There is a range of Bluetooth headsets on the market – they come from different manufacturers, have various features, are priced differently, etc. And it is not surprising if you can’t decide which one to buy. Every person will choose the one based on their own preferences – whether it’s features, style, usability or something else. In this post I wanted to compare three Bluetooth headsets that are arguably the best ones on the market in 2011 – Bose Bluetooth Headset, Jawbone ERA and Plantronics Discovery 975. Keep reading and you might find the headset that is perfect for YOU.

Bose Bluetooth Headset

FEATURES

The first ever Bluetooth headset from BOSE comes with an adaptive audio adjustment technology. It allows you to be heard by the person on the other end of the line without distractions from background noises. The device is also capable of automatically changing its volume and filtering out surrounding sounds.

The headset comes with high quality replaceable silicon tips. These tips will fit most ears, and will firmly hold the device in place, so an over-the-ear hook is not required.

The fully charged battery of this little thing held for about 4.5 hours of talking and should last about 175 hours on standby. The device also has a battery indicator that blinks from green to red.

The device has an answer/end call button that can be easily flicked, a power slide switch and it comes with portable Wall and USB chargers.

Bose Bluetooth Headset is designed for right ear only, so if you are used to having your headset in the left ear – this one is not for you.

STYLE

Bose Bluetooth headset has a somewhat unique design – its sleek black color and silver lining, curved to an attractive finish, simply says professionalism at first glance.

Personally, I found this one appealing – maybe because I like black. Its curve and other design elements make it look elegant and sophisticated.

USABILITY

I found this headset to be really comfortable – I tend to forget that something is in my year after  a short while. To tell you the truth I’m not that worried about the headset being designed for right ear only. I mostly use headsets in the car while driving, and wear them in the right ear anyway. I guess if you use the headset all the time, your ear might get irritated and you’d want to change the ear, and this particular one might not be suitable. But for most users it shouldn’t be a showstopper.

Voice quality is actually very good. Having this one come from a company that specializes in music audio, I kind of wished they’d thought of having kicked it up a notch and installed some music features.

PRICE

This is the most expensive headset out of the three in this comparison, but if you take the Bose quality and other features into account $149.95 might not be such a big price to pay.

Jawbone ERA headset

FEATURES

The Jawbone ERA is the only Bluetooth headset with military-grade technology that was originally designed for tank commanders and helicopter pilots to cancel out any background noise during war skirmishes. Its 10 mm wideband speaker had me experience a whole new level of HD-quality sound at its portable best. It is also equipped with a built-in accelerometer and patented Motion technology that allows you to either shake the headset to pair it with your phone, or tap it to answer calls.

I had no need to take off the headset to check the battery status – simply check its level on my phone. If the phone is not within reach, you can easily check the battery status by pressing the TALK button and you will instantly get an estimated remaining talk time. The headset will also remind you to charge it up when it feels it’s running low on fuel. The battery lasted around 5 hours of talking.

Jawbone Era comes with 8 different size earbuds, so everybody should be able to find the one that fits perfectly.

A bit of good news for the eco-friendly buyers – Jawbone ERA packaging is made of 100% recyclable materials.

STYLE

The overall concept of Jawbone ERA’s design reminds me of those clever crochet designs – it is intricate but delicate at the same time. The color palette too is well thought through. It comes in 4 color options and they all look very modern.

Overall, I like the design and different color options.

USABILITY

I certainly loved the motion detecting feature of this one, where you’d just shake it and have it automatically pair up with a device that is closer than 30 feet away from you. You can install some cool apps, which will allow you to send emails or text messages using your voice, change languages, etc.

Jawbone ERA is actually pretty comfy to wear, although it might start to get irritating if used for long periods. Its noise filtering function is good – you can be near a landing plane and the person on the other end of the line would still hear you. All in all, it’s a good solid headset.

PRICE

At the moment Jawbone Era costs between $100 and $130, but the price is likely to go down when new models are released.

Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset

FEATURES

Plantronics Discovery 975 features the latest advanced audio technology, which cancels background noise while retaining the natural sound of your voice during conversations in whatever surrounding you might find yourself in. This headset also has a built-in wind protection technology that basically aims to block off wind noise. Another useful feature worth mentioning is a multipoint technology that allows the headset to pair and maintain connections with two devices.

Plantronics Discovery 975 comes with patented gel ear tips, which ensure comfortable and secure fit. It has a fantastic voice alert system, which warns you about incoming calls, battery status, lost connection and more.

Battery should last for up to 5 hours of uninterrupted talk. The final, and, in my opinion, best feature of this headset is the self charging case which is very handy when you mostly use the headset in the car. Just place the headset into the cradle once you arrive to your destination, and it will last for weeks (of light/medium use of course) without charging.

STYLE

Plantronics Discovery 975 has a rather simple, but stylish design. It doesn’t have any complicated patterns, just a straight, silver rod and black colored earpiece, with a little silver detail on it. When I first saw it, I immediately thought of sci-fi. It reminded me of those earphones I’ve seen in Star Trek or many other classic space movies.

USABILITY

I spend a lot of time on the phone for business and personal calls. I have had this Bluetooth earpiece for around 6 months now and absolutely love it. The call quality is great, and it’s very comfortable to wear. It’s light, comfortable, has excellent range, and the battery seems to last forever. It also comes with a handy charger case so it’s convenient to store and always charged up!

PRICE

Plantronics Discovery 975 RRP is $99.99, but you can get it cheaper on sites like Amazon.

CONCLUSION

Each headset in this review comes with unique features, style elements and technologies. It is very hard to recommend a headset that will suit everyone. So, if you are into style and brand names – Bose Bluetooth Headset is the best option for you. If you are looking for the most feature-rich headset try Jawbone Era.

But I would have to say that Plantronics Discovery 975 is the winner of this review. It is lightweight, affordable, offers amazing sound quality and of course has a great portable charging case.