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Fellowes Earset (Jabra Headset) review: Fellowes Earset (Jabra Headset)

Fellowes Earset (Jabra Headset)

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials

Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer

See full bio

David Carnoy

Nov. 6, 2001 5:00 a.m. PT

2 min read

Though Jabra's EarSet may not offer quite the sound quality of the company's EarBoom, this all-in-one unit with a mike integrated into the earpiece's housing is one of the more unobtrusive models available. Though Jabra's EarSet may not offer quite the sound quality of the company's EarBoom, this all-in-one unit with a mike integrated into the earpiece's housing is one of the more unobtrusive models available.

6.0

Fellowes Earset (Jabra Headset)

The Good

Unobtrusive; do not have to worry about mike placement.

The Bad

No integrated answer/end button; sounds a little hollow.

The Bottom Line

This original headset is not as cutting edge as it was when it first came out, but its discreet qualities remain appealing.

Total integration
Jabra's headsets come with three different-sized (small, medium, and large) EarGels for both the left and right ear. It's easy enough to swap out one size for another; simply remove the existing EarGel and snap a new one into place. Jabra says you can wear the EarGels "comfortably for hours, thanks to the near custom fit." That's a stretch, but chances are one of the three sizes will fit you reasonably well; just don't expect an incredibly snug fit. Also, you'll have to do a little tinkering to get the earpiece securely in your ear. Unlike the EarBoom, which has an external boom mike, a looser fit may affect sound quality.

The most notable features are the mike/earpiece integration and the three EarGel sizes that are included with the EarSet. This makes it a step up from the company's EarBud line, which has the mike on the phone cable.

Tunnel sound
As for performance, we didn't have a problem hearing callers, but they said we sounded a little hollow, as if we were in a wind tunnel. Sound quality tended to improve slightly when the earpiece was more securely in place.

When the Jabra EarSet first came out, it was the only consumer headset with a mike integrated into the earpiece's housing. At that time, we'd have said the EarSet was worth $39.99. Now, with such products as the SyberSay Earlite 540 available, we'd like to see this model priced closer to $30.