First there was Jawbone. Then Jawbone 2. Now we have Jawbone PRIME, the latest — and maybe the greatest — noise-assassinating Bluetooth headset ever to pair with an iPhone.

Available for $119.95 from TiPb’s iPhone store, we’ll see if it lives up to its reputation, and its premium price… after the break.

What’s in the Box

Aliph really went all out to make the Jawbone PRIME an experience. Right from the start, the headset is presented to you floated in a clear box with a treasure trove of extras stashed beneath. Like with Apple products, you reveal these extras in layers, first a selection of 5 extra ear pieces for a total of six. You have small, medium, and large both for solo wear and for use with either the regular ear loop or the “premium” leather ear loop. Also included in the second layer is the USB cord (standard USB to proprietary connector — unfortunately no micro-USB on the headset end) as well as an AC adaptor if you want to plug the cord into a wall socket. All in all, a generous and well rounded assortment.

Design

Compared to the original Jawbone, which was my primary headset for almost a year, Jawbone PRIME is smaller and lighter, if not appreciably thinner. Yes, the uber-sexy exterior still hides a fairly plump little, kidney bean shaped device that cozies up to its namesake — your jawbone. It’s also got a textured outside face, much like the original, though as with the Jawbone 2, it’s gone from overtly cheese grater-like to a more subtle, dimpled look.

For the fashion-conscious, the simple truth is it remains arguably the best looking headset on the market — and comes in a wide variety of colors so you can accessorize to your hearts content (meaning I went with turtle-neck black, of course).

Usability

Pairing? Come on, we’re iPhone users. You turn it on, it pops up on your iPhone Bluetooth Settings panel, you select it, it asks for verification, and — boom! — you’re paired.

Charging is also a snap — literally. You snap the Jawbone PRIME (much as you did previous Jawbones) into the proprietary USB cable and plug the other end into a standard, powered USB port on your PC, laptop, hub, etc. or into the provided AC adaptor. Of course, I wish they’d used micro-USB on the headset end just so cables could be re-used between devices, so if there’s a single knock against Aliph, that’s it.

Wearing the Jawbone PRIME, depending on whether you choose to rock the ear loop is either as simple as placing it in your ear pointing down and twisting up (for without) or just hooking it into place. Easy peasy.

At this point I have to mention, as I do with every headset review, that my ears have been battered to the point that almost nothing fits right in them anymore (a few in-ear designs aside). So, I went with the ear loop and even then, if I’m not careful to readjust, the ear loop alone typically ends up keeping the device in anything resembling proximity to my head. For you non-mutants out there, you’ll likely have no problem at all, especially given the 6 different fitting options that come with the Jawbone PRIME.

Using the Jawbone PRIME to take calls involves pressing the main “button” on the face of the device. I but “button” in “quotes” because Aliph seems to share Apple’s hatred for obvious clicking mechanisms and so the “button” is completely invisible. You press it much as you do an Apple mouse or new-style trackpad — through the entire surface.

There’s nothing hidden about call quality, however. I tried it out walking outside, in the car during rush hour, and in a big-iron server room with multiple machines, drives, and cooling systems whirring.

This button will also, if held down, turn the headset off or on.

Jawbone PRIME’s second button, located at the top of the device just above the charging port, is even more of a multi-tasker. It will cycle through volume (because there’s no separate volume rocker… tsk!), reject calls, etc. (i.e. initiate voice calls on other platforms). If held down, it will also turn of NoiseAssasin, or turn it back on again.

Technology

Forgive me for quoting from Aliph here, but if you’re interested in more than just does it work (it does!), here’s how:

Acoustic Voice Activity Detector (AVAD) provides a fail-safe mechanism when the Voice Activity Sensor (VAS) doesn’t touch your face. When the VAS is not touching the face, Jawbone PRIME performs as good as or better than any other noise canceling headset. When the VAS touches the face, you get the turbo-boost to the NoiseAssassin performance.

Jawbone PRIME also has a subtle wind feedback mechanism built into the headset that gently alerts you when voice clarity is compromised due to wind gusts so the user can self-correct. While Jawbone PRIME does not completely remove the impact of wind, it does more than any other headset to remove wind and alert the user to the fact that wind may be affecting the conversation.

Conclusion

Jawbone PRIME is the best headset I’ve used to date. Stylish, flexible, and most importantly — highly functional, it builds upon the previous generation of Jawbone’s to raise the bar another notch.

Sure, micro-USB and a volume rocker would be nice, no doubt about it, but those minor discontents can’t take away from the overall package which, if it isn’t best of breed, is certainly a leading contender for the title.

If fit, finish, and performance are more important than a budget price point, Jawbone PRIME just might be the headset for you.

Pros

• 6 fitting options including 3 for ear-loop use.
• Stylish yet comfortable
• Cutting edge noise cancelation technology
• Premium product

Cons

• Apple-like lack of overt buttons and standard connectors
• Premium price

TiPb Review Rating

(Note: I’m philosophically opposed to perfect scores — everything can be improved. However, lacking a 4.9 star option, I rounded up in their favor. Still, I challenge Aliph to shoot for that 4.95 next year, okay?)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: Jawbone PRIME for iPhone

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Headset Review: The Jawbone 2 Bluetooth Headset

What’s in the box:

This headset comes in some rather fancy packaging; clear plastic laid out to highlight the headset as if on a pedestal and cardboard wrapping. Once you figure out how to open it (yeah, it took me a few minutes, I did not want to “tear” it open) you are presented with what I consider to be a lot of accessories for a mobile headset. You have four hear rungs (to go around your ear, two left and two right), five hear pieces to ensure the device comfortably fits in your ear and a charger that works on Apple’s premise: give them a USB cable and a wall adapter to plug into the end of it.

Size and build:

This headset is larger than your typical bluetooth headset. Not that this is a knock on the headset, but this has to be one of the largest bluetooth headsets I have come across. You will understand the need for a headset this large later, but at first glimpse, you may be taken away with its proportions. The headset is of superior quality; two pieces of molded high-quality plastic for the device, less of course the ear piece components. The ear rungs and ear pieces are solid and sturdy. The ear pieces even lock into place, no need to worry about them falling off.

Feel in the ear, fit:

Even though the headset is large, it is very comfortable and lightweight. The different ear rungs are helpful when trying to adjust the headset just-right. Once you have your combination of rung and earpiece selected, you just slip the headset on your ear.

This is where the problems begin.

I was excited to try the headset on. I typically like headsets to rest on my left ear, it is just the way I am. I tried combinations of ear rungs and earpieces. Absolutely none of them would keep the Jawbone in my ear. I would turn my head to the left, the head set would leave thesecureness of my ear canal and just float on my ear, as if flapping in the wind. So, I tried my right ear. One of the earpieces would let the headset stay in that ear. This is too bad because it feels very unnatural in the right ear, I want my headset in my left ear! I figured there must be something wrong with me. I had my wife try the numerous fittings, and to my dismay, it would not fit in either of her ears. I asked some people at work that used this headset and they agreed with me; it was very challenging to find a combination of rung and earpiece to fit ones ear.

Sound quality:

Placing and accepting calls are standard fanfare. Press the button on the headset to accept and end. The “click” button is a bit elusive at first since there is no physical external button to speak of. You simply squeeze the headset together. After further inspection I did find a small guiding ridge to press the “button”, this helps when squeezing the headset while on your ear. I had no particular complaints about the Jawbone when I spoke to people. Friends and colleagues could hear me just fine. However, this is the shining achievement of the Jawbone. You see, what sets this headset apart from others, besides its size, is a sensor that rests on your cheek (hence the extra size of the headset I mentioned earlier in this review). This sensor detects the difference in your voice to that of ambient noise. The result is a clear call for all parties, truly revolutionary and it really, really is worth the price of admission.

Battery Life & Charging:

The Jawbone has great battery life. Though I have never timed it, the headset will last me for a whole day. I charge it in the evenings, and it a ready to go the following day. The USB cable and add-on plug-in charger are really very helpful. I only wish the USB cable was not proprietary. Instead, if it gets damaged or you need and extra cable you have to order it through Aliph, the company that makes the Jawbone. Not a major issue, but more than once I have left on a trip and forgotten a charge cable.

Conclusion:

This headset gets a slightly higher mark than the Apple bluetooth headset I reviewed a while back. Though bigger and you may have challenges on how it is worn, you at least have consistent and a great call quality experience. I am a fan of this headset, even though I have to wear it on my right ear. The call quality and clarity is second to none. To be fair, I don’t want readers to walk away and think that there is no static and the call is “crystal” clear. This technology is not perfected yet and until it is you will still have static and crackles. This headset just happens to be the best at giving you a superior calling experience.

Ratings (out of 5)

• Size and build: 4
• Feel and fit: 3
• Outgoing sound quality: 5
• Incoming sound quality: 5
• Battery life: 4

Overall: 4.2

Pros:

• Amazing audio quality
• Looks cool, even for a Borg
• Plenty of sizing options
• Comfortable
• Great battery life

Cons:

• Very difficult to fit properly. I fact, it may not fit you at all

BONUS: Here is a video for the Jawbone demonstrating its use and effectiveness… enjoy!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Accessory Review: Jawbone Bluetooth Headset