Jabra BT160 Review

Physics and design
Jabra is well known in bluetooth headset manufacturing. They are doing oem bluetooth headset for other company and name under different name also. like what had been bundle with Palm Treo 600, is actually the bluetooth headset created by Jabra. 

Jabra BT160, actually sharing the almost the same outlook as the one bundle with Treo 600. With one noticeable difference, the changeable face lift. The idea here is good for those who like fashion changing. 

BT make use of the hard plastic with most of the body, with the insertable ear loop finished in soft rubber for the comfortability. The ear pieces is emboss a bit in order to make sure it is well insert into our ear while it is put on. 

The ear loop is easily getting unplug, too easy indeed. So be careful while u try to putting it on, you may get your ear loop unplug finally. It is impossible to plug the headset into your ear and still hanging without the ear loop. The ear loop is inserted into the hard rotatable rubber. You can turn the ear loop in clock/counter clock wise in order to find the best fit. 

Up there is the transparent hard plastic it can be taken out in order to put your customize fashion face lift. But there is no software provided for user to actually do their own fashion design :) Too bad for some of the fashion designer out there.  

But since the face list is in ellipse shape, I believe doing our own design involve just printing the photo out in suitable size and just cut it into the shape of your face lift. It is just that simple. 

Middle of the transparent plastic, is the multi-function button. It can be the switch on/off button, reject call, hold call, switch call, voice dialling button. Volume up and down is at the same side of the headset, not like other manufacturer. It is up to the user to decide, whether this design is suitable for them. I found this as no big deal at all. As long as it is reachable and easily being pressed, that's it. 

Mic is located bottom of the headset and facing downward. There is no ESP build in nor noise cancellation exist in BT160, hence do not expect clean and clear sound quality while in noisy environment. 

Ergonomic
Unlike Mobile Traveller from Logitech, the ear loop at BT160 inserted in the rotatable rubber is fix at the center of the headset. It is then adjustable in minor angle, 20-30 degree I can say. Hence you got to really test it and to rotate by yourself in order to find a good fit. But in term of comfortability, it is OK as you can easily find a comfortable fit. The fitting is not that firm compare to Motorola H3 that I reviewed not long ago, and bear in mind that the ear loop is just simply inserted into the rotatable rubber, so you may get your headset falling off from your ear if you accidentally get it unplug from the rubber. My advice is to make sure ear loop is well inserted into the rotatable rubber before you try to turn the ear loop to find a better spot. 

Performance
The first thing that I need to complaint is the time taken in order to switch it on. It take me 7 seconds just to switch on the bluetooth, and another few seconds in order to connect to my hp. Total about 14seconds are needed in order to start making call. 7 seconds is way too long for us to switch on a bluetooth headset, If it is the time for us to start pairing our headset, it is fine. Same thing applied to the switch off time, another 7 seconds. 

Second thing that I need to say is the indication light that is located middle of the multi-function button. Since you need long time to switch on the headset, and the button is in ellipse shape, in order to firmly press the button, you may actually press it in the middle of the button. That means you actually cover the indicator light with your finger. But since you need few seconds to actually switch it on, and if you are not looking at the light, you are quite not sure whether it actually had been switched on or not. 

In order to start pairing the headset with our handphone, just make sure your headset is in off mode. 

Connectivity
I have no problem with BT160 to pair with my SonyEricsson K700i, no occasionally disconnection is noticed, well done. Once it is paired and used before with my handphone, if every time I switch on BT160, it will try to find my handphone and to connect it. 

Voice quality and volume
In term of the voice quality, it is on par with Motorola H3, but the volume is in the low, as compare to H3. Logitech Mobile Traveller is still offering the highest sound volume 

Battery
As claim by Jabra, this gadget going to offer me 8 hours talk time and 110hours of standby time. As in real time usage, I can use this Jabra for up to 4-5days and daily usage is about 1.5 hours totally. It is not the longest standby gadget, but still offer good enough for normal usage. 

Specification
Talk time: 6-8 hour
Standby time: 110 hour
Weight: 16g
33 changeable designs 

Pros
1. Changeable face lift offer fashion and colour change in front cover.
2. Good quality sound and stable connection 

Cons
1. Poor ear loop design, may easily unplug.
2. Low maximum sound volume. 

Jabra BT160 available at Mobile88 Store.