Three additional Bluetooth headsets

Another month, another crop of headsets for your consideration. Here are three new models submitted for your approval.

Dragon Callpod V2

Dragon has lightly redesigned its unique Callpod headset, now available in a second edition. The styling is unique and a little bulky: It weighs a full one ounce (hefty in this market), and the large frisbee-like disc is not the most comfortable headset I've ever worn. A protruding tube is supposed to fit into your ear canal, but I just never got a good fit on it. Instead it felt like the headset was just dangling off my ear most of the time (good thing there's a loop to keep it in place). Audio quality is pretty good, though the Callpod's promise that it would eliminate background noise didn't really pan out. Still, I had no trouble hearing my caller and outgoing audio was equally, reasonably clear. I definitely liked the ease of use here: Volume is adjusted via a jog dial which is easy to find by groping behind your ear. Also worth noting, though the headset's range is promised at a whopping 328 feet, I wasn't able to get more than a few yards away from the phone before the signal was lost, much like with any other headset I've reviewed. One extra, nifty feature on the Callpod is a direct headset-to-headset feature, which lets you talk, sans phone, to another Callpod wearer in a 250,000 square foot area (though that's a lot smaller than it sounds). This works well enough, but you'll need to be in a specific situation where you can't physically speak with the person and where a cell phone call won't work either for this to be of much use. $100 gets you a full kit, including USB, A/C, and auto chargers, plus a carrying case.

Jabra BT530

The original name in headsets, Jabra's latest is straightforward and very small (0.4 ounces), one of the smallest headsets on the market. But it's not all that comfortable, to be honest. I spent more time messing with the BT530 to try to get a good fit than with any other headset in recent memory; but I struggled with it, both in the ear and with the plastic, non-adjustable earloop. Good thing the audio is superbly impressive: Loud, clear, and as good as anything else I've tried. One interesting "feature": A dedicated power switch, a real slider on the underside of the device that you use to turn the headset on and off, no "holding down a button" for random lengths of time in the hopes it will shut down, and no confusion whether it's off or on. But styling is nothing special, and for $100 I'd hope for a little snazzier design (and a lot more comfortable fit). Still, with audio this good, it's hard to complain. (The pack includes USB and A/C chargers, no audio adapter.)

Joby Zivio Boom

The Zivio Boom offers fun design and a nifty telescoping microphone which is sure to amaze your friends. The compact, 0.4-ounce headset looks cool on its own, but when you're ready to talk you can grab the end of the antenna and pull it outward. Two sections extend all the way to your mouth. (Plantronics had a similar design to this with one of its headsets, but the Zivio takes it even further.) All manner of help in getting the headset to fit is included: A selection of six ear gels and an optional earloop, which sticks on to the Zivio magnetically. Very cool idea, but the magnet wasn't strong enough to keep the earloop in place in my testing. Fortunately it stays reasonably secure with the earpiece alone. The downside is audio quality: Audio is booming loud, especially outgoing, thanks to that microphone right next to your lips, but there was plenty of static in my test calls, even when I called from very quiet locations. At $130, this is going to be a deal-killer for many buyers. Controls are a little tricky to navigate by touch alone (three identical buttons side by side), too. Charging options include A/C and USB in the box. It's definitely a pick for situations where looking good is more important than hearing well.

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