INTRODUCTION

   It seems that lately more people spend their free time either running or working out at the gym and although i do go running outside from time to time i don't really have much free time so to that end i have installed a treadmill and a home gym at the office to try and keep in shape (spending 10+ hours per day on a chair is never good for your health). Unfortunately from what people tell me it's still not easy for them to find sports headphones that not only offer crystal clear sound with deep bass and complete noise isolation but also stay on no matter how fast they go or how hard they work out. Personally i don't think it's very easy to have all of the above from sports headphones (besides audiophiles will most likely not enjoy listening to music while running or working out) but I’m always looking for something like that myself and it seems that Jabra might have delivered with their latest Sport Pulse model.

   Jabra is the brand of GN Netcom, a subsidiary of GN Store Nord A/S (GN) - listed on NASDAQ OMX. Jabra employs approximately 850 people worldwide and in 2011 produced an annual revenue which amounted to DKK 2,106 million. Jabra is a world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of a broad range of hands-free communications solutions. With a reputation for innovation, reliability, and ease of use that goes back more than two decades, Jabra’s consumer and business divisions produce corded and wireless headsets, plus mobile and in-office speakerphones that empower individuals and businesses through increased freedom of movement, comfort, and functionality.

   The Jabra Sport Pulse wireless earbuds feature Bluetooth v4.0 connectivity (10 meters range and support for A2DP v1.2/AVRCP v1.4/HFP v1.6/HP v1.2) with EDR (2EV3), SCO (HV1/HV2/HV3), eSCO (EV3), NFC (near field communication) sniff mode and secure pairing mode. Under the IP55 certified (dust and water protection) housing of both earbuds (also offer passive noise reduction) we find two 6mm dynamic stereo drivers that feature a max input power of 5mW and a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz with 94dB sensitivity and 16 Ohm impedance. Jabra has also used an integrated MEMS (MicroElectrical-Mechanical System) microphone for answering calls that features a frequency range of 100Hz-8KHz with 14dB sensitivity and a lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack that gives the Sport Pulse up to 5 hours of music playback. The really impressive feature of the Sport Pulse however has nothing to do with all of the above but rather with the integrated biometric in-ear heart rate sensor which can provide invaluable assistance to people who work out. So on paper at least the Sport Pulse does seem to be one of the most advanced set of wireless earbuds around and it's once again up to us to see if that's really the case.