The History Lesson
I've got to tell you. The bane of my gadget existence is and always has been wires. I've dropped my mp3 player and/or ripped the headphones or earbuds from my head more times than I can count because of a tangled or caught wire. I hate them. I hate them. I HATE THEM!
When I found a great deal on these headphones (I got them for $79.99 plus a $50 rebate!), I was in heaven. I didn't wait, I immediately ordered them and picked them up the next morning. Since that time, I have been wire free when listening to my iPod (and often while listening to my computer).
I've had them for about 3 weeks now,
(Edit: Be sure to read the update below!) and they've given me no problems whatsoever. I get great battery life from both the transmitter and the headphones. They sound great, and it's so easy to turn on the shuffle feature and just skip through any songs you don't want to hear with the built in controls (this feature works with the transmitter when connected to a supported iPod, but it doesn't work when the transmitter is connected to other devices).
The Setup
Setting them up is a matter of plugging them into your iPod or iPod mini, holding down the button on the transmitter until it blinks, then holding down the button on the headphones until the two "pair up". The whole process takes about 5 seconds. The transmitter is the same width and thickness as the 4G iPods, and my silicon skin (which is open at the top) doesn't get in the way of the connection at all. Some cases or skins that extend up to the top might get in the way, however.
With the transmitter hooked up and the headphones paired, you're ready to go. You now control Play/Pause, Skip Forward, Skip Back and the volume, all from the right ear piece.
How it works
The unit works on the Bluetooth "Advanced Audio Distribution Profile", which is designed for high quality stereo audio applications just like this. You are able to use the headphones without the included transmitter if your Bluetooth enabled device supports this profile. I can't vouch for the control functions (other than the volume) when using other Bluetooth devices, though. I've read forum posts stating that they play fine, but that other use of the Bluetooth functions of the device can cause "interference" (it's actually a lack of bandwidth...A2DP takes up nearly all the available bandwidth of a Bluetooth device, and using other Bluetooth functions will result in a broken signal).
These headphones will not work with a phone or other Bluetooth device without the A2DP profile. There is no microphone, so it goes without saying they cannot be used as a headset with your phone. Motorola makes a set (the
HT820) which will work as both headphones *and* a headset, but that set does not come with a transmitter.
The Fit
When you first put the headphones on (they are designed as "behind the neck" headphones), you may notice they're a bit too tight, especially if you have a large head or protruding ears (I've got the big head problem, personally). I get past this for the most part by positioning them just in front of my ears, with the band farther up my head, rather than behind the neck. You'll grow more used to them as you use them more, but I doubt you'll ever describe them as comfortable.
In Use
The range is pretty good. The spec claims 10 meters (about 30 feet, which is a standard for Bluetooth), and that's about what I get in a clear area. If I'm using them through walls, that distance will usually drop to about 20 ft. They may drop out completely if your body (or another) is actually blocking the signal (it happened while I was carrying my two year old son and the iPod was in my jacket pocket, positioned exactly between us). They do not interfere with (nor do they get interference from) 2.4 GHz wireless networks, but I've noticed that my microwave will make them "skip" a lot when I use them in the kitchen.
The sound is great. They sound like you would expect any decent pair of headphones to sound. There's no "bass boost" function or anything, but usually that just makes the music sound muddy, anyway. The sound is driven by the iPod (or other device), so a lot depends, of course, on the source.
I've never owned a pair of headphones that cost over $40, so I can't compare them to high-end sets, but I doubt they'll match a good pair of Sennheiser or other high quality model.
The battery is rated for up to 8 hours of use, which is about what I get (I haven't timed it). A full charge takes about 2 to 3 hours (you charge the transmitter and the headphones at the same time from a single charger, which has a "Y" split at the end). It's a lithium ion battery, which is not replaceable.
The transmitter will shut off if your iPod or other device is silent for about 5 minutes, and the headphones will shut off then or a couple of minutes later (it seems to depend on if it senses the transmitter shutting down). The transmitter may power on automatically if the iPod starts playing again, but the headphones will not. Each time one unit or the other shuts down, you must establish the pairing again. You may also have to re-establish the pairing if you unplug the transmitter from the iPod.
The Warning
There have been reports of the headband portion of these headphones cracking. Personally, I don't see how this could happen without some abuse. The plastic seems solid yet flexible enough that it shouldn't happen. I'm not going to swear that it won't happen (as I said, I've had them three weeks), but I'll be very [unpleasantly, of course] surprised if it does.
The Summary
I used to wish for portable wireless headphones, and now they are a reality. These are great for listening to music, especially when using them (as the name suggests) with an iPod. I wholeheartedly recommend these headphones, especially if you can get them for $50 or less after a rebate.
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
After a month and a half with this set of headphones, I should let you know that, true to the hype, my set's headband cracked right in the center. I was, of course, a little disappointed. This morning I've started having issues with the set losing their connection with the sender. This was fixed when I recharged them, but I think this may be indicative of a failing battery, since the headset never gave its beep to let me know the battery was low. I'll be calling Logitech, and I'll be sure to let you know how things are going. I'll also be lowering my rating and recommending against the headphones until this issue is resolved, one way or the other.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT UPDATE
I called Logitech the day after the update, and they confirmed the problem with headbands cracking...he also told me the replacements
do not suffer from this problem. He took my info and had me read the lot # from under the pad, and they sent me a new set (headphones only, not a new transmitter)! I had it within a week and a half (they were apparently running low on replacements when I called, and he said it would probably take about that long to get new ones in).
LAST IMPORTANT UPDATE
The replacement set cracked, too. When I called in again, the CSR told me the only thing they could do is refund my money for the purchase, since the replacement sets cracked, they didn't know how to fix the problem. Unfortunately, this set just doesn't cut the mustard for real world use.
The good news, of course, is that Logitech is sticking by their product enough to refund the purchase price. I can't vouch for the headphones, but the company is doing well in my book.
