Stereo Bluetooth Headset Reviews 2012

The Jabra HALO2 is a very good Bluetooth headset for general users, looking for a Mp3 player or smart phone companion device. The HALO2 comes with a removable cord for consumers who prefer a more direct link with their smart phone and it is also able to connect wirelessly to receive calls from many smartphones or other Bluetooth devices.

The device has dual internal microphones that improve the audio during calls.

The HALO2 incorporates brand new capabilities such as Power Bass and Virtual Surround Sound, delivering an improved listening experience. Virtual Surround Sound mimics a multi-speaker setup in an attempt to improve the overall experience. In my testing it delivered crystal clear audio.

To adjust the volume of the device you use the touch sensor on the side of the headset.You can also use the sensor to skip tracks and pause songs, without using your phone or MP3 player.

I found the velvet cushioned ear pieces comfortable and the unit fit well on my head. The HALO2 however is not for use during excercise, it will come off if you try that. The metallic smooth color and style of the HALO2 looks good.

I setup the HALO2 with several of my devices Iphone, laptop, Ipod it was very easy to get it working. The unit's software can be updated by downloading it from Jabra's site and uploading it with the USB cable. The HALO2 folds-up, as the picture shows, this makes transport simpler.

The cons of the HALO2 is the charging lead, which is too short also the volume doesn't go that high. So if you want to listen to very loud music you are out of luck.

Over-all this is an excellent general purpose headset, I would definitely recommend it to anyone trying to find a good Bluetooth headset.

LG has a reputation for producing quality stereo Bluetooth headsets. What sets the HBS-700 apart from LG's other headsets is just how comfortable it is. Also thanks to it's superior design it is very easy to use.

This headset definitely looks unconventional. It is made up of 2 round pods linked through a 8.5-inch bendable neckband, the neckband has a earbud coming out from each pod. You can slide the earbuds along the neckband. There are 2 magnetic pockets on the HBS-700 which holds the earbuds when the device is not in use.

To put on the headset, merely put the neckband around your neck. The neckband is manufactured from a light shape memory alloy, this allows it to conform to the shape of your neck. Remove the earbuds from the pockets and place them in your ear. The earbuds, have soft rubber covers. The covers come in a couple of different sizes.

Unlike with other headsets these are comfortable to use while wearing glasses.

The controls are on the ends of the part that goes around your neck. The buttons stand out from the device, which makes them easier to use. On the right you have the play/pause button and the track shuttle buttons, while on the left you have the call, volume and on/off switch.

The HBS-700 has 15 days of standby and 10 hours of talk time.

I tested the HBS-700 with an iPhone 4. The music was crisp clear and clean. The bass was so-so. The call quality was above average. It just sounds a little metalic on the other side. However people I talked to could still hear me clearly.

The device is water resistant, so suitable for use during exercise. However it doesn't do that well in loud situations, like on trains or buses.

The Sennheiser MM 550 is well made, with comfortable support and metallic hinges that permit the big earcups to fold-up for traveling.

The buttons on the right earcup manage Bluetooth, volume, sound enhancement, NoiseGard 2.0 control and iPod playback.

When the noise cancelling is off, the headset provides strong detail but less power and depth. When noise cancelling is on the bass is much weaker. The noise cancelling works well, almost as good as the cancellation on the best Bose models, which blocks out background sounds completely.

Call quality by means of the built-in mic is decent, although this might differ with some other phones.

If the charge runs out you can use the MM 550 as a wired set of headphones.

In general, the Sennheiser MM 550 is really a good-sounding set , and it's usefulness alone make it worth the price.