A Bluetooth headset keeps your hands free and lets you multitask while you chat. Lim Tsiao Hui took the calls.
EDITOR’S RAVE: JABRA STONE2
$198, from Challenger, Epicentre, Nubox and Apple shops at Best Denki
MAKING THE CALL
- Audio was crystal clear on both ends of the call – the best in the line-up. It was so good I used it as my music earphones.
- It was the most comfortable, the easiest to put on and it stayed on most snugly.
- It had a voice activation feature and it understood my “answer” command to pick up calls most of the time.
THE FRILLS
- It had an ultra-convenient volume control – I slid my finger up or down the earpiece to adjust it, no buttons needed.
- It was the only one with a cradle (which held the earpiece on my desk or in my bag) and two chargers – one via a USB port and the other through a power socket.
VERDICT Impressive audio quality, most secure in the ear.
MOTOROLA HX550
$98, from major electronics stores
MAKING THE CALL
- Audio was generally clear on both ends of the call.
- The voice activation feature accurately understood my “answer” and “ignore” commands.
- The ear bud felt chunky; I had to fiddle with it for it to fit snugly in my ear.It took me a while to try out all the four ear buds (with and without hooks, and in two sizes) before I found one with the best fit.
THE FRILLS
- The mini clamshell design helped conserve battery power easily – I flipped it open to turn it on (and paired it with my phone quickly), and closed it to put it on standby mode.
VERDICT Clear audio with effective voice recognition.
NOKIA J
$188, from Nokia shops
MAKING THE CALL
- This faucet-shaped gadget stayed fairly snug, but it felt bulky. Still, it did fit into my ear quickly.
- The headset was let down by the background noise that came through in most calls. There was no volume control on the earpiece itself – I had to adjust it on my mobile phone.
THE FRILLS
- It came with a hard plastic holder and a clip that I attached to my handbag’s inner pocket, so I didn’t have to rummage in my bag to look for it.
VERDICT Basic and easy to use, but audio quality was disappointing.
GREAT FIND: PLANTRONICS MARQUE M155
$119, from major electronics stores
MAKING THE CALL
- Sound was loud and clear on both ends of the call – the second best of the lot.
- Voice recognition was accurate. It picked up calls when I said “answer” and dropped them when I said “ignore”.
- The candy bar design and compact plastic ear bud made it quick to wear and it stayed snug in my ear.
- Pairing was consistently reliable and fast every time I switched it on.
THE FRILLS
- It came with a USB charger with a slot for a thumbdrive. I could charge the earpiece on my laptop and access the thumbdrive while at it.
VERDICT Good audio quality; paired quickly.
All shops are in Singapore. This article was originally published in Simply Her Mar 2012.
All product and pricing information was correct at the time of the magazine’s publication. We advise readers to check with the store for the latest availability and pricing information.
