Nextlink's Bluespoon headsets just keep getting smaller, as the new AX model proves in all its minute, matte black glory. Anthony Newman does his best not to lose it.
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Ever since their original Bluespoon Digital model, Nextlink have been making the smallest - and some of the most expensive - Bluetooth headsets around. With the new Bluespoon AX, they've done it again, and created a tiny wonder that is in the reach of most budgets.
 | Nextlink's Bluespoon AX is positively miniscule and lightweight
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Bluespoons have always been small, but the AX is positively tiny and looks classy with a matte black finish. Weighing just 12 g, it's about the same size as a thumb down to the first knuckle, which we believe makes it the smallest Bluetooth headset in the world. This tiny size and weight ensure that it's unobtrusive and practically negligible in a pocket or bag. When not in use, however, the AX is perhaps a little easy to lose.
The AX foregoes the usual ear-loop design in favour of 'softsprings', a unique way of attaching the headset to the head. This consists of an in-ear protruberance, like a noise-cancelling earphone, equipped with a silicone 'tail', which unwinds in the ear to provide grip. The softspring can be rotated to fit in either ear, and two sizes are provided to suit most ears. They can also be trimmed down for comfort.
It sounds a little complex, and, indeed, the first few insertions don't go smoothly. Once the knack is developed, however, popping the AX into place is quick and easy - and the results are excellent. It's a very comfortable headset to wear for extended periods, thanks to the light weight and soft attachment. What's more, there's no wobbling or feeling that it's going to fall off. The only downside from a comfort point of view is that, because of the in-ear design, outside sounds are somewhat muffled.
The AX has three buttons: a multifunction key, which sits on the front face of the unit, governs power, pairing, answering, hangup and voice dialling. This is supported by two volume keys, which also allow muting. The buttons are small, but click nicely. Occasionally, the volume keys didn't register our press.
Pairing is performed by holding down the multifunction button, whereupon blue and red LEDs flash alternately. These also show status and charging. The AX can pair with up to 8 devices, using both the headset and handsfree profiles, as we'd expect.
Power is provided by a rechargeable Lithium-Ion button cell, which excitingly is replaceable. Charging, which takes an hour and a half, is through a mini-USB port. A cable is provided, but no standard AC adaptor is included. Battery life from the included cell was good for such a small unit: we eked out 5 days of standby, or around 4 hours of constant use. This falls someway short of Nextlink's claimed 10 days of standby.
The mini-USB port is also the connector for the included neck strap, which is the perfect way to avoid losing the tiny headset. For those who don't want to use a strap, but still want to keep their Bluespoon looking pristine, Nextlink include a small carry pouch.
But how does it perform? Nextlink claim improved reception with this model, up to a staggering 30 metres with selected models of phone. We enjoyed a rather more modest 8 metres before the quality deteriorated significantly. This figure tailed off to about 5 or 6 when flesh obstructed the signal.
Call quality itself is a bit of a mixed bag. The clarity of voices themselves - at both ends - is good, but callers reported that we sounded very quiet indeed. This is attributable to the location of the microphone so far away from the mouth. On the other hand, the in-ear speaker and loud volume settings made for a pleasant experience at our end.
Availability
The Nextlink Bluespoon AX is at the time of writing available worldwide for a recommended price of $80 USD. This is significantly lower than earlier Bluespoon models.
Conclusion
Nextlink have packed a load of great features into such a small shell. Not least of these is the tiny size itself. The Bluespoon AX is comfortable, easy to use, and features solid reception and battery life. The replaceable battery, mini-USB charging / carry strap and cool design are bonuses, and the experience is only spoilt by so-so call quality. Best of all, the small size is matched by a modest price tag.
- What's positive: Small; comfortable; replaceable battery; mini-USB charging
- What's negative: Quiet for callers; hard to get used to
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Price and availability
The will start selling for TBA () in November 1999.
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