Aliph JawBone Bluetooth Headset

Aliph JawBone Bluetooth Headset
Overall Rating: 8/10

Acquired June 2007

Overview: I got my JawBone as an upgrade from my Motorola HS850 headset. The JawBone promised better sound, a cooler look, and of course, the noise-cancellation feature. I've been using it now for several weeks, and it's been working great. So far, no one has had any trouble hearing me. In fact, they haven't even noticed that I've been using a headset! The device itself came in an acrylic case, with the JawBone on display like a tiny sculpture. The headset came well-equipped: in addition to the headset, there's a USB cable (for charging, not data), a USB-AC adapter, two left-side ear loops, two right-side ear loops, and four different ear buds.

Upside: The biggest upside is the noise cancellation. It really does work. There's a small rubber "button" that rests against your jaw. When the button detects movement in your jaw--that is, when you're talking--it boosts the microphone. When your jaw stops moving, the microphone is muted. This greatly reduces background noise.

Downside: Even with all of the ear loops and ear buds to choose from, I couldn't quite get an ideal fit. It's not too bad, but I feel like it should be better, considering all the options. I dropped my rating from a 10/10 to an 8/10 because of the less-than-perfect fit. Also, since the most important and unique feature--the noise cancellation--is dependent on contact with your cheek, it can waver in effectiveness if the device should swing away from your face.

Verdict: The JawBone is a stylish, high-end bluetooth headset. While it might be a little bulkier than some others in its price range, it's the only headset with an effective noise cancellation system. If you're going to make a lot of calls from noisy environments, like city streets or while driving with the windows open, you'll really appreciate how well the jawbone works.