Ask Engadget: Best noise cancelling Bluetooth headset?
By Darren Murph 
posted January 28th 2010 11:19PM
posted January 28th 2010 11:19PM
BT headsets have come a long way since we first posted a similar question in 2005, so we suspect the answers here will be quite a bit different. Do you have a particular earpiece that you enjoy while cruising under the open skies? Don't hold back on us, now."I'm looking for a Bluetooth headset with the best noise reduction. I've got a convertible and would like to be able to have a conversation with the top down (at least around town, highway would be fantastic but probably unrealistic). So, any thoughts and / or suggestions?"
Platronics 975. Nuff said.
Convertible? Bluetooth headset? Pick one or the other, or you're going to peg the d-bagometer.
@Engadgeter
Is it me or have all the editors gone to sleep since the tablet?
@TonyMontana2367
We are living in a Post-Tablet era, you see? So Engadget posts are also a bit different.
@Engadgeter
Motorola HX1 Endeavor is better.
@Engadgeter Yet, a better headset than the 975 would be the Voyager Pro.
I tested that headset driving down the highway at 65 MPH with the windows down and the radio at 75% of it's maximum. The other party could still hear me clearly. Don't get me wrong, the 975 is a fantastic headset, built off the Voyager Pro, but the Voyager Pro will still whup the 975
@Engadgeter is right. Plantronics 975 is the best BT headset out. The noise-cancelling is awesome, the extra case/battery pack is amazing. I never leave home without mine! Never had a single problem. even dropped it the hot tub and I dried it and it's still 100% fine.
I also had the Jabra Jawbone Prime. Overprice and overrated. the thing never stayed in my ear either, so uncomfortable and the noise cancelling was inadequate. the VAS bump/thing mutes you when your not talking, but when you talk you hear ALL the background noise. Annoying.
PLANTRONICS 975 ALL THE WAY
@thewaffle
I can attest to the Pro's noise canceling abilities. I haven't had as extreme an example as thewaffle, but there were times where I couldn't hear, but the other party could hear me.
Anyway, with Plantronics, you can't go wrong.
@Celeras Agreed.. The HX1 is bone conducting / dual mic switchable.
@Tammacho
What do you mean you have to choose one or the other? Plantronics. There are a few models that work awesome. Driving around town with the top down. 975 is one. I have talked to more then one person I know using them with the top down. Not sure how it would work at 70mph on the expressway. Around town, you can't even tell.
I think everyone is missing the difference with noise canceling and wind canceling. I have a motorola t505 speakerphone that works ok with my wrangler top down but my jawbone is terrible. The wind noise is not blocked with jawbones noise canceling. I am also looking for a good bt for a convertable for when I don't want my conversations public with the t505. The only bt I
Wouldn't it be extremely dangerous to drive with out the ability to hear your environment?
@yellingdog wat
It would look pretty awesome to wear two headsets while hurdling down a freeway in a convertible
My kenwood bt838u car stereo with mic on top left of the windscreen. People don't realize that I'm in my car. Also has USB input which can control an iPod. I use it with a SD card reader which is velcro'd into the glove box.
Do people actually use Bluetooth headsets? I thought it was just sort of the first accessory you buy when you get your first cell phone, and then after a week, you never use one again.
@Hexydes Well if you make a lot of calls in the car, it is a lot better than using a hands free. You can always break the law and risk killing somebody instead, though.
@SarnGate I do the sensible thing, and just don't talk on the phone in the car. I make my calls before I start driving, and then just don't answer.
I figure I'm balancing out the karmic scales vs. the people who are texting with one hand and smoking with the other...
@Hexydes
youre not allowed to talk on your cell without one while driving in montreal!
@Hexydes Clearly you are not a business traveller.
I get off a plane and into a car. I am driving until I arrive at my work site. If I can't talk/work while driving, then the job is not done, my company loses money, my clients lose money, and I lose. Mind you, I don't need to talk on every trip, but if I needed to pull of the road for 30 minutes on each of those occasions, the situation (lateness/lost time) would be nearly as bad as missing the call altogether. Not a trip goes by where I don't need to make a 5 minute call en route.
So, for people like me, a Bluetooth headset is an essential piece of equipment. Without it, I would either not be able to do my job effectively, or not be able to drive safely.
@Jayratch
Or you have an inflated sense of self-importance.
@rterek Kind of an asinine thing to say, considering the saying "time is money." Some people actually have jobs where they need to be on the phone almost constantly. From a business perspective, if this means talking while driving or losing clients, wouldn't you rather talk while you are driving? (Provided you aren't driving like a total ass, I think that's a better solution in this economy.)
To answer the question asked, the Motorola Endeavor HX1 is a really good headset, if you can find one. Motorola's CrystalTalk technology works really well at canceling noise. Combine that with the jawbone conduction technology, and you've got yourself one hell of a great headset.
@rterek I believe most people like to feel important. Don't you?
By looking at you avatar and reading your comment I think you like to make yourself feel important by denigrating others. Just sayin'...
@rterek
I don't need an inflated sense of self-importance, I'm a surgeon so I am important. It's a beautiful thing.
I also have to field calls for patients nurses physicians etc. to provide quality care - and the only way to do that while driving from one place to another (to do important things) is, at least in California, on a hands free.
Earmuffs.
Jawbone 2. The reason why its noise cancelling is so good is because of the small 'button' of sorts which has to touch your face for your voice to transmit properly.
I was talking to a friend and a Fighter plane went low over-head (i live in the British countryside) and the person on the other end heard nothing. It comes with a ridiculous amount of earbud options too, so you are much more likely to find something which will fit you.
Oh, and it looks damn cool.
@SarnGate: truth is, no Bluetooth headset "looks damn cool." Nor "cool" in any way, shape or form whatsoever. But I will agree that the Jawbone 2 (actually I have the Prime) is a good choice for those necessarily evil times when you need one (but please, people, not in restaurants!).
Or did you mean to say it "looks damn tool?" ;)
@HotFuzz
the metal gear solid 4 headset looks DAMN COOL =D
@SarnGate
Second the Jawbone recommendation. All I have is my dusty old 1st gen, but I can hold a normal conversation in a datacenter, and the person on the other end hears NONE of the background noise. I cannot even hear my own voice, but they hear me clear as a bell.
There might be better headsets, but I can't imagine better noise cancellation.
@SarnGate actually I do not second this one. I had an original Jawbone which was the most comfortable well constructed BT headset I had ever had. And people could hear me in my 1990 Cabriolet fine with the top down
the earloops broke eventually so had to get a replacement since Aliph does not make them anymore for the Jawbone.
Got myself a jawbone 2. Dislike it immensely. The earloop is not as comfortable, it feels cheap, I can't het ANY of the earbuds to fit right to my ear, they all cause rubbing and discomfort months after still.
@SarnGate I've got a Jawbone2 and love it. Tried talking to people with the stereo on, windows down... Only problem is wind hitting the thing. I hear they fixed that in the Jawbone Prime and Icon.
DO IT
@SarnGate I'm with you -- Jawbone is now my favourite Bluetooth headset brand after reviewing its Icon headset, plus there are six designs and plenty of notification voices to choose from.
@Richard Lai See, this is why you've always been my favourite engadget editor :P
My sony DS-980 earphone pretty much blocks all the noise when I'm walking on the street, I feel my life is in danger all the time. :(
I know it looks all old school but my Plantronics Voyager 510 is the best I have had....
@(Unverified) It's a great headset (used it for years) but has almost no noise cancellation. It would be awful in a convertible!
I recently got the Motorola MotoPURE H15 and its been absolutely amazing. Though the first one I got was faulty. The replacement has been amazing. I would love to try the Motorola Endeavor HX1
"I drive a convertible and want a Bluetooth headset." Prepare to look like a tool.
Just picked up the Jawbone Icon, just released. I've owned a bunch from Motorola, Plantronics, Jabra, and the first Jawbone, as well as a few installed kits. The Jawbone Icon has given me some small glitches- mostly random static that goes away when I turn it off and on again. However, it can pair with multiple devices (I have it linked to 2 phones and my laptop, although the laptop somehow blocks out the other devices when connected) and actually has the theoretical capability to run its own voice dialing software internally, which should be a godsend considering how inaccurate the Apple voice command function is.
It comes with a total of seven earbuds plus a hook. Took me a few tries to get a good stable fit. Getting a good fit actually made for better sound quality both sending and receiving. I am told that it sounds like speakerphone, but crisp, clear, and background-noise free. Win.
So yeah, the Jawbone Icon is the best $100 headset I've ever owned.
@Jayratch you may be using the wrong profile with your laptop--there's one for telephony only, and another that makes it your default audio device. If you've got it on the latter, I'm pretty sure it won't let the headset be connected to other devices, because it is always on.
@Jayratch How's the volume on the Icon? My Jawbone Prime has great noise cancellation, but the volume doesn't go up high enough on my end for me to hear anything with the top down.
@Southeast Jerome I replaced my prime with the icon bcuz of the volume. The icon is WAY better than the prime. Aliph all the way.
Jawbone Icon Hands down. Plantronics has some nice stuff , but the Jawbone Icon has the most compelling feature set. Look up the cnet review, it helped me make my decision.
A... convertible... and a bluetooth headset...
uh.
I'll just stop there.
Jabra BT530 for me. Noise cancellation, A2DP support, comfortable fit it pretty much does it all.
Bluant q1, half the price of the new jawbone (if u look in the right places, mine was $40) and great features + excellent noise canceling.
My Jawbone 2 is the only headset that I have actually stuck with (after trying various Plantronics, Jabra, and Sony offerings). With some of the bonus ear pieces they offered you don't need a hook, which was the thing that broke the most often. The key is though that you must have it positioned correctly. It should be angled down, near the angle of your jaw, not your cheek. If it's not sitting correctly it sounds horrible, but when it's touching your face you can walk around in the wind, in a loud tunnel, etc, and have no problem.
It's not perfect, sometimes drops the connection or has static, but re-connecting has always cleared that up (and it only happens rarely). I almost never use my phone separately now because the voice quality on my part is so much better with the Jawbone.
@mgchan
Jawbone JB2 Plus from Costco. $69.99. Comes with 6-7 earbuds and a car charger.
Noice cancellation is amazing! Couldn't believe it
Jawbone ICON - It works!
Well, I'm glad you asked. I've just finished a comprehensive search for the best noise canceling bluetooth headset and from what I've found, the long answer is that almost none are perfect. But you probably want the short answer, right? Fine. The best best noise canceling bluetooth headset that I've found is the iPad.