Having cords flapping about has been a hassle for me ever since I started riding my bike to work each morning. It is annoying getting a cord stuck in a pocket, or even worse having the earbuds yanked out of my ears due to being caught in the handlebars when getting off. I have had a dream about a wireless solution for ages, and so far I have only really found half a solution: the Bose Bluetooth headset 2. With Jabra SPORT I got my hopes up that finally I could get stereo sound on my bike without cords.
The SPORT features the same design as the corded version I reviewed earlier. It has large earhooks going around the back of the ear. A flat cord goes between the left, and right ear behind the neck. The earhooks can be flexed slightly to hug around the ears, but I still find the contact a bit loose. This in turn affects the sound somewhat, as it leaks bass. The design is comfortable though, and these can be worn for an entire day until it runs out of power.
Pairing the SPORT was a real pleasure due to having a voice guiding me along instead of reading a manual. The soft female voice is really friendly, and can be heard when the headset is powered on, connected and turned off. I found it to be a really pleasing experience akin to that found in headsets by Jawbone.
There are a lot of functions that can be controlled using the headset. Play/pause, volume and select tracks are easy to operate using buttons. The play button is also used for answering calls, but I have not had that great experience with making calls. The hidden microphone picks up a lot of ambient noises, and you have to stop moving to use it. In that sense this is not that good for sports if you are the kind of person who takes their calls when out jogging. Furthermore I have not had any luck finding controls to initiate Voice Commands. Siri doesn’t answer, and that is a real shame as most of us wants to have the ability to ask questions, make calls, take notes and set appointments using Siri.
To get the most out of the headset you have to wear the phone in an armband, or pocket on the right side of your body. I found this out the hard way having the iPhone 4S in a pocket to the left the sound started to crackle, and cut out. This is a vital aspect of how you experience the headset. If worn correctly on the right, or used in a calm environment such as sitting by a computer it works brilliantly. By all accounts Jabra has solved the issue with having cords when you exercise.
Another really good thing is the built in FM-radio. It is easy to change stations using the volume controls. If you are connected to the phone by Bluetooth the headset disconnects on its own when using the radio for a couple of minutes to save battery.
The sound quality is good, and as long as you manage to keep the source close to the receiver you get a powerful base as well. There is a slight loss of clarity due to the wireless nature, but nothing noticeable when you exercise. One thing that the SPORT lacks is proper noise isolation. Running along a trafficked road is not recommended if you want to follow a book, or enjoy your music. In the quiet woods, or on a track it works much better.
The Jabra SPORT Wireless headset is a great, sturdy highly functional solution to the hassle of cords. With a good battery life, quick charge time and a battery indicator on the phone it is really easy to keep the headset going all day. It lacks the ability to control Siri, and other voice commands and the microphone is only usable for shorter calls. Those are just minor complaints considering how many features the SPORT packs in a price just under $100.
Final Rating
