Zivio Boom hands (and ears) on

At first glance, the Zivio Boom seems like a novel approach to the Bluetooth headset problem, but as we experienced, it's actually a little less pleasure and a touch more pain. The design and packaging of the product are highly stylized and sufficiently handsome to be sure, but once you get down to the meat, this peripheral leaves quite a bit to be desired. In our tests, not only was the sound quality of the earpiece far below the standards you'd expect from a product in this price range ($129.95), but the general design of the Boom is lacking in many regards. Firstly, the ear-clip is held onto the device by a magnet -- and not a very powerful one at that -- which renders the component largely useless. The headset does an okay job of staying on with the varying size bud attachments, but it still felt a bit heavy without hanging it off of something. All of that might be surmountable were it not for the abysmal sound quality we experienced. The thin, telescoping microphone seemed like it would do a better job at picking up audio than a standard Bluetooth headset, but it didn't hold up next to Jawbone's offerings, and the fragility of the metal makes it seem like we're only a day or two away from cashing in the warranty. The reception quality wasn't any better -- we literally had to ask a friend of ours if they were speaking through a towel. Both on the receiving and transmitting ends, we found the Boom to be a disappointment. There's no question that this is a good looking device -- just not one that we can really recommend.

Gallery: Zivio Boom hands (and ears) on

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[daishi100 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:43PM]

is that a freaking chord?????

[daishi100 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:46PM]

lol first commentor twice...

[Meep @ Sep 16th 2008 9:49PM]

It reminds me of a shower head...

[Rusty @ Sep 16th 2008 9:56PM]

I bought one last week. I don't use the ear loop thingy, as I have a custom ear piece that I bought for the Jawbone 1, because we all know how well they fit. It fit the Zivio perfectly.
The INCOMING sound is MUCH better (in my opinion) that the jawbone 1 or 2. LOUDER with more
bass response. I had one person, who I talk to daily, say that I sounded like I was at home, in my easy chair, with my feet propped up.

As for the boom, it is VERY sturdy. It is made of a material called Nitinol (nickel-titanium), a shape
memory. You bend it just about any way you want, and it returns right back.
Uses a standard mini USB connector, so if you have one of those in your laptop bad, you are good
to go. It feels a LOT sturdier than the JB2, the buttons are very easy to push, and like some JB2
users, you don't have to accidentally turn it off while pressing the buttons, which happened a few
times with the JB2.
I wrote the Joby people a couple of times, and they were very prompt in returning my emails.
They have a pretty much no questions asked return policy, as long as you don't damage or destroy it. Yeah, they are pricey, I'm in my 2nd week, and so far so good.

[jkheit @ Sep 16th 2008 10:05PM]

I agree. I have the Jawbone 2 and this is way better in sound quality. People beg me to stop using the Jawbone 2 and use the Joby instead. The comments about the magnet were weird too. You don't even need the loop with the in-ear piece, and I find the loop/magnet really well configurable and strong. I suppose if they push it too far off the metal body, it may start getting weaker, but at that would be one weird ear if they pushed it that far to the edge? The noise cancellation is even better than the Jawbone 2, and it even works well (in non-noisy environments) with the boom not extended.

I wonder if they got a bum unit. This is by far the best headset I've used.

[a ham sandwich @ Sep 16th 2008 10:26PM]

@ rusty and jkheit

wow thanks. i like to hear (er....read) legitimate discussion when commenters disagree with the post's opinion. it certainly is a welcome change from the rabid fanboyism that really pisses me the hell off. thanks for the insight.

[aaron @ Sep 16th 2008 10:27PM]

@Rusty

I have no doubt that you work for them. THAT was a commercial.

[a ham sandwich @ Sep 16th 2008 11:37PM]

@aaron

if thats true i retract my statement :P

[Kamokazi @ Sep 17th 2008 12:16AM]

I was excited about this because I have been looking for a good BT headset to use with voice chat while gaming. I have a Jawbone 1, and it works pretty well, but there is still plenty of background noise coming through (which surely has nothing to do with my Gigaworks 7.1 speakers). The boom on this, combined with some nice noise cancelling, was looking like a winner.

After reading this, I was disappointed, but from your two reviews it seems like Engadget may have indeed recieved a bad unit. I'll definately be looking at some other reviews from this. Thanks guys.

[Tonicboy @ Sep 17th 2008 6:27AM]

@aaron

Sheesh, you people really are cynical. Give Rusty some credit, he's been registered on Engadget since before Joby even existed. At least it gives me a little hope that I could try it and it would work out for me. They seem like they have a pretty liberal return policy anyway.

To be honest, I've been getting more and more annoyed with Engadget "mini-reviews" over the last year or so. I go to Engagdet because they always have the scoop on the latest gadget news. They're good at news and their writing is funny, but I have no faith in them whatsoever as technical reviewers. If I want computer hardware reviews, I'll go to Tom's Hardware or Anandtech, and if I want cell phone reviews I'll go to Mobile Review. These kinds of sites have uber-geeky and technical staff that evaluate products thoroughly with damn close to lab-quality tests. But when I read an Engadget "mini-review", I feel like they spent an hour with the product and yet have no qualms about lambasting it thoroughly. I've disagreed with several of these reviews before and I always feel bad for the companies that make decent products that get trashed here. These uninformed reviews aren't fair to those companies, or to us readers.

If Engadget is going to continue to do these reviews, then I hope they can hire dedicated staff that are really subject matter experts and will do fair, informed reviews. If they want to continue with casual, amateur reviews, then at least properly qualify their statements as "first-glance" impressions.

[Wormbolt @ Sep 16th 2008 10:02PM]

A Cylon shower head.

[spam_free @ Sep 16th 2008 11:04PM]

From the gallery (pic 11), looks like Engadget put the ear loop on the wrong spot. It should be on the other side (inside) of the headset, instead of covering the Joby button. Maybe that's why you thought the magnet was weak? You guys are one of those who don't read manuals, aren't you? ;)

[Miguel @ Sep 16th 2008 11:14PM]

um... how about a picture of... SOMEONE WEARING THE THING>?

[Interpol @ Sep 16th 2008 11:18PM]

First to what? Epic fail?

[AJ in the East Bay @ Sep 16th 2008 11:40PM]

Boom goes the dynamite!

[Elfyn @ Sep 16th 2008 11:46PM]

I have to agree with Rusty and jkheit. I also have a Jawbone 2 and find the Zivio Boom to be much better in both incoming and outgoing sound quality. My callers constantly complained that they could not understand me with the Jawbone (too cyborg sounding) and heard lots of clipping. It was very hard to keep the rubber nub on the Jawbone in proper contact with my cheek. I also constantly turned the Jawbone off trying to position it in my ear because of the position of the button.

I have none of these problems with the Zivio. The incoming sound is very loud and clear although the unit can suffer from some electronic hiss at higher volumes. I have never had to turn the Zivio above its lowest volume setting or two so the hiss is not a problem for me. My callers never complain that they cannot understand me and many don't even realize I am using a headset at all. Even though the microphone wire is thin it is very sturdy. You can bend it to get it right next to the corner of your mouth to get the very best voice pickup and quality. I found the reviewer's comments about the magnet unusual since mine seems very strong. It is nice that you can position the earhook anywhere you need to, it makes the Zivio that much easier to customize to your individual needs. The earhook along with all the different eartips made it very easy to find just the right fit. I wear mine all day and forget I have it on. Another unusual thing about this review is the photograph of the Zivio. It is shown without any of the supplied ear tips and that is why it looks like a (Cylon) shower head. Also the microphone is extended and in this photograph looks like it could be a wire (as in wired headset). The overall build quality of the Zivio is very good and Joby's customer service is exceptional. I have had mine over a month and I am very happy with my purchase. Like jkheit, I am also wondering if the reviewer got a defective unit.

[Ceejw @ Sep 17th 2008 1:42AM]

Zivio's Marketing team is out in full force with the damage control. C'mon guys if you want to be effective you need to not sound like an infomercial my grandma would get excited about. If you want to be effective, then stop sounding like marketers and start sounding like engadget commenters.

[badaboom @ Sep 16th 2008 11:50PM]

wow I don't mean to get off the main point but the packaging is pretty good...but wtf is up with the cord may i missed something

[tristanblock @ Sep 17th 2008 12:28AM]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to ask if it's a defective unit as well.
People on Howard Forums have been saying very good things about this headset.

Oh, and could you guys PLEASE use a REAL digital camera to take pictures of a product you're reviewing? Camera phones don't cut it.

[lorddshadow @ Sep 17th 2008 1:09AM]

but...but...it's mr.blurrycam! you can't take him away! the world of gadgets will never be the same without him!!!

[cortez @ Sep 17th 2008 12:47AM]

i have to agree with others that the sound quality on the Zivio is very good compared to my JB II and Z9i. i use one of the in-ear pieces and the sound is plenty loud and clear. we all know that with bluetooth headsets, it's a hit or miss proposition depending on the phone's bluetooth software, etc. standby and talk time has been pretty good, too. another benefit is the multi-point feature that allows you to connect to 2 phones at the same time without disconnecting from one to use the other. this is certainly a keeper for me.

[Dillon @ Sep 17th 2008 1:19AM]

What were the engineers who designed that thinking? Why would anybody want a water faucet integrated into there headset...

[KINetics @ Sep 17th 2008 2:13AM]

The reviews over at HoFo for the headset have been pretty positive. Most agree that it has better sound that the Jawbone 2 or the Blueant z9i. Check out the [url=http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1401712]thread here.[/url]

[shafi @ Sep 17th 2008 2:33AM]

good

[Ramses @ Sep 17th 2008 7:36AM]

what if they put the electronics behind the ear???


why is ther no bluetooth that hides the electronics behind the ear, just showing the ear piece and the mic boom, that would be awsome.

this one is a little closer, but still, there is a little rectangle piece in the front of the ear. wich make you looke kind of cyborg, and that is not cool... well it kind of is, but in a nerdy geeky way...

[alan @ Sep 17th 2008 8:56AM]

Check out Jabra. I currently have the BT5020, excellent headset. I have also used the BT250v and BT2020 and a few others. Been using Jabra bluetooth for around 7 years and have loved them all. Only the ones that go behind the ear, you can wear them for hours with barely feeling it is on your ear. The audio and mic are also very good.

[John Griffith @ Sep 17th 2008 10:10AM]

I have done many Bluetooth Headset reviews. (See my web site www.barjohn.com) and I recently purchased one of these to review it. So far it appears to be one of the best headsets on the market with very good noise cancellation and clear sound on both ends. My only complaint would be various ear pieces, none of which I found very comfortable. However, a reader on HoFo came up with a good modification taking one of the gel earpieces and modifying it by adding the ear spring from a Bluespoon AX2 (there is a site where they can be purchased for $4) and that makes it comfortable to wear without the earloop. So far it is the only headset that can compete with the custom AX2 or several other custom modifications visible on the HoFo Bluetooth thread.

[Geocab @ Sep 17th 2008 10:19AM]

I read about this headset over at HowardForums and gave the Joby a shot. The Engadget guys have a bum unit. I'm on my second one because the outgoing sound on my first was really quiet on the first phone call everytime I turned it on, it was really strange. The incoming sound on that one was a little muffled too, but acceptable. However, my second unit is working just fine. Everyone I've called has been surprised that I was on a headset and my incoming sound is very clear. I also get pretty good range with my Voyager.

I was a little nervous to give this unit a try since it seems a lot of us are on second units, but Joby's customer service was very good and they sent a replacement unit out right away when I mentioned my volume problem. It arrived very quickly and came with a prepaid envelope to send the old one back. Not too much of a hassle to get a great sounding BT headset.

If anyone wants, I can make some recordings and post them in the HowardForums thread. I offered there, but no one requested any so I haven't recorded anything yet. I post under geocab.

@ badaboom - There isn't a cord on the headset, if you're referring to the main photo on this review page, that's the boom extended, but at the angle of the shot they took it does look like a cord.

[Rusty @ Sep 17th 2008 1:22PM]

Geez! You think I work for Joby? I wish! LOL...
I just like to give reviews of things that I have personally used. Maybe I should ask Joby to send
me one free for giving a positive review. If you look up on Howard Forums, I go by the user p51d007. When I find something that WORKS, I want to share it with the world. Take for example how much I like the averysound.com custom ear pieces. I can't say enough how much I like them!! Worked on the JB1,2 & the Zivio. I wrote the company and told them that the only way they would get it away from me would be to pry it from my cold dead hands. A day later I got an email back from them thanking me for writing them, with the added, pry it from my cold dead EAR LOL...
If something comes along to out perform the Joby Zivio, I'll be the first to sing it's praise, As I did for the JB1 (except for the fit), JB2 (except for the buttons).

[phamaa @ Sep 17th 2008 2:42PM]

Full disclosure - I was a beta user of the unit and have had it for nearly two months.

I have owned over 30 BT headsets including many of the "high end" headsets - JB - 1&2, Plantronics too many to name, Bluespoon AX1, AX2 and G5, many of Motorola's (I hate their headsets and stopped buying them), multiple Jabra's and so on. I have paid hard earned dollars for these headsets and many have disappointed.

Hands down the best headset I have used by far. Sound quailty, 10 out of 10. Mic 10 out of 10. My friends and coworkers hate it when I talk on other headsets, including the Jawbone. Some can't even tell that I am not talking directly into my iPhone. Some have said that there is less background noise then when I'm on the phone with no headset.

It is no heavier than the JB2. The mic has never broken, but you can't treat it like a football. Remember, it is a small piece of electronics. Pulling the mic in and out have not been a problem. Button configuration is like any other headset, except that to hang up the phone, you have to hold the button down for about 1.5 seconds instead of just pressing the button and letting go. The feel is nice, it doesn't feel cheap or plastic-ee.

I firmly believe that Engadget had a bad unit or the reviewer didn't give it much time to set it up and use it properly. The photo is terrible, maybe they could put the ear piece options on before they photograph the headset. It has two ear piece options. I like the earscoops the best. They come in 3 sizes for the best fit. The size of the fitting is similar to the Bluespoon and Jabra earpieces. You can also try those too.

This poorly done review has lessened my opinion of engadget and wonder if they really put time into reviewing their product.

As some of the poster have claimed. I am not and employee, or a marketer for Joby. I just like their products. Yes, I also BOUGHT a Gorrilla Pod, because I liked it.

[Tonicboy @ Sep 17th 2008 6:05PM]

I can't speak to the product as I haven't had a chance to try it, but as I noted above, I'm also getting frustrated at Engadget's "shoot from the hip, run off at the mouth" attitude towards mini-reviews. I find myself disagreeing with their reviews as often as not and they don't seem to care that they're making broad generalizations and conclusions so casually. Honestly, I'd prefer that they just get out of the review game and keep to news.

[phamaa @ Sep 17th 2008 6:39PM]

Tonicboy, I agree with you totally. Engadget has been a very reliable source for the most updated news on technology, but a mini-review on a product they may have had their hands on for a few hours or a couple of days is not reliable. Like you I have agreed with and disagreed with some of their reviews. Because Engadget has become one of the main gadget blogs, they must get a lot of products from manufactures to review. They should at least give the companies and their products the appropriate time and respect to thoroughly review a product or don't write anything at all. Its like a "drive-by" review.

[Nick @ Sep 17th 2008 11:21PM]

Count me in as another happy Zivio Boom user who's mystified by this review. I think the sound quality of the unit is top notch and significantly better than other bluetooth units I've tried (I haven't tried the Jawbone). The magnetic earclip works perfectly for me and I like how adjustable it can be. It took me a while to find the right earpiece to attach to it (there are about 6 that come with it), but once I did, I've been quite happy with the fit.

For those considering this, don't let this review scare you away. Either they got a defective unit, or they had no idea how to use it properly. (I'm definitely leaning toward the latter given that the earclip is absolutely stuck to the wrong side on the picture in the gallery ;)

[Badcam @ Sep 18th 2008 2:57PM]

Hey Guys.

You have the Ear Loop on the wrong side of the headset http://www.engadget.com/photos/zivio-boom-hands-and-ears-on/1040458/

Err, Hello McFly!

On that basis. it makes me wonder if you even managed to get the ear bud in your ear. Maybe you had that round the wrong way as well and that's why you couldn't hear anything.