Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset

Digital signal processing and long battery life
	The Motorola HS850 Bluetooth headset is ordinary to pleasing in appearance and consistently pleasing in operation. This is a good headset for you to consider. Part of our series on Bluetooth - more articles listed on the right.

Costing variously between about $65 and $100, Motorola's HS850 headset is fairly priced, and performs well.

Sound quality is good and battery life is excellent. The unit is comfortable to wear, and - perhaps most important of all - easy to use.

There's nothing to dislike about this unit, and we recommend it accordingly.

What you Get

Our Motorola HS850 came in very basic packaging - just the headset, charger, and a manual for a different model headset, all in a plastic bag. Perhaps if you pay the full $100 retail price and buy direct from Motorola, you get a fancier box and maybe even the correct manual. :) We simply downloaded a pdf copy of the manual from Motorola's website.

The (correct) small English manual is 30 pages in length and tells you what you need to know to use the headset.

Feature Chart

Use this information to quickly understand the capabilities of the unit and to compare with other units.

Feature Comment Cost Recommended US retail $100 Street prices down as low as $65. Ergonomics Easy to put on and take off Only moderately easy to put on, and I found I was usually using both hands to do this, which is not practical if you're holding your phone with one hand and trying to quickly put your headset on with the other hand. It was, of course, easy to take off. Easy to use the control buttons There are three buttons on the unit. There are two small buttons for volume up and volume down, and a larger button opposite the earpiece. The layout is such that it is easy to reach and press these buttons. Comfortable to wear This is one of the more comfortable units available, with nothing sticking uncomfortably in one's ear. Can you use with glasses Yes. Can use with either ear Yes. A clever feature is the ability to swap the two volume buttons so that the top one is for volume up and the bottom one for volume down, no matter if the unit is in your left or right ear. Securely mounted on ear It seems to be secure inasmuch as it doesn't fall off, but it can move around a bit and feels a bit floppy. On the other hand, this loose fit also makes it unobtrusive and comfortable to wear. How to carry The good news - there is a loop on the unit to which you can affix an around the neck lanyard. The bad news - Motorola don't provide a lanyard; you have to go out and buy one extra. Here's an online store that sells them for about $2 each. Weight Reasonably light - 0.6 oz Ease of Use Commands intuitive and easy to remember Much simpler commands than many other units. Most commands are initiated by a short press on the one button, a few others by a long press (3 seconds or longer). Volume adjustable This is reasonably intuitive, with two dedicated buttons, one each for volume up and volume down. How fast does it turn on It takes about five seconds to turn on and synch up with a phone. Manual Well written in perfect English, 30 pages in length. Also in other languages. Support Via website and (800) number (7 days/83 hrs a week). Pairing password printed on device No (it is 0000 so in an emergency you have a good chance of guessing what it is!) Features Battery life Up to 8 hours talk or 200 hours standby claimed. This is better than average battery life (as of Feb 06). Low battery indicator/signal The unit beeps five times every 20 seconds to indicate the battery is almost discharged. Only the person wearing the headset hears the beeping, not the person you're speaking to. Battery type Not disclosed Replaceable battery? No. As with other headsets, the chances are by the time the battery has died, you'll probably have bought a new headset. Battery charging method/time The unit uses the same type of charger as do all V60-600 series phones. This is convenient - if you have an existing charger for these types of phones, you can use it with the headset, too, and save yourself the need to carry two chargers with you. It also opens the door to other charging methods you might already have (see below). Charging time is about 2 hours. Multi-voltage charger Yes. Charger weight/size 2.4 oz. A small size charger, with plug pins that fold into the 'brick' to make it more compact for carrying. Other charging methods You can use a Motorola car adapter, or one of our emergency rechargers (with the extra Motorola V60/600 series adapter). How many pairings can be stored The unit can store up to either seven or eight pairings (Motorola's website says seven, the manual says eight). Headset and hands-free profiles? Both profiles are supported. Audio profile for computers Apparently not. Bluetooth compatibility Version 1.2 Power/range Power class isn't specified, but it is claimed to have a 30' range, which would suggest a Class 3 type device. Effective range It receives signals (from the person you are talking to) for up to one floor away before the static level starts to become objectionable. In a horizontal distance, it goes close to 30', as claimed. Walls or other obstructions severely reduce its range. This performance is as claimed and perfectly adequate for normal Bluetooth type connections. Warranty There is no sign of a warranty policy anywhere but it is believed to be, from Motorola's website, a miserly 90 days. Free return Retailer policies will vary. Noise cancelling/DSP Motorola don't claim any special noise cancelling or DSP capabilities for the headset. Here's a 532kB .WAV file that allows you to hear the difference between the HS850 and the Razr V3 phone handset in a noisy environment. The headset does surprisingly well and is not tangibly worse than the handset. Sound quality When talking to other people, they said my voice sounded normal and very much the same on the headset as on the handset. The sound quality of the person at the other end of the call seemed fine in the headset. Capabilities Turning on and off Turning on and off is brilliantly intuitive. Open the boom microphone and you turn the unit on. Close it and you turn the unit off. As simple as that. It takes about five seconds from when you open the boom to when the headset is on, operational, and paired to the phone. Auto connect Yes. Voice tag support Supported. Make a short press of the main command button, then say the name you've previously recorded. Last number redial Yes. Make a long press on the main command button. Transfer call to/from phone To transfer a call to the headset, simply turn the headset on. If the headset is already on, then a short press of the button on the headset, same as if you were answering a call, will transfer it. Transferring a call from the headset back to the phone is done by turning the headset off and then accepting the call back on the phone. These functions are intuitive and reasonably simple. Call waiting/Three way calling A long press on the button will place your first call on hold and answer the incoming second call. Further long presses swap between the two calls. To join both callers to make a three way call, press both volume buttons simultaneously. Call reject A long press of the button rejects a call. Call answer/end Yes. Generally you will have your headset off rather than on. So, to answer a call, simply turn it on. If the unit is already on, a short press of the button will answer an incoming call. To end a call, a short press of the button is again needed. Mute A long press of the button puts the call on hold, sort of the same as mute. Subjective Attractive design I don't like it as much as some of the other headsets, but this is a personal quibble. It is inoffensive and not ugly. Flashing indicators on standby Yes, although this is really not needed, because there is a much more obvious visual indicator - if the boom is extended, you know the unit is on, and if it is folded shut, you know the unit is off. Size Average/normal. Summary This is a fully featured unit at a good price that is easy to operate and has a good battery life.

Using the Motorola HS850 Headset

The Motorola HS850 is the easiest to use Bluetooth headset we've encountered so far. It works well, connects quickly to the phone it is partnered with, and gives good quality audio in both directions.

Connecting with phones

Easy. Once you've paired the unit with a phone, any time you turn the unit on, it will quickly look for and connect with your phone if the phone is also on and in range.

This is convenient and simple.

Note : Although we tested the Motorola headset with a Motorola phone, it will work just as well with almost any other Bluetooth enabled cellphone. There is nothing brand-specific or unique to the Motorola headset that would limit its ability to work with other Bluetooth enabled cellphones.

Summary

The Motorola HS850 headset is a good all rounder - while perhaps there's nothing outstanding about it, there's little to dislike, either, and with street prices going down to about $65, it is fairly priced. Best of all, it is easy and almost intuitive to use.

For the first time so far in our Bluetooth headset review series, we find ourselves able to conclude the review with a single magic word : Recommended.

Plantronics Discovery 650E Bluetooth Headset

What you Get

My unit came in a blessedly easy to open cardboard box, although the unit is also sold in some stores in one of those hard to open plastic display packs. Happily, if you get one of those hard to open packs, the good news is that it has been only spot welded shut in a few places rather than given a continuous seal so you can probably open it without needing a sharp knife or scissors.

Inside the box was the headset itself, plus a holder and charging base (see illustration above).

In addition to the gel plastic eartip on the unit, two more tips were provided of differing sizes, allowing you to get closer to the size tip that sits most comfortably in your ear.

A wire ear loop is also provided so as to give you a 'belt and braces' approach to mounting the unit in your ear.

One of the novel features of this unit is the ability to recharge it with a regular AAA battery as well as with the mains charger provided, and the unit does come complete with an AAA battery too.

Lastly, there's some paperwork - an excellent 15 page User Guide that is also provided in Spanish, and a booklet of 'Important Safety and Operational Information' in 23 different languages. This is a useless set of legal disclaimers that you can safely discard without reading.

The unit comes with a one year warranty which requires the original receipt to qualify for warranty claims.

The Plantronics 650E has their 'Multipoint Technology' - this means the headset can be simultaneously paired with two phones, but it does not have their 'Audio IQ' sound processing for better quality sound, particularly in noisy environments.

In contrast, the Plantronics 655 does have Audio IQ but does not have Multipoint Technology. It also has a USB charging adapter, which the 650E does not.

Feature Chart

Use this information to quickly understand the capabilities of the unit and to compare with other units.

Feature Comment Cost List price $99.95. Purchased from Amazon.com for $53, Feb 08 Ergonomics Easy to put on and take off Acceptably simple to put on one's ear, and better than some others previously evaluated. It was, of course, easy to take off. Easy to use the control buttons In common with many Bluetooth headsets, there are three buttons on the unit. Two small buttons are for volume up and volume down, and a larger button opposite the earpiece is the main multi-purpose control button. All buttons are reasonably simple to use. Comfortable to wear Reasonably comfortable to wear. If it doesn't feel comfortable and secure, try changing the ear bud size for best comfort, and then, if necessary, add the ear loop as well for it to be securely mounted on your ear. Can you use with glasses Yes, because normally it is mounted inside the ear and away from any glasses. Can use with either ear Yes. The ear bud inside rotates up or down to ensure the unit angles down from your ear towards your mouth. Securely mounted on ear The unit seemed to mount securely on one's ear just by using the ear bud fitting, and adding the ear loop made it 100% firmly (but comfortably) in place. How to carry A clever feature of this unit is the carry barrel/sleeve into which you can place the unit when not in use, and then place the barrel in a shirt pocket much as you would a pen. This is a somewhat sensible idea - at least Plantronics have shown some degree of thought as to how to carry the unit. There are a couple of compromises, however. The first is that if you add the ear loop to the unit, it makes the overall size of the item bulkier and more fragile, and so more difficult to carry in your shirt pocket. The second is the size of the sleeve. It is slightly oval in shape, and measures about 3/4" x 5/8" on its two axes, and is 4.5" long from the top of its clip to its base. The headset, when inserted, extends almost an inch above the clip. In comparison, most pens are less than 1/2" in diameter, although similar in length from clip to base. It weighs 1 oz, whereas pens typically weigh about half that. Weight Very light - 0.2 ounces, or 0.3 ounces with ear hook. Ease of Use Commands intuitive and easy to remember Like so many other units, this headset has a single button that has to provide all the different functions, with its functionality being indicated by various colored flashing lights and sounds. When will headset designers learn that making one button do many different tasks is just too complicated. Give us two or three buttons, please. So, no, the commands are not intuitive or easy to remember. But this unit is no worse than others. It is just, alas, no better either. Volume adjustable Yes. There are two buttons, one each for volume up and down. How fast does it turn on It takes about two to three seconds to turn on and about nine seconds to complete synching up with a phone and to then take the call from the phone. Manual A helpful and well written user guide (in English and Spanish) is provided with the unit, the same guide can also be downloaded from Plantronic's web site. Support Via website and (800) number - (866)363-2583. A test call to the support number was quickly answered without the need to go through many layers of phone menus. The person who answered was helpful and knowledgeable. Pairing password printed on device No (it is 0000 so in an emergency you have a good chance of guessing what it is!) Features Battery life Up to 5 hours of talk or 70 hours of standby time claimed. The standby time can be extended to 170 hours by using the AAA recharger unit, and sort of up to 15 hours of talk time (ie recharging between calls in the AAA recharger carry/dock. These timings (without the boost from the AAA recharger) are somewhat below average compared to other units on sale in Feb 2008. Low battery indicator/signal When you turn the unit on, it gives one, two or three red flashes to indicate less than 1/3, 1/3 - 2/3 charge, or more than 2/3 charge remaining in the battery. Battery type Lithium ion. Replaceable battery? No. As with other headsets, the chances are by the time the battery has died, you'll probably have bought a new headset. Battery charging method/time The unit comes with a 'brick' type wall power adapter that connects to the headset via a cable and a non-USB plug that plugs not into the unit directly but instead into its carry case. This is another gratuitous and unnecessary avoidance of a standard USB type connector, and a more complicated way of charging than is commonly found. Charging time is about 3 hours. The red light goes on when charging and goes off when fully charged. There is also the ability to add an AAA battery powered recharger to the unit while in its carry case. This can be helpful if away from regular sources of power. You can buy an accessory charging cable that plugs into a USB port (eg on your computer) and then has the special type plug to connect to the headset. This is a good thing, but it would still be so much better if the headset took a standard USB connection. Multi-voltage charger Yes. Charger weight/size 2.0 oz. A small brick charger. Other charging methods Also included is an AAA battery powered recharger that connects to the bottom of the carry case. This is an innovative and helpful additional means of charging the unit. Note that it works only with regular AAA batteries, not with rechargeable AAA batteries (because the rechargeable batteries have too low a voltage to start with). How many pairings can be stored The Plantronics Discovery 650E supports their Multipoint feature, which allows the headset to be connected (paired) with two different phones simultaneously. While few of us travel with two phones, some of us do, and such people will love that feature. Or, if you're traveling, perhaps with your spouse, and you don't mind sharing one headset between the two of you, there might be some benefit to you in that situation too. But with Bluetooth headsets so inexpensive these days, most people would probably prefer to have their own headset rather than sharing a single headset. The Multipoint feature is good but not great. There can sometimes be a bit of ambiguity as to which phone is ringing, and if you choose to place a call, the headset assumes you want to use the phone most recently used; if that is not your preference, you need to manually use the phone you want to use to place the call. The Multipoint can only manage one call at a time. If a second call comes in on the other phone while you're already using the Discovery 650E on the first phone, you'll have to end the first call before you can take the second call. Bottom line - an interesting extra feature, but one which every few people will choose to use. But if you do travel with two phones, you'll love this feature. Headset and hands-free profiles? Both profiles are supported. Audio profile for computers Apparently not. Bluetooth compatibility Version 1.2 Power/range Power class isn't specified, but it is claimed to have a 33' range, which would suggest a Class 3 type device. Effective range Sound quality started to break up at about 20' from the phone, depending on if the headset was on the phone side of my body or the far side of my body. This is less than the claimed range, but still satisfactory for most typical use. Warranty The warranty is a generous one year warranty. Free return Retailer policies will vary. Noise cancelling/DSP None claimed. Sound quality Sound quality was very good both for the person at the other end of the conversation and also for me, using the headset. There was perhaps a very slight muffled tone to my voice when using the headset, but not something that was a problem at all. And other people sounded as clear and loud through the headset as they did direct through the phone. The Discovery 650E is one of the better headsets tested for audio quality. Capabilities Turning on and off Turning on is simple - press the main switch and wait until a light flashes (2 - 3 seconds). Turning off is also simple - press the main switch and wait until a light flashes again (6 - 8 seconds). Auto connect Yes. Voice tag support Supported (if also supported on the phone, of course). Make a two second press of the main command button, then say the name you've previously recorded. Last number redial Yes. Double press the call control button for a last number redial. Transfer call to/from phone To transfer a call to the headset, press the call control button for 3 seconds. Transferring a call from the headset back to the phone is done by pressing the call control button until you hear a tone. Call waiting/Three way calling Not supported. Call reject A two second press of the button rejects a call. The headset flashes quickly when it sends the reject message. Be sure to release the button at that point, or else the call won't be rejected and instead the headset will switch off. Call answer/end Yes. Generally you will have your headset off rather than on. So, to answer a call, you could first turn it on, then, once the headset was on and paired, press the button briefly to answer the call. This however can take a long time - too long for some callers - so it is better to answer the call on the handset then transfer it. If the unit is already on, a short press of the button will answer an incoming call. To end a call, a short press of the button is again needed. If the unit is already on and in its carry sleeve, it will vibrate when a call comes in, and when you remove the headset from the carry sleeve it will automatically answer the call. Returning the unit to the carry sleeve will automatically end the call. Mute Press both volume buttons simultaneously to mute and to unmute a call. Subjective Attractive design A fairly neutral design that is neither flashy nor ugly, and is unobtrusive and conservative. Flashing indicators on standby Yes, a quite bright blue light flashes once every five seconds while the unit is on standby. You can turn this indicator off if you prefer. Size Slightly smaller than average. Summary This is a 'good all rounder' headset with good sound quality and a clever carry and recharge capability. But, with a list price of $100 and a street price of $53 (Feb 08 - from Amazon.com) it is more highly priced that entry level headsets such as the Jabra BT125, which sells through Amazon for $20 - $25.

Using the Plantronics Discovery 650E Headset

In use, the headset is similar to most other headsets, and the single button control is perhaps not quite as tortuous to use as on some others.

Good sound quality, and a convenient way to carry the headset are the two main pluses, with nothing particularly standing out as a minus.

Connecting with phones

Easy. Once you've paired the unit with a phone, any time you turn the unit on, it will quickly look for and connect with your phone if the phone is also on and in range. This is convenient and simple.

The unit paired effortlessly to a Motorola Razr V3, a Blackberry 8800, and an Apple iPhone.

Summary

The Plantronics Discovery 650E is as easy to use as any other Bluetooth headset, and does the simple task of answering and placing calls easily and well.

Its Multipoint feature, allowing it to pair with two phones at the same time is unlikely to be of much practical benefit to most of us, except for the significant few who travel with two phones at the same time. But if you do travel with two phones, you'll love the ability to have one headset instead of two.

It has a current (Feb 08) street price of about $53 through Amazon. If it were priced perhaps $15 less, it would be an easy choice to prefer this to our current value/price leading favorite, the Jabra BT125. However, that is not the case and so, if you're looking to buy a Bluetooth headset, you'll have to decide for yourself if you feel the extra $30 or so in cost between the Jabra and the Discovery 650E is money well spent or not.

Aizen FlyBy Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets are becoming more affordable and more practical.

The Aizen FlyBy headset has a good (but not quite perfect) solution to battery charging, plus excellent battery life and good underlying sound quality.

Easy to use and reasonably easy to wear, this is a unit worth considering if you're looking for a Bluetooth headset.

What you Get

The FlyBy7 is nicely packaged in an easy to open display box.

Inside is the headset itself, the charger brick, and the connecting cable to connect the headset to the charger brick.

There is also a small sized 16 page well written user manual, a separate sheet with a Quick Installation Guide on one side and wearing instructions on the other side.

Feature Chart

Use this information to quickly understand the capabilities of the unit and to compare with other units.

Feature Comment Cost est US retail about $50 Ergonomics Easy to put on and take off It takes a bit of time to adjust the unit to the dimensions of your ear, but this is not difficult to do - there's only one thing to adjust in or out, and once the unit has been adjusted, it is then easy to put on and take off your ear. Easy to use the control buttons There is one main button called the Talk Button, plus two small buttons for volume up and volume down. The layout is such that it is easy to reach and press these buttons. Comfortable to wear Not very. Rather than being a design that hangs off the ear, it is a design that sticks into the ear and stays in place by wedging itself between your ear canal and an outer fold of your ear. Can you use with glasses Yes. Because this fits in the ear rather than over the ear, glasses don't interfere at all. Can use with either ear Yes Securely mounted on ear You have to compromise between comfort and security. A comfortable fit isn't as secure as an uncomfortable one. How to carry This is a weakness of the unit. If it isn't in your ear, there is no carry pouch or carry loop to hang it around your neck. Fortunately, the headset is fairly robust so there shouldn't be too much of a problem if it is simply in your pocket while not being used. Weight Light - 0.5 oz Ease of Use Commands intuitive and easy to remember We've yet to see any BT headset that is 100% intuitive to use. This one is also a bit difficult to remember how to activate the different functions, but certainly no worse than any other unit. Bottom line - don't lose the manual, and/or download a pdf of it off the manufacturer's website. Volume adjustable Yes - this is easy and good, with two separate buttons, one on the top side (when worn on the right ear) for volume up, and the other on the bottom side for volume down. The buttons aren't labeled, but it is fairly obvious which is which when you use them, and intuitive if the headset is in your right ear. How fast does it turn on It takes about seven seconds to turn on. Manual Well written in perfect English Support Will depend on US retailers Pairing password printed on device No (it is 0000 so in an emergency you have a good chance of guessing what it is!) Features Battery life Up to 10 hours talk or one week standby claimed. This is a good battery life. Low battery indicator/signal Red light flashes. No audible signal. Battery type Lithium polymer, 140 mAh Replaceable battery? No Battery charging method/time The charger is halfway to perfection. Better than many, but still not 100% perfect. A brick charger terminates in a USB port. A USB cable then connects to the USB port at one end using a regular USB full size (type A) connector, and to the headset at the other end, but, alas, rather using a mini (type B) USB connector at the headset end, it uses a proprietary connector. However, as long as you have the cable, it can be plugged not just into the charger brick, but also into a computer USB port or any other power source that ends with a USB 5 volt standard output. This can save you having to carry one more charger with you when traveling. Multi-voltage charger Yes Charger weight/size 2.6 oz Typical size for a small brick chargers Other charging methods Connect it via the supplied cable to any other device with a powered USB port, eg your laptop. How many pairings can be stored The unit can store up to eight different pairing profiles. Headset and hands-free profiles? Yes, both Audio profile for computers No Bluetooth compatibility Version 1.2 Power/range Class 2 10 meters (33 ft) claimed range Effective range More than adequate. Can reach up two floors vertically and some distance horizontally. Warranty Depends on retailer/distributor policies, but probably will be for one year. Free return Retailer policies will vary Noise cancelling/DSP Yes, claimed via a special patented design (using a single microphone rather than dual microphones or DSP) Sound quality Poor. When using the headset, the voice from the other person (on a regular phone) was okay. But the person at the other end heard my voice as muffled and quieter than normal, and with some digital distortion as well. Capabilities Turning on and off Easy. Simply press the Talk button until it switches on (about a seven second press) or off (about a three second press). In each case, a confirmation tone tells you when you've successfully turned the unit on or off. Auto connect Yes Voice tag support Yes, easy to use (simply press the Talk button in standby mode and say the name after a very faint quiet beep that you'd likely not hear in a noisy environment) Last number redial Yes, but only when using Hands-Free, not Headset profile phones. To activate, press the volume down button for three seconds, you'll hear a tone, then release it. Transfer call to/from phone The easiest way to transfer to the headset is simply to turn the headset on. It takes about seven seconds for the headset to turn on, and about as long again for it to automatically take over the call. The easiest way to transfer back to the phone is simply to turn the headset off. Alternatively, pressing the 'Volume Up' button swaps the call between phone and headset too. Call waiting/Three way calling Apparently not supported Call reject Only in Hands-Free not Headset mode. Press the Talk button for three (but no more than five or else you run the risk of activating the Bluetooth pairing function) seconds. Call answer/end Yes - press the Talk button to end a call. Mute Yes. Press both volume keys simultaneously to toggle the mute on and off. This is easier to do than it sounds due to the volume keys being on opposite sides of the unit. Subjective Attractive design Yes Flashing indicators on standby Yes, a green light flashes once every three seconds while switched on. Some might consider this objectionable, particularly at night, but at least it is easy to tell if the unit is switched on or not. Size Average but not obtrusive Summary This unit has a good feature set in a convenient small package, and at a fair price. The sound quality is an important negative. And, unfortunately - at least by my personal standards - it is not very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Using the Aizen FlyBy Headset

Perhaps the most important - and most variable - attribute of any Bluetooth headset is the ease and comfort of wearing it.

The FlyBy headset needs to be adjusted for best fit by sliding one piece in or out to get the geometry best suited for your ear shape. In theory, this should be simple. In practice - not quite so simple. I spent a considerable amount of time adjusting the setting in a bit, and out a bit, until reaching what I thought to be an acceptable compromise between comfort and secure fit.

Once the headset has been adjusted it seems fairly easy to fit onto (into) one's ear and to remove.

The comfort level is such that one probably would not want to wear the unit for a long time, other than while talking.

As for using it, everything could be done by touch just by reaching up to the headset while in your ear with just one hand.

A well written manual and separate guide on how to fit the headset to one's ear quickly had me getting all these things optimized, and starting to use the phone.

Pairing the headset with a phone was easy, but regrettably the headset doesn't use a sensible name to describe itself in the phone's table of Bluetooth connections. Instead, it refers to itself as simply 'Headset[063D]'. If you only have one headset, this probably doesn't matter, but if you have more than one, there's no easy way to remember that this entry refers to the Aizen FlyBy headset.

Sound quality wasn't nearly as good as hoped for. From my end of a conversation, using the headset, the other person sounded acceptably clear, but there was more background hiss than I'd hear through the phone directly.

From the other side, there was more hiss apparent, and my voice sounded muddy and muffled. There was also some digitization distortion, and generally quality was markedly inferior to what one would expect or hope for.

[Note - the manufacturer has promised to send a better sample headset, claiming a more comfortable fit and better sound quality. This was expected in Dec 05 and has yet to be received. We will revise this review if/when it is received.]

Connecting with phones

Initial pairing was easily done.

Using the unit was simple. The unit automatically connects when it is switched on and within range of a paired phone (and of course automatically disconnected when out of range). This makes operation fairly foolproof.

The battery life is claimed to be very generous. We haven't rigorously tested this, but casual analysis suggests battery life is close to that claimed.

Summary

Aizen's FlyBy unit has some good features and promises a lot. But it is weakened by very poor sound quality and a comfort level that doesn't encourage lengthy wearing of the headset.

We wanted to like this unit, and we do like some parts of it. But, overall, the minuses outweigh the pluses, and it isn't going to replace our regular corded headset.

8com Wireless BH220 Bluetooth Headset

8com's BH220 Bluetooth headset is moderately simple to understand and to use, and also offers an Audio profile enabling it to be used with audio applications on a computer as well as with cell phones.

Compact in size, and affordable in price, but a low-end unit.

What you Get

The unit comes attractively packaged in a nice display box, although amusingly the largest picture on its front shows a picture of a man using a regular cell phone without Bluetooth headset.

Inside the box comes the headset unit itself, plus the ear 'hook' piece that wraps around one's ear to hold it securely in place.

Six different ear pieces are included (two each of three different designs) although the unit can also be used without any earpiece if you prefer, with it simply resting lightly on the exterior of your ear.

A multi-voltage 'brick' type plug into the wall power charger is also included, with a cable that plugs into the headset to charge its internal battery.

We are advised that the unit also now comes with a car charger.

There is a small drawstring pouch which can be used to store the power supply (and conceivably the headset, too) and also a neck loop strap for carrying the headset while using/wearing it.

Lastly there is a small eight page manual. This seems to be a generic manual, because there is no information about manufacturer or US contact information. However, there is a brief reference to Vodafone which makes one suspect that the unit is also supplied to Vodafone somewhere in the world.

Feature Chart

Use this information to quickly understand the capabilities of the unit and to compare with other units.

Feature Comment Cost $44.95 Ergonomics Easy to put on and take off Reasonably easy - average to better than average Easy to use the control buttons Reasonably difficult to use the volume buttons, main function button is easy to find and operate, but because functions variously rely on a short or long push of this button, I sometimes would have problems due to pressing a short push too long, or a long push to briefly, and having the unit misunderstand my request. Comfortable to wear Yes - perfectly comfortable Can you use with glasses With some difficulty - the 'hook' that goes around the ear is slim so it is possible to have both the ear piece of a set of glasses and of this headset around the ear simultaneously Can use with either ear Yes Securely mounted on ear Reasonably secure. A little bit of wobble if you move your head rapidly from side to side, none if you nod your head up and down. There is no suggestion that the unit might fall off. How to carry Neck loop strap provided, but - ooops - there is no mounting loop anywhere on the headset to attach the strap to! The loop can be tied to the ear piece though. Drawstring pouch for charger also provided Weight Light - 0.5 oz Ease of Use Commands intuitive and easy to remember Generally not very, but not particularly worse than any other BT headset Volume adjustable Yes - this is easy and good, with two separate buttons labeled + and - How fast does it turn on Reasonably quickly, but synching up with the phone hand set is an extra step Manual Poorly written in Chinese flavored English Support They have an (800) number but your only option is to leave a message and hope for a call back, or to send an email and wait for a reply. Pairing password printed on device No (it is 1234 so in an emergency you have a good chance of guessing what it is!) Features Battery life 4 hrs talk/4 days standby claimed. This is a below average life (as of Feb 06). Low battery indicator/signal Red light flashes. No audible signal. Battery type Lithium polymer Replaceable battery? No Battery charging method/time A brick type charger plugs into the mains and has a cord that then plugs into the headset Multi-voltage charger Yes Charger weight/size 2.1 oz Typical sort of size for brick chargers Other charging methods The supplier advises that the unit now comes with a car charger as well as the mains charger. How many pairings can be stored The unit will only store one pairing, and so if you pair with a second device, it over-writes its pairing information for the first device, meaning when you go to use it with the first device again, you have to re-pair it each time you change cell phones. Headset and hands-free profiles? Yes, both Audio profile for computers Yes - but not tested Bluetooth 1.1 compatibility Yes Class 2 Yes Effective range Adequate Warranty Neither the box, manual, or website make clear the warranty policy on the unit, although the battery inside it is described as having a 6 month warranty. 8com advise that the warranty is for one year. Free return 15 day, no restocking fee Noise cancelling/DSP some claimed Sound quality Clear and acceptable Capabilities Turning on and off Need to use both hands (press function and 'volume -' buttons simultaneously for 2 seconds); and if you press for two long, it changes into a different mode rather than simply turning on/off. Auto connect Not supported Voice tag support Yes, easy to use (simply press the function button in standby mode and say the name after a very faint quiet beep that you'd likely not hear in a noisy environment) Last number redial Yes (press either volume key while in standby mode) Transfer call to/from phone Transfer to headset by pressing function key. Transfer from headset - may be possible in theory, but in practice I can't get it to work. Call waiting/Three way calling Apparently not supported Call reject Yes (press function key for two seconds) Call answer/end Yes (briefly press function key to answer, press and hold to end call) Mute Yes but difficult to do while unit is on the ear (press both volume keys simultaneously) Subjective Attractive design Average Flashing indicators on standby Yes, bright blue flashing light all the time the unit is on. Some might consider this objectionable. Size Average to small Summary This unit has a reasonable feature set in a convenient small package, and at a great price.

Using the BH-220

The first task proved to be surprisingly challenging - placing the ear hook into its slot in the headset. After pushing very hard, with the unit not entering the hole it needed to be threaded through, I stopped for fear of breaking it, but the supplier told me that this is a deliberate feature - the friction fit stops the hook from sliding out and the unit from subsequently falling off.

It was impossible to easily tell which way the hook should go to make it left eared or right eared, so I guessed and fortunately got it correct first time. Clearer information was needed so that you too don't have to guess how to carry out this difficult assembly operation.

After threading the ear hook into its slot, the next task is to bend it so it more closely fits the outline of your ear. This was easy to do.

The manual is not well written and is in rather Chinese accented English. It also has at least one mistake - it says to charge the phone when switched off and that the phone will be charged when the red light extinguishes. 8Com now advise that the phone should be charged while powered on, and that the phone is charged when the red light stays on but when the blue light extinguishes.

Turning the unit on was fairly straightforward, although it required both hands plus also looking carefully at the unit and remembering to release the pressure on the two buttons after three blue flashes and before any red flashes.

Turning the unit off was never easy, and often I'd think I turned the unit off, only to notice it still flashing away at me a minute or two later. The challenge is to press the buttons for long enough as to indicate a 'power off' command but not too long or else the headset interprets it as some other type of command.

Connecting with phones

This is undoubtedly the Achilles heel of this and many other Bluetooth headsets. The BH-220 does not automatically connect to its paired cell phone when the two devices, both switched on, come within range of each other. This has to be manually done, by briefly pressing the function key.

The problem with this is the theoretical convenience factor of fully automatic Bluetooth connections is lost when you have to remember to manually connect the two devices each time they are together, and look at the phone to check that the linking has been successful.

If you should briefly go out of range and lose the active pairing, then you probably don't even realize the connection has been broken, and next time you try and answer an incoming call, you'll find you can't and by the time you've figured out what is happening and resolved it, your caller may have given up or been switched to voicemail, plus what is supposed to be a simple, hassle free and distraction free event - answering a call by simply pushing a button - instead becomes the opposite.

Using with a Motorola V600

It was easy to pair the two devices.

Voicetag support worked, as did the other commands.

The phone would ring rather than the headset.

Using with a Nokia 3650

It was easy to pair the two devices.

The headset rang rather than the phone.

Using with a Sony Ericcson T610

It was easy to pair the two devices.

The phone rang when a call was coming in, and the headset also played a very faint tune (Twilight Zone theme).

Summary

The good news - the BH-220 Bluetooth headset is lightweight, easy to put on and off your ear, and comfortable to wear.

It has an average set of features and below average battery life, with a good price, but where is the sense in buying an inexpensive unit if it doesn't work satisfactorily?

The lack of auto-connecting to your cell phone is its biggest weakness. and the necessarily fiddly small controls on the headset is another limitation - both these limitations are shared with other similar headsets however.

The unit can be purchased directly from the US distributor, 8Com.