bluetooth and Jawbone.

It's true that Jawbone has better sound quality, but for the size and fit... Apple is better. My Jawbone has been discharged in my drawer since I got the Apple headset.

About the fit of the Apple headset: For those that have not tried the headset... It's not just the ear piece that helps stay in/on the ear. The boom, as little and short as it is, sits flush against your face, and that's what helps the headset stay "on". The boom isn't supposed to stay away from the face. Maybe that's why some people have trouble with the headset falling off. When the ear piece and the boom is placed properly, I can shake my head pretty hard with out any problems.

Also, the headset comes with foam covers if you want a tighter fit. I have huge ear canals and the foam helps to fill the gap. :D My wife, who has tiny ear canal says it's very comfortable and feels like nothing is on her ear. My two kids, 14 and 12, also say that the fit is fine.

I'm very happy with the Apple headset. Now, if someone can come up with something that fits in my ear canal, with nothing else sticking out... ;)
 
The Gennum NX6000, which is supposed to have excellent sound and noise reduction quality, as well as windshield, looks extremely small, not much larger than a quarter. We're about 2/3 done with the JawBone review now, so the Gennum will likely be next.
 
For the people returning these, are you just returning them to the Apple store with no problems?

I would like to try it out, but don't want to be stuck with it if I'm not satisfied.
 
slffl said:
For the people returning these, are you just returning them to the Apple store with no problems?

I would like to try it out, but don't want to be stuck with it if I'm not satisfied.
Click to expand...
Bought on-line. Called for RA, got an email...went to PO. They waived restocking fee. I love Apple!
 
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