Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best Bluetooth in-ear headset I've had, December 14, 2006
Summary: I've had the Discovery 655 for two weeks now and I'm very happy with its audio, microphone, and wearability, particularly relative to the the Nextlink BlueSpoon product (now badged as a Radio Shack VoiceStar product), which is the other "in-ear" bluetooth I've had. The in-ear models are preferable to me because I wear glasses. I recommend the 655 to anyone, with only significant drawbacks in battery life and unnecessary complexity in recharging. Detail follows...
Wearability: (4/5) It stayed in my ear securely walking through the airport, getting into and out of the car, etc. -- all without the optional ear loop. Comfortable enough and light enough that I often forget it is in my ear. The mid-size ear bud worked for me. The BlueSpoon product is slightly better and more secure, but the 655 works fine. Great for people with glasses.
Audio quality: (5/5) Both the incoming and outgoing audio quality are far superior to Nextlink/VoiceStar. The VoiceStar (and to a lesser extent the BlueSpoon) incoming audio was constantly crackling to the extent that it was unbearable. 655 is very good. My wife tells me that I sound very close to handset quality when I use the 655, and it even works in mild wind. The DSP drowns out some background airport/airplane noise, but not a lot. The audio from the headset was plenty loud, and I rarely have to turn my BlackBerry volume up over halfway when using the 655. With the BlueSpoon, I was at max volume or one away from max volume all the time, rendering the BlueSpoon useless in loud environments like the airport or in the wind walking from the office to the car.
Cost/Value: (5/5) If you get the good deal through Amazon (around $70) it is well worth the price and functionality you get. BlueSpoon/ VoiceStar was close to the same price with audio only half as good as the 655. I wouldn't pay the $120-150 that some retail sites are asking for this product.
Buttons: (5/5) Yes, they are more difficult to push than the BlueSpoon or other over the ear Bluetooth headsets, but it doesn't bother me at all or knock the headset out of my ear when I push them.
Battery life: (3/5) Doesn't last nearly as long, both in talk time and standby time than the BlueSpoon. I didn't rate it lower because it is a known trade-off for getting DSP. The 655 also offers you the option to turn off the DSP to save battery life. Haven't tried it yet.
Charging: (4/5) The ability to charge via a USB cable is a big plus, but the BlueSpoon USB charging was so much more simple. The 655 requires that you carry around the extra charging "sleeve," and to use the USB charger, you have to snap on an extra extension to be able to plug in the small USB end of th cable. The BlueSpoon headset simply had the small USB plug built directly into the headset, so no extra parts necessary. However, the sleeve does allow for the extra functionality of being able to recharge via the AAA battery snap on attachment. The 655 sleeve also seems to have fixed the loose fit problems that plague the 640/645 based on the 640/645 reviews I've read.
Looks: (5/5) Much less bulky than over the ear headsets and it looks very sleek and modern. Very nice.
Misc:
- The 655 will blink a different number of times when you turn it on to let you know approx. how much battery life is left -- very handy.
- There is a slight delay between when you place your call and when the 655 starts transmitting audio to your ear -- usually about one ring. Nearly all calls end up ringing a couple times, so this didn't create any issues for me.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat Disappointing, November 25, 2006
I've tried a bunch of Bluetooth headsets, mostly about a year or so back when I first got a Bluetooth phone. Went through the Moto HS-820, which had horrible battery life, then the Logitech Mobile Freedom (which was pretty good! but w/o DSP allowed too much noise through), Logitech Mobile Traveller (which I got for free from Logitech because an in-warranty headset broke -- this thing felt like it was making my ear bleed it was so uncomfortable), and finally the Gennum nxZen Plus. The nxZen is a sweetheart, a lovely headset that I had no complaints against.
But, well, I started a new job and could expense a headset, and I liked the idea of being able to charge my headset using a Nokia adapter (which you can get separately with the 655, and comes with the 645). So I got the 655.
Ugh.
Problems with it:
1. It occasionally makes a three-tone sound that is completely undocumented in the book. I *think* it means the phone is re-establishing connectivity with the headset, but it looks like it's already connected. It's just disconcerting;
2. The button to answer/end calls is so stiff that you have two options -- you either hold the headset between two fingers and press the button, or you press the button, mashing the headset into your ear. Neither is a particularly pleasant option;
3. Most importantly, callers complained about poor sound quality -- especially as compared with the Gennum nxZen Plus. That basically killed it for me.
I'll be returning this headset on Monday.
-roy
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37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bluetooth headsets still not good enough., December 11, 2006
I bought this for around $70 here on amazon after reading the reviews on cnet, etc. It was their highest-rated bluetooth headset. It works, but it could be much much better.
First, I think technology still has a long way to go with regards to bluetooth/wireless headsets. Sound quality on this thing, while loud enough, made everyone sound like they were talking through several layers of tshirts. Everyone I've spoken to on this says they can tell I'm "on something" but that I sound "fine." Fine isn't good enough for me.
Let's talk design: It absolutely excels in the "Cool" department - it looks slick and isn't some chubby ear thing. But, with that cool looking factor comes a lose and ill-fitting earpiece. Yes, it comes with 3 replacable earpieces, but none fit me quite right. I would like to offer this suggestion to all who own/consider owning this: When you are trying to insert this into your ear, take your hand opposite the side of the ear you are putting this in, grab the top of your earlobe and pull up while twisting this thing into your ear canal. I got it to fit OK but walking around with it - it feels like it's going to fall out any second.
The buttons: Yes they are small but we are all aware that as technology shrinks, so are the buttons. Yes, they are difficult to use, but I'm used to it and you should be too. Main problem: Is that you really have to press down for the buttons to click, and this thing is already ready to fall out of your ear, so trying to slam on a button isn't helping. Why someone doesn't put a nice little trackwheel for volume on one of these things is beyond me.
You can walk around with this but you'll want to keep your phone nearby - I walked into the next room not more than 10 feet from the phone and it got static, etc. Pretty weak if you ask me.
It works OK. It paired up with my Motorolla KRZR just fine and works no problem. I wonder if the Motorolla headsets work better with Motorola phones.
The main reason I got it is for when I drive because I don't like being on my cell while driving and everyone seems to want to call me when I'm driving. For that purpose it is acceptable. I guess my expectations are too high for this technology... again.
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