Plantronics intros Pulsar 590 stereo Bluetooth headset

Looks like Bluetooth stereo headsets are finally joining the mainstream. This fall, Plantronics will roll out the $150 Pulsar 590, a combo unit that works as both a phone headset and a stereo headset for audio players. The Pulsar includes a telescoping mic, which can be minimized when you're just using it for music. Another thing we like: the universal Bluetooth adaptor is an optional add-on, which means if you've already paid for Bluetooth devices, you don't have to pay again for a dongle you don't need.

[Via Geekzone]

[Beavis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

You said "dongle"..... uhhuhuhuhuh....uhhuh....huhhuh.

[xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Cha-ching! We have a winner, folks, and it's about frgiin' time! Now, show your support for this market and buy these headphones! ;-)

Am I glad now that I didn't buy the Logitech product? Um, hell yes?

[boss sauce @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

now we just need the iPod to have bluetooth audio out...

[Ice_Tiger @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

this is not the first. Bluetake has been selling a similar setup for a while.

[Ice_Tiger @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

this is not the first. Bluetake has been selling a similar setup for a while.

[xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Yes, and if you like your headphones ugly and prohibitively expensive (probably due to the needless built-in memory), then Bluetake's product is for you! =)

[yem @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Ok, can someone please explain this for me once and for all? Isn't bluetooth incredibly slow? Does it have enough bandwidth to stream high quality audio? Is it compressed for these headphones? What's the deal?

[C @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Bluetooth bandwidth is 1Mbps, more than enough for audio (a T1 line is 1.5Mbps, not sure I'd call that "incredibly slow")

Music files are usually encoded at anywhere from 128Kbps to 256Kbps, or about 1/4 to 1/8 of that 1Mbps - you get the point.

[USINGMYBRAIN @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Yah thats funny...go ahead all, pay 350$ canadian for that pice-jacked crap, and finance the research & development, oh and why dont you also buy a couple of 600$ overpriced Xbox360, then playstation 3 at 800$, that way in 2009 when i retire ill have the three of em for 15$ as i retire...

[Nicky @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Guys, it's a given bluetooth and stuff is in, what about the quality of audio? Is that good enough? I mean you can have all the bandwidth in the world but if the output device are'nt good enuf, its like puttin Putin in a Sputnik and a monkey running Russia (Geez or is that what they really did? ) Someone who has first hand experience using this gadget please let me know what you think of the audio quality of this device.

[GG @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

RE: bluetooth connection speed

Maybe the bluetooth protocol allows a 1 MB/s connection, but with my 6230 Nokia phone and Toshiba Tecra M1 laptop for sure it does not work... it takes me ages to transfer music from the laptop to the phone, so I am not exactly convinced about the quality I could realise using the mentioned "bottlenecked" products with the headset.

Btw, does anyone know how to force Tecra's SD card reader to handle with MMC? :)

[Plantronics @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

FYI - you will need the Plantronics 590A if you want to connect to your audio device. Plantronics 590 does not come with the extra bluetooth adapter.

http://www.headset-plus.com/plantronics-590a-pulsar-bluetooth-headset-stereocell-phone-p-281.html

[Plantronics 590 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

bluetooth bandwidth is plenty for high quality stereo music. For cell phone use (voice), it's must less.

[Plantronics cS55 @ Dec 27th 2005 1:12PM]

.

[Plantronics cS55 @ Jan 1st 2006 3:46AM]

-

[Plantronics cS55 @ Jan 3rd 2006 2:25PM]

this headset is very good quality in both sound and construction.

[plantronics cs55 @ Jan 5th 2006 3:07PM]

stay away from Logictech.. junk..

[Plantronics CS55 @ Jan 6th 2006 5:56PM]

Pretty cool stuff...

[Plantronics CS55 @ Jan 6th 2006 5:58PM]

Nice!