Jawbone Bluetooth Headset with NoiseAssassin-Jawbone 2(Black)[Retail Packaged] Reviews

• Major Improvements but 1 Major Flaw

  
  By A3RFOMVIKA2ZP1 on 2008-06-30
  I am a huge fan of the Aliph technology. The first Jawbone is still my favorite headset of all time. It was a workhorse and the ambient sound nullification was and still is far and away the best out there.
  
  The only faults I found in the original version were cleared up with the "New" Jawbone:
  
  The user's listening volume is much improved. People had no trouble hearing me when I was in loud environments, but it was often difficult for me to hear them. The volume on the new version is so much better that for the first time ever, I turned the volume down because it was too loud.
  
  The charging system on the first Jawbone was poorly designed. I've had three of them and it was a real trick to get the plug on the back of the headset to fit right for charging. The "New" Jawbone charging plug slips on easily and is held in place by a magnet- so much better! I have however, twice knocked the headset off the plug so once it is on, make sure you leave it where it won't be disturbed.
  
  The size and weight are about half that of the earlier unit.
  
  Styling is okay, but I really liked the glossy black and red colors on the original version and the "machined looking" slots pattern along the face of it. The new look is really feminine to me (not that there is anything wrong with that...).
  
  So why did I give the "New" Jawbone a mediocre rating? My company bought five of these units for we "heavy users" to replace our original Jawbones. Only two of us can get these darn things to stay in position in our ears. We've tried every possible combination of ear-bud and hook and nothing seems to do the trick. Within a few minutes, it's dangling from our ears by the hook.
  
  I am always adjusting it and during a call, I invariably wind up hanging up on the person at the other end. The primary button is activated regardless of where you press on the side of the unit when you are trying to push it back into your ear. (Even if you squeeze the sides with your thumb and forefinger) As you may know, the small clear projection nub needs to touch your cheek in order for the "Noise Assassin" to work. For three out of five of us, this is not happening making it completely useless. Note: Reviews on various sites refer to poor user audio and I would bet anything it's because they are suffering from poor fit.
  
  I almost gave it a lesser rating but it did fit two of us and both of those guys are very happy.
  
  Some other details: The talk time has dropped somewhat but for me that is a non-issue for me as I have a desk phone and I don't talk more than a couple of hours on my cel per day.
  
  It comes with four hooks and three ear buds. two of the hooks are leather-wrapped and two are plastic with what look like machined aluminum bottom tips. The hooks attach in the same manner as the original Jawbone, but instead of being metal, they are slightly bendable plastic. I knew several people who broke the metal hooks when they put the headset in their pocket.
  
  Bottom line: Make sure you buy it from someone that will take it back without a lot of grief if it doesn't fit your ear. If it does fit your ear, it will be the absolute best headset you can buy.
  
  UPDATE: For better or worse, the unit will turn itself off if not connected to a paired device after an hour or less (not 100% sure of the time). So, if you leave the headset in your car and walk away with the phone it will eventually shut down. Presumably intentionally; presumably to save battery power.
  
  Also, if not connected to a device (paired, but not connected)it will flash red. If paired and connected it will flash white.
  
  
  

• Fit is crucial

  
  By A7VB1OENUCDO8 on 2008-06-12
  The New Jawbone is just what I need for my iPhone and I find its quirks to be easy to get used to in exchange for fabulous sound quality. However, fit is crucial to proper operation and so be sure to buy from a store with very good return policies in case it doesn't fit your ears.
  
  Here's the biggest issue: The voice sensor must contact your cheek in order for noise suppression to work properly. If it does not touch your cheek, the people you are talking to will hear echo, hollow sound, clipped words or other distortion. The challenge is to get the earbud far enough into your ear that the sensor is aligned properly. I have what I believe are average ears and the smallest supplied rubber earbud is still a little too big.
  
  But as long as I remember to periodically adjust the Jawbone to keep it touching my cheek, it works quite well. I am going to experiment with other earbuds (Aliph does not sell any sizes other than the S, M & L in the box).
  
  Much lesser quirks are that it is impossible to tell whether the headset is on or off when it is in your ear and button action when accepting/initiating/refusing a call is far from easy to control due to the invisible, non-tactile switches.
  
  So when you press on it to seat it in your ear properly, it turns off or on, depending. This is easy to work around by starting with the unit off and pressing hard for two seconds to simulateously turn it on and seat it, but the button design is not the smartest. This design also makes it awkward to change call volume, but the default setting is fine, especially because you can adjust it in finer increments anyway on many phones.
  
  Overall this is an excellent product, marred only by limited fit options and slightly dumb ergonomics. I plan to keep it. Best testimonial came from my daughter, who when I called her a few minutes ago asked, "Are you still using the Jawbone?" If she has to ask, that means it's working (grin).
  
  UPDATE: I tried the Jabra clear gel earbud with the long "tail" and it works quite well. I can use the JB without the ear loop now, though I prefer retaining it for safety. Sound is good and fit is much improved.
  
  -dan
  
  

• MiniGels are the key

  
  By A2LA0EONSOKRL9 on 2008-06-16
  With the included ear hooks and black donut shaped earbuds, this thing just won't stay where it is supposed to for me. Nearly every bad review seems to be about fit or sound, and with the Jawbone, sound depends on fit. If you can't get the New Jawbone to fit right, it is just not going to work correctly.
  
  I found Jabra MiniGels at my local Verizon store in a 4-pack for $3. It's actually 2 each of 2 sizes, marked "14" and "83", which the package claims is "two standard and two small". The "83" size is larger and that's what works for me. They fit tight, in place of the black donut earbuds. The angle that worked best for me is about 15 degrees upwards of pointing at the white Voice Sensor. I could angle them almost 45 degrees and then the MiniGel would go really deep into my ear and fit really tight, but after a few hours this was increasingly uncomfortable. For me, a lesser angle is still very secure without being as tight and irritating to my ear. The looser it is, the more it can droop down over time, especially when eating or chewing gum. If it droops down, then it is no longer properly aligned towards the mouth and the white voice sensor loses good contact the face.
  
  The best way I found to put it on with the MiniGels is to start with the Jawbone pointing down towards under my chin, and then twisting it upwards into place. I can do it without looking in a mirror now, and holding only onto the sides without going anywhere near the button surfaces. If feel like I need to poke it deeper into my head while pulling on my ear to seat it better, I can poke my finger directly on the gel or the black plastic post that holds it, rather than mashing on the button surfaces of the Jawbone.
  
  Even with the Voice Sensor, the New Jawbone is not wind-proof. If you call yourself and listen on a muted phone in your other ear, you can hear how the background dampening algorithms work for things like turning on the kitchen sink -- the water sound comes through full volume briefly and then the jawbone starts to filter it out. If you talk without the white voice sensor properly touching your face, the algorithms will treat your voice as noise and actively try to filter you out. Wind is not a constant noise and so wind sounds will come through to the caller with varying levels of filtering. Callers will hear some of your radio if you leave it on loud enough. At the extreme, I've been able to make myself unintelligible to callers by rolling ALL my car windows down at highway speeds and wearing the Jawbone on the window-side ear, but most convertibles aren't as bad as that, and honestly, car windows do roll up for important phone now calls don't they? Understanding how the noise filter works may help you not rate the Jawbone unfairly... It has to work the way it does or no one would hear you when you start talking with a consonant sound (Like "Sh") because the voice sensor hasn't heard your voice through your face bone yet.
  
  After only a few days now, I can't say if the MiniGels will ever split. The "83" I've been using shows no wear or cracks after stretching it off and on many times, and also carefully twisting it around many times (it fits really tight) trying to find the perfect angle, and from switching left-ear and right-ear a few times too. Even if they do eventually crack or split, they were pretty cheap, and after a while I'd want to replace them just for sanitary reasons! I only mention this because other reviews that led me to the MiniGels mentioned that the eargels they tried had split. I think it was in reference to the original Jawbone where you had to actually modify one of the twist-on earbuds so the eargel would fit in place of the stock rubber, which would lead me to also think that doing this would result in rough edges which could cut and begin cracks.
  
  I still have over 20 days left to decide if the New Jawbone is a keeper (I found this one at a local AT&T store). With the MiniGels it fits well without even using an earloop! It doesn't fall off; I can swing (Mosh?) my head clear upside-down and it stays on. Even with the best I could get it to fit with the included Leather earloop and black donut earbud, it would fall off right onto the floor any time I bent over. Why can't Aliph get this right? They must get so many returns just from bad fit; you would think they would figure out something better.
  
  The packaging for the MiniGels from Verizon says, "Compatible with EarWave and FreeSpeak". I had to ask for them at the "Tech Support" / Parts counter, they were not on display, and only the Manager knew where they were. I called ahead before I drove there to make sure they even had any. The package says EargelWaveCombo2pk008 100-2303-08 with UPC code 607421730129. I hope this helps you all. For $3, trying the MiniGels is very worth it before you return your New Jawbone.
  
  
  

• improved over previous jawbone

  
  By A13BX9O5UDBILC on 2008-06-06
  having owned the previous jawbone model, this one is:
  -much smaller and hence shorter battery life
  -improved volume control (max volume is much louder)
  -better robustness where build quality is better and earpiece less flimsy
  -in ear piece fits better and doesn't fall off
  
  

• Most of the "fit" problems are due to the lack of instructions

  
  By A3ULFGUSHQALEG on 2008-07-11
  Purchased this after a lot of amazon reviews.
  
  The sound quality is as described (positives) in most of the reviews, and very happy with mine in all situations (street, wind noise, driving highway speed noise, and even in my convertible top down at city speeds).
  
  Jawbone "Fit" problem that most people report could have easily been corrected by treating the ear-loop as an adjustable eye-wear and hand-adjust for a good fit. I had a initial problem also -- the ear-loop wire was too close to the top of my ear and was uncomfortable to wear after a few min.
  
  Here is a simple guide.
  1. Take the ear-loop off.
  2. Find the ear bud that fits your ear, both comfortable and would actually hold the unit on without the ear-loop. That size would provide both the tight enough and comfortable fit.
  3. Put a ear-loop on. Start adjusting the top so that there is no to little pressure to the top of your ear. I found that ear-loop sizes makes very little difference (included large, small, etc sizes are too similar to make a difference anyway).
  4. Then bend the ear-loop toward to unit so that it provides support on the back -- but no need to go for a exact or tight fit. If you had used wire-frame eye-glasses, you should be familiar with this process.
  5. The key steps are the #2 and #3 above. Should not take you more than a few minutes to get the comfortable enough fit you need, and forever to get that perfect fit (just like eye glasses).
  
  ======== Not related to "fit" problem, but Quality of my unit ====
  
  - Update after 2+ weeks of use.
  - Too bad I cannot change the 5 star rating down to some lower # based on this updated experience.
  
  The fit (as adjusted above) and sound quality has been great.
  The Problem with my Unit: My unit shuts down randomly, almost regardless of the battery status (I have hade my unit charged near full, since I was not traveling during this period). Most often during a call, and seldom during standby. Once the unit shuts down, it behaves as if the battery has run down and would not turn back on, for up to 15 mins (did not try after that). But after an hour or two, the unit could be turns on and operates for a few more hours (and for even 1 hour conference call). So this is not clearly run-down battery problem, but something else.
  
  Now for the Aliph (the MFGR) Customer Service: Called Jawbone directly, and they insist that the problem is my phone dropping the call. Now I explained that yes, this could happen if you have the phone in your pocket, and some keys could be pressed..., but it does not explain the case when I had the phone on my desk, nor explain why the unit would not turn back on (not just dropping the call, but shutdown), yet operate properly after a ~ few hours. The Customer Service insisted that this is not a problem with their unit -- would not even recognize the logical disagreement in the evidence I provided and their explanation. This problem happened about every other day with normal business use (~ 1 hour talk, ~15~20 calls, 6+ hour standby per day). BTW, I got to a live person to talk to in less than 1 min -- fairly positive and frankly impressive when I now normally expect menus, menus and more phones menus and no live person interaction for 10~20 min.
  
  I am returning the unit for replacement -- still like the sound quality and the fit. If the replacement behaves the same way as my current unit, I will be giving up on this unit and seek alternative.
  
  =============
  
  Quick update on replacement -- the replacement unit (new) works flawlessly. Perhaps the quality problem discussed on this forum is true for this manufacturer for now...
  
  
  
• Good idea, bad execution
  By AA266SRDPZCNH on 2008-07-20
  I was very excited to get this but I'm very unhappy with it. The noise cancellation does work as advertised, but it requires that the voice sensor at the front end is touching your face. The problem is that it's hard to position this thing so the sensor touches your face, and when it doesn't, it switches to noise-canceling mode, meaning that the other person can barely hear you (if at all). But what's worse, the hang-up switch is hidden inside the unit, so when you go to push it more snugly in your ear you hang up on the caller.
  
  What kind of idiot designs something where the mechanism to hang up the call is in exactly the place where you have to push in order to put the thing in your ear?????
  
  The stupid design cancels out the stars in my rating just as well as the headset cancels noise.
  
  
• Jawbone 2 better than original in most areas
  By A3V6S2CB88UAT1 on 2008-06-27
  I owned and used the original jawbone headset for several months, using it with a Palm Treo and Palm Centro. It worked reliably and had very good sound. Its achilles heel was that it was virtually useless in a windy environment unless you turned off the noise suppression and then it was marginal in the wind.
  
  The first jawbone 2 I ordered was defective. I could barely hear it and the sound was raspy. I returned it for an exchange. I can hear the new unit just fine.
  
  Sound quality: - decent, but its not the high fidelity quality I experienced with the original jawbone. I believe Aliph went backwards in this area and its the reason I gave only 4 stars.
  
  Voice pickup and clarity: My wife reports that she can hear me much better with the jawbone 2. I've tested it in the wind and it works well. This is a major improvement in this headset.
  
  Comfort: I did not like the earclip and earpiece on the original jawbone and I don't like this one either. The earclip does not come close to working on my ear. I took it off and just stuck the unit in my ear. This worked well until it fell out when I bent over.
  
  Now I am using the headset with what worked well for me with the original jawbone. I removed the clip and rubber earpiece cover and installed a jabra ear gel. This works great and I'm very happy with it.
  
  The new jawbone 2 is much smaller and lighter. I like the low weight and clutter-free fit.
  
  The electronics and bluetooth function seem to work really well. Pairing and connecting is very fast.
  
  
• State of the art noise cancellation though need some customization
  By A3Q0G2M6GSN4IT on 2008-06-12
  I have used so many bluetooth headsets and stereo headphones. I own Plantronics 925, Jabra 250, Nokia BH 200, Plantronics 610 headset and bluetooth stereo headphones: SONY DRC BT15, and Samsung BH270. None of the headsets or headphones can compare to Jawbone 2's Noise Cancellation.
  
  To achieve the best noise cancellation, the VAS (voice activity sensor) MUST contact to your cheek!!! Otherwise, you will end up in cutoff conversations. Most of the time, it's the earbud causing the problem for people in general that can't get a good skin contact with the VAS. For all the unlucky ones, there are many ways to customize the ear bud.
  
  My right ear needs the large size ear bud and left side only needs the mid size ear bud. So I use my Jabra 250's earGel, which you can purchase anywhere online even amazon and replace the Jawbone earbud. It works perfectly for both of my ears without the need of the earloop. But if you put on the earloop and do the shake your head test, it NEVER falls off my ears!!!
  
  So those of the people who are complaining about Jawbone 2 not fitting you, try out my method, it works so much better than using the original earbud!
  
  
• Great sound quality - very medicore comfort
  By A2QLCBOMYEPBAO on 2008-07-01
  I am often in noisy environments and found the Jawbone II works very well in this type of application. I am using it with a Blackberry Curve and it was simple to pair. I do not like the ear clip and have not found a comfortable position. I do not want to leave a headset on my ear all day, especially one this uncomfortable! But, I have to admit that people listening do say they cannot hear background noise and that I sound clear. I would have to say that the audio you hear on this headset sounds tinny, but (due to noise rejection performance) it is certainly many miles ahead of most other headsets I have tried. I have broken several of the ear pieces on the 955 when I put it into my pocket between calls. I wish the form factor was more like a Plantronics 955 which I prefer for comfort and ease of use. But the Plantronics 955 does not have anywhere as good noise rejection performance as the Jawbone II.
  My wish for this unit would be to have an earcushion similar to the Samsung Wep 200 or Plantronics 955 that tend to stay in ear without ear loop. If they could improve comfort, I would give 5+ stars! I would suggest purchasing this from a store that allows returns in case you cannot work around comfort issue.
  
  
• I Love This Headset
  By A28OB1QLXN5BM6 on 2008-09-12
  I am amazed by the wide range of reviews for the JAWBONE BLUETOOTH HEADSET WITH NOISEASSASSIN-JAWBONE II (BLACK). It just proves that we are all looking for something different, and what works for one person may not work for the next. I, personally, love this headset. It is compact, unobtrusive, easy to wear, easy to use, and it fits me beautifully.
  
  I am lucky enough to be able to telecommute from home full time, and I spend fully 8 hours a day on the phone. Over the past 5 years, I have tried many different headsets, both wired and Bluetooth. With some, the earbuds were too big, hurt my ears, and gave me a perpetual headache. Others didn't stay on, fell out, and were easily lost. Some just weren't hardy enough. My young daughter, as a toddler, found them easy to pry apart and rip out the internal wiring. (I lost two Jabras that way...sigh.) And with wired headsets, the wires just plain get in the way, or they get tangled, or they (again) are too tempting for little fingers.
  
  The JAWBONE II stays in my ear, no problem. It comes with three earbud sizes and three earloop sizes. The smallest bud and the medium loop make the fit perfect for me. I tested the fit by jumping up and down, shaking my head around, and doing cartwheels (yes, cartwheels). The headset stays in. It is light weight and comfortable; I almost forget that it is there. I have not had any trouble learning to use the hidden buttons; after all, I watched Lt. Uhura do it for years on Star Trek. Hold the button for a few seconds to turn the unit on or off, tap it once to answer or hang up calls.
  
  The sound quality is great; I can hear everyone and everyone can hear me. There IS a trick; however. You have to make sure that the voice activity sensor, which activates the NoiseAssassin, is touching your cheek near your jaw. This simple trick ensures that you are heard clearly. For me, I just make certain that the JAWBONE is parallel to the floor and is in contact with my cheek. It seems to work every time. I am heard clearly, with no ambient noise.
  
  The JAWBONE BLUETOOTH HEADSET WITH NOISEASSASSIN-JAWBONE II (BLACK) is small, sleek, and black; it is practically hidden beneath my hair, but looks very professional when seen. Overall it fits my lifestyle perfectly, both professional and personal. It may not be the headset for everyone, but it sure is the right headset for me.
  
  
  
• Don't just assume the new one is better than the original!
  By A321NX7BPQ1YVL on 2008-06-10
  I have the original Jawbone and still swear by it. In my case, it is simply superior to the "newly improved version". Before getting the original Jawbone I obsessively tested several bluetooth headsets including the Blueant Z9 and Jabra BT8040 and absolutely noting could compare to the original Jawbone. I was really excited when the new Jawbone came out as it was smaller, got one, and completely shocked when it sounded so very muddy. Again, I obsessively tested it with my voice mail and other users extensively and EVERYONE complained about poor sound quality. Over the course of a couple weeks I upgraded the ROM on my phone and worked with Aliph tech support to understand why the new Jawbone sounded so poorly. After trying out 2 more Jawbone 2's (3 total), Aliph agreed that this headset simply did not work good with my HTC PPC6800 phone and there was noting more they could do. I returned all the new Jawbones and am still using my trusty and vastly superior (at least in my opinion) original Jawbone. For me it was a matter of sounding crisp and clear on the original to muffled and muddy for the new Jawbone. In my opinion, the new one is extensively overhyped and one of the worst ones I ever tried.
  
  
• the best bluetooth ever
  By AGEMHKI1MXI0E on 2008-06-26
  I have had this headset for about 2 weeks now. The noise reduction is remarkable. I can be in a airport and no one even knows I am out of my office.
  
  Sound - The sound is a great.
  
  Comfort - I have owned at least a dozen Bluetooth headsets and this is by far the most comfortable. There are different clips and ear pieces that come with the headset. I have worn it for over 9 hours straight and don't even know it's there.
  
  Charging - Propriety USB charger that plugs into the back of the phone. They also supply a plug for an outlet so you can charge it without your computer.
  
  Battery - Very remarkable battery life.
  
  
• Instant hipness
  By A3R2M5ABAYL63P on 2008-07-10
  I've tried a number of BT headsets - Palm, Motorola, Jabra - and this is the one. For a while, at least.
  
  The original Jawbone was cool - I REALLY wish they made v2 in RED - but a wee bit big-and-clunky-looking. This thing is the right size and fit.
  
  The charge cable is hip. The connector attaches magnetically, a la the Quackenbush AC adaptor. The other end is USB for your PC or plugging into the AC adaptor dongle. Very smart (but don't lose it!).
  
  It works seamlessly with my Treo - linking is just dirt simple. Sound quality both ways is very good.
  
  I had to play with the fit with some Jabra gels, but all better now. The noise reduction relies on contact with your cheek, so the ear hook and earpiece have to be selected to jack the body of the headset around to the correct position. The 3 sized seals that come with the JB2 are all round - the holes in your ear are not. I have tall ears and small holes, so it took some playing to make the thing sit correctly.
  
  My reservations:
  - The "hidden buttons" are neat, though I do wonder how long the membrane switches will last.
  - The ear buds need to be re-molded for anatomical compatibility.
  - The ear hooks are plastic (think about it) and can't be bent for a custom fit.
  - The charger contacts on the JB2 are exposed. I sweat. Because the AC adaptor makes a pressure (rather than wiping) contact, I wonder if there will be long-term reliability issues with corrosion. (Trust me - I'll post a ruthless follow-up if the contacts rot.)
  - The charger dongle has fold-out AC plug tines. Hogs space on outlets or power strips. It's small, but needs to be re-thought.
  - The covers on the ear hooks are leather. See sweat issue above.
  
  Overall, JB2 is very well thought out and should work well for most folks.
  
  
• Very uncomfortable; bad button placement
  By A3396W9T1HOQBP on 2008-07-22
  
  I've had the unit for three days. The product suffers from these glaring problems:
  
  1. It is painful to wear. The earpiece cover is made of HARD rubber. Not foam. Not soft rubber. I am using the smallest of the three covers and my ear is bruised. I could wear the Plantronics Bluetooth for hours; this one is agony after a few minutes.
  
  2. The on/off button is located underneath the flexible skin of the unit. It is on a hair-trigger. I have disconnected numerous calls trying to adjust the Jawbone's position or the volume because touching the outer skin of the unit in any way hangs up the call.
  
  3. Sound quality is HORRIBLE. To be fair the marketing hook for this unit is the microphone technology. They should have saved some research money for the speaker. The sound is tinny and garbled.
  
  Keep looking: this unit is not the answer.
  
  
• Great design, great quality, great buy!
  By ASB3HDGDCI89G on 2008-06-12
  First off, let me say that my review on this product doesn't take into account any comparison to other Bluetooth sets. I bought this headset because of the new law in California coming up where it becomes illegal to talk on the phone while driving without a hands free device. It is the first Bluetooth headset I have owned and I'll just give you my opinion from my experience thus far. I also want to let you know that I am using this with an iPhone. So here we go!
  
  First things first: the design. When i first started in looking at headsets I was disappointed at how ugly and bulky the majority of Bluetooth headsets were. Even looking at the old jawbone, I don't know how people use them without dying of embarrassment . The Jawbone 2 is by far the nicest looking headset on the market today and was well worth the extra money for its light and compact form factor. The outside portion has a chic, designer styling with a great looking, low profile ear-loop wrapped in leather. If you look back at the old ear-loop design you can see how much of an improvement this is. Even looking at the Jawbone 2 picture here on Amazon doesn't do it justice. I actually don't mind wearing it away from the home or car. There is a 2 color led light (red & white) hidden on the ridge of one of the little diamonds on the face and all of the buttons are hidden underneath the casing. Someone noted that they didn't like the hidden buttons because when they placed it in their ear the headset turns off. I have never had this problem once. It takes all of a second to put the headset in my ear - to turn the headset off you have to hold the button down for a couple of seconds. I usually place it in my ear from the sides anyways and maybe push inwards only for second to ensure a snug fit. The button commands were very easy to learn. Overall this is the best looking headset around.
  
  Next up, looking at the fit: A lot of people seem to have problems with getting the headset to fit correctly. Maybe it's just a case by case basis where problems occur, because after choosing the correct earpiece, not only does the earpiece stay firmly in place, but I don't even need to use the ear-loop! I was looking into the whole deal where people are apparently using Jabra ear gels with their sets, but I don't feel like its necessary. The fit is so snug that I can shake my head from side to side vigorously and it doesn't move at all. And again, that's without the ear-loop! It doesn't hurt or anything but I don't know if I would forget that it was in my ear. The longest conversation that I have had on it was 90 minutes and comfort wasn't really an issue. Sometimes I put the ear-loop on if I'm walking for extended periods of time just as a safety precaution. I spent too much to risk letting it drop. The ear loop makes things a little less comfortable, but mainly because I'm in between the two sizes they give you. Why do they give you a medium size and an XL size but nothing in between? No idea, but I don't use it often enough to need to worry about it. Fit is important to keep the vibration sensor pressed against your cheeck. If you don't keep the sensor against your face the device won't work properly. Sorry to the people with long side burns or beards, this product probably won't work for you. Because everyone has different sized ears, I would recommend buying this product from a place like Best Buy so you can return it, no questions asked, if it doesnt fit properly. Overall I would give the comfort a 7/10.
  
  Now the sound quality. I actually just took a 30 min break from writing this review to make a call and make sure I write an accurate review. I checked with the other person multiple times through out the conversation if they were hearing me ok, they said "perfectly clear" each time. My volume was at a little less than half way which was more than enough to hear the other person perfectly clearl. No muffled sound, just crystal clear sound quality. Perhaps those people with problems have a defective unit. I've never had anyone complain, nor have I had any complaints, about the sound quality. One thing that I don't necessarily like is how you change the volume. To change the volume, you press the noise assassin button to cycle up through the different levels. Once it reaches max volume it goes back to the lowest setting. My friend told me that when I pressed it a few times, from his side it sounded like aliens were invading -- which is what it sounds like from my side too (think Space Invaders). The ringing sound and volume chime are pretty ugly sounding but aren't really anything to get upset about. It's just too bad you can't hear your cell phone's ringtone through the headset. One thing to note is that when you cycle through the volume levels, it's not making a change within the headset hardware, but actually changing to volume on the cell phone itself. I don't know if that's how all Bluetooth headsets are, but I just thought it was worth a mention. Because my phone has a volume rocker on the side, I just click that if I need to change the volume. It's usually set at the right volume anyways. One other minor thing is that the Noise Assassin seems to work from both sides. If the other person is in a noisy room, it will be really quiet when they aren't talking, but when they are talking you can hear some of the background noise on their end. It's hard to describe, but there's something about going from noise...to perfectly quiet... constantly...that got a little annoying over time. Quick fix, I just turned off the Noise Assassin by pressing the back of the headset for a couple of seconds (it's on by default). The Noise Assassin, by the way, makes it so quiet that if the person doesn't talk for a couple of seconds I'm tempted to say "uhh...hello? Are you still there?" It's dead quiet. As if they hung up the phone and you are no longer connected. I guess this could be considered good and bad in different ways, and Aliph probably designed the Jawbone that way, but again this can always be turned off.
  
  A few other things worth mentioning: The headset comes with small, medium, and large ear pieces and 2 sets of ear-loops (2 sizes, 2 plastic and 2 leather covered). Make sure you try them all out to get the best fit. For me, the medium earpiece was more comfortable, but large gave me a more snug fit (important for keeping the sensor on your check) and better sound. If I'm just sitting at a desk or driving, the medium ear piece works fine and I forget that its even there. Too much movement causes problems in quality from the other end though. People with problems might want to try going up an earpiece size. It also comes with a nice charger that has a plug with USB input, and a USB cable with a magnetic charging head. When you plug the headset in you lose the Bluetooth connection and the jawbone turns off. This means that when you receive a call you have to unplug the jawbone, hold the outside button for 2 seconds until it turns on and wait another second or two for the connection to be made. I've missed calls this way and usually just answer the phone and tell the person to hold on for a sec.
  The Bluetooth signal is pretty strong. Some people mentioned that they had problems with dropped Bluetooth signals, but I havent had one yet. I live in a studio apartment and usually just keep the phone docked, headset in my ear, and even walk around the studio while on a call without any signal loss.
  
  Price wasn't really an issue for me, but might be for others. Even with its high price, I feel like it was well worth it. Other than price, and a few other minor dislikes (nothing worth lowering score for), I'm very happy with this headset and would recommend it to anyone.
  
  NOTE: I check the posting here on Amazon.com from time to time and I noticed that the price has been fluctuating almost daily and well above MSRP. I bought mine from the Jawbone web site (Aliph.com) for $129.99. If you DO buy it online you might want to go there.
  
  
• Doesn't fit my ear
  By A1J8ROR5WL0Y5M on 2008-06-07
  I was excited to replace my original Jawbone with Jawbone 2, but have not been able to get the new one to stay on my ear. Due to the smaller configuration, the Jawbone will only stay close to my face if I press with my fingers.
  
  Although the technology may be better, the ergonomics are worse. I am looking for another headset and may go back to the original Jawbone.
  
  
• Excelling noise cancellation + Super Low Volume = Unusable
  By A3SKBLDRTRY561 on 2008-06-23
  I have tried Sony Ericsson HBH-610, Motorola h12, BlueAnt Z9 and the original Jawbone. I was very impressed with the original Jawbone's performance. But the ear hook was not comfortable.
  
  So i bought this jawbone 2. I tested the noise cancellation feature, and it works wonderfully, even better than the original jawbone. It even works quite well with wind. The other end can hear me without much background noise.
  
  When driving on highway with windows opened, the other end cannot hear any background noise.
  
  So the technology works!
  
  Now to the real BIG ISSUE: Incoming volume.
  
  Despite noise cancellation works like a charm, the incoming volume is way too soft. I turned it to max, (both on the phone and on the jawbone 2), if I am driving (even with windows closed), just the road noise already overpower the incoming volume making a conversation impossible.
  
  Even if I press the jawbone firmly towards my ear, (it helped a bit) but I still was only able to hear 60% or 70% of what the other person is saying.
  
  In a normal restaurant setting during lunch hour, the volume (at max setting) is just loud enough IF I continuously press the headset towards my ear as hard as possible.
  
  I have tried letting its built-in auto-volume adjustment work, but it's even worse. So I always set the volume to max manually though that doesn't help much either.
  
  Battery life is OK. But I need not go into that aspect since the incoming volume is so soft that the thing is basically unusable in any non-quiet setting.
  
  No matter how good the outgoing noise cancellation is , if the incoming volume is too soft, the headset is still unusable in noisy environment.
  
  I know they purposely limit the max incoming volume to avoid law suit on hearing impairment. But they made the incoming volume to an unacceptably low level.
  
  I checked with the Aliph support page, they clearly said there is no way to further increase the incoming volume. And that they lowered the max volume to avoid hearing damage. Hm... how about permanently muting the incoming sound? Then for sure it won't incur hearing damage.
  
  Having said all these, it is a stylish cool headset and I could use it in a quiet area. But wait, only quiet area? Then what's the point to pay 100+ dollars for this so called noise cancellation headset?
  
  Skip this model. Get the original Jawbone if you want a usable headset with good noise cancellation feature.
  
  
• Bad product, horrible company
  By A1F9Z42CFF9IAY on 2008-07-09
  The Jawbone II bluetooth headset is not really made very well and is a lot worse than people seem to give it credit for. Parts fall off after a short time and it is very cheaply made.
  
  Further, once you set it up, you can only use it on one ear. Other headsets (like Plantronics ones for example) allow you to swivel the earloop to switch ears if you get tired of using it on one ear. The Jawbone doesn't do this. In order to switch ears, you have to remove the earloop and reinstall it.
  
  While the Jawbone's noise cancellation does seem good that's about all it has going for it because your voice still sounds muffled, soft and digital-like.
  
  But my main complaint is with the Aliph Jawbone company customer service itself-they are absolutely horrible. They advertise on their website that the Jawbone has a 1 year manufacture warranty to the end consumer. But, my Jawbone broke and when I contacted them about getting warranty service on it, they rudely informed me that they only provide warranties on units bought directly from their own website. If I bought from some other retailer, it has ZERO warranty! I'm not sure whether or not this is even legal, but do believe it reflects very poorly on the company that they don't even stand behind their own products.
  
  I would never recommend buying this headset or any other made by Aliph.
  
  A much better choice would be the BlueAnt Z9i Bluetooth Headset (Black) because:
  
  -It doesn't require the unit to be touching your jaw bone or cheek at all
  -It's a lot easier to put on and take off
  -It's more comfortable and doesn't fall off as easily
  -It' has two selectable levels of noise cancellation
  -It's firmware update-able
  -It has wind noise suppression
  -It's cheaper yet audio quality both to callers and to you are about the same. Noise cancellation is about equal
  -It has a full 2 year warranty
  
  
• How could Jawbone have gotten this so wrong?
  By A22L96D34SSPJD on 2008-08-24
  I'm a geek, a pilot, and a former spec ops guy. I bought the first Jawbone, couldn't get it to hold position properly (yes, I tried the Jabra eargels, etc.) and returned it. Read the reviews for the new Jawbone 2 and picked one up yesterday. Now I have used all kinds of commo gear all over the world, often is incredibly demanding conditions. I've had to make all kinds of kludge modifications, repairs, etc. in order to get gear back up and running. And yet, the only way I could possibly get this thing to be positioned properly would be to duct tape it to the side of my head. I tried all possible combinations of the provided earpieces/earloops, broke out the Jabra eargels again, even tried an earbud sock (it added some friction) but none of these would hold the plastic button on my face properly and reliably. Folks, this is not rocket science. My Plantronics Voyager 520 is so much more secure that it is laughable. Jawbone should dump those wimpy earloops and use the fully articulated, silicone earloop that is found on the 520. With proper fit absolutely critical for the technology to properly work, I am just baffled as to why Jawbone hasn't done a better job of their fit issues. I'm taking this one back tomorrow--big, big disappointment.
  
  
• Better fit, lighter, louder than the original
  By A1X2Y2O7EJDH3Y on 2008-06-11
  I bought the "original" jawbone when it was released. After breaking several ear hooks, and trying several combinations of the included ear buds and after market ones, I was finally able to get an "ok" fit. The original jawbone suffered from a lack of incoming sound as well as a problem with the charger, after several charges, of snapping off the end of the jawbone connector, exposing part of the circuitry. The original jawbone was rather large, but, it did work as advertised.
  Now with the new jawbone, Aliph must have been listening to the feedback/complaints from their users. The easily to break ear hooks have been replaced. They have a pseudo leather wrap, for those that don't wear glasses, and a bare version for those who the larger diameter hooks may interfere with their glasses. The ear buds have also been redesigned.
  The old ones had a 1/2 twist to lock them on and off the headset, which,
  after several tries/attempts to get a good fit, would either break, or fall off. The new ear buds are much softer and simply pop on and off the headset. The charger has been improved. It now works similar to the chargers for the Apple line of notebooks. There are two small magnets on either side of the four pins for the charger. You place the charger close to the new jawbone and it will snap into place, and the red charge light
  will come on, verifying that the connection is made. Charge time has been improved, to 45 minutes on a dead battery. On the downside, the talk/standby time was reduced, most likely, do to the smaller size.
  On a personal note, I preferred the original jawbone buttons,
  which had a slight raised feel, for the connect/disconnect. The new one,
  once you find the sweet spot is ok, but the raised one was better.
  The way you activate voice dialing is different. On the old jawbone, you
  hit the connect/disconnect button. On the new one, you press the noise assassin button. This also doubles as the volume button during a call.
  the locations for the microphones have changed. Depending on if you wear the headset on the left or right side, the microphones are on the top or bottom of the headset, which, will aid in reducing wind noise, and the wind won't be as prone to blow directly into the microphone. Size & weight are reduced as well.
  Out of the box, after charging, the first time you turn it on, it is automatically in pairing mode, so, you will need to have your phone in
  discovery mode before you turn it on.
  As for sound, everyone says the outgoing sound is a little better, but, the outgoing sound, according to my friends, was good to start with.
  Noise reduction has apparently been tweaked, as friends say they "hear less" background noise, but as with the outgoing sound, there wasn't much ougoing noise to start with. As with my old jawbone, since I work in a noisy environment some times, I turned the noise assassin off starting my tests, in a shop, with several LOUD mouthed people yacking away, then turned the noise assassin on, and the background noise disappeared.
  I then turned a vacuum on and the other party could not hear the vacuum,
  until I turned the noise assassin off.
  I use an aftermarket jetsound custom ear piece, because I wear my headset
  8-10 hours a day, therefore I cannot speak about the durability of the ear hooks, but they appear to be MUCH improved over the original jawbone.
  All in all, I think Aliph did a great job improving what was already
  one of the best noise canceling headsets out there.
  
  
• Not as expected
  By A3AO3Z9ZZL1UKR on 2008-06-08
  I read tons of reviews and ordered a Jawbone 2. I have a Plantronics HS- 655 that I love but -- alas -- I like new technology. The unit is beautfully engineered but I figure if it doesn't work out of the box or I get complaints when I try it from people on the other end, there's a problem. I used the unit for a day and my wife (who is the real tester of my Bluetooth headsets) complained that I would "go all tinny and hollow sounding". Another person I called kept asking me to repeat myself. And the sound through the speaker was amazingly bad. Like listening through a tube. I called Aliph and they told me to try different gel, earloop combinations. I think the problem might have been the "Noise Assasin" functionality that requires the headset to "touch your face". I don't think I could reliably keep it in contact with my face. Maybe that is the problem. I sent the unit back.
  
  
• OK product - bad fit
  By A2WT6RKXX27SZZ on 2008-06-10
  I was very excited to get my New Jawbone (horrible name, by the way - anyone remember New Coke? - Why not Jawbone 2, like it's listed here in Amazon), yet when I got home, I found I could only get it to fit in my right ear, and then only by taking off the ear gel and inserting the raw plastic speaker thingy directly into my ear - this is far from comfortable. Oh, and by the way, the gels aren't gel-like: they are non-flexible rubber.
  
  However, I can't use it in my right ear due to some hearing impairment so I'm left with it dangling loosely in the outer part of my left ear since it won't fitand trying to use it at max volume. Apparently, despite the fact that I'm a big guy, my left ear is too small. Why in the World wouldn't Aliph make the ear thing (speaker) as small as technically possible, then use the ear gels to build it up to being big enough for various people? I mean, you can always make it larger, but once you're down to the plastic speaker, you can't get any smaller, and even then this isn't small enough. Or provide ear gels designed to fit in the OUTER ear, like many other headset manufacturers?
  
  Also, whenever I'm trying to adjust it, to get it deep enough into my ear, I end up inadvertently turning it off. Aliph has sacrificed proper function to form - the entire outside shell of the thing pivots and serves as the switch. I guess the idea of small switches marring the attractive outer appearance was nixed by the designers. You push on the unit to get the thing seated in your ear, and the switch clicks the device off. Absolutely horrendous human factors Engineering.
  
  I can't even really tell you if it works or not since I can't get it to stay in my ear!
  
  This terrible fit may be enough to make me return this not-inexpensive product - if the Jawbone don't fit, one must remit!
  
  UPDATE: After MUCH fussing and finagling, I have finally come to a truce with this thing. Turns out, for my ears, it's much better to not even bother with the ear loop, but it still only fits in my right ear. Once I get the thing smashed in my ear, and ensure that the white stub is contacting my cheek, it actually works very well. For the first time I can use my phone in my 1999 Miata (even works with the top down at highway speeds). Volume is good enough for me to hear, even with my reduced hearing capability in my right ear, even with the top down, etc..
  
  I have corresponded with a fellow as a result of this post (thanks, Brian) and he has informed me that the Jabra ear gels will work on this device, and will allow it to fit more comfortable. Apparently this is no "secret" as every Verizon and other store I have tried has been sold out of these.
  
  However, now that I've figured out how to make it work, I may not need the gels after all.
  
  BTW, don't bother contacting the Jawbone folks. I gave up after two emails from them that did nothing but quote from their Web site. They didn't even bother to respond to my third and last email wherein I said "I'd like to know something that maybe ISN'T already posted on your Web site".
  
  If I could change my star rating (C'mon, Amazon, why can't we edit these scores?), I'd raise it to a 3/5 star rating.
  
  
• I own 2 of the original This second gen is disappointing
  By AGOH8N902URMW on 2008-07-10
  I own 2 of the first generation - they are just wonderful. This new JB is very comfortable. The clarity is lacking and the noise reduction does not seen as good. Callers at the other end are always complaining of the poor quality. I have had to do a total reset several times due to a total deterioration in sound.
  
  
• Pretty but dumb
  By A13IOT3EMV6NNU on 2008-07-01
  Well, the packaging is killer, and the earpiece LOOKS cool...except: The sound is ONLY good if the thing rests snugly against your face. If you can't get it to fit, the sound quality is less than the worst of the competition. On me (and, judging from a search of the Web, a lot of folks), the Jawbone II doesn't fit--just flops around. Yes, the 3 ear loops and 3 ear gels are supposed to give you a custom fit. But the ear loops are stiff and brittle (the booklet says you can bend them--YOU CAN'T), and they only rotate for right or left ears; you can't swivel the hook to change the angle. And the ear gels are round rubber plugs: They fit perfectly in pipes but not in humans unless you jam 'em in. When I called Jawbone the Tech Support guy said to buy Jabra ear gels! Short answer: Not Worth It. I got a Plantronics Voyager 520, and it's SO comfortable...I love it.
  
  
• Jawbone 2 Fit to Ear/Face Critical
  By A2BMBVNT6WVCHU on 2008-08-15
  I previously used the original Jawbone, became a big fan of Aliph's noise-cancellation technology, and was looking forward to the new Jawbone 2 to solve the few minor poblems that I had with the original such as excessive wind noise in even a minimal breeze.
  
  After reading the reviews here and noting the wide variance in customer satisfaction, primarily due to poor fit problems, I also purchased both the clear Jabra regular Gels and the Mini-Gels, that some others claimed to be the solution to the fit problem, along with the new Jawbone 2.
  
  I can confirm that the biggest issue is poor fit - no matter what combination of the supplied 4 earhooks and 3 rubber earbuds that I used, I could not keep the unit in my ear or keep the white voice sensor nub in constant contact with my cheek. This constant cheek contact is critical for noise suppression to work properly and to prevent distorting or clipping your own transmitted speech.
  
  I first tried the regular Jabra Gels (package of 6 complex-shaped earbuds) but found that they did not fit tightly enough onto the Jawbone 2 ear post. Next I tried the Mini-Gels which consisted of 2 small round earbuds and 2 larger oval earbuds. The oval Mini-Gel earbuds worked perfectly for me but there were a couple installation tips and tricks needed to get proper fit:
  
  First, the oval Mini-Gel fits over the Jawbone 2 ear post very tightly and it takes a bit of effort to carefully stretch it to fit over the Jawbone ear post. Once seated, it is almost impossible to rotate the oval Mini-Gel's angle in relation to the Jawbone's microphone boom, so position it correctly initially (see next tip for proper position).
  
  Secondly, the end of the oval, furthest from the ear post, must be positioned between 0 degrees and 20 degrees above the axis of the microphone boom in order to seat into my ear properly and have the voice sensor nub at the end of the microphone boom properly seated against my cheek (thank you to the other reviewer who put me on the right track with his 15 degree above angle).
  
  Thirdly, to wear this combination properly, insert the oval Mini-Gel into your ear with the Jawbone microphone boom slightly above horizontal, and then rotate the Jawbone downward so the microphone boom is pointing somewhere between the tip of your nose and your lips.
  
  This combination fits me snugly and coomfortably without the need to use any earloop. I can usually wear it all day without hardly adjusting it.
  So now that I have proper fit, my Jawbone 2 finally performs as intended. The noise-cancellation is excellent and the wind noise has been greatly improved. However, had I not discovered the Jabra oval Mini-Gel solution, I would have returned the Jawbone 2 as being totally unusable due to poor fit with the supplied selection of earloop and earbud accessorys. Hopefully, Aliph is paying attention and will license the Mini-Gels from Jabra!
  
  With proper fit for my Jawbone 2, my Pros and Cons:
  
  Pros - best of any headset for background noise cancellation and fairly good wind noise removal, extremely light weight and comfortable, good battery life (although less than original Jawbone), improved magnetic charger cable.
  
  Cons - while the front surface pushswitch to answer/end a call is now much easier to activate compared to the original, the problem has now become that it's almost impossible to adjust the headset position without inadvertently pushing the answer/end talk button and hanging up a call, even when attempting to only grip the side surfaces of the unit.
  
  Bottom line: Make sure it fits you well or you will be very disappointed in the performance. If necessary, buy the clear Jabra Mini-Gels (not the regular Jabra Gels) for proper fit. Buy the Jawbone 2 from someplace that will let you return it if you cannot get it to fit your ear/face. If you can get it to fit, it will be the best headset you have owned.
  
  
  
• Aliph Jawbone 2 is the Greatest Bluetooth Headset
  By A3A67ZUCCF9JDX on 2008-06-04
  The Aliph Jawbone 2 is the Greatest Bluetooth Headset I ever had and I had at least 18 other Bluethooth Headsets.
  
  
• Great sound, pathetic ear loop.
  By A18QOASFGSQEPF on 2008-07-09
  Like others this has outstanding noise cancellation which creates a great sound for the receiver and ok volume for the user. However after using all combinations of ear loops and buds it still hangs precariously on my ear. The ear piece can pull out easily if it's hanging on my shirt and I grab it to answer a call. It's hanging on my shirt because it won't stay on my ear. The ear piece can also break easily.
  
  Bottom line...I've got a top of the line, sleek-looking earpiece that sounds and looks great, but I can't continuously wear it and I have to tie a string from the earloop to the unit to keep it from pulling out when I grab for it.
  
  
• lousy company
  By A2WJMXTWVRKT7 on 2008-07-11
  The JB is either hit or miss concerning quality. I have several of them and while I like the product the company is, as others have noted, rude and unprofessional. God help you if you didn't buy it from them (at twice the price as other venders) and it is defective. Because of poor customer service I could never recommend this product. It is poorly made and the company refuses to stand behind its product.
  
  
• A Solution to the Jawbone "Fit" Problem
  By A1O5931ZLPJ2KE on 2008-07-15
  I too agree that the "fit" of the Jawbone leaves something to be desired. That is until I discovered the "Listen Hear Store" (www.listenhearstore.com), at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, during a recent business trip. They made a custom mold of my ear canal and then created an earpiece that fit on my Jawbone (price is under $75). The earpiece "locks" into my ear and I no longer need the ear loop. The earpiece is securely locked in place with no danger of falling out. Now I know that this does not help those of you who can't get to Minneapolis, but try a local hearing aid store and I will bet that they can make you one too. Or try Googling "custom ear piece" or something like that. Good luck!
  
  P.S. The Listen Hear Store also makes ear pieces for IPods and most other ear buds.
  
  
  
• Best BT Headset on the market
  By A2U3ER70C2F4SS on 2008-07-28
  This is the first review I've written on Amazon. Normally, the items I buy from Amazon have 4-5 stars. I got my Jawbone from ATT, and I'm surprised to see it get such low ratings on Amazon.
  
  Fit: I have to say that for the first 2 days, the JB was uncomfortable. My ear would hurt after an hour of wearing it, and I was forced to change ears. However, after that I've gotten used to it and don't even notice that it (the Jawbone) is in my ear.
  
  Battery: I get a good 3-4 hours of talk time on my Jawbone, which is more than enough for me. So usually I charge my JB every 3-4 calls with my gf.
  
  Charging: It cannot get any simpler charging my Jawbone with the nice magnetic feature between the charger and the Jawbone. I'm always on the computer, so every so often I would hook my JB up to the charger.
  
  Quality: The Jawbone is looks very sleek and much more appealing than any other Bluetooth headsets on the market. The case and packaging that it came in just screams high quality item.
  
  Sound: The Jawbone has clear and crisp sound, I have no problems hearing the other party, so long that I have decent reception. The other party never makes any negative comment on my voice. I talk with my gf mostly on the phone, and she always asks me whether or not I'm using my Jawbone.
  
  Pairing: The Jawbone pairs instantly with my Treo 755p. I have my phone set up so that it will enable the Bluetooth whenever I receive or make calls. At which time, I power on my Jawbone, and they pair immediately.
  
  
  I really hope that my review will sway more people in at least trying out this product before they take all these negative reviews to heart. Like I said, I don't normally take the time to write reviews, so I really hope that this will make an impact on other peoples' decision for purchasing the Jawbone.
  
  
  

• Cirago BTA3210 Class 2 Micro Bluetooth Adapter (Black Tip)
• Cirago BTA6210 Class 1 Micro Bluetooth Adapter (Black Tip)

• Jabra EarGels - Clear
• Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset (Black)
• Jawbone Bluetooth Headset with NoiseAssassin-Jawbone II (Gold)[Retail Packaged]
• Black Ultra Slim Hard Shell Bluetooth Carrying Case for Aliph Jawbone and Aliph Jawbone II
• Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black)[Retail Packaged]