Monster Bluetooth Headset Roundup - 4 Models Reviewed

So you're the only one on the block that doesn't have a Bluetooth headset for his cell phone? I put four recently released models to the test to see how they shake out. 

BlueAnt Z9 - BlueAnt is hardly a household name in consumer electronics, sure, but if you're looking for a no-nonsense, extremely small headset, the Z9 is a great choice. The Z9 charges with a mini USB plug attached directly to the headset and can pair with up to three devices at once. Dual microphones offer very good sound quality when you're talking, though you'll get a tiny amount of echo during your chats. Audio comes through the earpiece loud and clear, too. Operation is fairly simple: A single button is used to manage calls, with dedicated up/down volume toggles available, too. Suits will love the integrated tie clip, as well, for when they aren't on the phone. Weight: The smallest of the bunch at just 10 grams. Price: About $60 at best.

Motorola Motopure H12 - Man, if this headset isn't as cute as a button. With the look of an old-school transistor radio, the Motopure is as much fashion statement as it is headset. But as a headset, it doesn't come up short at all. Spoken audio delivered to those you're calling comes through crystal clear, and incoming audio has only the slightest bit of digital static. Operation is simple, with dedicated volume and a multifunction button, plus a locking power switch along the back. Charging the Motopure is a real standout: The H12 sits on a USB-powered magnetic charging cradle (two of them, each with a different design, are included), meaning you don't have to mess with fitting the tiny plug into the device when you need juice, as you do with all the other headsets in this roundup. Weight: 12 grams. $80 is the cheapest I've seen.

Cardo S-800 - Not my favorite of the bunch, the design of the S-800 is vaguely '80s retro, and I had the worst luck getting it to fit in/around my ear. The S-800 can be used without the earloop (no luck in my ears, though), but even when I added it, I just couldn't get the metal hook comfortably set around my ear, causing the headset to wobble around constantly. It was just too loose no matter what I did. Audio quality was pretty good: Outgoing calls were great, while incoming calls were a tiny bit boomy. Controls are fairly good, but the on/off button is too small and hard to push without taking the headset off. I had more fondness for the jog wheel volume dial on the back of the device, which lends a more tactile feeling to the controls. Weight: 11 grams. And some good news: You can find it for cheap, about $36 at best.

Aliph Jawbone - At about $95 and 14 grams, the Aliph Jawbone headset is the most expensive and heaviest headset on this list. However, what it lacks on those fronts it makes up for by offering the best audio quality, both incoming and outgoing, of any headset I tried on. Fit isn't quite as simple as it is with some other headsets, and the lack of a dedicated volume control is frustrating. Still, it's extremely stylish (and available in three colors), so if the large-ish size isn't a turnoff, it should be your first stop if quality audio is what you're looking for.