Product review: Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset

I may be a little late to the show (I think every other site in the world has already reviewed this product), but that isn’t going to stop me from giving my own opinion on the Aliph Jawbone Headset.

If you ask anywhere on the web "what is the best Bluetooth headset", 9 out of 10 people will probably answer "The Jawbone". I once tried this headset several years ago, but never actually sat down with it to put it through its paces.

The Aliph Jawbone does several things most other Bluetooth headphones do not do; it looks pretty, and it sounds great (on both ends of the call).

The Jawbone accomplishes this by using a well respected industrial designer, and by implementing a long list of acoustic technologies and noise canceling hardware. I’ll let Aliph explain the technology they used in the Jawbone headset:

Jawbone is the world’s first adaptive Bluetooth headset for mobile phones. Its revolutionary Noise Shield technology combines the latest innovations in acoustics, audio processing and product design to produce a quantum leap in headset performance.

Not only does the Jawbone technology virtually eliminate all background noise from your call, but as your background changes it also seamlessly adjusts the speaker output so you can hear your caller’s voice better. Jawbone’s intelligent system of sensors, software, and ergonomic features allows you to use your mobile phone in any environment without shouting or straining to hear. The result is a clear, uninterrupted, and productive conversation.

Jawbone Technology Breakthroughs

Jawbone identifies your speech: A proprietary voice activity sensor identifies precisely when you are speaking, in any noise environment. Unlike other headsets, Jawbone can easily separate your speech from other sound nearby.

Jawbone eliminates noise: Jawbone uses highly directional microphones and powerful signal processing algorithms to remove background noise from your ongoing speech signal. This allows you to be heard clearly in any environment without the need to shout and disturb others around you.

Jawbone automatically enhances incoming audio: The volume and frequency content of the incoming speech is dynamically adjusted to maximize intelligibility in any noise environment. No matter where you are, Jawbone will adapt to your environment.

Design

The Jawbone headset is slightly bulkier than most headsets. They clearly put some effort into the styling as it looks nothing like any other headset on the market.

While other headset makers have been working hard to make their devices smaller, the Jawbone stayed larger, probably in order to house the electronics.

The device only has 2 buttons, and they have been concealed behind the front. It takes quite a bit of pressure to use them, and it isn’t always easy to find the correct part of the headset to press. The 2 buttons are used for turning the headset on (or off), turning on the Bluetooth pairing mode, adjusting the volume, and changing the Noise Shield feature option. I would have preferred "real" volume buttons instead of using the same button for several features.

Charging

The headset comes with a USB charging cord, and a USB wall adapter. With these, you’ll be able to charge it off your desktop/laptop, as well as any AC outlet.

The end of the charger cord has a fairly large "dongle" on it which plugs into the back of the headset. It’s a shame they didn’t go with a mini (or micro) USB jack directly on the headset as this charger cable means I need to carry one more thing with me.

The headset charges in under an hour, and has a fairly impressive (rated) talk time of over 6 hours. When I tested it I, found that a full battery would get it through around a weeks usage when only used when needed (unlike some people, I don’t keep my headset glued to my head 24/7, I’m just not that important).

Comfort

Included in the package is a "fit kit" consisting of 2 sizes of ear "hooks", and several different ear "gels".

I suggest sitting down with the headset for a bit to find the best fit as every head (and ears) will be different, but with these parts you’ll be bound to get a perfect fit.

Once the headset is correctly "installed", it feels great. There is no pressure on your head and you never get the feeling that it’ll fall off. Even when you run (or just shake your head a lot), you won’t lose it.

Audio

This is of course where the Jawbone should excel; audio is indeed quite excellent. It sounds a little muffled, but that seems to be par for the course on any Bluetooth headset. What matters most is that the other end of the call doesn’t think you are talking from the bottom of an oil drum.

Background noise (like talking on the phone with your car window down) is almost totally eliminated.

Final thoughts

At $129 (retail price) it isn’t cheap, but many retailers have been selling the headset for under $70 in the past months. That is a good price, and makes it quite competitive with other high-end products from Jabra, Plantronics and Motorola.

The design of any product is a matter of taste; some people will not care for the look and feel of the Jawbone headset, or may prefer something smaller. But if you purchase your headset based on features and quality, then it won’t let you down. Audio is good, the volume is good and your callers won’t have a hard time hearing you, even with a lot of background noises.

What does annoy me, is that there is no carrying case included. For a top of the line headset you would expect some easy way to carry it. If you plan to carry the Jawbone in your laptop bag then I highly recommend finding a way to store it safely.

Personally I’ll stick with my Plantronics Voyager 855 as I really like having stereo Bluetooth and music controls on my headset. Despite all the nifty acoustic hardware in the Jawbone, the in-earpieces and sliding boom microphone on the Voyager 855 deliver better sound quality. Plus; having dedicated volume buttons, a carrying case and a fairly standard USB connector for charging, make the Plantronics a better choice (in my opinion).

The Jawbone headset is available from most electronics retailers, including Amazon.com.