Plantronics Discovery 975 vs Jawbone Prime Earcandy: iPhone Accessory Review

November 16, 2009 by Cyprian

iPhone Accessory Review: Plantronics Discovery 975 vs Jawbone Prime Earcandy
Reviewed by: Cyprian Peters
-Official websites
Discovery 975
Prime Earcandy
Price: Discovery 975 – $129.99
Prime Earcandy – $129.99

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Today I’ll be doing a rare comparison review, putting two of the top bluetooth headsets, from two of the top companies in the business up against each other. These two companies, which I’m sure most of you have heard of, are Plantronics and Jawbone. Both of these companies have a variety of different headsets that range in style and price. The two being reviewed here are two of their newer models and also some of their more pricier ones. Both of these headsets have superb quality and design.

jawbone_3

First off, let’s talk a bit about the purpose of buying these things, conversing. The 975 has noise and wind cancelling technology built in. The Prime has something called NoiseAssassin built in to get rid of unwanted background noise. The Prime also has a ‘Voice Activity Sensor’ on it which is a little rubber bump which ideally should be up against your skin. It senses the vibrations when you talk in order to capture only your voice frequencies and filter out background noise.

Both of these headsets performed remarkably in a quiet environment. The caller could hardly tell I was on a headset. I also tried them outside on a windy day and they worked pretty well. I would have to give the Prime the nod here for better performance. The caller could hear me better on the Prime than the 975. I could hear the caller very well over the wind, but they could definitely tell I was outside. Still, it’s pretty remarkable that you can even have a legitimate conversation over heavy winds.

jawbone_2

Now, onto style. To me, this is just about as important as call quality. I’ve stated before how I’m not the biggest fan of bluetooth headsets in public. That being said, if I do wear one, I want it to be sleek and professional, not big and ugly. These two headsets are both ultra-modern and sleek. The 975 has a long narrow mouthpiece and a diamond shaped earpiece. The black and silver combo really makes it pop. If you’re looking for something with a little bit bolder, the Earcandy is exactly what you need. You can choose from 4 vibrant colors. They sent me the lilac version and it definitely stands out. It’s design is different as well as it is thicker and shorter than the 975.

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Both devices pair seamlessly with the iPhone, no problems there. They both have two buttons to control the volume and calling features. I found them both to be equal in features. You can answer/end calls, redial, change the volume and more from the touch of a button.

plantronics_975_1

Both come with cables to charge. In the case of the Prime, there is a USB cable as well as an AC adapter so you can charge from the wall or computer. It has a neat magnetic attachment that hooks up to the back side of the headset to charge, kind of like an Apple computer. The downside to this is that if you lose the cable, you have to get another one. It’s not exactly a standard mini/micro USB cable for charging.

jawbone_1

Charging is where the 975 shines. It comes with a carrying case which is small enough to throw in your pocket or keep in your car console. Get this, the case actually has a built in battery. You can charge the case or headset by themselves or together through the included AC adapter with a micro USB end on it. The case is black leather and very stylish. It also has a built in display to show you how much charge the headset and case have left. This means half as much charging, which let’s face it, is one of the major drawbacks of electronics.

plantronics_975_2

In terms of fitment, the 975 comes with three sizes of earpieces, and these ones fit me like a glove. Unfortunately, everyone’s ears are different so this may vary for different people but I find these earpieces to be some of my favorites out of all the headsets and headphones I’ve reviewed. The Jawbone didn’t fit my ears as well and was a bit uncomfortable for me. However, they did offer more selection, with two different types of earpieces, both in small, medium and large.

plantronics_975_3

Overall, both of these headsets are top notch and you won’t be disappointed in purchasing either. I do have to give the slight nod to the 975 because of the rechargeable case, how awesome is that, really! The Earcandy does win in the style department, with its unique color options. They’re both the same amount of money as well, and for what you get, they are definitely worth the price. If you’re looking for a quality headset, grab yourself one of these! You won’t be sorry!

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Scores:
Plantronics Discovery 975: 9.5/10
Jawbone Prime Earcandy: 9/10

Tags: Accessory, app, Apple, case, headphones, iPhone, OS, review

Article by Cyprian

Cyprian Peters is a reviews writer for iPhone World. He's from Manitoba, Canada and currently he attends university while working three jobs.

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http://www.r4-ds-kaart.nl/ r4 dsi

Despite its finicky controls, the Plantronics Discovery 975 is a stylish headset with a comfortable fit, a great feature set, and excellent call quality.
http://www.r4-ds-kaart.nl/ r4 dsi

Despite its finicky controls, the Plantronics Discovery 975 is a stylish headset with a comfortable fit, a great feature set, and excellent call quality.
http://www.wiredbuddha.com Wired Buddha

My choice is the Jawbone, again.
A few years ago, I was using the Jawbone (the original model). The feature which sold me was the impressive noise cancellation.
At that time I was driving (a very loud 5 ton) and delivering for a printing press. I could stand 3 paces from a very loud printing press and not a sound would be heard over the Jawbone. I would turn off the noise-shield just so others could hear the actual noise, then turn the noise-shield back on. The noise cancelling abilities never ceased to amaze people.
In that noisy environment, I could have a better conversation on the Jawbone than in person. The only downside was the ear-loops, because they broke easy.
When it was time to buy a new BT headset most models did not impress me.
I came across the Plantronics model. I liked the sleek look of it and the recharging case. However, I was not impressed with the calling. People would say my voice sounded hollow and/or tinny – like I was talking through a tube. I could never get the Plantronics to sit in my ear properly. No matter what earpiece I used it would fall out. In the end I was rather disappointed.
So once again I was in the market for a new BT headset.
I saw the Jawbone Prime, but a $150 was a little steep. But lo and behold, I came across it on sale – at cost.
The smaller profile makes it very unobtrusive and subtle. I can fit it in my ear with the default earbud and I use the single hook which comes with it. The hook has been redesigned to be more flexible, although some people may not need it.
Once again, the noise cancellation impresses me. The day I bought it I tested it. I was standing at a busy city intersection in downtown Vancouver, traffic going by, and not a sound could be heard. My voice came across clear and I could hear the other person just as clearly.
In my opinion, Jawbone has style, good looks and technology all rolled into one very impressive headset. I would definitely recommend it.
To solve the case issue, when I need to just carry the Jawbone, I use a Pelican Case.
–
Wired Buddha
http://www.wiredbuddha.com