RadTech Introduces Ultra Compact Bluetooth Headset

Posted April 11th, 2007 by Shawn

Sponsor News

From MacObserver

RadTech announced the immediate availability of the BT400GL in-ear Bluetooth headset on Wednesday.The ultra-compact headset weighs 8.5 grams, includes DSP noise suppression, 350 hours of standby time, and over 15 hours of talk time, includes three different sized ear pieces, and a portable charger/cradle with a vibrating alert. In addition to working with Bluetooth enabled phones, it also pairs with Bluetooth capable Macs and works with audio chat applications like Skype and iChat.

Click here to read more "RadTech Introduces Ultra Compact Bluetooth Headset"

BT Headsets

On April 11th, 2007 pbGuy says:

I work for a headset distributor; so, I'm very knowledgeable about BT headsets. Most BT headsets are pretty good, but an easily overlooked & needed feature (IMHO) is noise cancellation. [Digital Signal Processing does not provide noice cancellation; DSP cleans up the audio signal heard in the BT HS ear piece.]

Most BT headsets do not provide noise cancellation due to headset compactness. Compactness presents 2 obstacles: 1) small form factor, in which it's difficult to engineer the noise cancel components, and 2) greater distance between mic & mouth, making noise cancellation less effective even if HS had the feature (meaning, at greater distances the noise cancel feature would be also begin to cancel one's own voice). ...You'll notice at sporting events, announcers use headset mics that are positioned right at the corner of their mouth, which permits very good, background noise cancellation.

I mention all this as most professionals, who use BT cell phones & BT headsets, don't give greater consideration to this issue since very few tech reviewers ever mention it in their reviews. [And if a manufacturer does not list noise cancel as a product's feature, it is not there.] Additionally IMHO, listening to a cell phone caller, when one's hearing a lot of their background noise, is not very conducive to a productive or enjoyable call. [While I really like my BT headset, and use it every day, it does not provide as robust noise cancellation as I would like, and I've told the manufacturer about it on many occasion.]

So, when you're considering a BT headset, think about noise cancellation. IMHO, BT headsdets should always have robust noise cancellation, even if the form factor has to be larger. As result, smaller is not always better. And, if more users demand noise cancellation in BT headsts, manufacturers will provide it. ...Build it & they will come.