- Ultimate-fit Eargels and optional earhook provide all day comfort
- Multiuse allows you to connect to two devices at the same time
- Adjusts volume automatically
- 5½ hours talk time and up to 10.5 days standby time
- Includes car charger
Product Description
Office, car, street – the best noise cancellation anytime, anywhere. Building upon Jabra’s renowned noise cancellation technology, Jabra EXTREME utilizes Noise Blackout Extreme, which significnatly enhances its dual microphone system. This is supported by the new advanced automatic volume control which automatically adjusts to the environment and your conversation. These developments have led Jabra EXTREME to be twice as effective in noisy environments (by 24db) than the original Noise Blackout. What will further amaze you is the voice quality; while Jabra EXTREME eliminates ambient noise, it retains natural sounding voice on both ends of the line ensuring your converation is full of life rather than a robotic exchange of words.Amazon.com Product Description
Featuring advanced noise-cancellation technology, automatic volume control, and Acoustic Shock Protection, the Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset is ideal for people who talk on the go. Ultimate-fit Ear gels and an optional ear hook conform to your ear for a comfortable, personalized fit, while a convenient car charger lets you talk for hours without interruption.
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 Reduces ambient noise and retains natural-sounding voices. View larger. |
Advanced Noise-Cancellation Technology
Whether you’re talking in your office, in a restaurant, or on the street, the Jabra EXTREME’s advanced noise-cancellation technology ensures that you can hear and be heard, even in noisy environments. The headset features Noise Blackout Extreme, which works in tandem with a dual microphone system to eliminate ambient noise while retaining natural-sounding voices on either end of the conversation.
For enhanced clarity, the headset’s automatic volume control intuitively adjusts to your environment and your conversation. In addition, the headset’s Acoustic Shock Protection protects your ear from sudden blasts of noise.
Car Charger and Dual Device Operation
Designed to fit your busy lifestyle, the Jabra EXTREME comes with a convenient car charger and headset holder so you can charge your headset in the car between calls. The headset’s Multiuse feature allows you to connect to two devices, such as a laptop and a phone, at the same time. When fully charged, the headset offers 5-1/2 hours of talk time and up to 10-1/2 days of standby time.
Comfortable Ear Piece
The Jabra EXTREME’s Ultimate-fit Ear gels are soft and flexible, conforming to your ear for a personalized and secure fit. An optional ear hook further enhances your comfort.
What’s in the Box
Jabra EXTREME headset; AC adapter; car charger; USB charging adapter; Ultimate-fit Ear gels; ear hooks (S, L); and quick start manual.
Talk comfortably for hours with the Jabra EXTREME’s Ultimate-fit Ear gels and ear hook. |
Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset
The last two Bluetooth headsets that I used were the Plantronics Discovery 925 and Plantronics Discovery 975. They were my favorite headsets among the many I have used since I started wearing them in 2005. Unfortunately, I gave the 925 to my father and my 975 had to be sent in for warranty service. When Amazon offered the Jabra Extreme for me to review, I jumped hard and fast. Would it be an acceptable temporary solution until I got my 975 back, or would it be something else?
PROS:
- Attractive design
- Diminutive size
- Good sound quality
- Good noise cancellation
- Dedicated power switch
- Great range
- Multipoint & A2DP compatibility
- Multiuse (connect 2 devices at the same time)
- FANTASTIC accessories included
- Comfortable fit (for me)
- Fair battery life (5.5 hours talk/10.5 standby)
- Multiple charging options
- Great value for price point
CONS:
- Volume buttons a bit tiny
- May not be comfortable for some ears
- AC charger cord length is extremely short
The unheralded Jabra EXTREME has hit one out of the park folks. Not only did I find it to be a good solution while I waited for my Plantronics Discovery 975 to come back from service, but I think the 975 may just end up becoming my backup headset. The Jabra EXTREME is very similar to the Jabra BT 530 but the EXTREME has improved noise cancellation, Multipoint, Multiuse, Acoustic Shock Protection, and A2DP music streaming. In fact, if you look at the back of the EXTREME headset, you’ll see the BT530 model # imprinted on it. Make no mistake though, the EXTREME is significantly improved.
PAIRING
The EXTREME goes into pairing mode the first time it is turned on and my Motorola Droid found it quickly and paired without having to enter a code.
FIT
If you have read my other Bluetooth headset reviews, you know that fit is a HUGE deal for me. The EXTREME admirably attempts to accommodate most users by providing a couple of ear hook sizes, a normal ear gel and also what Jabra calls, Ultimate-fit ear gels. Plantronics has a similar ear gel technology and I have to admit that Plantronics’ implementation is more comfortable and fits better. After trying different combinations of ear gels and hooks, I ended up just using the normal ear gel without the hooks. It is secure enough that I could probably go jogging with it and not fall out. It’s not quite as comfortable as the Plantronics Discovery 925/975, but definitely good enough for at least an hour of continuous use.
STYLE
Though the EXTREME probably won’t win any style awards, I find it to be very attractive. The design is subdued and the gunmetal gray front looks sharp. Also, since the headset isn’t very large, it will probably attract less attention to the fact that you are wearing a Bluetooth headset. I used to think that the Plantronics Discovery 925/975 looked very stylish and I thought I looked ok while wearing them until I started watching “24″ Season 8. Everyone in CTU wears the Discovery 975 and well, I think they all look ridiculous.
CALL & MUSIC QUALITY
Jabra has finally decided to use dual mics in their noise cancellation technology, similar to how Plantronics and Aliph have. Jabra calls theirs, Noise Blackout EXTREME. And like Plantronics’ AudioIQ2, it works. It cancels out background noise very well so that the person on the other end of the call can hear you clearly. The EXTREME also automatically adjusts the volume of the call so that in noisy environments, you can hear the caller more clearly. To protect your ears against sudden loud noises, it also has what they call, Acoustic Shock Protection. A welcome feature addition to the EXTREME is support for A2DP which allows you to listen to music from your device via the headset. It’s in mono, so it doesn’t sound great, but it is certainly good enough for casual music listening, NPR and for podcasts.
BATTERY & CHARGING
The battery life is about average for a modern Bluetooth headset and it takes 2 hours to fully charge. I found that it came almost fully charged however and only needed about 15 minutes to charge the first time. I was ecstatic with the charging options included with the Jabra EXTREME. It comes with a USB car charger and includes a detachable piece that you can use to plug the headset into and charge it through ANY powered USB port. So, you could be charging your headset on the way to work in your car and finish charging it in your office from your laptop. Awesome! I am baffled by the short cord on the AC charger though. I’m guessing they shortened it thinking most people charge their headsets from a counter-top wall outlet, but I don’t. My chargers are usually on the floor behind my desk. Lucky for me, since the headset uses a micro-USB port, I use my Motorola Droid’s charger at my desk to charge both.
BUTTONS
A welcome feature on the Jabra EXTREME is a dedicated power switch. I have never had a headset that paired as quickly as the EXTREME. Whenever I flip the power switch on, my Droid pairs within 5 seconds. It also has an answer/end button and a volume up and a volume down button. The volume buttons are rather small, but you get used to them. Also, when you aren’t on a call, if you push either of the volume buttons, it acts as a battery life indicator. Green means 1-4.5 hours of talk time remaining, yellow means 10 minutes to 1 hour of time remaining, and red means less than 10 minutes of talk time remaining.
SUMMARY
I was never a fan of Jabra Bluetooth headsets until now. Most never fit well or were comfortable. Jabra has finally made one that is reasonably comfortable to use, though they could do even better. The call quality, advanced noise cancellation, charging options and very low MSRP, make the Jabra EXTREME an amazing value and my choice for use in the car.
Rating: 4 / 5
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R31O9JI91DBYRR This is an excellent headset and a tremendous value. The combination of form, function and price cannot be beat. I’ve put together a video showing what it sounds like when recording through the headset.
UPDATE: I used this tonight walking headfirst into 30 mph wind gusts, and the person on the other end of the phone could actually hear me!! He heard the wind too, and he said I was just barely audible, but it’s worth noting that this is the first headset I’ve ever used that doesn’t completely flake out when faced with wind!
(Notes: The first part of the video was recorded with my professional-caliber microphone, so please don’t compare the headset audio to that! Compare it to other phone conversations you’ve heard where the caller is wearing a bluetooth headset. Also, I noticed that, at times, there is a kind of gurgle to the headset audio: That is a result of the bluetooth connection to my MacBook, which doesn’t have a very strong bluetooth connection generally. When paired with a phone, connection strength isn’t really an issue, as long as you try to keep the phone on the same side of your body as the headset.)
Rating: 5 / 5
I have had this for a few months now and wanted to use it with several phones before placing my review. It was used on the Verizon network on a LG phone and also on the Sprint network on the EVO phone.
At first I must admit I thought the Bluetooth was too small. However, it proved that what you see is not what you get. First, the fit is hands down the most comfortable I have tried. It has several ear pieces and also the over the ear hooks to choose from. I did not have to try many; I was able to select the perfect ones just by looking at them. The fact that everything is included is great! I love how you can charge this headset in the car, at the computer, or in the wall.
When talking on it I was told people could hear me fine. One friend commented that compared to my other sets this one picked up my voice and somehow was able to block out the other background noise. I tested this on walks and also in a noisy spa I go to and compared to the other headsets I have this was the best. I was told that this headset was the clearest and again would block out other unwanted sounds.
I have used it to stream music with Pandora on the EVO with the A2DP. I love that I can listen to music on walks or in the grocery store line. I also listen to a lot of pod cast on it. As far as battery life I have not had any issues. I charge the headset every night so it is always fully charged and ready to go.
My only con would be that sometimes it sets itself to a setting that I am not aware on. Meaning, I will be asked if I am using the “good” Bluetooth and when I say “Yes” I am told, “Wow, it sounded so much better earlier or yesterday”. I found that turning the Bluetooth on and off somehow resets it and the person can hear my voice loud and clear again without the other background noise. Why it needs to be reset, I am not sure. For that I deduct one star.
I will say I have never owned a Jabra product before but after using this headset I will not hesitate to try their other electronic products. For the price you truly cannot get anything better.
Rating: 4 / 5
I love this little headset, it has so much going for it. I want to give it 5 stars, except for one fatal flaw… Read on.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The packaging was elegant and the headset immediately fit my ear perfectly with the earpiece that comes with it. It comes with other earpieces, including two sizes of ear hooks. Pairing it with my iPhone was quick and easy. The on/off switch is terrific; with my Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset [Retail Packaging] you don’t know if it is on or off, you need to just hold in the power button to find out. The speed at which it connects when turning it on is incredible! The talk button is easy to find with the finger and use, along with the volume buttons. I wear the headset on my left ear, so I have to remember that up volume is the bottom button and vice versa, but that’s no problem.
It comes with a cigarette lighter adapter to a USB port, which is great for any USB charging and an AC adapter.
LISTENING
I found the audio quality to be decent and it got fairly loud, although at highway speeds or in a crowd, it can be hard to get it loud enough without smashing it into my ear canal.
I would shocked to find that it plays my music, podcast, audiobooks and most any other audio from the iPhone (called A2DP). HOW GREAT!! This is the greatest feature of this headset. You can be listening to an audiobook while no one notices! Other headsets in its class are just starting to add this.
TALKING
At first people didn’t complain about being able to hear me, but upon talking to my doctor, he said he could hardly hear me because I sounded like I was in a tunnel. This started happening more and more. I tried turning off/on the headset, phone; re-pairing, but nothing seems to have a lasting effect. I don’t know if this is related to the iPhone itself, or if a firmware update could help (I haven’t found any available firmware updates as of May 2010).
If someone couldn’t hear me, I would switch over to my Plantronics Voyager 510 and they would tell me how much better they could hear me.
I called Jabra support for advice, and the gentlemen recommended resetting the headset and then re-pairing to the phone. Here are the instructions from the Jabra website:
“It is possible to reset and test the headset by ‘pressing and holding’ all three buttons at the same time. The red, blue and green light will light up in a white light. In this mode, the pairing list is reset, and you can test if the headset works as you will be able to hear audio in the speaker from the microphone. The headset will automatically turn off after approx. 10 seconds. The next time you power on, the headset will go into pairing mode as the first time you powered your new EXTREME on.”
While callers could hear me for the first call or two, after that, it returned to unusable. This is making me carry two bluetooth headsets; one for audio, one for calls…
FIT
It fits very well, although it has fallen out sometimes with bending over or chewing. By adding the ear loop, it has a great fit. Everyone’s ears are different, so you’ll just have to try…
BATTERY LIFE
I was surprised that I could get a whole day of calls and listening to audio with a device so small! I have been charging each night. The standard micro-USB-B connector is fantastic for charging. I’m so thankful that we’re getting away from a unique charger for every piece of electronics. I bought some micro-USB cables for cheap and can charge at home, car or office now.
SIZE
I love how small it is, so that it looks discreet, but I am so afraid that I will lose it, since it is so small and black.
CONCLUSIONS
I love this little headset for how small, attractive and the A2DP features, but the fact that people can’t hear and understand me is so disappointing.
After pouring over reviews and wanting to find a perfect version of this headset, I bought the Aliph Jawbone Icon Series – The Thinker Bluetooth. Hopefully I’ll post a review there soon. Briefly, I found that my voicemail test sounded good; it has an awesome battery-level indicator on the iPhone, but there are no volume controls for the Jawbone, so I can’t adjust A2DP volume levels! Oh no, now I’m going to have to carry three bluetooth headsets!!!
Rating: 3 / 5
The Jabra Extreme is a nice size and fits fairly comfortable on my ear. The performance of the microphone is bad. People I’ve called have reported extreme sound volume and lots of static. A very poor performer for something that is supposed to be noise-cancelling.
Rating: 2 / 5