Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]

9 Responses to Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]

1. AreYouKidding?

   June 2, 2010 at 3:06 am

   Review from AreYouKidding? for the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]
   The Rating is:
   OK, I splurged. I usually don’t spend this much on a headset. I’ve actually owned a ton of them over the past few years (check out some of my older reviews). Most of them were cheap sub-$30 headsets. Let me just say, “I can’t believe the difference.”

   After doing some research here and on Plantronics’ website, I pulled the trigger. I’m using this with two phones; my Sony Ericsson W580i and my BlackBerry 8310.

   Pros:

   - First off, the sound quality of this headset is awesome. It is crystal-clear on my end and zero-complaints on the other. No more sounding like I’m in a tunnel. I assume this is the AudioIQ technology doing it’s thing.

   - Secondly, the headset is super-lightweight and this equals comfort. I was skeptical at first about just popping this in my ear without a hook. Once I picked the right size ear-thingy, it fits perfect and I can barely notice it’s there. Even after a few hours of wearing it (I know, I’m a geek) I barely notice it. I can do the “shake-your-head” test and this stays in place.

   Cons:

   - The charging “case” is cool, but I have a hard time getting the headset out of it sometimes. Thankfully, I can just plug the adapter right into the headset, bypassing the need for the extra bulk.

   - The price; but honestly, after spending more on a collection of “less impressive” headsets over the past few years, you really do get what you pay for.

   Highly recommended for it’s sharp looks, perfect clarity and ultra-comfort.
   
2. diljs

   June 2, 2010 at 3:29 am

   Review from diljs for the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]
   The Rating is:
   I am a much heavier user of bluetooth headsets than most. My job requires me to spend long hours consulting on the phone, so a comfortable, reliable, BT headset that will last all day without a charge is a requirement for me. I typically buy a new cell phone every 6 months (Current is a Nokia E51, next will be a 3G iPhone , and a new headset (I compared this one to a Jabra JX10 which I used previously) nearly as often. Some of my criteria may not be something you need, so keep that in mind as you read through,and as with any product, choose what features you will use, and which are “cool” but unnecessary.

   What’s in the Box:
   
   -An extremely light headset (8 grams!)
   
   -Three ear pieces (small, medium, large)
   
   -Wall Charger
   
   -USB Charger
   
   -Nice looking Case that also charges the headset
   
   -Short, Simple, Clear Instruction Manual

   Pros:

   Looks – The Plantronics 925 is a very attractive headset. It doesn’t have the goofy, bulky, flashy “star trek” look that a lot of headsets do. The smooth, attractive lines, and the thin mouthpiece are very low key and elegant. The headset also comes in 3 colors: standard black, fashionable gold, and feminine cerise.

   Charging – Plantronics included not 1, not 2, but 3 ways to charge this headset: through the wall, by usb, or with the extremely cool charging case. The case has it’s own lithium ion battery, and it will actually hold a single charge for the headset without being plugged in. This means for an overnight trip all you have to bring with you is the headset and the case, and you’ll still be able to recharge it once.

   Pairing – The 925 connected quickly and easily to my phone, this shouldn’t be a challenge for anyone to do after a few minutes skimming the manual.

   Comfort and Fit – I prefer the “in ear” style of BT headsets to the “over the ear” style, so the 925′s setup was great. The customizable earbuds should ensure a comfortable fit for most people, although there will be some who will experience irritation with all the sizes. The earbuds are a tad fragile, so be careful when handling them.

   Stability – The plantronics feels really light and loose, but it also stays in place! Nothing is more annoying than a headset that falls out, but this one does a great job staying in place.

   Range – The headset does well out to about 20 feet, any further and distortion begins to occur. Bluetooth is rated for 33 feet maximum, but in real life you will seldom get this far, and the 925 does excellent compared to other headsets.

   Sound Quality – The 925 does very well in this area. No one could “tell” I was on a headset, and both incoming and ougoing sound were crisp and clear for me and the person on the other end. The one exception was in wind, which I will discuss later.

   Battery Life – The 925 is rated for up to 5 hours of talk time and 7 days (!) of standby time, which is great for a BT headset. Although battery life does typically decline over time, in my experience it definitely lived up to the promise and I was very impressed by the amount of time I could go between charges.

   Cons: (Keep in mind these may not be important to you!)

   Controls – The 925 has 2 buttons: One large multi-purpose button on the side, and one smaller one on the top for volume. While the multi-purpose one is pretty standard (answering or placing calls, voice dialing, etc), the volume control is somewhat lacking. It only has 3 levels (high, medium, low) which it cycles through. This is in contrast to competing headsets (such as my Jabra) which have both “+” and “-” for volume, which can give more precise control over the volume.

   Wind Noise – This is something that is a problem on most headsets, and while this one did better than most low end headsets, it didn’t do as well as competitors at half its price (such as the Aliph Jawbone). Such a pricey headset should not experience such bad feedback and voice choppiness when outdoors or on the highway.

   Price – The 925 is definitely on the higher end of the price range for BT headsets. The features for the price may or may not be worth it to you, and you could be just as happy with a much lower priced headset.

   Overall:

   Overall the 925 is a great looking premium headset which is packed with features. Comfort, ease of use, battery life, and sound quality were all excellent. The charging methods provided were exceptional, and the charging case is just plain cool. This headset is certainly better than most of the cheap headsets out there. Still, the price is high, and the controls and wind noise performance could be better. These aside, there is an excellent chance you will look great in and love this headset.
3. A. Song

   June 2, 2010 at 4:07 am

   Review from A. Song for the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]
   The Rating is:
   What I was looking for: I wanted a Bluetooth headset for my iPhone 3G and PS3 for gaming and thus needed one with multipoint technology. I’ve had cheap headsets before, and have learned that when it comes to headsets, you get what you pay for. So I wasn’t afraid to pay a little more for quality. After doing research, it seemed that the jawbone, discovery 925, and blueant V9 were the highest rated headsets in my pricerange. The jawbone gets far more press than the other 2. I didn’t know much about blueant, so I focused on the jawbone II and the 925. There aren’t many reviews that compare the 2 that satisfied me. So I went with the jawbone II. I wasn’t satisfied so I returned the jawbone and bought the 925. So here is my comparison.

   Noise cancellation/isolation: Of all the options, sound isolation seems to separate the high end headsets from the lower end models. Jawbone touts the noise assassin. This requires a vibration sensor to maintain constant contact on your cheek (hence the name “jawbone”) to be able to determine when you’re talking and thus cancel out other sounds. Inherently, this requires a good fit. Most reviews criticize the less than perfect fit. Mine fit fine, and noise isolation was excellent. Even with music playing and the windows rolled down. The 925 utilizes audioIQ technology. Most negative reviews say it is not as effective as the noise assassin, and complain that it is very sensitive to the wind. I found that audioIQ did not work nearly as well as the noise assassin. Sometimes it would amplify ambient noise, perhaps it interpreted it as my voice? Sensitivity to the wind was not as extreme as some reviewers complained about. It was no worse than talking on my iPhone in the wind.

   Incoming sound quality: I thought the jawbone sound quality was acceptable. There seems to be an emphasis on the high frequencies. The 925 was much better, up to par with my iPhone’s sound. At the highest volume level, I found the 925 to have some distortion. Both only have 1 volume button. The 925′s button toggles between 3 levels of volume.

   Outgoing (voice) sound quality: I think the tradeoff for great sound isolation is poor voice quality. By far the 925 won in this category. It was up to par with a land line, when it worked. For example, when there was a lot of ambient noise, I still had to speak loudly for the earpiece to distinguish it from the noise. The jawbone’s sound quality was at most acceptable. Most people would ask me to repeat myself. Some said it was obvious I was using a headset. Some thought I was on speakerphone or said it sounded like I was in an auditorium. Fit was not a problem, the sensor always maintained firm contact to my cheek. I also noticed that sound isolation would clip the very beginning of each sentence. For instance my “Yes” would become “-es”.

   Comfort: By far, the 925 was more comfortable and easier to apply. It utilizes gels (3 sizes) that hold it in place in your ear without an earloop. I wore this playing a game for 2 hours, without discomfort. I shook my head hard without it getting loose or falling out. The jawbone uses a combination of gels (3 sizes) and earloops (plastic or leather, 2 sizes each). I played around with every combination and eventually came back to the default size that came in the box. The jawbone is awkward at first, but you get used to it. It is a bit clumsy to get on and off however. In the beginning, I was very paranoid that the noise assassin sensor was not touching my cheek and had to check repeatedly.

   Multipoint: Jawbone, as far as I am aware, does not support multipoint technology. It did however pair with my PS3. Pairing the 925 with both the iphone and PS3 was a bit confusing at first. You have to turn multipoint on first, then pair each one at a time. You switch from one device to the other with the multifunction button. Several times, my headset interfered with my controller (also Bluetooth) when I switched it on during a game. I’ve read that this is a common occurance with bluetooth headsets and the PS3. I’ve played probably a total of 20 hrs with this headset, and encountered this problem twice. Another reviewer stated he had to pair his headset with the iPhone everyday. I did not encounter this problem. Be aware that multipoint drains your battery faster.

   Range: Both maintained pairing to about 30 feet (rough estimate). The 925 had static at about feet. The jawbone was fine at about 30 feet. I did not push their limits however.

   Multifunction button: each uses a single multifunction button which are comparable. The jawbone’s buttons are integrated in the design, so you actually don’t see the buttons, you just know where they are. An annoying feature is the led light, which is on the multifunction button. So when you are pushing the button to turn it on, you can’t see when the light is coming on.

   Charging: I have to admit, the jawbone has a cool magnetic charger which attaches itself to the headset. Be sure to check that your charging light is on. Once I had attached the charger and it wasn’t seated correctly. The 925 comes with a case that has a built-in battery with enough juice for a full charge, which is really cool IMO. It looks big in the picture, but measures about 4 x 1.25 x 1.25 inches, a little bulky for pant pockets. The case itself still is a nice feature to protect the headset. I hung my jawbone on my shirt and ended up bending the earloop. Scared me at first, but I was able to bend it back.

   Conclusion: Unless you’ll be consistently using your headset in a noisy environment, I’d recommend the 925 over the Jawbone II. It beats the jawbone, IMO, in every category except noise cancellation. Incoming and outgoing sound is much better on the 925, making it’s performance much more consistent. The most common criticism of the 925 is its sensitivity to wind. Multipoint pairs with iPhone and the PS3. Remember the PS3 can have issues with bluetooth headsets interfering with their bluetooth controller’s connection.
4. Jennifer Ray

   June 2, 2010 at 4:56 am

   Review from Jennifer Ray for the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]
   The Rating is:
   The search for the perfect Bluetooth headset is never-ending, it seems. In the last 3 years, I’ve gone through more brands and models than I care to think about. Now I’ve tried the Plantronics Discovery 925, and tell you with no hesitation that it is in the top two of those I have used.

   The Plantronics Discovery 925 is more an earpiece than a headset, with an earbud that fits inside the ear with surprising comfort, rather than an earloop that hangs over the ear. This means that it is much more comfortable to wear with eyeglasses and/or sunglasses. Indeed it is so comfortable that I sometimes forget I am wearing it.

   Pairing the device is a snap, and while my old Jabra headset frequently lost its pairing (weekly at least), the Plantronics Discovery 925 has not yet.

   The sound quality is tremendous. Audio is crystal clear from both my side and on the caller’s side, if my friends and family are to be believed. LOL

   Plantronics touts this headset as having great noise reduction technology, and I will say that it is better in the noise reduction arena than all but one of the headsets I’ve tried in the past. The only headset I have personally tried that surpasses the Plantronics Discovery 925 in noise reduction is the Jawbone headset.

   What I really love about the Discovery 925 is the charging options. This headset comes with both an AC charger cable and a USB charger cable. Not only that, it comes with a compact charging case. You can charge the headset either in the case or directly, using the same cables for each. The beauty of the case is that it charges alongside the headset when you have it plugged in to electrical power. Then when your headset’s battery dies, you simply put the headset in the case to recharge on the go – WITHOUT connecting either the case or the headset to electrical current. I’ve purposely let the headset’s charge completely drain and charged it with the case, and found it worked admirably. And to top it all off, the Plantronics Discovery 925 charges fully in just a couple of hours, whether via electrical current or the portable charge case.

   Now here is where I prove what a woman I can be. The last quality I want to point out is purely cosmetic – its appearance. This is by far the most attractive headset I’ve ever seen. It’s design almost looks like a cufflink or tie clip. It is sleek, innocuous, and comes in three different colors: black, gold, and pink. Personally, I like the more unobtrusive black model myself, but for those who want a little bit livelier hue, the other options work too. Yeah, I know, the appearance is a pretty frivolous virtue, but as often as we wear these things nowadays, it is nice to find a Bluetooth headset that doesn’t have to trade form for function.

   For the best in noise reduction, Jawbone’s Bluetooth headset is the overall winner, but Plantronics Discovery 925 runs a very close second in this category. In all other categories, I would choose Plantronics as the number one headset.

   Phone used with: HP iPaq 6945 Unlocked Cell Phone with Wi-fi, GPS, MP3/Video Player, SD–U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)

   Most recent Headsets I’ve used:
   
   Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset – Black
   
   Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Bluetooth Headset- Black
   
   Jabra BT250v Bluetooth Headset with Vibrating Alert [Retail Packaged]
   
   Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset
   
   Motorola H300 Bluetooth Headset
   
5. Mediahound

   June 2, 2010 at 5:25 am

   Review from Mediahound for the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Earpiece (Black) [Retail Packaging]
   The Rating is:
   This is a great Bluetooth headset although it’s a bit pricey, I still recommend it.

   It’s so much easier to take a call by just placing a headset like this in your ear, rather than having to fool around with also clipping it around your ear too. I’m speaking from experience here. I had a Jawbone before and totally hated how I had to fumble with getting it around my ear all the time.

   The sound quality of the Plantronics Discovery 925 is quite good as is the noise cancellation and battery life is tops, way better than my Jawbone.

   It even comes with a seperate battery (built in to the case) so you can charge it while on the go for even more talk time-a very nice touch.

   After trying several different Bluetooth headsets over the years, this is the one that I’m keeping. Plantronics seems to make the best ones I’ve tried including Jawbone, Motorola and Samsung.

   UPDATE – AUGUST 2008: I am now using the BlueAnt Z9i and am happier with it mainly because it has better noise cancellation.
6. David Alan Sikes

   June 2, 2010 at 5:35 am

   Review from David Alan Sikes for the Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth MOTOACTIV Stereo Headset (Gloss Black)
   The Rating is:
   These have been the best bluetooth headphones I have ever experienced.

   MY USE: I bought these for all-around use (walking around campus, indoor climbing, and cycling), and they have performed magnificently. So far, they have been very sweat-resistant and chalk-proof while climbing indoors during the off-season (I don’t believe in headphones while outside ). They hold on tight when road-biking, and they have been very good for walking around campus and answering calls as I listen to music. I also occasionally use them with my iMac to watch movies without disturbing others.

   STRUCTURE: First of all, the headphones look fantastic. Really sleek-looking headphones, I get compliments all the time on them, followed by amazement when they find out that they’re bluetooth! The fit of the headphones was a little awkward at first – I expected the little buds to go into my ear a little deeper. While they are apparently meant for people with larger heads, I’ve gotten really comfortable with the way they fit on my head. They rest just outside of my ear canal without being crammed inside. They also rest comfortably on my neck when not in use – I’ll often wear them around my neck in class or at work, forgetting they’re on!
   
   The buttons on the headphones are fantastic. They really did a great job here. The volume and phone controls are on one side, and the music controls on the other. You can still do things like redial a call, ignore a call, and turn on/off the “enhanced sound” mode using the few buttons. Also, the buttons are rounded off very well, so very easy to feel with your finger.

   AUDIO QUALITY: The audio quality is good. While I don’t consider myself an audiophile (proudly, btw), I do put weight on audio quality, and the sound from these headphones absolutely cut it for me. Better than Apple’s earbuds (not hard to beat), and as good as the Skull Candy headphones I was using. Using either the Sony bluetooth adaptor, or my Sony Ericsson w580i, the audio came out great – actually, it was a huge improvement over the quality of the w580i w/ provided headphones. The default “enhanced sound” mode is actually very good – not just idiotically cranked-up bass like most sound “enhancements”. But if you prefer a custom EQ, all you have to do is hold down one button for a few seconds and it turns off.
   
   The microphone works well most of the time, but it’s no replacement for a standard bluetooth headset in terms of ONLY hearing your voice. But my voice is heard distinctly – just with some background noise.

   BLUETOOTH: Pairing is a breeze. The bluetooth signal has been an issue for me at times, though. Just carrying my phone/iPod around in my pants pocket just doesn’t seem to cut it – my body is just too much of a barrier (and I’m not a big guy). However, in my backpack, or across the room, the signal has been flawless. So, my solution is to either always keep the phone/iPod in my backpack, or slip it into a front shirt pocket. But when I don’t have any of these options, it gets really annoying having my music cut in and out – incredibly annoying, in fact. Like having a scratched CD. It’s maddening! (the booklet recommends purchasing an arm band for this reason.).

   Oh, and these guys will hold a charge all day with use throughout most of the day. But not much past that.
7. S. Epstein

   June 2, 2010 at 6:08 am

   Review from S. Epstein for the Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth MOTOACTIV Stereo Headset (Gloss Black)
   The Rating is:
   I wanted to listen to music on my HTC Diamond [Sprint] while exercising and around the house, without wires. This unit has good sound, and nice controls – I can activate voice command for hands free dialing, and I can change music tracks without pulling out the phone; Nice.

   Unfortunately, the thing is really uncomfortable after a while, especially while wearing my glasses. Note, however, that I have a large head, and the unit is not adjustable [like that would have been difficult to design in].

   Additionally, and I knew this before purchasing by reading other reviews, you cannot carry your phone in your front pocket while using these outside. I put the phone in my rear pocket if walking, but I’ll have to wear a fanny pack or some other trick to get the transmitter within line-of-sight of the back of the headset. This is another pain-in-the-rear [no pun intended!].

   I will say it’s really cool to be out for a run when the phone rings and the auto-answer is turned on; the unit picks up and I can talk without having to slow down. I can dial out, as well, with the voice command.

   The bluetooth technology is limited, but I think the designers could have made this more friendly.

   This unit may just be the best available, for now, but it seems likes it should still be in “beta” to me.
8. D. Destefano

   June 2, 2010 at 6:38 am

   Review from D. Destefano for the Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth MOTOACTIV Stereo Headset (Gloss Black)
   The Rating is:
   I bought these because my Zaggs wouldn’t stay on while running. So, after reading the reviews, I decided to give these a shot. I have an Iphone 3G OS 3.1.2.
   
   Pros:
   
   Three sizes of earbuds.
   
   The SRS works very well.
   
   Sound is good, almost as good as my VModa Vibes.
   
   The MOTOROKR’s stay on while running around the track.
   
   Distance is decent, about 20-25 feet. (for mine)
   
   Useful carrying bag.
   
   Easy connection.
   
   Runs with Pandora, AOL radio, Ipod, and GreatMetal.

   Cons:
   
   Track skip doesn’t function with Iphone.
   
   There are six buttons to remember, not a big deal, just takes getting used to.
   
   Battery isn’t removable.

   Overall:
   
   Honestly, I would have given them 5 stars if the track skip worked. I am happy with the purchase and would recommend these headphones.
9. Amazon Man

   June 2, 2010 at 7:01 am

   Review from Amazon Man for the Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth MOTOACTIV Stereo Headset (Gloss Black)
   The Rating is:
   While the controls are not the easiest to work, the sound quality of stereo music from my Treo 800w cellphone’s MP3 player is very good. I wish, however, that I could get the plugs into my ears a little better. If I push them closer, the sound really improves even though it was pretty good from the start.
   
   I normally used a Jawbone II for talking on my cellphone so people are surprised when they can hear everything within a quarter mile of me with this headset. However, they say that the quality of my voice is better with this than the Jawbone.
   
   If I had to buy someone a Bluetooth stereo headset, I would most likely buy one of these. Oh, make sure you get the newer “HD” model.