INTRODUCTION

   Using a good hands free wireless headset either when at home or while on the road is something may people i know do but the vast majority seems to ignore the just how important this is. You see i first started using hands free wireless headsets while driving since not only it's what the law dictates but also because i do feel uncomfortable holding my smartphone with one hand and the wheel with the other (not to mention gear shifting since i never liked automatic cars). Since then however i also started using such headsets while at home mainly because i don't like the idea of RF radiation right next to my ear (really how many of you knew that smartphone manufacturers like Samsung recommend keeping a smartphone at least 1.5cm/15mm away from your body?) and although Bluetooth may not be exactly "harmless" (not many studies around however to be certain) i do believe that it's the lesser of two evils. Today's review is about one such hands free wireless Bluetooth headset the STEALTH by Jabra.

   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 STEALTH is a very compact hands free wireless headset (monophonic) that features Bluetooth v4.0 connectivity with a wide range of supported profiles including A2DP v1.2 (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile), HFP v1.6 (Hands Free Profile), HSP v1.2 (Headset Profile), NFC (Near Field Communications) and PBAP v1.0 (Phone Book Access Profile) and several supported modes such as EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), SCO (Synchronous Connection-Oriented), eSCO (Enhanced Synchronous Connection-Oriented) and sniff (power saving feature). The device also features a mono 11mm dynamic driver, dual 4mm Omni-directional noise cancelling microphones, 128 bit encryption and a rechargeable battery pack which gives it up to 6 full hours of talk time. So let's move on with our review and see just how all of the above translate in real world use.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Jabra once again used a clear plastic package which allows potential buyers to see the headset from all sides.

The features list is placed on the right side while listed on the left are the contents of the bundle.

Some words about the headset are printed at the rear right above several certification and warning logos.

Contained in the box are the STEALTH Bluetooth headset, 2 ultimate comfort eargels, 2 ear hooks (small/large), USB cable, car charger, quick start guide, warning information paper and a product registration paper.

THE STEALTH

The Jabra STEALTH is among the smallest hands free Bluetooth headsets in the market measuring just 64.9mm in length, 15.3mm in width and 24.9mm in height while weighing just under 7,9g (the Jabra logo is located on the main answer/end/repeat last call button).

We thought it would be nice to compare the STEALTH with some other similar models so we placed it right next to the similarly sized Plantronics Voyager Edge and the much larger Jabra Motion and Plantronics Voyager Legend.

Two Omni-directional 4mm microphones are placed at the front of the headset right next to the status LED.

The button beneath the microphones can be used to mute/unmute a call and to activate voice controls.

You can turn the headset on and off from the switch placed on the other side (the micro USB charging port is covered with a small rubber cap).

By default the STEALTH comes wearing the medium sized ultimate comfort eargel which you can replace either with the other two or with the ear hooks.

What's somewhat impressive however is the 11mm large dynamic driver Jabra used with this headset.

The difference may not be massive with what other headsets have (for example the Voyager Edge and Legend models use 10mm drivers) but even so it's good to have.

USING THE STEALTH

Prior to using the headset i strongly recommend heading over to the official Jabra support page to download the latest firmware version (they update the firmware of their headsets quite often).

Once you connect the headset to your PC and launch the firmware update file it will display the installed firmware version and the one you will be updating it to.

After that the firmware update program will install the necessary headset drivers and will proceed to upload the firmware.

The entire process takes roughly a minute to complete so again i strongly suggest doing so (firmware updates are not for show, they correct many bugs and even improve on audio quality and battery life - sometimes they also add new features).

CONCLUSION

   The three features I always look for when choosing a hands free Bluetooth headset are volume levels, audio clarity and battery life so naturally when I started testing the STEALTH these are the things I paid more attention to and I wasn’t disappointed. In terms of clarity the STEALTH may not be the best I’ve ever used but it more than makes up for that with its volume levels which clearly rival those of the Jabra Motion and Plantronics Voyager Legend, two much larger headsets. The downside is that at maximum volume you may experience slight distortion something which doesn’t apply for the other two mentioned headsets. As for the other end the Omni-directional microphones offer good clarity even with quite a bit of ambient noise (didn’t get the chance to test the STEALTH on a bike or with the top of my car down so I don’t know how it would perform in situations with lots of noise). Needless to say I never reached the advertised 6 hours of use but even slightly over 5 hours at almost maximum volume is not bad at all for such a compact headset (for example the slightly larger and heavier Voyager Edge hit 5 and ½ hours during our tests). Build quality is not half bad either (rubber and plastic are the primary materials used) and since the STEALTH is such a small headset if feels very sturdy.

   In terms of pricing the Jabra STEALTH could do better in the USA since it currently retails for USD89.50 (Amazon.com) something which I truly hope changes soon for the best. Luckily however inside the EU things are quite better since it costs just 60Euros (Amazon.co.uk) a price tag which places it right next to many similar yet not as good models. In the end once again it comes down to what you are looking for in a headset so if you’re looking for a compact one with good audio quality, high volume levels and above average battery life (always compared to larger headsets) the STEALTH by Jabra is for you and that’s why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design (Overall)
- Size/Weight (7.9g)
- Audio Quality (Both Ends)
- Volume Levels
- Battery Life (Up To 5+ Hours Of Continuous Use)
- Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP/AVRCHP/HFP/HSP/EDR)
- NFC Compatible
- Price (EU)

CONS

- Price (USA)
- No Volume Controls