Giving Bluetooth Headsets a Second Chance
Although I use Bluetooth to connect my PC or Mac to my Nokia E61 on a daily basis I have never been a big fan of Bluetooth headsets.
I didn't think the convenience of not having a wired microphone was worth the inconvience of having something slightly dicomfortable stuck on/in your ear as well as sacrificing sound quality. The sound quality of my previous BT headset that was not up to par with what I got from a wired microphone. Well, that was then! Fast forward a few years.
Since it's been several years since my last experience with Bluetooth headsets I thought it was time to give the concept of BT headsets a second try.
After reading a good review of the Nokia BH-900 Bluetooth Headset I decided to give it a try.
Wow, a lot has happened since I last tried out a BT headset! The BH-900 has 8 hours of talk time and only weighs 18g (.6oz). It also has a built in noise reduction and echo cancellation feature so the sound quality is very impressive. I have only used it for about a week but so far I am very happy and impressed.
The set up was a breeze. It took less than a minute to pair the Nokia E61 with the BH-900.
August 2nd, 2006 at 7:32 am
That headset doesn’t actually look too bad but I still can’t get away from the fact that ,when they’re stuck in someone’s ear, they just look stupid.
Honestly, when was the last time you saw someone walk down the street with one of these in their ear… young or old, overweight taxi driver or mother of three… & thought ‘yeh, that looks cool’.
Maybe they’re just 20 years ahead of their time?
August 2nd, 2006 at 7:51 am
Has anybody checked out http://www.jawbone.com/ to see if it works on the e61? I used to have one for an older Nokia before I switched to a Treo 650 and after using it I can’t imagine using any other type of headset….the audio quality was top of the line. I would buy another one but they claim it works with the phones internal software….and they have no Series 60 phones listed, so I’m curious if it’ll work.
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:08 am
I love BT headsets, except I get a headache when I use them. I can only used wired headsets. Anyone else has that problem?
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:18 am
Tom,
I\’m with you. I only use the headset in my car or at home (walking around). However, lately I have seen a few hot women using BT headsets where I live - San Francisco.
August 2nd, 2006 at 9:43 am
Check out the plantronics discovery 640. its amazing. however if u want to see fashion meet performance, check out the Jabra JX10. its the BT headset used in the last season of 24. NOTHING TOUCHES IT.
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:42 am
This is slightly off-topic, but where can i get that awesome theme used on that e61 in the pics?
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:55 am
Hi Karl,
It’s all listed on the Nokia E61 Themes page:
http://www.e-series.org/nokia-e61-themes/
Cheers
August 2nd, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Regarding the Jawbone. I had one. Don’t get it.
(a) it doesn’t work with the E61
(b) it’s not bluetooth and so the cords are a nightmare
(c) it’s not any better anymore than the headset reviewed here - both have noise canceling headsets.
(d) it’s expensive for what it is.
I returned mine.
August 2nd, 2006 at 3:25 pm
I second Danny’s Plantronics Discovery 640 recommendation. Fantastic headset: excellent sound quality; stylish, and fits anyone’s ears. Plus, the battery charging system is very nifty - they give you a number of ‘tips’ which fit on Nokia and other manufacturers’ phone chargers and allow the headset to charge through that adaptor.
The Nokia adaptor has the old full-size connector rather than the mini-jack which comes on the E61, but I tend to use my old charger with my E61 anyway and use the little adaptor. That way, I can charge the E61, the headset and any other Nokia with the one charger.
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:52 pm
>However, lately I have seen a few hot women using BT headsets where I live - San Francisco
Yes why IS that strangely alluring.. women with high tech gadgets!
Women who chose smartphones are just so much cooler than those who’ve chosen silly little pink handbag accessory phones.
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:15 am
Hi,
I currently own a 6230i with a Nokia Wireless Clip-on Headset HS-21W (http://www.nokia.com.sg/nokia/0,,66050,00.html).
I’ll be upgrading to the E61 soon and was wondering if anyone has tried using the E61 with the HS-21W and whether it works?
Thanks!
Andrew
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:05 am
According to http://www.europe.nokia.com/accessorieslink?s=HS-21W it’s compatible with the E61.
The European regional site is the ‘definitive’ Nokia website - any time you want to check compatibility with accessories, check there.
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:48 am
Thanks John! I’ll be getting my E61 this weekend! Can’t wait!!
On a totally unrelated topic, I found this freeware Text Editor for the S60 here - http://p7.hostingprod.com/@s60freeware.com/s60blog/2006/06/easyedit_a_text_editor_for_the.html
As I don’t have my E61 yet, do let me know how it goes if any of you decide to try it out.
Cheers!
Andrew
August 4th, 2006 at 4:40 am
Hi,
in case you get sick of your Nokia headsetb, you might try this one:
http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat1150057/cat5420035/prod5360004
works great. at least i always found the nokia-headsets to have bad audio-quality.
Cheers and have fun with your new gadget
Thomas
August 5th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
I tried to use the phone with my in-car bluetooth but somehow it cannot communicate with my e61. Does anybody know what’s wrong and how to fix it? Thanks!!
August 6th, 2006 at 11:53 pm
Woo Hoo!!! I’m finally a proud owner of a Nokia E61.
Just wanted to update you that the HS-21W works great with the E61. In fact, it works even better with the E61 as compared to the 6230i I previously had.
Cheers,
Andrew
August 7th, 2006 at 2:15 am
I was using the Nokia HS-4W. What a piece of junk, the volume was way too low. If I was on a bus, or on a busy street, or anywhere with some noise - I couldn’t hear a thing. I had to push it into my ear with my finger.
Then there’s the whole pain of receiving a call and accidently answering it on your phone when your bluetooth is connected, or vice-versa.
And it’s no good for music or podcasts, I just keep the HS-23 wrapped around my head most of the time. Maybe when we see some stereo BT headsets, I’ll reconsider.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
I have an E61 and just got the BH900. It works great! I have tried several BT headsets and found NONE of them satisfactory. Either they were uncomfortable and/or the sound quality was poor. I like to have the mic close to my mouth and there are very few BT headsets that have a boom of any kind. The 900 is a great compromise and the audio quality is very good. I love my E61 as well.
From LA USA, Ken
November 24th, 2006 at 11:30 am
Hi Ed,
I was about to buy the bluetooth stereo headset (BH-501) at the mall today. But when i tested it, the sound quality was aweful! It sounded like a tin can and I could hear scratching even when i was using a high-quality VBR MP3 file.
I also tried the Motorola (HT820) counterpart and it had the same effect. However, when i tried my friend’s phone (an SE M600i), the sound quality was fab on both devices!
Can anybody verify if both bluetooth stereo devices are compatible with the E61 or is there something wrong with my phone?
I really wanna buy a bluetooth stereo headset for my E61!
January 5th, 2007 at 3:51 am
I am using the BH-900 with the E61 (v3 firmware) and the answer button (or pulling out the boom) does not answer internet (VoIP) calls. All you get is a beep so you have to use the E61 to answer calls, which is a problem if you are downstairs and the E61 is on the charger upstairs! It seems to work fine with mobile calls.
June 4th, 2007 at 3:20 am
I use an e61 and BH-900 and have a real problem getting them to stay connected - even when both batteries are fully charged. They are paired and authorised etc, but when I, say, turn on the BH-900 it will say it is Connected, but then about 5 seconds later say it is Disconnected. Does anyone have any ideas, or workarounds for this?
Jon