Review Jabra BT5020 bluetooth headset

[TxOcelot]

Accessory Type: Bluetooth Headset
Brand: Jabra
Price: 52.00 plus shipping
Where Purchased: Amazon.com
Time Used: One day
Used With Which Phone: Sanyo 8400
Rating (1-5 Stars): 3


I'm new to the BT ear piece market, this being my second in the past few months. My first was/is the Jabra BT500, which is very enjoyed... once I got used to tolerating the eargel discomfort, and no adjustability for fit. So my hopes were high with the BT5020, in getting rid of the eargels and allowing for some angle and length of speaker position, would fix my comfort levels.

So my first impressions of the BT5020 was wow, this is comfortable, it weighs less, no ear gel and the size is very balanced with the over all package. Turned on the power and it started in pair mode, and paired without a glitch or bump with my Sanyo 8400. So far so good, I was working in the yard, so decided to leave it on and see how I liked the fit and feel. And to speak straight, I forgot I had it on and got the sudden reminder of it real quick when my wife called, the vibrate alert went off (I’d forgotten it had vibrate alert) and I nearly came unglued tell I recalled what was doing it. This thing is that comfortable, no feeling like my ear is plugged up, no strange pulling or pushing, or slippage to keep telling me I have something on/in my ear.

The phone call however set off the first warning signs, there was very distinct static and crackling, this with my phone on my hip on the same side as the earpiece. I kept it in mind but kept working for a few hours before deciding to go and really play with my new earpiece.

I started conducting some tests around the house, called customer service of my phone company, and figured to kill two birds with one stone. I had the phone on a shelf at the same level as my ear, about 3 feet away. The static wasn’t noticed this time so I began moving around the room and it returned. After 9-12 feet distance, the static was so bothersome that if the CSR had answered, I'd not have been able to conduct business. I tried moving it closer and at different angles with varying results and little improvement. Static wasn’t noticed as a background noise or white noise type, but direct distortion of voice and or background music (I was on hold a while), it changed with the volume/beat of the sound I was supposed to be hearing clearly.

To say the least, right now I’m not pleased; I truly like the feel, fit, weight and appearance of this headset. There is a notable creak from the flexible portion but nothing I will notice after a few days of using something. The button position for those used to the BT500, as I am, is a little different as it is a bit harder to tap the answer/end button, for you can’t really just pinch the end of the mic area and catch the button, as you can with the BT500, but those are small things and a few days of playing will pan out if they become larger issues.

I’ve worn wired headsets for years, mostly Plantronic or Jabra versions’; so moving to BT has been a learning experience. I’m not going to give up on the BT5020 just yet, I’m going to further test it over the weekend, at work where I’ll have multiple other phones and radios on or around my person, at times talking on various radios of various frequencies. I think this will truly tell me if the BT5020 can hold mustard, or if it gets packed up on Monday and sent back, something I’m usually ill tolerant of doing unless something is truly truly broken and/or a turd.

[TxOcelot]

Update July 14th:

Well, after some more testing and out and about real world experience with the headset, it is definitely going back, which honestly disappoints me greatly. With all the plusses and the over all feel of this headset, I want to keep it.

But some direct testing, using my phones voice dial feature, where no other factors such as the other caller equipment or phone reception are involved. I get crackling as soon as I hear my phone beep for me to say the name of whom I'd like to call. And if I remain silent there is a constant crackling sound, which only gets worse once sound gets involved. In contrast, my Jabra BT500 is clear the entire time for this test.

Last night I went to the mall, figuring to try the unit in a noisy location, to see how the quality was for others when I’m out and about. Split up from the wife and we called one another a few times. While I was outside, which was windy and crowded, she said I sounded fine, she couldn’t tell I was outside, no wind noise or a whole lot of voice interference. Of course she could hear some of the static I was getting buckets of on my end. It was difficult at times simply to hear or more accurately make out, since the static/crackling is directly correlated to the voice or sounds being transmitted through the ear piece, the words she was speaking. When I was in the mall itself and walking through a store, she said I sounded like I was in a hall or bathroom.

I then switched to the BT500 for direct comparison, and while outside she had more wind nose and could hear more of the voices around me, she heard me fine and I could hear her perfectly. I’d never put the BT500 to any testing, as it simply worked, and I’m just now realizing how well it worked.

I've sent a note to Jabra, relaying my experience, I'm hoping I can rma it with them and perhaps it is my unit simply being a flop and not the whole design. I realize the headset is BT 2.0 based and my phone is 1.1, however I'd hoped such wouldn't be a strong factor in the performance, but perhaps it is as simple as that. Over all I think the design is outstanding, feel and fit is a winner. The creak of the soft rubber portion didn’t take long to forget about entirely, and the button placement while not as intuitive as the BT250 and 500, was still user friendly and easy to manipulate. I’d love to hear from someone with a BT 2.0 phone and an older BT version, who could try this unit out and see if it is the BT version causing the issues.