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Review of Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headset

In the box:

Headset
Charger
User Guide
Tips

Two sports headsets from Jabra are almost identical, but one of them is wireless. The Bluetooth version has ideal ergonomics and radio, but the downsides are there as well...

Design and Construction

The headset is offered in a quality package with plastic tube and paper on top, which is even good enough as a gift wrap. The design is interesting as Jabra decided to be original in creating a compact gadget. Two bulky earphones are connected with the yellow cable and host all the electronic components. On the right one there is a capped microUSB jack. The area near headphones is flexible enough to locate and fix the headset easily. Main colors are dark grey and yellow, while earphones are covered with metal perforated panels. This sports headset looks appropriately for this occasion, but unfortunately we did not get a case. Interestingly, the wired version has a rugged cloth case. The appearance of both models is similar, but the one with the cable is a bit smaller. Both of them are protected from dirt, dust and raindrops. I would not recommend to swim with headsets on though.

Convenience of Use

I liked how Sport fits despite thick loops and there was no discomfort when used in the gym. Swift movements are not an issue too. For a sports oriented solution ergonomics is one of the key issues. If on a treadmill an earphone cable sticks out I get nervous it can catch anything. Here the cable is fixed on the neck and you cannot see it. I can compare Sport only with comfortable sneakers you have been wearing for years and do not want to part with them.

Controls

All buttons are on the right earphone: play/pause (multifunctional key), volume controls and a small light indicator nearby. Taking into account the purpose of the model we will not complain about this decision. First run is accompanied with the coupling by default. Afterwards you will have to press and hold the play/pause button until the indicator starts blinking. Volume controls buttons are not convenient, because they are difficult to get close enough to and the play/pause button works with a click, which requires an impressive push. Another key is dedicated to launching the radio, but we will discuss it later on. Moving between tracks is effected by pressing and holding the volume controls buttons.

Radio

There is a button on the earphone to start radio, which can work independently from the phone. It is a welcome addition. To search for stations press and hold the volume controls button.

Power

On an iPhone screen we see a power charge indicator. The manufacturer claims 4.5 hours of talktime and 3 hours of music playback. A charger from the box will prepare your headset to be up and running in one hour and a half. Charging via the USB port is possible too. With the active use you will unfortunately run out of steam by the end of the day.

Phone Connection and Sound Quality

I found the headset too quiet and lacking adequate sound power. It was tested predominantly with iPhone 4S and BB 9780, which is fine for the gym unless you have a noisy environment there. The headset boasts Bluetooth 3.0 with the range of 8 meters. Speech reproduction quality is fine in a quiet room, but ambient noise may create problems. You can use it in a car, but why do you need a sports headset for that.

Operation with two phones is supported. A wired model is louder, has a cable and a one button remote to use with iPhone. Sound quality is decent (for a wireless headset) for sports, but audiophiles may be not impressed. In other words we have a good product for everyday use.

Conclusions

In retail the wireless option fetches 100$, while the one with the cable costs 50$-60$. The price is not too attractive, because Jabra Sport with Bluetooth is a specialized sports tool. It is raindrops proof, the cable is convenient and we get radio on top of that, but controls are not the best and the volume together with operation time could have been more impressive. 60$ would be appropriate. A wired model for 50$ sounds a bit better, but the majority of consumers would like to get a universal everyday headset for this amount and not a specialized solution. I think 30$ would be more spot on. Nevertheless, if the price is right you can look in the direction of Jabra Sport.

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Sergei Kuzmin (skuzmin@mobile-review.com)
Twitter Livejournal
Translated by Maxim Antonenko (maxantonenko@ukr.net)