Jabra C820s
Manufacturer: Jabra Part number: C820
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- For about a third of the price, Jabra's C820s noise-canceling headphones deliver much of what the Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones offer.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Jabra C820s price range: $149.99
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Reviewed on: 10/06/2006
- Released on: 09/01/2006
The good: Clearly modeled after Bose's popular QuietComfort 2 noise-canceling headphones, Jabra's much more affordable C820s headphones are comfortable to wear, offer decent sound, and have effective noise-canceling circuitry, and they fold up for compact storage in their included carrying case--just like the Bose headphones.
The bad: They don't sound or feel quite as good as the QuietComfort 2.
The bottom line: For about a third of the price, Jabra's C820s noise-canceling headphones deliver much of what the Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones offer.
Like the QuietComfort 2s, the C820s headphones feature an over-the-ear (circumaural) design and soft, cushioned earpieces that effectively seal off your ears from a noisy environment. The Jabra headphones offer the same fold-flat design of the QuietComfort 2 and have noise-canceling circuitry that's built into the headphones themselves, rather than having a little box incorporated into the cord. They also come with a protective carrying case and a two-prong adapter for plane travel, as well as an extra bit of cord that extends the length of the headphones' cord. That main cord is detachable from the headphones, so you can use the headphones to simply hush noise (say, while you're riding on your lawnmower) without the hassle of dangling cables.
The long and short of it is that these two headphones are very similar. But here's the deal: the Jabra headphones just aren't quite as good. They're comfortable headphones, but not quite as comfortable as the QuietComfort 2. Their noise cancelation is effective, but it's a tad less effective than that of the QuietComfort 2. They sound good--but, again, not quite as good as the QuietComfort 2.
Now, the QuietComfort 2 aren't the best-sounding headphones we've heard, especially at their lofty $300 price, but they do sound richer and more refined than the Jabra headphones and their bass packs more oomph. Jabra's bass is decent enough, but on bass-heavy tracks, such as Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot," you can really sense that the Bose's bass is fuller and a little tighter.
That said, the one thing you can do with the Jabra that you can't with the Bose is listen to music and movies when the noise cancelation is turned off (or when the AAA battery that powers the noise cancelation dies). The sound is definitely a little muffled when the noise cancelation is off (when you turn it on, the volume is automatically boosted), but we were able to watch--and listen to--an episode of The Office on our video iPod without any trouble.
What's it all add up to? Well, despite failing to measure up to the model it chooses to imitate, the C820s gets most of the way there for a fraction of the cost. In other words, if you're looking for the poor man's Bose, this is it.
User reviews
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Worth The Money and Does The Job
by regulator1956 on October 27, 2006
Pros: Comfortable, blocks background noise fairly well, fits my head well.
Cons: Barely blocks sound when music is between songs or on a low section.
Summary: I work in an office with 3 people. Too much conversation - software development discussions.
I needed something to quiet the environment and I couldn't find the Get Smart "...Summary: I work in an office with 3 people. Too much conversation - software development discussions.
I needed something to quiet the environment and I couldn't find the Get Smart "Cone Of Silence" on eBay.
These headphones do a pretty good job of quieting. I play soft rock or jazz. As long as there's music, I don't hear any conversations unless someone is loud. I don't hear myself typing.
I have a big head and these are very comfortable for an hour or two at a time. The case is nice. I keep my notebook in a docking port off to the side of my desk, so the included 5" cord is a bit short, so I bought an extension at RS.
The plastic part of the plug connector of the included cords slides into the hole on the left side, so you can't use a 3rd party cord unless it's skinny or you can tirm it down with a razor blade or sandpaper. Not a big deal unless you break a cord and want a replacement.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Sound, Great Price
by Japsican on June 3, 2007
Pros: Effectively blocks outside noise in noisy environments such as airplanes and clubs
Cons: Not Bluetooth, can't connect to iPod wirelessly
Summary: These are great, I use them when I want to block out the rest of the world and just enjoy some music. They great travel case make it easy to ...
Summary: These are great, I use them when I want to block out the rest of the world and just enjoy some music. They great travel case make it easy to transport and I like the various adapters. My kids can even use when practicing the piano so they are distracted by the tv.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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what a shame
by whodathunk on November 4, 2009
Pros: Good sound and noise reduction when new
Cons: Plastic quality inferior and customer support offered no, well Support
Summary: I received this head set last year for Christmas. I loved the product when received, good sound and noise reduction ability. It became a must have for any travelling I ...
Summary: I received this head set last year for Christmas. I loved the product when received, good sound and noise reduction ability. It became a must have for any travelling I did. After 8 months of using on approximately 6 trips the plastic of the headband started to splinter. It is now at the point of being usable. I contacted Jabra with this issue and I was told they would do nothing about this issue without proof of purchase. I had allows thought of Jabra as a premium brand name and would expect more from a premium brand. I refuse to go to the gift giver and ask for proof of purchase, this I find to be very unpolite. This experience has change my opinion of this brand forever. Should a manufacturer not cover the quality of thier product regardless of where it is purchased or how much was paid for it. I for one, think a premium manufacturer would care that thier products are not holding up to regular use. Consider this when evluating the purchase of Jabra or any other manufacturers products.
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Wouldn't buy again
by robanner on April 21, 2009
Pros: Fine as long as they worked
Cons: Died after 4 months of occasional use.
Summary: Waste of money, wouldn't buy this brand again.
Summary: Waste of money, wouldn't buy this brand again.
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tad bulky but comfortable, effective
by edmetric on March 8, 2009
Pros: very comfortable over ear even with glasses and cap, case holds extra battery and plugs along with other gear
Cons: special narrow cable plug - lose it and you're screwed, pull the headset down to your neck to talk to someone and they are pretty bulky, in contrast ear-canal types are easy to remove
Summary: The generous case size allows me to store a microphone headset for Skype wifi PLUS an extra long extension cable and extra battery. When traveling I don't sleep on ...
Summary: The generous case size allows me to store a microphone headset for Skype wifi PLUS an extra long extension cable and extra battery. When traveling I don't sleep on the same schedule as the family so I use a lot of TV or computer or iPod time. This headset keeps the disturbance down and are comfortable. Train and plane equipment background noise is effectively muted/decreased while announcements can still be heard. The headphones can be used to block noise even when not connected to gear which is not something my ear-canal iPod headphones can do. For short trips or light carry, the ear-canal headphones block all external noise.
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good head phone for the price
by rarebadung on December 2, 2008
Pros: cheap price tag, good quality of noise cancelling as well as the sounds that it produces
Cons: bulky, and the cheap plastic are easily broken. had it less than a year now, but i 've glued it a couple of times to prevent it from falling apart. very disappointed in this part. hissing sound when in low volume if you turn the noise cancelling on
Summary: it is a OK head phone, for the price. i think i will look for other head phone next time.
Summary: it is a OK head phone, for the price. i think i will look for other head phone next time.
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Works well
by dmilina on September 23, 2008
Pros: Sounds surprisingly good. Much better than the in ear Shure buds I got recently. Bass extension particularly good and noise cancelling works well on steady state background noise.
Cons: Case kinda bulky to carry around or on aircraft, but nose cancelling phones apparently have become some knid of status symbol in airports judging by the numbers of folks with them around their necks when catching a connecting flight.
Summary: Good deal for $39. Watch the off price places.
Summary: Good deal for $39. Watch the off price places.
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Sound great, but don't hold up well
by geeman1082 on July 26, 2008
Pros: Good sound ... comfortable to wear ... affordable
Cons: Did not hold up well to repeated use
Summary: Bought these for my wife about 8 months ago so she could listen to her mp3 player at work ... she wanted the noise canceling because she works in a cube ...
Summary: Bought these for my wife about 8 months ago so she could listen to her mp3 player at work ... she wanted the noise canceling because she works in a cube farm, and these do a decent job of reducing the background noise ... however, the plastic pieces between the head band and the ear cups have since broken in three places ... they are currently being held together with glass banding tape ... she uses them perhaps 2-3 days per week, she has not handled them roughly, and she always stores them in the case when not in use ... therefore, I would not recommend them to someone who plans to use them often. We are in the process of seeing how well the company will stand behind their one year warranty ...
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Must-have item for frequent fliers!
by FOS2007 on June 1, 2008
Pros: Works as described, comfortable when situated right
Cons: Had one time where there was some pressure points due to not being positioned correctly.
Summary: After having flown to 5 different cities in the last 6 weeks, these headphones were a lifesaver and definitely worth their price. I don't know how the would've ...
Summary: After having flown to 5 different cities in the last 6 weeks, these headphones were a lifesaver and definitely worth their price. I don't know how the would've compared to the much more expensive Bose, but when I turned the unit on and off, I could definitely tell a difference. If you fly a lot, you definitely have to get these headphones!
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Value for price
by bigfix007 on March 5, 2008
Pros: Long battery life
Cons: None worth mentioning
Summary: Comes with all plugs needed and a long lead in a nice semi hard case.
I've been using mine at the gym for a long time now. Very comfortable. ...Summary: Comes with all plugs needed and a long lead in a nice semi hard case.
I've been using mine at the gym for a long time now. Very comfortable. While not audiophile quality these still sound very good for the price.
Noise cancelling is also pretty good for the price.
Overall very pleased with these headphones.
I recommend trying these before you shell out big bucks for the likes of Bose etc.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Jabra
- Part number: C820
- Description: The Jabra C820s stereo music headphones are specially designed for music lovers who want to make the most of their music wherever they are. The Jabra C820s are high performance headphones that deliver full-range, compensated sound through high quality speakers - guaranteeing premium audio, straight from your mobile phone or other music source.
General
- Recommended Use The noise canceling feature blocks the din on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport. Active noise canceling technology makes these circumaural headphones ideal for commuting and air travel.
- Product Type Headphones
- Width 6.4 in
- Depth 3.1 in
- Height 6.9 in
- Weight 7.1 oz
- Additional Features Foldable
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Ear-cup
- Headphones Technology Dynamic
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Active Noise Canceling Yes
- Response Bandwidth 20 - 22000 Hz
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio 22 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 1.0 %
- Impedance 64 Ohm
- Diaphragm 1.6 in
- Magnet Material Neodymium
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Audio cable - External - 5 ft, 1 x Audio cable - External - 1 ft
- Included Accessories Carrying case, Airplane adapter, Connector coupler, 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter
Power
- Power Device None
- Battery 1 x Headphone battery - AAA type
Manufacturer info
- Jabra
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Jabra products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.jabra.com
- Address:
77 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, NH 03062 - Phone: (603) 598-1100
- Fax: 603- 598-1122
