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Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset (Black) | 
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| Brand: Aliph
Category: Wireless
List Price: $149.99
Buy Refurbished: $43.62
You Save: $106.37 (71%)
New (26) Used (8) Refurbished (2) from $43.62
Rating:  511 reviews
Sales Rank: 33
Color: Black
Media: Wireless Phone Accessory
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0.9 x 0.4 x 2.4
MPN: JAWBONE
Model: CT722LAS2348
UPC: 898404000067
EAN: 0898404000067
ASIN: B000RUPEOA
Release Date: August 1, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| | Advanced, military-grade noise-canceling system continuously adapts adapts to your environment | | | Award-winning modern industrial design by Yves Behar | | | Can be worn on either ear; includes four earloops and five earbuds for custom fit | | | Charges via proprietary USB cable |
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Product Description
There are cell-phone headsets that appear, well, like cell headsets. Bulky things that hang off the ear like some grotesque jewelry. Others fit directly into the ear, almost invisible. JawBone Bluetooth Headset Cellular Phone Edition is a statement of refined art. There's something exciting and unique about the striking design. So sleek and elegant, it was featured in an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It manifests more than contemporary sensuality for mobile professionals and socialites whose lives are immersed in wireless technology. The Jawbone headset represents the fine balance of form and function. Within the mass market of phone headsets, the Jawbone represents excellent sound, conscious energy efficiency, and personable beauty. It earmarks your individuality - subtle yet prominent. Jawbone - People will talk about it, but most of all, they'll love using it as their exclusive headset for mobile communication.
The Jawbone Bluetooth headset virtually eliminates background noise so your calls are clearer. The device's Noise Shield technology uses an advanced, military-grade noise-canceling system that continuously adapts to the users' changing environment to deliver and receive unparalleled audio quality. Combined with its award-winning design, the Jawbone headset is perfect for those on the go and for those who need the convenience of Bluetooth in challenging environments. Embark to delightful new destinations in mobile communication with Jawbone from Aliph. Package includes wall charger & USB cable Compatible with any Bluetooth equipped device including Blackberry - 7130c , 8700c; Cingular - 3125 , 8125; LG - CG300 , CU500; Motorola - L2 , RAZRV3 , L2 , RAZRV3I , L7 , RAZRV3; Nokia - E62 , 6102i; Samsung - C417 , D807 , SGH-ZX20 , C417; Sony Ericsson - Z525a
Amazon.com Review
These days, it seems that wireless Bluetooth headsets are a dime a dozen, but Aliph's Jawbone stands apart from the pack due to its unique look and some seriously amazing noise canceling technology. Originally developed for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to create a communication headset that would pick up voice in hostile environments, the Jawbone offers some of the best clarity from a Bluetooth headset we've experienced. This version comes in black, but it's also available in red and gray. 
Sophisticated modern industrial style meets the next step in audio technology with the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. | 
It can be worn on either ear, and you can customize your fit by choosing from one of the included earloops and earbuds. |  | The first thing you notice about this headset is its rather chunky size and cheese grater-like texturing on the exterior. Designed by Yves Behar, an award-winning industrial designer who also contributed to the design of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child, aka the $100 Laptop), the Jawbone certainly has that iconic modern look that will be copied for years to come. It's also a bit large on the face (due to the embedded technology and speech sensor), which reminded us of Lando Calrissian's assistant, Lobot. But then there's no easy way to disguise a Bluetooth headset, and it's probably an advantage as passersby won't think you're just muttering crazily to yourself. The Jawbone can be worn on either ear, and it comes with four earloops of varying sizes to fit your lobe. Made of solid metal with a rubber cover, they're fairly comfortable around the ear. The trick, however, is getting it on over the ear, and this is the Jawbone's biggest disappointment. Because it's so stiff, you literally have to use both hands to try to slip it on over your ear. And since we don't wear our headset constantly, we missed a few calls while performing this dance. Also, the metal frame does bend (as we found after carrying it in our pocket), which can be viewed as an annoyance or as a feature--enabling you to form-fit the frame to your ear. It also comes with five ear pads of varying shapes and sizes, and we tried one of the teardrop shaped pads to secure the Jawbone inside our ear sans metal frame--it was comfortable and worked for awhile, but isn't a solution if you're moving around a lot. As with Steve Jobs, Behar is not a fan of protruding buttons. Thus, the Jawbone's two controls are hidden within the headset, requiring you to press either the front or back of the unit to answer calls, adjust volume, or turn on/off the noise cancellation function. While we've read some reviews that complained about these hidden controls, we had no problem in accessing them and appreciated their tactile response. The Jawbone also comes with a custom-fit recharging cable that can either plug into a PC's USB port or into the included wall jack. We enjoyed the flexibility of the USB charging, but wished the cable could have been a more standard USB mini-jack (for those times when you forget to bring the cable along). But the true test of the Jawbone is how its "noise shield" performed. First, a little about this technology. The Jawbone has a small piece of rubbery plastic that protrudes from the bulbous microphone and sits flush against your face, and this sensor tells the Jawbone whether or not you're speaking and can remove background noise from your ongoing speech signal. It can also dynamically adjust the volume of the incoming audio from your call. We tried the Jawbone in a number of different situations, and for the most part it worked flawlessly. Sitting at our desk with the stereo volume cranked up while playing The Chemical Brothers, our call partner was none the wiser. She didn't hear any of the music coming through, and our voice came through strong on her end. While standing on a street corner, the undulations of traffic noise never made it through to our caller, while we noticed an uptick in volume with an increase in traffic noise. However, the Jawbone wasn't perfect, as it doesn't do a great job in windy situations. Still, for the good majority of situations you'll find yourself in--from busy airports to talk-heavy coffeehouses to traffic-laden city streets--the Jawbone should perform very well, masking the surroundings to improve fidelity for you call partner as well adapting your ear volume to the surrounding environment. We just wish the ear frame was a bit more flexible. Pros:
- Amazing background noise masking capabilities--even when faced with loud, thumping music
- Outstanding adaptive volume as the environment around you changes
- Options for customizing the fit
Cons:
- Metal earloop frames are hard to quickly put on
- Non-standard USB connection is a bummer if you forget the cable at home
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| Customer Reviews: Read 506 more reviews...
 Great headset. Awesome noise reduction June 27, 2007
Steven M. Godlewski (Chicago, IL)
75 out of 76 found this review helpful
I have had this headset for about 3 months now. The noise reduction is remarkable. I can be in a airport and no one even knows I am out of my office.
Wind is a problem with this headset as with any other headset. The noise reduction does not reduce wind noise. If it's a windy day you are out of luck but I don't know of any headset that works that way.
Sound - The sound is a little tinny but you get used to it pretty quickly.
Comfort - I have owned at least a dozen Bluetooth headsets and this is by far the most comfortable. There are different clips and ear pieces that come with the headset. I have worn it for over 8 hours straight and don't even know it's there.
Charging - Propriety USB charger that plugs into the back of the phone. They also supply a plug for an outlet so you can charge it without your computer. I bought 2 chargers one for home and one for my laptop bag.
Battery - Very good battery life. I cannot remember exact times but I use it often every day and have not run out of charge yet.
Storage - This is the one thing that is a pain. It does not come in a case and putting it in your pocket is a real pain. I know this is trivial but I wish there was a case for it when I am not wearing it.
Overall I really like this headset and can honestly say this is the best one I have owned.
Best Ever Period September 14, 2007
Donald Foy (Atlanta, GA United States)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful
With all due respect to the other reviewers I can't get what could possibly be wrong with this device. I was worried about the purchase when I read some of the other reviews. At check out the store clerk said "You are going to love this!" I knew something was up then.
Bottom line it is the best sounding headset ever. The first night I got it I was driving home in the pouring rain, highway speed, airconditioner on, in Atlanta traffic radio on softly. Called my wife and she said it sounded like I was sitting in my office at work. Unable to believe this I rolled down the back windows to had more noise. While I was having trouble hearng myself talk, she said I still sounded clear and she could only hear slight background noise like soft rain. WOW!
I think Amazon is the best source for product information because it is written by real users. I try to never overrate or hype a product because I know people may buy in part due to a recommendation. That said, I don't know how it gets better than this one.
Reliable Bluetooth headset with fantastic noise reduction capabilities! May 21, 2008
Jennifer Ray (Nashville, TN United States)
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
Quite simply, the Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset totally rocks! Believe me, I've gone through quite a few Bluetooth headsets in the last couple of years, and so I have quite a few to compare this one to.
First off, the design of it looks a bit off-putting. It uses military-grade noise reduction technology and the look of the headset makes me believe that this particular headset may have been originally intended for such use. It's not exactly the most attractive headset out there - definitely not the most feminine.
But to be completely honest with you, after trying a number of `prettier' headsets that either break easily, lose their pairing with the phone frequently, or just plain don't work as well I am all for sacrificing form for function.
All that said, while it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing Bluetooth headset, it is not the ugliest either. It is interesting to note the design differences in the newer Jawbone model that Aliph just released, however. They've presented a much more attractive version with a sleeker, less obtrusive style, seemingly proving that the manufacturer recognizes the customer's desire, frivolous though we may be, for a headset that is pleasing to the eye.
Now for the important part: how it works. The Jawbone was simple to pair with my cell phone (HP iPaq 6945 Unlocked Cell Phone with Wi-fi, GPS, MP3/Video Player, SD--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)), as most Bluetooth headsets are. More importantly, I've paired it once and it has maintained that pairing without issue ever since, unlike the previous headset I owned which lost its pairing at least once a week, usually while mid-conversation. This is annoying, certainly, but for a user that won't use their cell phone while driving without a hands-free device, this is very unsettling. If I wanted/needed to continue a call while on the road, I disconnected the call, pulled over to re-pair the two devices, and then started my call and my trip again. This is a major issue for me, so I am extremely appreciative of Jawbone's reliability.
Next feature: Noise Reduction. Aliph makes a big deal about their noise reduction technology, and having now used it with amazing results, I understand why. They DESERVE to tout their success in this arena. Yeah, it is that good. Watching the videos they have on their website demonstrating the quality made me curious, but I admit to having my doubts that it could really eliminate background noise to the extent that they promised.
I've purposely stress-tested it in some pretty noisy situations. First of all, my own vehicle. I have an older car, and it seems to pick up all of the outside noise there is, even with my windows up. If it is raining, my callers could hear the rain on the windshield when using other headsets. When a semi drove alongside my car, the noise of the big truck distracted my callers from our conversation.
Aliph's Jawbone headset changed all that. My friends and family no longer even suspect I'm in the car when I use it. If they call me while I'm in a grocery store or department store, they hear neither the hubbub of the store nor the announcements over the building intercom. Then I went to my favorite wing restaurant, which keeps the music pretty loud. I stood directly under one of their speakers and asked my friend if she could hear it. She thought she heard some people speaking faintly in the background. She had no idea I was standing under a speaker with music blaring at me.
As for the fit of the headset, it is very secure on my ear. Like most others, it hooks over the ear, which makes it fit a bit oddly with sunglasses or eyeglasses, but it isn't uncomfortable. When I get a new headset/earpiece, one of the first things I do is to put it on and shake my head around a bit to test how securely it fits my ear. This one didn't budge. For me, this is a very important factor. If I can't move my head naturally as needed while driving, then the headset impedes my ability to drive and I won't have that.
Some of you probably want to know about how it charges. I use mine quite a bit for both personal and business, and it isn't rare for me to wear out the charge before the day is out. I've only managed to drain my Jawbone twice, and it charges so quickly that I was able to use it again within an hour or so. It comes with a cable that can charge through an electrical outlet or a USB port on a PC. It does not have a car charger, but since I have a power inverter for my car, I can simply use it to charge it while driving should the need arise, so this isn't a deal breaker for me.
All in all, I highly recommend the Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset. When I finally break or lose this one, I will look at replacing it with another Aliph model before any other manufacturer.
Most recent Headsets I've used:
Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset - Black
Jabra BT250v Bluetooth Headset with Vibrating Alert [Retail Packaged]
Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset
Motorola H300 Bluetooth Headset
Great Noise Reduction! Defeated the H1 Hummer! June 30, 2007
K. Chris Min (New York, NY USA)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
I bought this headset to replace a Jabra BT800 which was having spotty connections to my WM5 Samsung SCHi730 after having been reliable for a number of years. The reason I chose the Jawbone was that I was floored when talking to my brother, who likes to drive around in a ridiculous H1 Hummer. If you're not familiar with this vehicle, it is essentially a consumer version of the military Hummer. It is about the noisiest environment you can imagine, and my brother has had the habit of calling me on his cell when on long drives using a headset. Normally this is quite frustrating, but one morning he called and I would have sworn he was inside a quiet office. Once I found out that he had this headset, I immediately ordered it. I received it a few days ago, and had a slight problem initially with charging it as one person mentioned, but it wasn't hard to adjust the charger so that it would charge (Sheesh- a 1 star review over that?!). It was easy to pair up with my WM5 device right after that, and it works flawlessly. It has much better sound quality than my old BT800, and the connection problems I was having went away with the new headset (presumably I dropped the old BT800 one too many times).
Great headset - best I've ever owned February 26, 2008
James Ferguson (Tempe, AZ United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I am a little surprised at all the bad reviews I've read on here. I for one love it! I tend to buy any new headset that comes out and am usually somewhat disappointed. I probably own more than 20 blue tooth headsets right now. This is by far the best. I will now probably go the longest I've gone without buying another headset. I am perfectly happy with this one.
The sound quality is outstanding. Second to none. None of the other headsets even come close. You can talk with the stereo blaring to the point you can barely hear yourself, but the other party can hear you just fine and can barely tell there is background noise.
As for the fit, I understand the frustration at first. The first two days I owned the headset it took me two hands to put it on my ear. Getting it on took some getting used to, but now after a lot of time with it I can easily slip it on with one hand just as quickly as any of the other headsets. It does take some getting used to though.
As for wearing it, it's fantastic once you get it on. I would rate it as one of my most comfortable. It isn't the lightest headset I own, but the ear loop distributes the weight (and it isn't all that heavy anyway) to the point you can't tell you are wearing it. I often forget I have it on and have left it on for hours at a time. Also, it's a good fit in that it is secure. A lot of my other headsets would fall off if I shook my head. This one stays on quite well.
I read something about quality in some of the reviews. Speaking personally, I liked it so much I ended up buying 3 more for friends. They all love it as well and there have been no problems with quality on any of the the 3 units I bought for them or my original unit.
I am giving this 5 stars as it truly deserves it. I own 20 headsets that are decent, but far worse than this. My second best headset doesn't even come close to this one.
edit: Check out some of the reviews on the web. It is currently the highest rated headset ever on CNET and I've seen rave reviews on many other sites. I also see many people reviewed it from CES 2008 and have yet to read a bad review.
edit2: It's worth noting I just ordered a 5th one. And quick comment on the volume. All the headsets I've ever owned I keep at max volume. Most were too quiet to hear if there was background noise. A few were decent and quite loud, but this is the only one that is loud enough that I sometimes turn it down from max. If you own one and it seems quiet, make sure it is adjusted in your ear properly. I've never heard a louder headset personally.
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