Pay no attention to the graying of the hair...

by Glen A.

Last December, I reviewed on this site the Motrola S9HD Stereo Bluetooth Headset.

At the time, the main issue I had with it was the fact that the iPhone, which I also have, did not support the A2DP codec. In the intervening time, that problem was solved by one of the iPhone firmware updates, and I was able to enjoy music from the iPod feature on my iPhone 3G in stereo.

That is, until the left ear speaker went out.

There was no crackling, pop or explosion that served as a warning. It just stopped working.

Having already had an ongoing issue with in ear solutions–which the Motorola S9HD did little to solve–I wasn’t as completely happy with it as I otherwise would like to be.

Then, I heard Jabra was coming out with the Halo, a slimmed down version of an over the ear headset, with some interesting features.

After briefly reading a review about it, and then some other commentary, I was intrigued enough to go get it. Not only was it bluetooth, but it was actually more simply designed than the Motorola.

There was more than just the single issue of a speaker failing that led me to such a quick decision.

The Motorola would shut down when it wasn’t in use to conserve battery. Generally, most consider that a good thing, but for me, there wasn’t a convenient way of waking it up, other than turning it back on. Normally, I wouldn’t realize it had powered down until I was trying to take a call, and the process to get it back on or powered back up usually took longer than what I had before the call would want to go to voice mail.

The Halo might power down (it’s hard to tell really what it’s doing when it’s not in use), but it doesn’t have to be powered back on, either. Calls come right in and over the Halo when they’re supposed to.

While there were only three buttons to choose from on the Motorola to turn on or set volume, it was tough to always locate the on/off button when it was sitting in your ear. I was just as likely to find one of the other buttons as  I was the one I wanted.

With the Jabra Halo, there’s only one button, period. It sits on the right ear, and handles on/off. When there’s no call, it also allows you to access the iPod function on the iPhone.

To adjust volume, there are touch sensors away from the button to turn up or turn down volume. In my experience so far, it’s been easier to find them when I’m actually trying to push the power button than it is when I’m just trying to locate them. Still, for the most part, the power button is much easier to locate on the Jabra Halo, and cuts down the guessing game of which button to push when it’s sitting on the side of your head.

Since I was unable to originally listen to music with the S9HD, I initially wondered just how good the speakers were. Calls came in fine, but it was hard to really know from those. After the codec was supported, I still wondered, since the sound quality just didn’t seem that great to me. I know I’m more picky when it comes to things like that, but I didn’t really have anything that was bluetooth and more or less the same size to compare it to.

Well, sound-wise, the Jabra Halo blows away the Motorola S9HD. The quality of the sound is crisper, deeper and richer. It just sounds great, and comparable, I would say, to larger, wired headphones meant for listening to music from a stereo or surround sound system.

The Halo is light and seems to apply just the right amount of pressure on the sides of your head and ears to keep it in place. If you bow your head or are bending over, it will not stay there, though, but will slip off. I haven’t tried any major head banging to know if it will fly off, but I would caution anyone who is inclined to violent toss their noggin’ to and fro to figure out a more secure way of fastening the Halo to your head (I’m not suggesting duct tape).

When not in use, it can be slipped down around the neck. I’ve noticed mine has a tendency to shift to one side or the other, which, could lead to falling of the neck, but I have yet to have that happen. For me, though, carrying it that way, unless I’m distracted by conversation or something else, gets uncomfortable after a while.

For those who have longer or fatter heads, the speakers do slide down on either side for a considerable distance, though I’ve never needed to do so.

The Halo comes with a plush pouch to carry or store it in when not in use. I haven’t put the Halo away at all, so I’m not sure how much it will get used, but it’s a nice gesture.

So, I perspire a little sometimes...man!

The Halo turns on and off through the process of folding and locking into place the right side. Each side of the Halo has a hinge which is easy to fold over or unfold and lock. That is, once you’re used to doing it. Initially, it has more resistance to folding and locking, but with subsequent use, it actually loosens up. There is also the immediate fear you might break something, too, but so far, after dozens of times of folding or unfolding, I’ve yet to break it.

In this early review I read, the reviewer though the hinges were too flimsy, and that it was too easy for her set to slip out of place, and thus turn it off. I have not had that problem to date, but I can see what she was concerned about. It does not seem to be that rugged, and I fully expect that some point that will be an issue. In the meantime, I am being careful not to apply any more than the quick pressure necessary to pop it in our out of place.

I would suggest taking it off if you’re in any situation where you might be perspiring, as it will discolor the black velvet (or whatever it is).

Battery life on the Halo has been comparable to, or better, than the Halo. There is a charger provided.

I bought my Jabra Halo Bluetooth Wireless Headset at Best Buy for $129.99, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a Bluetooth stereo solution for calls and listening to music.