Customer Reviews

Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Gold) [Retail Packaging]

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

I am a much heavier user of bluetooth headsets than most. My job requires me to spend long hours consulting on the phone, so a comfortable, reliable, BT headset that will last all day without a charge is a requirement for me. I typically buy a new cell phone every 6 months (Current is a Nokia E51, next will be a 3G iPhone :), and a new headset (I compared this one to a Jabra JX10 which I used previously) nearly as often. Some of my criteria may not be something you need, so keep that in mind as you read through,and as with any product, choose what features you will use, and which are "cool" but unnecessary.

What's in the Box:
-An extremely light headset (8 grams!)
-Three ear pieces (small, medium, large)
-Wall Charger
-USB Charger
-Nice looking Case that also charges the headset
-Short, Simple, Clear Instruction Manual

Pros:

Looks - The Plantronics 925 is a very attractive headset. It doesn't have the goofy, bulky, flashy "star trek" look that a lot of headsets do. The smooth, attractive lines, and the thin mouthpiece are very low key and elegant. The headset also comes in 3 colors: standard black, fashionable gold, and feminine cerise.

Charging - Plantronics included not 1, not 2, but 3 ways to charge this headset: through the wall, by usb, or with the extremely cool charging case. The case has it's own lithium ion battery, and it will actually hold a single charge for the headset without being plugged in. This means for an overnight trip all you have to bring with you is the headset and the case, and you'll still be able to recharge it once.

Pairing - The 925 connected quickly and easily to my phone, this shouldn't be a challenge for anyone to do after a few minutes skimming the manual.

Comfort and Fit - I prefer the "in ear" style of BT headsets to the "over the ear" style, so the 925's setup was great. The customizable earbuds should ensure a comfortable fit for most people, although there will be some who will experience irritation with all the sizes. The earbuds are a tad fragile, so be careful when handling them.

Stability - The plantronics feels really light and loose, but it also stays in place! Nothing is more annoying than a headset that falls out, but this one does a great job staying in place.

Range - The headset does well out to about 20 feet, any further and distortion begins to occur. Bluetooth is rated for 33 feet maximum, but in real life you will seldom get this far, and the 925 does excellent compared to other headsets.

Sound Quality - The 925 does very well in this area. No one could "tell" I was on a headset, and both incoming and ougoing sound were crisp and clear for me and the person on the other end. The one exception was in wind, which I will discuss later.

Battery Life - The 925 is rated for up to 5 hours of talk time and 7 days (!) of standby time, which is great for a BT headset. Although battery life does typically decline over time, in my experience it definitely lived up to the promise and I was very impressed by the amount of time I could go between charges.

Cons: (Keep in mind these may not be important to you!)

Controls - The 925 has 2 buttons: One large multi-purpose button on the side, and one smaller one on the top for volume. While the multi-purpose one is pretty standard (answering or placing calls, voice dialing, etc), the volume control is somewhat lacking. It only has 3 levels (high, medium, low) which it cycles through. This is in contrast to competing headsets (such as my Jabra) which have both "+" and "-" for volume, which can give more precise control over the volume.

Wind Noise - This is something that is a problem on most headsets, and while this one did better than most low end headsets, it didn't do as well as competitors at half its price (such as the Aliph Jawbone). Such a pricey headset should not experience such bad feedback and voice choppiness when outdoors or on the highway.

Price - The 925 is definitely on the higher end of the price range for BT headsets. The features for the price may or may not be worth it to you, and you could be just as happy with a much lower priced headset.

Overall:

Overall the 925 is a great looking premium headset which is packed with features. Comfort, ease of use, battery life, and sound quality were all excellent. The charging methods provided were exceptional, and the charging case is just plain cool. This headset is certainly better than most of the cheap headsets out there. Still, the price is high, and the controls and wind noise performance could be better. These aside, there is an excellent chance you will look great in and love this headset.

I agonized over these two items before picking the Plantronics 925.

Why Jawbone is better (in my opinion):
(1) better noise canceling capability (if there is some turbulence in the air, you can hear it with the 925 but not Jawbone).
(2) more masculine design (though the 925 black version is slightly more masculine, the overall design looks like a hair pin. the gold & cerise designs gear toward the female fashionistas).
(3) cheaper (by a few bucks if you shop around).

Why Plantronics 925 is better (in my opinion):
(1) smaller, lighter, & fits nicely in your ear.
(2) gel ear tip works very well. doesn't feel insecure like the Jawbone. i have free range of movement without feeling like it's going to fall off.
(3) ambidextrous - can change from right to left ear without adjustment (unlike Jawbone).
(4) the charging case provides extra juice on the run (however, it looks girly (much apology to the female readers). the micro-USB port is an inconvenience as you cannot use your standard USB charging cable and I have many of those around the house already).
(5) very fast syncing.
(6) audio quality of the 925 and Jawbone is superior compared to their peers.
(7) distinct design. some of my friends have the Jawbone, but none has the Plantronics 925 yet.

0--0--0--0--0--0
after three months' use - - -
(+) very light-weight. comfortable. hardly feel in your ear(s) at all.
(+) good volume.
(+) there is a useful function where you can (re)establish BT connectivity after answering call by pressing talk button on the phone rather than the headset, allow easy (re)connection if you accidentally answer the call using the phone and not the headset, especially on the road.
(-) headset battery runs out after ~2 of non-use.
(-) the recharger holder is nice but i don't use EVER after 2 months. a hassle to carry / insert / remove. only good if you go on a 2-3 day trip to the boondocks.
(-) i dropped it once from 3-ft height. got scratched. but still works.

I've been a big fan of Plantronics products for some time. They make a-lot of commercial communication equipment for aviation, dispatching, etc. and I've used some of them in those capacities. The kind of commitment to quality it takes to maintain those markets shows up strongly in their Bluetooth Headsets. I had been using their Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset with Multipoint Technology [Retail Packaged] headset for a year and have never had a single complaint. When asked to review this product, I thought it would be hard to live up to the Voyager's performance, but the "Discovery 925" handled it with ease.

This is a new idea in Bluetooth headsets. It is ultra light, sharp looking and meant to be worn for extended periods without discomfort. For the first time in my experience there is no "over the ear" sling or hard "loop" to snag on your hair, jewelry or rub your ear the wrong way. The 925 fits inside your ear and at about 1/3 of an ounce, you hardly know it's there. It comes with three sizes of gel eartips that I would think would fit just about everyone. The mic boom is contoured to follow the curve of your cheek. I am a very large man and this headset fits me like a glove. I also had my much smaller friend try it (with a different eartip) and it fit her equally as well.

The ease of connection and sound quality is pure Plantronics. If you've used their Bluetooth headsets before and liked them, the 925 will not disappoint. If you're new to Plantronics, I would suggest giving them a try. They tend to cost a bit more, but in this case you really do get what you pay for.

This is a beautiful earpiece. It is very comfortable and feels secure in my ear. BEWARE! It is not compatible with ALL bluetooth enabled phones. I discovered after receiving mine that the Plantronics Discovery 925 does NOT work with the Palm Centro (or the other Palm Treos) or several other phones. I am absolutely heartbroken as I love the fit and feel of this earpiece. I thought my quest for the ideal bluetooth headset had finally ended. This earpiece is a beautiful marriage of form and function, but check the Plantronics website for compatibility BEFORE you buy it.

The search for the perfect Bluetooth headset is never-ending, it seems. In the last 3 years, I've gone through more brands and models than I care to think about. Now I've tried the Plantronics Discovery 925, and tell you with no hesitation that it is in the top two of those I have used.

The Plantronics Discovery 925 is more an earpiece than a headset, with an earbud that fits inside the ear with surprising comfort, rather than an earloop that hangs over the ear. This means that it is much more comfortable to wear with eyeglasses and/or sunglasses. Indeed it is so comfortable that I sometimes forget I am wearing it.

Pairing the device is a snap, and while my old Jabra headset frequently lost its pairing (weekly at least), the Plantronics Discovery 925 has not yet.

The sound quality is tremendous. Audio is crystal clear from both my side and on the caller's side, if my friends and family are to be believed. LOL

Plantronics touts this headset as having great noise reduction technology, and I will say that it is better in the noise reduction arena than all but one of the headsets I've tried in the past. The only headset I have personally tried that surpasses the Plantronics Discovery 925 in noise reduction is the Jawbone headset.

What I really love about the Discovery 925 is the charging options. This headset comes with both an AC charger cable and a USB charger cable. Not only that, it comes with a compact charging case. You can charge the headset either in the case or directly, using the same cables for each. The beauty of the case is that it charges alongside the headset when you have it plugged in to electrical power. Then when your headset's battery dies, you simply put the headset in the case to recharge on the go - WITHOUT connecting either the case or the headset to electrical current. I've purposely let the headset's charge completely drain and charged it with the case, and found it worked admirably. And to top it all off, the Plantronics Discovery 925 charges fully in just a couple of hours, whether via electrical current or the portable charge case.

Now here is where I prove what a woman I can be. The last quality I want to point out is purely cosmetic - its appearance. This is by far the most attractive headset I've ever seen. It's design almost looks like a cufflink or tie clip. It is sleek, innocuous, and comes in three different colors: black, gold, and pink. Personally, I like the more unobtrusive black model myself, but for those who want a little bit livelier hue, the other options work too. Yeah, I know, the appearance is a pretty frivolous virtue, but as often as we wear these things nowadays, it is nice to find a Bluetooth headset that doesn't have to trade form for function.

For the best in noise reduction, Jawbone's Bluetooth headset is the overall winner, but Plantronics Discovery 925 runs a very close second in this category. In all other categories, I would choose Plantronics as the number one headset.

Phone used with: HP iPaq 6945 Unlocked Cell Phone with Wi-fi, GPS, MP3/Video Player, SD--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)

Most recent Headsets I've used:
Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset - Black
Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset- Black
Jabra BT250v Bluetooth Headset with Vibrating Alert [Retail Packaged]
Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset
Motorola H300 Bluetooth Headset

OK, I splurged. I usually don't spend this much on a headset. I've actually owned a ton of them over the past few years (check out some of my older reviews). Most of them were cheap sub-$30 headsets. Let me just say, "I can't believe the difference."

After doing some research here and on Plantronics' website, I pulled the trigger. I'm using this with two phones; my Sony Ericsson W580i and my BlackBerry 8310.

Pros:

- First off, the sound quality of this headset is awesome. It is crystal-clear on my end and zero-complaints on the other. No more sounding like I'm in a tunnel. I assume this is the AudioIQ technology doing it's thing.

- Secondly, the headset is super-lightweight and this equals comfort. I was skeptical at first about just popping this in my ear without a hook. Once I picked the right size ear-thingy, it fits perfect and I can barely notice it's there. Even after a few hours of wearing it (I know, I'm a geek) I barely notice it. I can do the "shake-your-head" test and this stays in place.

Cons:

- The charging "case" is cool, but I have a hard time getting the headset out of it sometimes. Thankfully, I can just plug the adapter right into the headset, bypassing the need for the extra bulk.

- The price; but honestly, after spending more on a collection of "less impressive" headsets over the past few years, you really do get what you pay for.

Highly recommended for it's sharp looks, perfect clarity and ultra-comfort.

I was tired of getting caught up in all the wires from my earpiece to the phone and the phone to the charger, etc., so I looked for a good quality bluetooth device and landed on this one. I have to admit that the first one I bought quit working (couldn't get it to talk to the phone, even after pairing!), so I'm on my second one. If this one quits, that's it. So far, I really like it. I have VERY small ears and the smallest ear bud fits (it could even be smaller!) comfortably.
I'm using it with an iPhone and it's easy to pair and easy to use. The clarity is wonderful. I drive a lot on the expressways and don't have the world's quietest car (lots of wind noise), so I wanted a bluetooth that would give me loud, clear reception during conversations. This one definitely does.
One additional thing - my husband says it looks like hair jewelry in my ear, it's so fashionable! I get lots of compliments (and comments) on it!

I ordered this earpiece because I wanted something with color and because of the 5 star reviews it had received from others. I personally have never written a review before, so that in itself speaks volumes about this product. I was hesitant about the color online and the shape, but it is a great looking piece. It's lightweight, stays in your ear, and is clear. The extra charge you can get out of the case is also a plus, and for me, since I tend to misplace small things, just having a case to put the earpiece in is a convenience. I highly recommend this product.

Pros:
- stylish
- small
- good sound quality for other party

Cons:
- frequent static on our end (but not theirs)
- flashes when not in use (when using handset to talk, not earpiece)
- loses sync after a few hours; takes a few seconds and multiple presses to turn back on and re-sync

I was not a frequent user of Bluetooth devices before this one, so those last two cons may apply to other BT headsets as well. The previous BT earpiece I used was a Motorola, and this one is vastly superior in sound quality and battery life.

It's small, it's attractive, it works well outside on busy streets in the wind. But there is transient but frequent static on our end, listening to the other party. There can be long periods with no static, but it does come and go. The other party rarely notices any static, and some callers say I sound better on this BT earpiece than my first-gen iPhone handset alone.

Overall, I'm happy with it, and can't see using one of the bulkier alternatives. But if you like using your BT all the time, not just in the car or other rare occasions, then the static on your end might annoy you.

I've had my earpiece for about three months and the mic has suddenly cut out. I can hear the people who call me (or whom I call), but they can't hear me.

That was disappointing, but I've just got off the phone with Plantronics and, after talking me through their troubleshooting steps, they're sending me a replacement piece. Should have it in 3 - 5 days.

So, nil point for the quality of this earpiece I purchased through Amazon (because the mic should not fail within three months), but 5-stars for Plantronics customer service (hence my giving it a 3-star rating).

Actually, I think I'll raise that to a 4-star, because I really do like the piece, love the case (which keeps the unit clean and protected), and I get all sorts of compliments on it. Rating would have been 5-star if not for this faulty microphone.

(Of course, perhaps I should wait to see about the quality of the replacement piece...)