Finally a Bluetooth cellphone headset that really works

I've been testing Bluetooth cellphone headsets for a few years, and the one common finding is that the results fall far short of the claims. While the best results I've found have been the Jawbone, Blueant Z9 and the Motorola H12, all are far inferior to a good wired headset that places the microphone close to the mouth. What's the problem? The microphone on an ordinary headphone is omni-directional and positioned near your ear, far from your mouth.  So it picks up sound from all directions. Few work well in moderately noisy environments, and none work in very noisy areas.

Well, the wait is now over. I've been trying out the just released EtyBLU from Etymotic Research. Because I've worked with Etymotic and am friends with many there, I was fortunate enough to be one of the first reviewers to try it out. Without allowing my relationship to provide any bias, I can say that this product is the first Bluetooth headset that makes no compromises, works in the noisiest environments, and is better than any headset in I've tried by a huge margin. The only other that's equivalent is Etymotic's wired version, the EtyCOM.

What makes this so good is the adjustable boom using an Etymotic-invented and patented noise reducing microphone that sits just a few millimeters from your mouth. Even in the loudest of surroundings you are heard as if you're in an isolation booth. I called a friend, another technology reviewer, and he could not believe I was calling from the floor of MacWorld. The unit easily pairs with any Bluetooth handset, is intuitive to use and attractive. I wore it all day around MacWorld, at the airport and at home. Call after call was pristine at both ends.

The boom is removable when you're in a quiet environment, but why bother? It's comfortable wearing it for hours and sits firmly in the ear using a choice of several eartips that are supplied. It also comes with an ear loop and zipper case. Cost is $129. www.etymotic.com.

Also of note is that Etymotic won Best of Show from iLounge for its new hf2 combination stereo headset and wired headset. It combines the audio quality of their $400 reference quality stereo earphones with a headset and talk switch for $180. Works great with an i-Phone.

Comments

[Kris]

How would the headset alert you when there is an incoming call ? can it vibrate ? I find this feature missing in most of the headsets. Etymotic does not mention anything about alerting in its manual(they just say that the phone rings but what if the phone is in my bag and is in vibrate mode...I would like to be alerted by the headset which is lying on the desk)

[Carol Setters]

I currently use the H12, which is as much a disappointment as everything else I've returned to my cell phone store. My question is, can you hear any better? I want people to hear me, but even the H12 sounds scratchy. Does anyone know of an earpiece that has foam and actually blocks out some sound? I spend hours a day on the phone as a consultant, and high volume with poor reception is starting to take its toll on my psyche.

[Phil Baker]

To be heard clearly the closer the microphone is to the mouth the better. The EtyBLU is the only BT headset that does this. It comes with a variety of eartips, including foam, and does a good job blocking out noise. They also make the EtyCOM (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er22.aspx), a $39 wired headset that performs equally well.

[Harvey Cohen]

I have used both EtyCom and EtyBLU to participate in teleconferences while on the golf course and also while riding my motorcycle. Nobody has ever complained about noise from my phone (except for one unfortunate time when I forgot the headset and yelled "FORE!"), and I've never been asked to mute.