Customer Reviews

BlueAnt Z9i Bluetooth Headset (Black) [Retail Packaging]

5 star:		(104)
4 star:		(74)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(40)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

I have used and reviewed the Blueant Z9 which I really liked. However, now I am giving my opinion on this new upgraded version which is the Blueant Z9i.

Both versions are extremely lightweight and small. This makes them very comfortable, feels secure and does not flop around. The sound is loud enough that you do not have to increase the volume. The voice quality is clear and consistent. However, the new Z9i seems to have slightly better sound quality. I have the Z9i paired with the 3G iPhone.

There are three buttons. The function button handles most features. There are two volume buttons for up and down. The volume buttons also have functions such as holding down the volume up button for three seconds actives the redial feature. This may sound confusing, but it really is not. You just need to read the instructions. The buttons are easy to press with little resistance.

Compared to the Jawbone, which I used for a while, the Blueant Z9i is far superior in noise cancellation. When set to maximum the voice quality is clear and does not breakup on the Blueant. The noise cancellation defaults at minimum. In noisy environments, simply hold the function button for 1 second. A voice tells you that it is set to maximum noise cancellation. That is really a cool feature because you do not have to figure out what the beeps mean.

The range is as advertised. Of course, range and a clear connection is dependent on the brand and model of your cell phone.

Helpful hint: To get the best sound qualities, speak in a normal voice, not too loud. In addition, update the firmware to the latest version when they become available.

What is new and improved on the Z9i.
Pairs with 5 devices instead of 3.
Connects with 2 phones instead of 1.
Includes 1 small and 1 large ear bud instead of 1.
Includes 1 translucent and 1 rubberized ear hook instead of 1 translucent.
Choice of 2 colors in red or black instead of just black.
Improved noise cancellation software.

So, if you think these differences and upgrades are worth it, then give it a try. I did and I am glad that I went with the new Z9i.

The law in California is about to change. Begining next month its going to be illegal to use a cell phone in the car, unless its hands free. Otherwise I'd never have bought this, or any other headset. In principle I don't like the idea of using a phone when driving - its just too distracting. So, I generally only use the phone to say 'I'm stuck in traffic, gonna be late...bye'. So, I'd hate to use my phone without a headset and end up getting a ticket for that!

Needless to day, I therefore don't have experience of any more that a couple of other headsets.

- A cheap non-branded bluetooth headset that was given as a corporate 'gift'. Horrible. It felt like it was going to fly off if I move my head to check the rear view mirror.

- A Jawbone - nice design, good sound quality but fragile. It doesn't feel like something you can grab and pull on when you get a call without risking breaking something off.

In comparison to those the blueant z9i feels very nice when its in my ear. It feels very secure, and can be fitted quickly using one hand. Its not the most robust thing in the world, but it feels like it will last reasonably well. Its light and really small. Consequently, I feel I'm much more liable to loose it than break it! The sound quality is really nice. It linked to by Blackberry Curve easily. The voice activated dialing works well. The buttons are well placed, and operating them doesn't leave you feeling that you will pull the headset off your ear.

The cons? Well there aren't too many. I guess it would have been nice if the USB cable had the same connection plug as my Blackberry - this means one more cable to carry and potentially loose when I travel. I've not had the headset long enough to test the battery life. But there is a nice feature - press the master control button and say 'status' and you hear the batter life, signal strength, etc. A really useful feature.

In summary. I think it would be difficult to find a significantly better headset. Its small, fits nicely, and has some really neat features (like the tie-clip that lets you 'store' the headset clipped to your shirt when you are not on a call.)

Highly recommended whether you are an occasional user like me, or a 'power user' and can take advantage of features like being able to switch between multiple devices). I've not tested the noise reduction at anything other than the default setting. This was good enough to hear, and be heard while I was driving at 40 mph in a convertible with the roof down. Again, it didn't bother me on a really short call, it might be a different story if you plan on talking in a windy location for long periods of time. All in all, a great buy.

I tried a bunch of headsets before discovering that: This one takes the cake in all these categories: Fit, Sound, Sound Isolation, Pairing, Looks, Warranty, Technology, Simplicity.
The sound and fit are perfect, you can even adjust the fit with a bendable ear hook. Pairing is easy as 1-2-3, and you can even pair up to 5 phones (or computers) with it!
It's way more responsive than the Jawbone, the sound isolation is just as good, it looks much better, the fit is a million times better, u even forget it's on you after a while.
Simply stunning.
If you're tired of phony bluetooth headsets that have annoying flaws that drive u nuts. Buy one of these and you'll never complain again.

This Bluetooth headset is way better than the Jawbone (1 or 2) for many reasons such as:

-It doesn't require the unit to be touching your jaw bone or cheek at all
-It's a lot easier to put on and take off
-It's more comfortable and doesn't fall off as easily
-It' has two selectable levels of noise cancellation
-It's firmware update-able
-It has wind noise suppression
-It's cheaper yet audio quality both to callers and to you are about the same. Noise cancellation is about equal
-It has a full 2 year warranty

I'm quite happy with the Blue Ant Z9i and definitely recommend it over the Jawbone. This would be the headset to get if you want background noise to be very minimal or non-existent.

My only issue is that BlueAnt only provides the firmware update software to Windows users. This is a stupid move on their part because I'm sure a large portion of purchasers are iPhone users who have Macs. That said, I haven't updated mine and don't intend to since it seems to perform fine as is.


Note-the packaging is absolutely terrible.

Pros: lightweight, overall sound quality
Cons: connectivity issues, limited range (not 10m), some echoing, quirks


I bought a couple of these today. Great headset but has a few misgivings that should be noted. I didn't see these cons from the many reviews I've read prior to buying the Z9i. Perhaps I wasn't as diligent as I'd thought. My initial thoughts are as follows. First, I've experienced some connectivity issues with the Z9i being on the opposite side of where my phone is located (i.e. pocket, purse, etc.). My Razr kept disconnecting and reconnecting throughout the day whenever my phone was on the opposite side of the Z9i. I decided to hold my Razr in my right hand while walking and wearing the Z9i on my right ear. It still kept disconnecting and reconnecting but only a couple of times. These devices were only 3+ FEET apart with no obstruction. Occassionally, I experienced hearing feedbacks/echoes of my own voice through the earpiece after I'd spoken. On 2 separate outgoing calls, the phone connected and the minute counter on my phone showed such but the Z9i remained silent. I had to redial on those 2 calls and the other party said their phone connected but they could not hear me. I did not mute the phone (pressing and holding the - volume button for 3 seconds). Max isolation reaction was "Wow" from the person I called after informing them my window was halfway down while doing almost 70mph on the freeway.

The 2nd Z9i was for my wife who was with me. She was experiencing connection quirks and issues but didn't want to blame the Z9i until she performs her own controlled evaluation of her unit. Needless to say, the incoming sound quality appears to be very good for both of us. Clarity a plus.

I didn't feel the need to rehash 'Pros' & 'Cons' already mentioned in other reviews. I just wanted to share my own experience and hope that others may have another insight into this product to help them with their own purchasing decision. Perhaps I'm being a tad critical to only award the Z9i 3 stars instead of 4 but with many rave reviews to its credit, I didn't expect these shortcomings that I experienced. Maybe I got a bad unit?

My assessment was made after 7 hours of usage (active and standby) and 37 incoming and outgoing calls in total from my Z9i only.

UPDATE: July 4, 2008
Assessment after a few days of usage.

The range appears limited as explained in my initial post. When my Razr is in the pant pocket on the opposite side of the ear wearing the Z9i, Bluetooth disconnects & reconnects about every 1-2 minutes. Very annoying because you hear beeps every time this happens.

Additionally, my Razr has indicated weak Bluetooth signals and suggested using the handset at least 8 times in the last 3 days during calls. This occured a couple of times when I was driving my car and wearing the Z9i on my right ear with the Motorola Razr less than 2 feet away near the gear shifter.

The problematic silent connection (as mentioned initially) still persists. I had to redial a couple of times because the other party could not hear me even though both parties' phones showed a connection.

One of my friend is also mentioning these problems with their Z9i to me. Their phone is a Sony Ericsson Z610i.

I will begin troubleshooting (i.e. checking for software updates/compatibility issues with my Razr, etc) and issue another update in a week, if not sooner. These problems are becoming a hindrance.

UPDATE: July 14, 2008

After almost 2 weeks of daily use, I am still experiencing all the problems I've detailed above. However, the disconnect-reconnecting issue is not consistent. In some areas (outdoors & indoors) it is frequent while at other times it behaves normally. It still occurs when I wear the Z9i on the opposite side of the phone. I did not have access to any other phones to test other than our Razr & Samsung T629.

My biggest issue is the 'Bluetooth signal is weak. Use handset?' prompt. It is very frustrating to be driving when all of a sudden, my bluetooth connection is lost and I have to pick up the phone and try to switch it over to speakerphone. Sometimes when I'm not quick enough, it will re-connect with the Z9i again and the party I was speaking to would ask what happened. This has occured all too frequently for me and is posing a safety risk while I'm driving.

My wife is also experiencing similar problems with her Z9i/Samsung T629 combo and doesn't use it (Z9i) as much since she hates to deal with these issues.

My friend who owns the Sony Ericsson Z610i only experienced similar problems but they were very limited and she is 'satisfied' with her Z9i.

As for my and my wife's Z9i, I will repack them and auction them on ebay as soon as we find a better alternative. This is only our experience. It may be our phones, frequency interference, etc... any number of factors we may not know about. Apparently several users are very happy with their units. It would be nice if those who posted positive reviews would come back & provide updates so we could better assess this product. Good luck everyone! Drive safely.

Simply the best I've tried so far. I have only had it 2 days to be fair but it seems well constructed is light weight and comfortable. It pairs with two phones simotaniously switching back and forth with out repareing or effort. Sound is very loud and callers think I'm using my handset. I have tried the Jawbone and this unit blows it away. Next test will be on a windy day. Even if it can't hold up to the wind it still the best I've used!

I picked this up as my first bluetooth headset a weeks ago. This is a great headset. I read the reviews of it vs the Jawbone and was concerned about the jawbones durability and the higher price.

This is a great headset for the $$. I have used it in the convertible. Pairs easily with multiple phones. Easy USB charging. The cord is a little short (12 inches) but is nice and small.

Pros: very lightweight, sturdy, great sound quality, long battery life, great price, comfortable, you won't look like a bluetooth alien idiot as much as some of those other big headsets.

Cons: None yet. Proprietary usb charger might be the one nit. Hard to tell how long the battery will last (be nice to have a guage)

Good Luck! ymmw.

When I searched for a new Bluetooth headset (replacing the Motorola H350 which, I believe, my dog ate - couldn't recommend it anyway), the Z9i quickly caught my attention. Even though it's tiny, it has some amazing features which eventually made me order it.

Of course, right after it arrived in the mail, I had to start playing with it and was very surprised by the great sound quality not only on my end but also for the people I was talking to. I own and drive a bunch of classic cars which, needless to say, are loud - and should be - but even while driving those with the windows down, all I have to do is turn the background noise filter up to max and people understand me just fine.

Whoever is looking for an earpiece of great quality that you can wear either with a hook or without (feels very secure either way), the Z9i is your best bet!

T.S., Commercial Pilot, S/W Michigan

I have owned 3 Motorola headsets, a Plantronics, and a Jabra. My Blueant z9i leaves all of these in the dust.

First, the form factor is much smaller than most other devices. The set is so small and lite that you don't even notice it hanging on your ear for extended periods of time.

Fit is customizable, with 2 interchangeable ear gels and a fully adjustable ear hook. The ear gels are screwed to the device, rather than pushed on, providing a securely attached gel that will not wiggle loose. The gels are fairly comfortable, but could be even better by taking a design clue from the Klipsch earbud gels that provide a tight fit in your ear canal by using a more pliable gel.

Sound quality for the z9i is fantastic. There are two modes - one for normal background noise and another for loud environments. I have not used the loud environment mode, but the normal setting seems to work well in louder situations.

The z9i is a great buy, too. At about $70 street price, it's a bargain for such a high-quality device.

I just received my new BlueAnt Z9i in the mail yesterday and couldn't wait to get it open and on my ear! I love new toys! Let me give just a little background.

I bought the original Z9 back in March of this year and loved it. It was my first Bluetooth headset. I had no problems pairing it with my Motorola Razr. However, there were some subsequent connection issues, such as taking too long to go from 'idle' to 'standby' and some dropping issues which were probably due to some kind of interference. I still haven't figured the latter out.

I'm also the proud new owner of an iPhone 3G that I just got three days ago. So I had a couple of days to try out my Z9 with the new iPhone and see if some of the issues I had with the Razr would still be the same with the iPhone. I'm glad to say that after just a couple of days using the Z9 with the iPhone, the 'weak signal' notifications I was getting with my Razr are non-existent with the iPhone.

So, now for the Z9i. In just a day of use, I like some of the new features already. The first is the change from the old to the new in how to disconnect a call. On the original Z9, in order ot hang up a call, I had to hold the MFB for three seconds. On the new Z9i, a single click will do the same. It also seems to connect faster than the Z9.

One thing I have noticed that I don't like is the intermittent 'empty room echo' sound that I've been hearing on occasion. It's hard to say if it's the iPhone or the Z9i. I haven't had that problem with the original Z9 paired with the iPhone in the two days I had them together. I'll have to do some more testing and investigating.

Having used the original for several months, I was already comfortable with the fit and form and have no complaints with the new one. I like the fact that BlueAnt ships an additional earpiece. The original didn't come with an extra.

Overall this is a great sounding earpiece. It's small and lightweight - the reasons I bought the original. The noise isolation is great - not really sure why they have 'standard' and 'max' isolation modes, but they both work very well. The battery life is very good. Because I use it everyday, I have to charge it often.

One other thing that I forgot to mention was the wind test. I have yet to test it in windy conditions. The original Z9 was 'OK' when I was going down the highway at cruising speed with the windows down AND TALKING. The microphones worked great at isolating my voice and cutting out the background noise. However, when I stopped talking to listen to the other party, they could hear all of the whooshing from the wind because that's all the Z9 picked up. Very annoying for the person I would be talking to. I'll post an update for the Z9i a little later on.