VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

So I dumped my business land line several years ago, like many of you. I now have an LG Android phone that overall I'm reasonably pleased with, except for the fact that when I speak into the phone, I often accidentally hang up! If my cheek touches a certain place on the screen - boom, I've just hung up on my client.

Not good.

So I've been trying out headsets for my cell phone. I tried a Philips over the head SHL9705A/28 (who comes up with these names anyhow?), which was great, but after 3 months the audio jack died. Then I also tried a MEElectronics M6P-BK in-the-ear type headset. The sound coming IN is fine, but I just listened back to a voicemail I left where I used this headset, and the audio quality to the listener was terrible. I also have a Samsung Bluetooth ear bud, and that had even worse audio quality for the listener.

I really don't need a noise-cancelling type of headset, as I won't be using it for driving. I don't care if it's bulky, since I'll only wear it for business calls, and I don't do a ton of that (I mostly communicate via email these days).

There are hundreds of headsets on Amazon, so I though I'd ask here first. Any suggestions?
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Velfin · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:37 pm Post subject:

I'll be buying one of these soon - I like the retro aspect and the color options. I'll let you know how the sound quality goes.
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DougVox · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:42 pm Post subject:

Yeah...perfect:

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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Thanks Kendra. I saw sets just like yours on Amazon, and they also caught my eye. But unfortunately they have below-average ratings, no better than 3 stars. The ones on Amazon are made by Moshi - dunno if yours are the same or not.
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Well golly, apparently the negative reviews on Amazon are due to cheap knock-offs being sold and passed off as Native Union phones! Now that I know that, this option is suddenly more appealing. I love the design.

But I think I'd prefer something I don't have to hold onto or cradle on my neck. Something just like that Phillips model was perfect, if it hadn't been so fragile. It's an over-the head design (looks like the cans we use in the booth... or don't use...), with an in-line microphone.
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heyguido · Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject:

Tom....

Plantronics Discovery 975. Noise cancelling, lightweight, outstanding audio.
As little as $50 on Amazon, or $75 from Plantronics. Last one you'll ever buy.

My wife is a sales pro, and wears one constantly. After going through dozens from Samsung, Moto, Blue Ant, even Jawbone.... This is the one she settled on and loves. Sounds great to her clients, has a self-charging protective case so it's never dead, easy to wear without discomfort.

Worth every penny, and since it's made by Plantronics, it's nearly bulletproof, and if it breaks, they back it up, no questions.
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Jen Gosnell · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:37 am Post subject:

I have the Plantronics Don mentions. Though I haven't evaluated it for client interactions, I've been quite happy with it over time, and not had any complaints from those I use it to talk to.
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Thanks a lot, Don and Jen!

The Plantronics would certainly handle the business phone calling criteria well. Only thing is, I was also using this Phillips unit for music listening on my Android phone, and the Plantronics wouldn't be any good at all for that. I am hoping to kill 2 birds with one stone. But perhaps I'd be compromising the outgoing call quality too much with the typical headset geared more towards music listening?? If so, I might just buy the Plantronics unit, and then a separate set for music.

But I could get a Phillips Citiscape Uptown set for under $60 on eBay: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHL5905BK-28-CitiScape-Headphones/dp/B007BNE564/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1362606806&sr=1-1&keywords=phillips+citiscape+uptown

Or the V-Moda Crossfade for under $90 on eBay:
http://www.amazon.com/Crossfade-Over-Ear-Noise-Isolating-Headphone-Gunmetal/dp/B003BYRGKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362606970&sr=8-1&keywords=V-Moda+Crossfade

Both very good for music, and as far as I can tell from user reviews, good for call quality too.
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Tom Test
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Zach Meissner · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:34 pm Post subject:

Tom,

Check out these two models from Plantronics, they both do A2DP - music passthrough.

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-Voyager-Pro-HD-Bluetooth/dp/B005IMB5SG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362609038&sr=8-2&keywords=plantronics+voyager+pro

and the newer version of the Voyager:

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-Voyager-Legend-Bluetooth-Headset/dp/B0092KJ9BU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Plantronics are fantastic headsets, I use one frequently.

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Thanks Zach!

What is "music pass-through?" I can't imagine enjoying listening to music through one ear.
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Zach Meissner · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:06 pm Post subject:

heyguido · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:40 pm Post subject:

Tom...

Separate tools for separate needs. Kinda like a salad spinner that also purees.

For mic audio quality, plantronics or jawbone. For music, wired beats bluetooth for quality. The klipsch buds that zach mentioned are both very good, as are a number of others.
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Don Brookshire
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Don, I think you are right about separate tools.

I'm going to buy a Plantronics headset for business/driving use. I'll take a look at what Staples has in stock nearby (got a $25 coupon on purchases over $100 somewhere...). And I'll look into your suggestions Zach. I'm presently not a big fan of in-ear headphones, though I will consider them. I might go instead for something like the Grado SR80i for music.

You guys have been a great help - thanks much!! Smile

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SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:05 pm Post subject:

You mentioned you no longer have a business landline. Do you have a personal landline?* I still do although my cell number is my business number. Tomorrow I am getting bluetooth enabled cordless phones for my home landline. I can connect to my cell via bluetooth and when my cell rings, it also rings on the landline and I can answer and speak on the landline. You can also set up a distinctive ring for the cell number so that you know when it is a business call and when it is a personal call.

While I haven't used it yet, I understand from a friend that it works really well. The one I am getting is a Bell Canada phone so I don't know who manufactures it. I'm quite looking forward to trying it.

I think this is the one I am getting (it was on sale when I ordered it so I'm not sure if it is exactly the same one).

http://tinyurl.com/cptlv2f

*I just noticed that you do not need landline service to use this.
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Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Very interesting, Elaine. As it turns out, I just replaced all our phones for our personal landline several months ago with a nice Panasonic unit. You reminded me that is has a similar capability, though I don't think it can transfer a cell phone call to the landline.

Well, I decided that Don was right about getting 2 different headphones for 2 different jobs. I ended up buying a Discovery 975 for $50 on Amazon, for use on business calls.

For music, that was a tough one. I really really wanted to splurge on the $110 Grado SR80i. I was also sorely tempted by the $50 Beyerdynamic DT 235. But I ended up buying the Sennheiser P200X II. I think I would have liked the sound of the Grados better, and the Senn is probably about the equal of the sound of the Beyerdynamic. But one thing that sold me on the Sennheisers was that the P200 can be folded, and therefore they will work really well as headphones for recording when I travel.

I just came back from a week’s vacation and relied on fairly inexpensive set of in-ear buds for monitoring – and they really weren’t up to the task. Paul Strikweda mentioned the Sennheisers in his blog post about travel gear, and after a lot of research and reflection, I thought it was my best choice. It killed several birds with one stone: easily transportable since they can be folded; accurate enough for monitoring and also do not leak sound; and very good for music. Oh, and while the retail is a little under $100, I got a set for a mere $50 on Amazon!

And speaking of music, my research on headphones leads me to believe that there is a generational difference in taste when it comes to headphones and speakers. Simply put, I think the younger generation (I'm 49) values bass more than Baby Boomers and older Gen X. I straddle those two generations myself. I don't think one preference is superior to the other, I think it is more a matter of the type of music listened to. (Zach, please don't think I'm dissing you! I know you are new here, and I appreciate the contributions you've been making since you've joined. But I have a feeling we have different tastes in audio.)

I think that people who prefer rap, hip-hop, and electronic dance music really dig a deep bass, even if it isn't "natural." For example, "Beats by Dr. Dre" are very popular and expensive headphones with a deep, deep bass. But to my ears, the bass seems overwhelming. Based on user reviews on Amazon, I feared the in-ear Klipsch S4s Zach suggested would be too bass-heavy for my taste.

I've been driving a new rental car the past few days with a very nice stereo. Excellent separation and imaging, good treble. But the bass was too muddy, and the midrange was missing. When I listened to a song with a softer vocal track, I could barely hear it. Vocals mostly happen in the midrange. Personally, I'm happy to sacrifice what sounds like artificially boosted bass in order to hear clear vocals.

Zach, please don't think I'm dissing you! I know you are new here, and I appreciate the contributions you've been making since you've joined. But I have a feeling we have different tastes in audio.
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
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