Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset (Red)

by Jawbone

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 0.4 x 2.4 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000RZCI80
• Item model number: CT725LAU5775
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,848 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)
  • #97 in Cell Phones & Accessories > Accessories > Headsets > Bluetooth Headsets

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

These days, it seems that wireless Bluetooth headsets are a dime a dozen, but Aliph's Jawbone stands apart from the pack not only due to its unique looks but also thanks to some seriously amazing noise canceling technology. Originally developed for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to create a communication headset that would pick up voice in hostile environments, the Jawbone offers some of the best clarity from a Bluetooth headset we've experienced. This version comes in red, but it's also available in black and gray.

Sophisticated modern industrial style meets the next step in audio technology with the Jawbone Bluetooth headset.

It can be worn on either ear, and you can customize your fit by choosing from one of the included earloops and earbuds.

The first thing you notice about this headset is its rather chunky size and cheese grater-like texturing on the exterior. Designed by Yves Behar, an award-winning industrial designer who also contributed to the design of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child, aka the $100 Laptop), the Jawbone certainly has that iconic modern look that will be copied for years to come. It's also a bit large on the face (due to the embedded technology and speech sensor), which reminded us of Lando Calrissian's assistant, Lobot. But then there's no easy way to disguise a Bluetooth headset, and it's probably an advantage as passersby won't think you're just muttering crazily to yourself.

The Jawbone can be worn on either ear, and it comes with four earloops of varying sizes to fit your lobe. Made of solid metal with a rubber cover, they're fairly comfortable around the ear. The trick, however, is getting it on over the ear, and this is the Jawbone's biggest disappointment. Because it's so stiff, you literally have to use both hands to try to slip it on over your ear. And since we don't wear our headset constantly, we missed a few calls while performing this dance. Also, the metal frame does bend (as we found after carrying it in our pocket), which can be viewed as an annoyance or as a feature--enabling you to form-fit the frame to your ear. It also comes with five ear pads of varying shapes and sizes, and we tried one of the teardrop shaped pads to secure the Jawbone inside our ear sans metal frame--it was comfortable and worked for awhile, but isn't a solution if you're moving around a lot.

As with Steve Jobs, Behar is not a fan of protruding buttons. Thus, the Jawbone's two controls are hidden within the headset, requiring you to press either the front or back of the unit to answer calls, adjust volume, or turn on/off the noise cancellation function. While we've read some reviews that complained about these hidden controls, we had no problem in accessing them and appreciated their tactile response. The Jawbone also comes with a custom-fit recharging cable that can either plug into a PC's USB port or into the included wall jack. We enjoyed the flexibility of the USB charging, but wished the cable could have been a more standard USB mini-jack (for those times when you forget to bring the cable along).

But the true test of the Jawbone is how its "noise shield" performed. First, a little about this technology. The Jawbone has a small piece of rubbery plastic that protrudes from the bulbous microphone and sits flush against your face, and this sensor tells the Jawbone whether or not you're speaking and can remove background noise from your ongoing speech signal. It can also dynamically adjust the volume of the incoming audio from your call.

We tried the Jawbone in a number of different situations, and for the most part it worked flawlessly. Sitting at our desk with the stereo volume cranked up while playing The Chemical Brothers, our call partner was none the wiser. She didn't hear any of the music coming through, and our voice came through strong on her end. While standing on a street corner, the undulations of traffic noise never made it through to our caller, while we noticed an uptick in volume with an increase in traffic noise.

However, the Jawbone wasn't perfect, as it doesn't do a great job in windy situations. Still, for the good majority of situations you'll find yourself in--from busy airports to talk-heavy coffeehouses to traffic-laden city streets--the Jawbone should perform very well, masking the surroundings to improve fidelity for you call partner as well adapting your ear volume to the surrounding environment. We just wish the ear frame was a bit more flexible.

Pros:

• Amazing background noise masking capabilities--even when faced with loud, thumping music
• Outstanding adaptive volume as the environment around you changes
• Options for customizing the fit

Cons:

• Metal earloop frames are hard to quickly put on
• Non-standard USB connection is a bummer if you forget the cable at home

Product Description

Designed by the renowned Yves Behar, Jawbone takes mobile style to new heights. Jawbone's perforated shield curves to match the outline of your face while the inside surface is made from medical grade plastic to provide a soft and smooth feel on the skin. Jawbone can be worn on either ear, and you can customize your fit by choosing an earloop and earbud from the several shapes and sizes provided. Jawbone's ergonomic design enhances the acoustic performance and keeps the device lightweight, stable and comfortable. How it works- Jawbone measures the ambient noise around you and automatically enhances the incoming audio and adjusts the volume to make every incoming call sound crystal clear. Using adaptive sound technology, the Jawbone uses two microphones and a voice activity sensor. When placed against the cheek, the sensor detects voice vibrations rather than picking up the sound from your mouth. Excellent sound quality, adaptive noise cancellation, catchy design and comfortable fit.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best I have used, period, November 2, 2007

By 

Michael A. Shoemaker (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset (Red) (Wireless Phone Accessory)

I read the reviews, both the positive and the negatives, and decided to give Jawbone a shot. I enjoyed my Jabra JX10 quite a bit for the 15 months that it worked, but to die 3 months out of warranty . . . So you can consider this a head to head comparison between the Jabra and Jawbone units.

Fit and Comfort: The Jabra is clearly lighter so you can almost forget it is even on. The Jawbone is much larger and takes some work with the supplied earpieces, but in my case simply using the other earpiece that is supplied resulted in a very secure and comfortable fit. Yes, it is bigger, but for me, I can leave it on all day in comfort. Both units are quite good in this regards.

Ease of use: The Jabra is somewhat more intuitive with clearly marked volume buttons vs. Jawbone's one-direction volume loop (press and the volume goes up until it reaches maximum and the next press goes to minimum). Other than this, however, the Jawbone is easy if your primary use is answering calls. Some complain that the button is 'hard' to push and pushes the Jawbone into your ear but I have had no such issues. It was immediately as natural and easy to use as the Jabra for me and I do not feel any pressure like I am impaling it into my ear! No complaints here on either unit.

Sound - incoming: I rarely had any problems with the Jabra and so far the Jawbone is equal or better. If Jabra has any advantage it is with the easier volume control, although I almost always had to have it near maximum to hear when in a car. The Jawbone can get louder and I do not generally have to adjust it, but if I do the Jabra is easier. But a slight overall incoming sound edge to Jawbone.

Sound - Outbound: The best for last! NO COMPARISON! I rarely had people complain with the Jabra, especially if I was in a quiet room. Then they might not know I was on a headset. But kudos to Jawbone on the active noise cancellation! As a test early on I turned up the TV volume to where I almost couldn't hear the party on the other end and they COULDN'T HEAR the TV! We held a comfortable conversation where whatever noise was going on in the background at my home was virtually inaudible on the other end! For those reviews who state that this feature doesn't work, I can only assume that a) the unit was defective, b) the noise cancellation circuit was turned off or, and this can probable be critical, c) the fit is not good and the 'vibration sensor' is not in solid contact with the cheek. In my case, with a comfortable and solid fit, the noise cancellation is almost eerie. And worth the price of a Jawbone.

Overall, four stars only because the fit is indeed something that could be improved to make it easier for everyone to use this successfully. But other than that, Jawbone is the best I have ever used by far. Now, if it will last more than 15 months . . .

75 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jawbone, August 10, 2007

By 

B. Nowlin "BWN" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset (Red) (Wireless Phone Accessory)

T. Tom obviously doesn't own a Jawbone or he would be giving it a better rating. The cheap plastic is actually military grade composit material, and it is usable in either ear, you simply must read the owners instruction guide if you are not smart enough to realise that those spare ear loops that are included with the Jawbone are to replace dirty or worn out ear loops and all you have to do to switch ears and insert the loop from the opposite side (now you can use it in the other ear). The noise cancelling is the best in the world. I work in the marine industry and always receive calls - no complains about noisy engines with my Jawbone.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It works very well, October 17, 2007

By 

W. R. Davis "Bob" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset (Red) (Wireless Phone Accessory)

On a relative scale (comparing to other headsets), I would rate this 5 stars. Its at the top of the heap in actual performance. On an absolute scale, I only gave it 4 stars because there is still room for improvement.

- functional sound quality and hearing ability on both ends - very, very good. My validation tests include talking to my wife and my aging parents on the phone. I carry on conversations with everyone without being asked to repeat myself or being told that my voice is too soft. I have a projecting voice, so any complaints about softness in the past with other headsets had to be due to the headset. I frequently got complaints when using my plantronics 640 - not so with the Jawbone.

- use in noisy environments - very good. Last night I was talking to my wife from a very noisy restaurant - so noisy I could barely hear myself think. But she could hear me clearly over the din and I was able to hear her easily. What a testament!

- fit - fair to good using factory loops and inserts. I followed the advise of several others and purchased a set of Jabra eargels. Jabra earboom is my favorite headset of all time from a comfort and ability to hear point of view. Using the jabra eargel with the jawbone wasn't quite as comfortable because the jawbone is bulky, but I would have to rate it as very good. I am using it without the jawbone earloop. I have large ears and use the largest eargel, so that probably helps my success. Eargels are available at some radio shack stores. They sell a package of three sizes, both left and right (6 total)for $4.95.

- bluetooth pairing and stability - better than any headset I have ever used. Its obvious the electronics on this device follow current bluetooth standards and work well.

- areas for improvement - despite all the hype about the industrial design and slick look, this is the bulkiest headset I have ever used. It has to be to house all the microphone elements used for noise management. But the squarish cover plate seems to be pure appearance choice. I think it would be somewhat nicer if the cover was rounded and trimmed to fit the main electronics housing. Perhaps engineering design requirements dictated the overall bulk of this unit. I can live with it because I certainly would not want to give up the excellent audio and noise management.

I purchased the bright red model - not because I wanted to look ostentatious, but because it was on sale at Amazon for $5 less than the black model. I paid $88.95 with free shipping.

Bob