This headset is a bit long in the tooth, but shows some style with a customizable face. Does this classic belong on your ear, or is it time to look for an update?
Review summary of the Jabra BT160:
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 While the BT160’s interchangeable covers may appeal to chatty sports fans, this somewhat bulky headset drops the ball with its poor call quality. Weighing in at a relatively hefty 0.5 ounces, the BT160 felt shaky on our ear, and we had a tough time hearing friends on the other end. Unless you’re a die-hard NBA fanatic, you’re probably better off with the Samsung WEP200.
Price: $60.
Pros: Changeable face covers; impressive battery life, variety of calling features.
Cons: Lousy call quality; unstable on the ear; a bit bulky; hard-to-find buttons.
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Full Jabra BT160 Review:
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Design - Mediocre
Released almost a year ago, the Jabra BT160 isn't one of the manufacturer's latest headsets, but it freshens its simple style with interchangeable covers, including a set of NBA team logos provided by T-Mobile. The headset has a removable clear plastic cover, allowing you to slide in your choice of patterns beneath. While we appreciate the customizable style options, we were disappointed by the weighty feel (0.5 ounces) on our ear. The headset was also unstable; we felt it sliding as we walked along the streets of New York, and it fell off when we shook our head. Moreover, the BT160’s controls were a bit tough to use. Our fingertips had a hard time finding the main function key, which sits flat against the rest of the headset.
Calling - Mediocre
The BT160’s call quality suffered during our tests.
While our friends said that they could hear us pretty clearly (aside from the standard bouts of static and echoes), our buddies sounded muffled and quiet, even when we pumped the volume to its loudest setting. While our friends said that they could hear us pretty clearly (aside from the standard bouts of static and echoes), our buddies sounded muffled and quiet, even when we pumped the volume to its loudest setting. Pairing the BT160 with our Samsung MM-A900 was a bit difficult initially; you have to hold the main key and the volume-up key for about 15 seconds to enter pairing mode. Once paired, reconnecting was very simple--just a tap of the main button. In our tests, we got seven hours of talk time from the battery.
Related products: More Jabra Bluetooth headsets
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Score: 60% When: October 2006 Worth: $40
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Jabra BT325s
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This icy white, wired headset allows you to plug in to your MP3 player while still answering your calls via Bluetooth. Does it hit the notes or fall flat?
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Price and availability
The Jabra BT160 is available immediately and retails for $60.
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