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BlueAnt Z9 Headset Review

BlueAnt Z9 Headset Review

So on Saturday’s I usually don’t expect anything in the mail, but on this Saturday I was completely wrong. Low and behold a key in my mailbox to open the bigger mailbox, and in it the BlueAnt Z9 headset. Who is this BlueAnt you ask, well first of they are a CES 2007 Innovation and Design & Engineering Award winner for the Z9 headset. With that said BlueAnt Australia’s largest supplier of Bluetooth peripheral devices. If you haven’t seen the sleek goodies they sell you will be greatly surprised.

The Z9 is a Bluetooth headset with many features, so let’s start with that. The Z9 is Bluetooth 2.0 enabled, but will connect to devices of 1.1 or 1.2 Bluetooth devices. With the Z9 you have two forms of voice isolation of background noise, and what’s great it actually tells you when you are switching “Voice Isolation Max, and Standard” Sort of feels like you are in the future when he says very cool. You can also switch on the fly, which means, you can sync up to three devices at a time. I had my synced to my iPhone and to my Macbook Pro, though you must turn off the first device and turn on the second or third device to sync up. The Z9 is very light, and comes with a noted time of 5.5 hours talk and 200hrs standby time. Honestly your iPhone will have to be charged a dozen times before this headset battery goes out. Z9 also comes with a USB connection for charging and as a wall adapter, and two ear hooks, incase you break one. You can also get a firmware upgrade via the USB for the Z9. I’ve included a video on the bottom for you viewers to see the size of the Z9 and everything that comes in the BlueAnt Z9 Box.

Features
Using the Z9, now first off I must say their is a learning curve. You really need to check out the instruction booklet first as well they give you a wallet pocket card which is a great idea, and will come in handy. The Z9 has three buttons the MFB (Multi Function Button), and volume up and down. Now with these three buttons pushed in certain orders gives you certain functions. So for example if I want to switch to my Macbook Pro from my iPhone. I turn off the Bluetooth iPhone, and then I hold the volume + and - and then two clicks of the MFB which is my second paired device and now I am hooked up to my Macbook Pro. I used the Z9 as well for Skype and for iChat audio. For most people using the Z9 you are going to be using the same features over and over, and you will learn very quickly that the Z9 doesn’t have any glitches I found for any of the functions that are included on the Z9

Build and Sound Quality
The Z9 quality is built very well. From using it on my ear, for a quite a while, and well dropping it once or twice, the Z9 never quit. For my ear it was comfortable and I have small ears, but you do need to take a headset off now and again to protect those ears and your hearing. I really did enjoy the clip that is crafted into the Z9. I really wouldn’t want this headset in my pocket with change and keys and I don’t’ know what else is in there to possible break the headset. Plus with the clip, you have easy access when a call comes in on the iPhone. When a call does come in the sound does come from the iPhone headset which I like, as well as the headset. So you really won’t miss a call. O.k. so how is the sound on the Z9, I called tons of people probably too many, but that is o.k. First off we all have different hearing levels and hearing issues and sensitivity to sound. With myself I though the Z9 was loud at times and needed to lower it. Now some people that I called could not tell I was on a headset, and other could tell instantly. This could be from calling land lines or cell phones or even a bad cell phone area. I know when ever I called somebody on my iPhone with my Z9 it was clear, as long as I was close enough to my iPhone. The sound isolating part worked for some and for other they could not tell the difference. I used my stereo and my T.V to try to have the caller see if they could tell the difference with the Voice Isolation on and off. Though no caller I talked ever said “Hey I can’t hear you at all take that thing off your head” I really think for people who’s hearing is not so good, this is a great headset, and as well even for those with good hearing. Earlier I had mentioned that i was able to pair up with my Macbook Pro. I enjoy a device that can do more than one task.

I used the Z9 with Skype and iChat. I really think that the Macbook Pro was the device that gave me some problems. The sound quality with using iChat was great and worked very well, but with Skype not so much. It could have been Skype or the computer. The sound while I was testing with Skype and the Z9 turned into a robot sound for some reason it was rather strange. I tried several variations with the Macbook Pro, and I concluded that I think it could have been that Apple’s bluetooth on the Macbook Pro really is not up to par with the Z9 headset. It will work, but it may not be up to some people’s standards. This device worked much better on my iPhone which for most people they are going to use it for to connect to there phone first, and other devices second.

Video Review

In conclusion on any Bluetooth headset I am going to review I will say this. We all have different ears and hearing, and comfortably factors when it comes with headsets. For some a twenty dollar Bluetooth headset may fit and sound perfect, and for others they may need and want to spend the extra money for something great. My one suggestion always will be to try and a find a store to check it out first or find a friend who may have the headset.

With that said for myself I enjoyed the Z9 greatly. It sounded loud enough and clear enough it was easy to use after a little learning curve, and ease of use with pairing devices was painless. As well the unit always worked it never unpaired or got so uncomfortable that did I did want to use it. Headsets are getting better and clearer each day and Z9 is an example of the future of what headsets are going towards. Thank you to BlueAnt for the sample and letting me test ride your Z9 headset.

Visit BlueAntz9.com to purchase at $99.95 USD, which comes with a 2 year warrantee.

[Source: http://www.iphoneworld.ca]