Earset2 Listening Test and Conclusion
While comfort is a huge factor, how the unit sounds is just as important. Bang & Olufsen has gone to great lengths to ensure that voices sound as natural as possible. I found that this is, for the most part, achieved. My wife and most of my friends all had a very clear and natural sound. Much more so than the cell phone I was using the EarSet 2 with. The only time I noticed a problem was with low male voices. My father, who has a very low voice, tended to sound a bit attenuated and flat. For everyone else, they sounded very good.
The directional mics are used to cancel out wind noise and ambient noise. I tested this ability in the car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I turned the AC on high and pointed the vent toward my face. When facing the vent, the wind noise was very noticeable on the other end of the line when the AC was on high but only one notch down and it was almost all removed. When I faced away from the vent (so that the unit should be getting the wind noise at both mics simultaneously), the noise was slightly better than head on but most noticeably so at the notch down from high.
One thing to remember is that the EarSet 2 will be limited by the functionality and quality of your cell phone. I found that I would hear static on the EarSet 2 if my cell phone was in my left pocket (as opposed to the right). When the cell was out of my pockets, I got fairly good reception as long as there wasn’t too many obstacles in the way. I believe this had more to do with LG VX5300 cell I was using rather than any fault of the Ear Set 2.
Conclusions and Overall Perceptions
Form and function. The Bang & Olufsen has got form in spades. I love the looks of this thing. The more I look at it, the more I like it. Now, it does resemble a borg accessory when worn, but it definitely turns heads. It isn’t the most comfortable and it can only be worn in one ear. It costs 3-10 times most everything else on the market but that comes part and parcel with the Bang & Olufsen name. If you like the looks and don’t plan on wearing the unit for extended periods of time, this might be the Bluetooth headset for you.
Bang &
Olufsen
780 West Dundee Road
Arlington Heights,
Illinois
60004, U.S.A
Phone: 847 590 4941
The Score Card
The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:
Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.
Audioholics Rating Scale
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