5 Things to Look For When Choosing a Bluetooth Headset

1. How does the headset fit?

This is probably the most important thing to consider. If you get a headset that is uncomfortable for you, you will not want to use it. Overall, there are three different wearing styles to choose from: inside your ear, on your ear, and over your head. The best way to find out which one is for you is to try one of each. All three versions are comfortable, it’s just a matter of finding the perfect fit for you.

You also might want to consider how adjustable the headset is. Does it offer different sized earbuds and earloops? If you have very small ears a fixed bud in-the-ear headset like the Plantronics Voyager 520 will probably not be the most comfortable for you.

2. What sort of noise cancelling does the headset offer?

If you will primarily be using the headset indoors, this may not be a concern for you. However most of us will be using headsets in our cars or on the street. In both these scenarios noise cancelling is very important. If you are often in areas with a lot of wind, you should consider noise cancelling Bluetooth headsets that will combat the wind, such as the Jawbone 2 Bluetooth with NoiseAssasin. This headset uses sound conduction through your body, and therefore has great noise-cancelling. The Plantronics Voyager series has WindSmart technology that works really well at cutting down that swooshing wind noise. A fair amount of Plantronics headsets offer AudioIQ, which automatically adjusts the outgoing volume for clearer calls. Some headsets also have dual microphones, which allow them to focus in on your voice and not the background sounds.

On BluetoothStore.com, we do audio tests of all our headsets in an office, in a car and on the street. That way you can hear how the noise cancelling works on all of them.

3. How easy is the headset to use?

If the headset is hard to put on and hard to turn on, it may be more of a hassle to use than not use. All manufacturers try to make their headsets easy to use, but of course not all are equal. Some headsets also offer quick pairing which will put the headset into pairing mode immediately. Others require that you push a series of buttons to get the headset into pairing mode. Most likely you will get used to any headset you have after a bit of time, but if you want something really easy off the get-go, we recommend the Plantronics Discovery 925. It pops into your ear quickly and turns on with the push of one button.

4. What special features does the headset have?

Some headsets simply allow you to talk wirelessly on your phone, but others have added special features. Some are A2DP compatible, meaning you can use them to listen to stereo music through your stereo Bluetooth phone or your iPod player with an adapter. The BlueAnt V1 Bluetooth headset has voice command, so you can talk to the headset rather than pushing buttons. A lot of headsets have some sort of noise cancelling, which we talked about in number 2. Some headsets offer quick pairing making it really easy to pair up to your phone.

3. What does the headset look like?

This is simply a matter of taste and will be different for everyone. Just be aware that headsets come in many different flavors. Some of the most stylish headsets are: the Plantronics Discovery 925, the Jawbone 2, the Motorola Frost and the BlueAnt z9i.