Comfort/fit/fashion
BlueAnt's X5s are large for Bluetooth headphones -- although not quite as chunky as the Jabra BT620S -- with very comfortable leather-style headphone coverings -- this makes them very comfortable to wear, although like the Samsung SBH170, they can tend to feel a little loose around the back of the head -- your experience may vary. The BlueAnt logo on the X5s is fairly inconspicuous, although the obvious Bluetooth logo on the side might just make you a mugging target.
Where the X5s stand out from the Bluetooth headphone pack is in the inclusion of a standard 3.5mm audio-jack connector, which lets you use the X5 headset with non-Bluetooth devices.
Sound quality
Sound quality on the X5s was acceptable but never great, with a rather flat overall sound. If you're listening to just phone audio or compressed music it's probably less of a concern, but as you can use the supplied adaptor to connect up to better-quality audio sources, it's worth noting.
Pairing/ease of use
Pairing with the X5s was very simple, with good pickup and a very good range, easily making the Bluetooth standard 10 metres from our testing devices. The simplified controls -- which use short and long presses of the volume keys to perform different tasks -- are easy to learn and thanks to the Braille-style nodules on them, simple to find for quick adjustment. The microphone, however, is fiddly, as it connects to the USB port on the headset, boom style, and we were constantly worried that we would lose it.
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mbaensch
25/04/2007, 11:41 AM
rating
7/10
I originally bought the Jabra BT620s but found it would not work with the built in bluetooth on my laptop, so I exchanged for the Blueant X5.
The X5 worked for me, and I've found it to be pretty much as reported above - it's more comfortable than the Jabra but not as good in the audio quality.
It does however come with a bluetooth streamer for anything with a headphone socket. It's about the size of one of the earpieces - small enough to go in your pocket with your mp3 player. Another nice thing is the battery on the streamer is the same as the one on the headphones so you can swap them over if need be.
Overall, the blueant is better featured.
If I had kept the the Jabra I would have had to have payed an extra $150 or so for the Jabra bluetooth dongle and analog streamer to keep the better audio for the same features.
Pros: Worked with my laptop built in bluetooth.
Comfortable to wear.
Comes with the streamer for any music source.
Detachable batteries can be swapped between streamer and headset. (Jabra battery built in - not detachable)
Cons: Audio not as good as the Jabra.
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