Why You Can Trust CNET Bose Bluetooth Headset review: Bose Bluetooth Headset
Bose Bluetooth Headset
The Bose brand is traditionally associated with high-end audio equipment like the Bose QuietComfort 15 noise-canceling headphones and the Bose SoundDock 10 compact speaker dock. So when we heard Bose had introduced its first Bluetooth headset, we were intrigued. Simply called the Bose Bluetooth Headset (no points for originality there), the headset promises superior audio quality with automatic volume adjustment, multipoint connectivity, and a comfortable fit with its unique StayHear ear-tip gel fittings.
Bose Bluetooth Headset
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Unfortunately, the Bose just didn't deliver. Not only was the noise cancellation disappointingly average, the headset doesn't have A2DP streaming, which many of its competitors have as a main feature. Considering that the Bose Bluetooth headset is quite expensive at $149.95, we expected more features and a better performance. We would suggest going with a more affordable headset like the Aliph Jawbone Icon or the Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus, both of which offer much more for the money.
The Bose Bluetooth headset has a unique geometric design that is unlike any other Bluetooth headset we've seen. The headset is shaped like a trapezoid, with the top and bottom of the headset angled in opposing directions; it measures 1.8 inches long by 1.3 inches wide by 0.7 inch thick. The front of the headset is reserved for the Bose branding and the microphone. The power slider is on the left spine, and the multifunction call button and volume rocker are on the right.
Flip the headset over and you'll find a unique earpiece that is similar to those on the Bose TriPort In-Ear headphones. Together with Bose's StayHear gel tips, the earpiece is designed like a spout to funnel sound directly to your ears. The silicone tips are very soft with no rough edges, and are attached to a spring so the headset can fit in your ears without an ear hook. The headset comes with three different-size ear tips, and we found the fit to be incredibly comfortable. It's snug without feeling tight, and we felt that we could wear it all day without discomfort. The one downside is that the Bose headset only fits in the right ear, with no option for the left ear.
Also on the back of the headset are two LED indicators, one to denote Bluetooth status, and the other to let you know the headset's battery status. The latter flashes red, amber, and green to indicate low, medium, and high battery life.
Even though the Bose Bluetooth headset doesn't have A2DP streaming, it does have multipoint connectivity, which means it can connect to two devices simultaneously. It also has all the usual headset features like answering and ending a call, last number redial, and voice command support.
We paired the Bose Bluetooth headset with the Apple iPhone 4. The headset goes into pairing mode automatically when you first turn it on, so the whole pairing and connecting process was quite painless. Call quality was mixed; on our end, we had no problems hearing our callers. They sounded clear and natural for the most part. However, we did detect a low hum that sometimes distracted us.
Callers could hear us quite well most of the time. We tested the headset in both noisy and quiet environments, and the headset managed to adjust the volume as noise levels changed. However, callers could definitely still detect loud background sound when we were walking along a busy city sidewalk on a rainy day. Also, they reported occasional blips of static that marred the audio quality.
The Bose Bluetooth headset comes with a compact AC adapter, a USB cable, and a soft carrying pouch. It has a rated battery life of 4.5 hours of talk time and 7.3 days of standby time.