Aliph Jawbone Prime Bluetooth headset

Is wind a problem during conversation..?

Thu 28 May 2009 // 08:02 UTC

Mind you, one of the ways Bluetooth headsets have failed in the past has been a complicated pairing system. Here it’s simple and reliable – and you can even set it to pair to two phones at a time. So you can connect to two different phones consecutively without re-pairing. Neat.

A word in your shell-like...

The Prime isn’t cheap compared to some models. You can snag a serviceable headset for under £20. It won’t have noise reduction capabilities and you will probably notice interference if you move. A better comparison is with higher-end models. Like Sennheiser’s VMX100 which has a neat over-the-ear clip which includes the battery. In our tests we found the fit of earpiece speaker to lughole wasn’t perfect though the noise-cancelling (from a company that knows a thing or two about the subject) was good.

Or there’s Jabra – whose hardware has given Aliph’s a run for its money in the past. Its latest models include the small but chunky JX20 Pura which is at a similar price point to the Prime. This is stylish and partly made of titanium, but lacks the cuteness of the Prime and doesn’t quite match the sound quality, either. Finally, if you want to make a statement with your headset, the Prime is unbeatable, being available in five electric-bright colours as well as the more demure black, brown and silver versions. They’re all the same price, too.

Verdict

If you only use a Bluetooth headset in controlled circumstances, like at home, then consider cheaper alternatives, unless you really can't resist those colourful options. Although expensive, the Jawbone Prime easily handles noisy environments and even combats gusts of wind, which defeated the previous model. Small and cute, the Prime's marriage of style and performance is certainly impressive. ®