[macaddiict]

Finding a headset that performs well on my Samsung VGA1000 (also known as the A620) has been a real hassle. After countless returns I started keeping track of the differences between models. Hope this helps you in your search. (You'll notice that I say nearly every headset cuts out... this seems to be a problem with the A620, and may not be a problem if you're using a different phone.) Listed from worst to best.

GE Cordless Phone Headset ($15.99 from Target - worked fine with my Virgin Mobile 8500)
Features:
Headband mono style
Long cord
Mute switch and volume control

Comfort: 7 out of 10
I used this with AT&T, Panasonic, and Motorola cordless phones for many hours. No one ever complained and it was easy to wear. Also worked fine with my Audiovox 8500.

Build Quality: 7 out of 10

Microphone: 7 out of 10
Worked great with all phones except the A620. Mildy muffled sound. (With the A620 - Very machine like/robotic sound. Cut off terribly like a half-duplex speakerphone.)

Speaker: 5 out of 10
Not bad. Very deep overall sound.

Overall: Just here as an example. Worked great except on the A620.

Bodyglove EarMax (around $30 at Office Depot)
Comfort: 4 out of 10
Hard plastic that you had to take apart to get off your ear.

Build Quality: 5 out of 10
Plastic seemed strong, but everything was unnecessarily oversized (such as the plastic snap on covers).

Speaker: 2 out of 10
Terribly tinny and metallic.

Microphone: 1 out of 10
Hardly understandable. Sounded crackly, far away, and extremely tinny/sharp. By far the worst.

Overall: 2 out of 10
Looks ugly. Fits ugly. Sounds ugly. Would be fine if it were $2, but it was more like $30.

Plantronics M110 ($19.99 at Office Max)
Features:
Over the head, mono design
Hard plastic (unbendable) boom-style microphone
Built in microphone loudness switch

Comfort: 4 out of 10
Not terrible, but not great for people with big heads. The headband was not wide enough for me. Microphone transmitted a far away, sharp sound -- this also cut out every little bit.

Build Quality: 7 out of 10
No major complaints here. Microphone switch was a bit too small but didn't feel cheap.

Speaker: 5 out of 10
Not great, not terrible.

Microphone: 5 out of 10
Worst sound quality of the Plantronics I tried. Did not pick up background noise, but the voice sounded high and squeaky. Cut out more than the other Plantronics, even with the adjustable Microphone settings.

Overall:
Might be okay for those with smaller heads. Not recommended for A620.

Genuine Samsung Earbud - ($15 from Samsung, $9 from Amazon)
Comfort: 6 out of 10
The earbud was comfortable and did not fall out as often as most of the other earbuds I tried.

Build Quality: 7 out of 10
The earbud was comfortable and didn't have a cheap little foam cover like most do, so that's one less thing to worry about. Just FYI this earbud has small gold "trim" on it. I wouldn't have guessed this from the picture online, but it was easily blacked out with a Sharpie.

Speaker: 7 out of 10
Good range and loudness. Fit well in the ear canal.

Microphone: 5 out of 10
Cut out occasionally (especially in noisy environments) but had good tone and range. Sounded like you were in a big room.

Overall: 6 out of 10
Nice because it had the voice dialing/turbo button and good as far as earbuds go, but it still cut out.

Sanyo "Platinum Power" ($17.99 from Target)
Features:
Boom mic on rubber bendy thing that wraps around to place microphone very near your mouth
Turbo button on earpiece
Long-enough cord with shirt clip

Comfort: 4 out of 10
The part of the speaker that was supposed to go into your ear was much to large and made of hard plastic. Also went in at a weird angle. Painful after about five minutes.

Build: 4 out of 10
Rubbery microphone arm felt very cheap. "Over the ear" piece came out easily (so you could make it work on either ear) but was also very thin and breakable.

Microphone: 6 out of 10
Didn't cut out at all. However, voice quality was very tinny and modulated sounding.

Speaker: 4 out of 10
Poor overall quality. Very metallic sounding. Speaker sounded like it was busted.

Overall: 6 out of 10
If you have a large ear canal and don't mind the speaker sounding tinny, this works fine for the A620. I would have kept it if it had been more comfortable.

Plantronics MX153-M1 ($42 at Office Depot)
Features:
Turbo button for Motorola phones (didn't do anything for my Samsung)
Unique design that won't interfere with glasses
Short, stiff boom mic

Comfort: 9 out of 10
Very unique design that is like a normal earbud but with a small foot that wraps under your earlobe to keep it on. (Might not be comfortable for earring wearers).

Build Quality: 8 out of 10
Flexible rubber that goes behind ear did not feel very strong... I could see it splitting or tearing after some use (did not look like a replaceable part).

Speaker: 6 out of 10
Full range of sound, but somewhat muffled and quiet.

Microphone: 8 out of 10
Excellent overall sound quality. Other caller hears more dynamic and "full" sound than others I tried. (For instance, you could hear the acoustic quality of a song on the radio and inflection in my voice.)

Overall: 6 out of 10
Cuts out while talking on my A620 ... not enough to drive you crazy but just enough to not be worth the price.

Jabra EarBoom ($5 from eforcity)
Features:
6 different "ear gels" that fit into your ear canal like a hearing aid
Long enough cord with shirt clip
Boom microphone on bendable rubber extention
Wind guard/foam cover on microphone

Comfort: 10 out of 10
This seems to be the perfect solution to the hands-free dilemma as far as fit and comfort goes. The 3 (one each for left and right ear: large, medium, small) different sizes of eargels that are included make it easy to find the size that fits just right. Doesn't fall out or feel uncomfortable after extended use. I often forget it is in my ear and don't take it out after a call.

Build Quality: 9 out of 10
Eargels and speaker seem very well built. However, microphone only comes with one foam cover and it looks easy to tear or loose (probably would be fine without it). Boom mic is on the end of a flexible rubber "stick" that I wouldn't want to stuff in my pocket, for example.

Speaker: 10 out of 10
Extremely loud. Very clear. I usually use it on the Headset Level 1 setting with my Samsung A620. Voice dialing so loud it almost hurts. I can't imagine a situation where you wouldn't be able to hear the other caller. Deep, dynamic sound quality.

Microphone: 7 out of 10
Does not cut out at all on my A620! Finally! The sound quality is very good, but has a "cell phone" or modulated characteristic to it. Not sure if it is noise canceling, but I have used it in my car, on windy days while walking outside,
and indoors without a caller ever complaining. It is slightly quieter/muffled compared to using the built in microphone on my phone.

Overall: 9 out of 10
The perfect fit, a great speaker, and a microphone that doesn't cut out! I didn't think I would ever find this combination! (A big thanks to PDXMatt for recommending it!) Makes me want to shell out for one of the newer Jabra EarSets with a turbo button!

I tried numerous others, but I don't remember the model number and can't keep the facts straight on them. Hope this review helps someone...