Aliph Jawbone 2 (black)
Manufacturer: AliphCom Part number: CNETALIPHJAWBONE2BLK
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Despite its quirks, the Aliph Jawbone 2 is quite possibly the ultimate Bluetooth headset in terms of design and sound quality.
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CNET editors' review
Aliph Jawbone 2 (black) price range: $74.49 - $74.99
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 05/14/2008
- Released on: 05/15/2008
The good: The Aliph Jawbone 2 is a fashionable Bluetooth headset with a comfortable fit and an array of noise-canceling and voice-enhancement technologies that result in amazing sound quality.
The bad: The Aliph Jawbone 2 doesn't have a volume rocker, and the LED light is located directly on top of the Talk button.
The bottom line: Despite its quirks, the Aliph Jawbone 2 is quite possibly the ultimate Bluetooth headset in terms of design and sound quality.
When Aliph released the first Jawbone Bluetooth headset two years ago, it became CNET's highest rated Bluetooth headset because of its amazing sound quality and eye-catching design. Many of our readers agreed with our assessment, but there were two big complaints against it: it is bulkier than most headsets out there, and it has an unusual ear hook that made the Jawbone difficult to position correctly. Well, Aliph has listened, because the new Aliph Jawbone 2 has laid those negatives to rest. Not only is it smaller and lighter, the Jawbone 2 also has a simpler ear hook design and a fancy new look that leaves its predecessor in the dust. Its noise-canceling technology has even been upgraded from the "Noise Shield" to the "Noise Assassin," which promises to be more aggressive in canceling out ambient noise. Aliph claims that this Noise Assassin technology has been tested by the military and approved by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the U.S. Department of Defense's independent research branch. The Jawbone 2 is not cheap--it will retail for $129.99--but if you wish to get the ultimate in Bluetooth headsets, it is definitely worth it. The Jawbone 2 is available in black and rose gold.
Like the first Jawbone, the Aliph Jawbone 2 was designed by renowned industrial designer Yves Behar, and it shows. Instead of the perforated front of its predecessor, the Jawbone 2 has a beveled diamond pattern all along the front, which results in a three-dimensional texture that glides smoothly under our fingers. The big difference from its predecessor, however, is its size. The Jawbone 2 is almost 50 percent smaller than the original, measuring 2 inches long by 0.5 inch wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighing 0.35 ounce.
At first glance, it may appear there are no buttons on the Jawbone 2. But though you cannot see the controls, you can feel them--there's the Talk button on the front of the headset, while Aliph's patented Noise Assassin button is on the top. On top of the Talk button is a very slim sliver of an LED light, which glows white when the headset is powered on. You also have the option to turn the LED off completely. Though these hidden buttons result in a streamlined design, we did think it would be better to have a more obvious Talk button instead of having to feel around for it. Also, since the LED light is directly on top of the Talk button, it makes it difficult to press the button and see the light at the same time.
We should note that there's no real volume rocker since the Jawbone 2 is configured to adjust the volume automatically according to the environment, thanks to its Noise Assassin technology. If you wish to turn the Noise Assassin off, you can do so by hitting the Noise Assassin button. And then if you wish to adjust the volume manually, the Noise Assassin button also acts as a singular volume control, meaning you have to cycle through different volume levels to get to the right volume. All that said, we would've preferred a volume rocker anyway, for ease of use.
Turn the headset around and you'll find a rubber earpiece, an optional ear hook, and a tiny white rubber nub that acts as the Voice Activity Sensor. In order for the voice-amplification technology to work, you must wear the headset so that the sensor lies against your cheek, allowing it to detect the vibration of your voice. Unlike the first Jawbone, the ear hook is completely optional. You can choose to wear the headset with or without it, since the earpiece fits more securely in the ear. Aliph also packages a few different size earpiece covers plus different ear hooks for a better fit. As a bonus, some of the ear hooks are made from real leather. We found the fit to be a lot more comfortable than the first--we could wear it very easily, and positioning the voice-activity sensor was easy to do, as well. Since the ear hooks are so flexible and thin, they can also be used when wearing eyeglasses.
Looks and fit aside, the most important reason to get the Jawbone 2 lies in its superior noise-canceling technology. It comes with a dual microphone array that helps to reduce wind noise, a technology that protects your ear against unexpected loud noises, and the aforementioned voice-activity sensor and Noise Assassin technology that helps to amplify your voice and drown out ambient sound. We tested this with the RIM BlackBerry Pearl in a number of environments: in a crowded restaurant, in a car, and outside on a windy day. The results were definitely impressive. Our callers could hear us loud and clear in all the situations. They did report some minor clicking and shuffling in the background, but it wasn't anything significant. In one particularly windy area, our callers didn't even realize we were outside. Similarly, we could hear them without any problems. We then compared the sound quality of the phone without the aid of the headset, and we were surprised to note that the sound quality was much improved with the headset than without.
The Jawbone 2 has a rated talk time of 4 hours and rated standby time of more than eight days. Some other features include voice command support, call waiting support, and a low-battery status indicator. It also comes with a magnetic charging base.
User reviews
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Great for iPhone!! One Complaint.
by computergeek1971 on May 22, 2008
Pros: Small; light; great sound quality; great fit
Cons: Makes a crunchy noise when pushing the talk button
Summary: I have owned 10 different Bluetooth headsets over the years. This is the best one I have used so far. I also owned the original jawbone headset, but this is ...
Summary: I have owned 10 different Bluetooth headsets over the years. This is the best one I have used so far. I also owned the original jawbone headset, but this is much improved.
The original jawbone was horrible when outside with ANY wind. This one has improved wind noise with a dual microphone system. The original was also huge compared to this one and heavier.
The worst thing about the original one was the earpiece. The only way I got the original jawbone to fit was by superglueing an "ear gel" on the headset and removing the hook. The Jawbone 2 fits perfect with the original earpiece. You don't even need to use the hook it fits so well and is so light.
The sound is very loud on this headset. I keep the volume turned all the way down on most calls. People on the other end hear me very well even though I am a ?low talker?.
The Jawbone 2 syncs up with the iPhone more quickly than the original or other headsets I have used. It also keeps a lock when near my radioactive microwave.
I only have one complaint about the Jawbone 2. When you push the talk button (or anywhere near it) it makes a cheap crunchy sound. It is almost as if the top plastic piece is not properly attached. I just got off the phone with customer service at Jawbone and the representative advised me this is normal and it makes the same crunchy sound on his Jawbone 2. He advised it may get better over time, but I kinda doubt that. The original Jawbone had a clean precise click when you pushed the talk button while you are left uncertain if you pushed the button or not on the Jawbone 2.
I ordered mine directly from Jawbone and it shipped out the same day. The packaging is very elaborate and over the top. I would rather get a plan white box and shave $10 off the cost. Happy bluetoothing!!50 out of 51 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not perfect, but not even close to being as bad as the other reviews for this piece
by kfitze on May 19, 2008
Pros: Volume, Clarity, Style
Cons: On/Off and Volume Toggle Switch, Price
Summary: This is the first bluetooth I have had that dosen't make me sound like I am in a tunnel. It fits well in my ear and I have had ...
Summary: This is the first bluetooth I have had that dosen't make me sound like I am in a tunnel. It fits well in my ear and I have had no issues. Most can't even tell I am using a bluetooth device. Hell my wife even said it sounded clear, that says alot!! Don't understand what the other reviewers dislike so much. Nothings perfect, but I am very happy with mine!!
12 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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GREAT Audio quality, soar earbud
by Gluv4u2 on June 13, 2008
Pros: The best noise cancelation feature in a bluetooth. When I drive with the windows down on the highway, people can barely tell (in most cases) that the window noise is there. Nice fit, beautiful look.
Cons: Only problem I have is that the ear bud hurts my ear after about 20-30mins of usage.
Summary: Overall this things rocks, its beautiful, small, easy to use. Nobody can tell im on a bluetooth. Nobody can tell the noise thats going on around me. The earbud is ...
Summary: Overall this things rocks, its beautiful, small, easy to use. Nobody can tell im on a bluetooth. Nobody can tell the noise thats going on around me. The earbud is the only flaw. The harder silicon bud isn't soft enough for my ears sensitivity. Some may say it doesn't hurt them at all, but it does hurt me after about 30mins. The only thing I would replace is the earbud with some kind of memory foam, or foam cushion. I'd recommend this to everyone.
9 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Impressive functions
by TheeBadOne on June 18, 2008
Pros: Small, light, great sound
Cons: Need to tweak fit so "tube" is touching cheek.
Summary: I think some of the low reviewers just don't know what they're doing with this headset. Noise Assassin is on by default, and you must wear it so ...
Summary: I think some of the low reviewers just don't know what they're doing with this headset. Noise Assassin is on by default, and you must wear it so the clear tube is touching your cheek. If you don't, the quality of the call will be terrible on the other end (they will have a hard time hearing you). When I used the attached ear piece I had a hard time keeping the tube in contact with my jaw. I switched ear buds, but nothing seemed to work, it kept losing contact with my cheek. Then I tried switching ear loops, and BINGO, it worked like a charm, tube in constant contact with my cheek and no problems. This thing is worth the attention, and $$$ it commands.
8 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Cool look, dissapointing sound
by Triphop13 on May 25, 2008
Pros: Style, outgoing call quality
Cons: Fit, incoming call quality
Summary: I just purchased my Jawbone 2 yesterday and I'm struggling with incoming call quality. It lacks bass range and sounds tinny. I appreciate the technology to make my voice ...
Summary: I just purchased my Jawbone 2 yesterday and I'm struggling with incoming call quality. It lacks bass range and sounds tinny. I appreciate the technology to make my voice more clear to people I'm speaking with, but equally as important to me to be able to hear what they are saying. Also, directions state the unit needs to touch my face to work properly, but I'm struggling to keep the sensor in contact with my cheek. I like the style, the ability to wear it without the ear loop and the fact that it is light weight. But, I expect more from a product that costs $129 (more than the cost of many phones!) and don't believe I've received value for the price. I'm giving it another week or so but anticipate I'll be taking it back and trying a different product with better incoming sound quality.
6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Idea, but lousy fit
by guero62 on July 12, 2008
Pros: Cuts out background noise well.
Cons: Wont stay on, in or even around your ear.
Summary: Ive had the Plantronics 655 which I have liked for the fact it fits in your ear without a hook and never falls out. The sound quality is great except ...
Summary: Ive had the Plantronics 655 which I have liked for the fact it fits in your ear without a hook and never falls out. The sound quality is great except sometimes when Im driving a noisey vehicle at work the other person cant hear me. In my car or anywhere else it works great. I was hoping that the Jawbone 2 would be the one that solved the one problem I was having, since it has all the military tested claims etc. It does work better when Im in a noisy vehicle. The person Im calling can hear me better. Other than that it fails when compared to the Plantronics. The fit is terrible! Makes it unusable. Unless you are sitting at a desk, not moving around at all, being perfectly still this earpiece is going to be flopping around on your ear, falling off or just irritating you. The sound quality is bad. You can hear the person calling very well and they can hear you very well but it is a very mechanical, tinny sound. You will not be able to recognize someone by their voice at all. You can completely understand them and hear them clearly, but its like talking to a computer generated voice. If Plantronics and Jawbone 2 could get together, Im sure between the two of them they could come up with the perfect headset.
6 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love the concept, hate the piece
by cdstrong on June 13, 2008
Pros: Size and weight
Cons: Sound quality, comfort, button layout
Summary: I finally decided to bite the bullet and invest in what I thought was a high quality BT headset. I was excited that this would be "the one". Out of ...
Summary: I finally decided to bite the bullet and invest in what I thought was a high quality BT headset. I was excited that this would be "the one". Out of the impressive package I was pleased with the look, the size and the ease of pairing. Once I started using it though I was very disappointed.
1st issue is comfort. Maybe it's my ear, but I could not comfortably wear this piece for more than an hour. My ear must be on the small size as I could never get it to fit properly no matter which gel I used. I always wanted to push it in and whenever I did that I would end of hanging up on the person I was talking to.
2nd issue is sound quality. People I was talking to often complained about quality, skips and drops.
3rd issue is listening sound quality. I've talked on a soup can and string and heard better quality. Everybody sounded tinny and distant. I couldn't find a volume level that worked.
4th issue is stand by mode. If the headset wasn't used for some set amount of time it would go into a stand by mode that required me to turn it back on. This was more than a little frustrating when you are trying to answer a call.
On a positive note though the headset paired with my Iphone without even blinking and I never really had an issue with that part.
All in all I have to say that I was very disappointed in this head set. I really wanted it to work because I love the concept, but I ended up returning it to AT&T after 3 weeks of trying.6 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very good, but touchy
by mar357chen on October 13, 2008
Pros: Good call quality when attached correctly. Noise cancellation works.
Cons: Pricey. Definitely needs some sort of hard case. Having the entire face as a button is not the best idea. If you put the headset in a pocket, you will turn it on/off accidentally. Also, too easy to "disconnect" when adjusting positioning.
Summary: Nice unit but could be have better ergo's to help eliminate accidental button activation. Could also use stronger ear hooks and better fit of rubber earpiece.
Summary: Nice unit but could be have better ergo's to help eliminate accidental button activation. Could also use stronger ear hooks and better fit of rubber earpiece.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Would be higher except for fit...
by SeaDogStat on August 25, 2008
Pros: Featherlight weight, appearance and Voice Activity Sensor (instead of a traditional microphone)
Cons: Fit, fit, fit....The poor fit impacts the sound quality you hear and can impact the Voice Activity Sensor if not flush against your cheek.
Summary: Like a lot of people, I love the Jawbone2, but have difficulty with the comfortableness of the earpiece and ear loop. It simply did/does not feel secure.
So I ...Summary: Like a lot of people, I love the Jawbone2, but have difficulty with the comfortableness of the earpiece and ear loop. It simply did/does not feel secure.
So I did a search and found this website thru a posting on another forum and have placed an order thru this company for a custom made earpiece made specifically to fit the contours of my ear and to fit onto the Jawbone2.
Here is the website for those interested:
http://www.averysound.com/as.jawboneII.html3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Another Jawbone failure
by crudis01 on July 1, 2008
Pros: Lighter, smaller than old Jawbone
Cons: Sound quality horrific on both ends.
Summary: Once again CNet praises the qualities of Aliph, and once again I must assume drinking on the job led to such a glowing review.
I'll start with the nice ...Summary: Once again CNet praises the qualities of Aliph, and once again I must assume drinking on the job led to such a glowing review.
I'll start with the nice things since they are so few. The new jawbone is light and looks sharp. OK, that's out of the way.
I have purchased and used 22 Bluetooth headsets in my time on this earth. If I don't like them, I return them. I typically get them at a box store to ease return, and if I do like them, return them to purchase online or someplace to save a buck.
I was looking for something lighter to supplement my Plantronics 510, my ever ready workhorse. I saw the review, and although my previous Jawbone experience proved they don't work well, thought I'd try to see if they really improved. I tried the headset with my LG Voyager, LG 8300, wife's Blackberry Curve, and on my friend's try on their iSheep, er Phone.
Incoming sound quality was best on the LG's, the iPhone and Blackberry def had issues if you didn't keep the phone out of your pocket and pretty much in short line of sight of the headset. Quality was subpar, and volume was not loud enough in all cases.
Outgoing call quality was AWFUL on all the phones, You can't use the headset properly around ANY noise, without the filters making you sound like a crazed stutterer. Even in quiet environments, voice quality was tinny and call recipients said I sounded like I was talking to them from behind a wet sponge.
With the cost of this model, I cannot recommend this to anyone. People touting its powers either have never used a good bluetooth, or are lying because they think wasting money on a useless trendy product equates to a status symbol. I tried this on way too many different phones for it to be linked to hardware type.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: AliphCom
- Part number: CNETALIPHJAWBONE2BLK
- Description: The New Jawbone is the next step in the integration of best in class noise elimination technology with personal design that is both humanistic and minimal. In the tradition of bringing together beauty and science, the New Jawbone is a miracle of miniaturization and 50% smaller than the original award-winning Jawbone. Every effort has been made to contain best in class noise elimination technology in the most unassuming, yet richly detailed product.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth
- Available Body Colors Black, silver, gold
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Additional Features Built-in DSP, Voice activated
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
- Headphones Form Factor Over-the-ear
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth
- Active Noise Canceling Yes
Microphone
- Type Built-in
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included USB charge cable
- Included Accessories Ear-buds, 4 ear loops
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Product series
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Manufacturer: AliphCom
Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Over-the-ear, Silver, Built-in DSP, Voice activated
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Manufacturer: AliphCom
Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Over-the-ear, Built-in DSP, Voice activated, 1 year Limited warranty
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Manufacturer: AliphCom
Specs:
Manufacturer info
- AliphCom
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse AliphCom products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.jawbone.com
- Address:
8000 Marina Boulevard, Brisbane, CA 94005
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