INTRODUCTION

   It seems that lately no matter where i go when I’m out (subway, road, gym) i see quite a few people listening to music with large wired headsets connected to their smartphones so i can't help but to wonder just how comfortable they feel. Personally up to this day i only used wired and wireless stereo earphones/earsets when i wanted to listen to music while on the go without becoming annoying to people around me and i can't say that i ever felt like wanting something more. True volume and bass levels always were two very important issues i wish could be resolved but when using earphones it's quite obvious that you put portability over audio perfection. Well it seems that our friends over at Jabra have been working on the two issues i mentioned since they just released what is perhaps the best wireless headset I’ve used to date, the REVO Wireless.

   GN Netcom, led by the Jabra brand, continues to build on its standing as one of the world’s leading and fastest growing suppliers of hands-free communications solutions. With approximately 875 employees and sales offices around the world, GN Netcom develops manufactures and markets a broad range of wireless headsets for mobile users and both wireless and corded headsets for contact center and office-based users. GN Netcom’s business activities also include its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) business to a wide range of global customers including mobile phone, PC and PDA manufacturers.

   Jabra actually released two versions of the REVO headset to cover all segments of the market, the wireless version which we have here that can also be used as wired via the supplied 3.5mm/USB cables for use with smartphones, tablets, MP3/4 players and PCs and a wired version which obviously just lacks Bluetooth connectivity (if you don't need a feature why not save some cash?). Both versions are made by extremely durable materials (aluminum), have 40mm drivers (32 Ohm/20Hz-20KHz) offer somewhat unique touch controls, feature memory foam ear cups, dual noise-cancelling (Noise Blackout) microphones and a foldable design but the wireless version also features NFC (Near Field Communication) which makes pairing with compatible devices extremely easy. So on paper the REVO Wireless pretty much offers things we've only seen with very expensive professional studio headphones but we're here to see if it actually delivers for real.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The REVO Wireless arrived inside a hard plastic box the front part of which is made by clear plastic so you can actually see the headset.

Listed at the left side are the main product features.

A product description is written at the rear in 13 languages right above the specifications table.

Although quite small the box contains the headset, protective bag, 3.5mm mini jack cable (with in-line answer/end call button), USB cable, warranty paper, quickstart guide, registration paper and a paper with the Jabra Sound App activation key.

THE REVO WIRELESS

Jabra has invested so much time designing the REVO wireless that it's really stunning (the dark grey/orange color combo is very nice) so my guess is that most people will just love its looks immediately. Size-wise it's a lot smaller than your average headset (178mm length, 160mm width, 73mm depth) and weighs just 226g.

To illustrate just how smaller it is i placed it right next to the F.R.E.Q.7 by Mad Catz a mid-sized gaming headset.

On the exterior of both earcups we see a center button and several cycles one of which has the name of the branch responsible for the development of the REVO headsets. The right side circles are actually the touch controls for the volume (clockwise to increase, counter clockwise to decrease the volume) and for the next/previous track selection (double tap at the front/rear) while the center button can be used to play/pause the track. The left side can be used to pair your Bluetooth enabled device via NFC (Near Field Connection) and also has the center button which can be used to answer/end calls and also to bring up the Jabra Sound App if it's installed in your smartphone.

The Jabra logo is placed on both sides, right at the end of the headband.

Although the earcups are quite small the memory foam makes up for that while the LEFT/RIGHT indication at the center along with the orange fabric is a nice touch.

The headband can be extended by up to 28mm on each side.

At the lower end of the right earcup we see the on/off/pairing switch, micro-USB port, the battery/connection LED and the Noise Blackout microphone.

The 3.5mm mini jack is placed at the lower end of the left side.

The headband is neither large nor thick but it's surprisingly comfortable.

Thanks to the two hinges at the two ends of the headband the REVO headset can fold as seen above.

To pair the REVO Wireless with your Bluetooth enabled device you have two available options, the usual which means you need to put it on pairing mode and detect it or you can just place your device on the exterior of the left earcup and let NFC do the rest.

THE JABRA SOUND APP

According to Jabra their Sound App enables Dolby Digital Plus and so it offers richer audio than when not using it. You can download the app directly from Google Play (Android devices) and App Store (Apple iOS devices). Currently the Sound App is only compatible with the REVO Wireless, REVO Wired and the VOX earphones.

Under the settings menu you can choose the device you wish to use the Sound App with and enable/disable Dolby Processing and Mobile Surround.

What i really like about the Sound App is the available custom EQ but if you are not much into tweaking audio on your own the Sound App comes with a total of 16 presets for you to choose from.

The main screen is nicely designed and allows you to control playback, favorite songs and create lists.

CONCLUSION

   Although I’ve been using the REVO Wireless for just over a week i didn't feel the need for further testing nor to leave it playing for many hours prior to testing it in order to burn-in the drivers until their optimum level of quality. Regardless of what you throw at it (pop, rock, heavy metal, jazz) right from the box the REVO Wireless sounds great with plenty of Bass, accurate mids/highs and a more than just a satisfactory volume level, for a wireless headset that is. Things get even better once you start using the Sound App since you can adjust the EQ according to your liking or pick one up from the 16 available ones. The touch controls are also a plus although you will probably need some time to get used to them (actually to get used to the amount of pressure you need to use). When i comes to battery life Jabra claims that you can use the REVO Wireless for a total of 12 hours before recharging it but i hardly managed to hit 9 hours (at almost maximum volume). Of course i never used it for 9 hours straight but rather for 2-3 hours at a time (and so that explains part of the 3 hours difference) but even 9 hours is a long period of time and certainly more than enough for most people. The dual microphones could do a slightly better job since on the other end people said it seemed i sounded like if i was a bit away but on the other hand the noise blackout technology actually works since none of them could hear all the background noises while on the road and that's a plus.

   Perhaps the single drawback the REVO Wireless has is its price tag and although quite justified by the amount of features it carries (high build quality, rich bass, audio clarity, volume, Bluetooth connectivity, 3.5mm/USB connectivity, NFC, size, touch controls, foldable, batter life) in the end the recommended price tag of USD249 inside the USA and 249Euros inside the EU will definitely be too much for some people. Unfortunately the recommended price tag for the REVO Wired is also set quite high and more specifically at USD199/199Euros so i really hope that Jabra does a small price cut to make the REVO line more appealing to consumers. That aside however we are still talking about perhaps the best wireless headset in the market currently (that I’m aware) and that's why it gets our Platinum Award.

PROS

- Build Quality (Bend Tested 10.000 times/fold tested 3.5000 times/drop tested from 2m)
- Design
- Size
- Clear & Accurate Mids/Highs
- Rich Bass
- Plenty Of Volume
- Wired & Wireless Use (3.5mm & USB)
- NFC (Near Field Connection)
- Dual Noise-Blackout Microphones
- Touch Controls
- Foldable Design
- Battery Life (Up To 12 Hours)
- Sound App 

CONS

- Price (For Some)