Drop, charge, and lose the cordsJabra BT8040
Manufacturer: Jabra Part number: 100-98040000-02
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Jabra BT8040 is a compact yet powerful Bluetooth headset that offers more than enough features for the mobile professional at an affordable price.
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Where to buy
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| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/02/2009 |
 | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 12/02/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Jabra BT8040 price range: $47.95 - $54.95
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 02/15/2008
- Released on: 01/01/2008
The good: The Jabra BT8040 is a small Bluetooth headset that is packed with features such as MultiPoint technology (the ability to connect to two different devices simultaneously), A2DP for streaming music wirelessly, plus an intelligent noise reduction and volume equalization technology that offers great sound quality.
The bad: The Jabra BT8040 may take awhile to fit properly in the ear.
The bottom line: The Jabra BT8040 is a compact yet powerful Bluetooth headset that offers more than enough features for the mobile professional at an affordable price.
Jabra is a significant brand name in the Bluetooth headset business, but that doesn't mean Jabra is resting on its laurels. The company has recently introduced the Jabra BT8040, which promises to blow other Bluetooth headsets out of the water with its simple, yet elegant design along with its impressive host of features. They include the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, volume equalization technology, along with an acoustic shock protection that protects the ear from sudden loud noises. But probably the most interesting feature is that it is also the first mono Bluetooth headset we know of that actually supports A2DP for wireless music streaming (Most current A2DP devices are either stereo headsets or speakers). The BT8040 also offers tremendous bang for your buck--it's surprisingly affordable at only $79.99.
The Jabra BT8040 doesn't look very flashy, but we still liked its design. Wrapped in matte black with streaks of silver, the BT8040's look has a tinge of high art combined with a touch of corporate sensibility. Measuring 2.54 inches long by 0.71 inches wide by 0.47 inches deep, the BT8040 has smooth tapered sides and slightly curved edges on the top and bottom. A small dimpled circle in the middle acts as the multifunction call button, while two raised slivers on the top left and right act as the volume controls. We found the multifunction button easy to press, even when the headset is worn. The volume controls felt a bit stiffer, but they are easy to press as well. A small LED indicator sits on top of the volume controls.
Flip the headset over and you'll find an ear tip made up of a gel-like substance. Jabra calls this the comfort Ear Gel tip, and it's designed to fit comfortably in the ear without the need for an ear hook or ear loop. Though we're normally not fans of the ear tip design because of fit issues, the BT8040 comes with three different-size ear tip covers for different-size ears. However, the headset still requires a bit of an adjustment period when we were first putting it on--it's not the sort of headset we could just put in our ear and go.
Unlike most other headsets, the BT8040 really shines when it comes to features. Probably the most interesting feature is that it is the only mono Bluetooth headset we know of that actually supports A2DP, meaning that it can stream music wirelessly. Most A2DP devices on the market today are stereo Bluetooth headsets or portable speakers. The question then becomes: Why would you want to listen to music with a mono headset, when you can listen to it with a stereo headset? The answer lies perhaps in the purpose of the BT8040--streaming music isn't its primary role, it's simply a bonus for those who want to listen to a bit of music while doing other things, like waiting in line at a cash register. More serious audiophiles would probably opt for the stereo headset, while the casual fan might opt for something like the BT8040 instead.
Aside from the A2DP support, the BT8040 has MultiPoint technology, which not only lets you pair up to 8 devices, but it also lets you connect to two of them simultaneously. Therefore you can use the same headset with two cell phones at the same time if you so choose. It also has an intelligent call handling feature that interrupts music when there's an incoming call. Other features include answering, ending, and rejecting calls; auto pairing; voice command support; last number redial; mute; a quiet mode; call hold/call wait support; plus a low battery status indicator.
We paired the Jabra BT8040 with the RIM BlackBerry Pearl and the Helio Mysto. Pairing process was smooth with both phones, taking less than a minute with each. Call quality was excellent--nearly zero echoes were heard, and callers reported a smooth and clear sound from our end. We also heard our callers very well, with plenty of volume without it being too loud. This might be because of the number of audio-enhancing technologies the BT8040 has, such as Active Noise Reduction, Intelligent Volume Settings (equalizes the audio volume), and Acoustic Shock Protection, which protects the ear from a sudden loud spike in volume. Even though we did get a tiny bit of static occasionally, and it didn't block out a lot of background noise, the overall call quality was great.
As we mentioned above, the BT8040 also streams music wirelessly. Since it's a mono headset, we couldn't get a full stereo listening experience, and the music quality was predictably lack luster. But it did stream music when we wanted it, and that's all we expected from it.
The Jabra BT8040 has a rated battery life of 6 hours of talk time and 8.3 days.
User reviews
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Depends on what you're looking for...
by Innovator58 on February 21, 2008
Pros: size, light weight
Cons: poor noise reduction, fit is challenging
Summary: Clearly, it all depends on what's important to you in a headset. For me, noise reduction in windy/loud environments is critical. I owned this headset for a couple ...
Summary: Clearly, it all depends on what's important to you in a headset. For me, noise reduction in windy/loud environments is critical. I owned this headset for a couple of days, but returned it when I realized the headset was better at picking up surrounding noise than it was at catching my own voice. It seems as though the rating given by CNET is more for it's extensive feature set (music capability, ability to pair with two BT devices simulateously) than for it's real-world usability. Again, the reviewer mentions toward the end of the review that it's not the best in wind/noise. For me, that was the dealbreaker!
13 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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this is an excellent headset!
by student420 on December 5, 2007
Pros: solid sound quality, never static!, can listen to music through it, good fit
Cons: none whatsoever
Summary: i returned my jawbone because people reported i was constantly breaking up, and i bought this one: the bt8040 is a keeper! NEVER andy static. sounds great when listening to ...
Summary: i returned my jawbone because people reported i was constantly breaking up, and i bought this one: the bt8040 is a keeper! NEVER andy static. sounds great when listening to music. comfortable. light. small. ive tried about 30 different headsets and this is the best one. beats the jawbone for sure, the jawbone had static problems, my voice cutting out, the fit is horrible, and the volume is too low to hear in your car. get the bt8040, you'll love it
14 out of 16 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Among the Very Best
by winodave on January 8, 2008
Pros: Clear, static-free connection, solid fit
Cons: Could be a bit louder
Summary: After trying several of the "top-rated" headsets (Discovery, BlueAnt, Jawbone, etc) I took a plunge on this new model from Jabra. It is by far the best one I have ...
Summary: After trying several of the "top-rated" headsets (Discovery, BlueAnt, Jawbone, etc) I took a plunge on this new model from Jabra. It is by far the best one I have seen or used. It fits firmly in the ear without that nasty ear-piece which is always uncomfortable. The connection is sure and constant (the only one that works on my Verizon Treo 700p), with no loss of connection. The voice and audio are crystal clear, with no static whatsoever. Noise reduction seems to be excellent. The controls are easy and straightforward to use.
All that said, I do wish it could be made a little louder, though it is certainly acceptable in most situations. I suspect something like VolumeControl can improve that.10 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is definitely a good one!
by peezo on January 8, 2008
Pros: Size, looks, quality
Cons: Didn't fit securely but, found a solution
Summary: I agree with winodave's opinion. What I can add is that the low volume problem he encountered can be corrected by removing the ear cover the bt8040 comes with ...
Summary: I agree with winodave's opinion. What I can add is that the low volume problem he encountered can be corrected by removing the ear cover the bt8040 comes with and then installing a Jabra "assorted size" ear gel. They're the clear ones that come with about 6 in the box. Couldn't see a model number; possibly "Eargel202" which was on back of the box. Anyway, I waited to evaluate this one for 2 weeks. I have not been disappointed. Battery life is fine. I had a problem keeping it secure in my ear, until I used the Jabra eargel. Now the fit is secure and comfortable for long periods. More importantly, the sound is loud and clear. I have not heard the all too familiar static we hear with most bluetooths.
9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A bit overpriced and disappointing
by nuggs on April 27, 2008
Pros: Small, simple, quick charging time, pairs to multiple devices, great range
Cons: Doesn't seem to work with all phones, fit, not true noise-cancellation
Summary: Pros:
Small size
Easy to move from ear-to-ear
Simple/few buttons
Lightening fast to charge
Multi- pairing so that you can use one headset for multiple phones
Excellent range
Cons:...Summary: Pros:
Small size
Easy to move from ear-to-ear
Simple/few buttons
Lightening fast to charge
Multi- pairing so that you can use one headset for multiple phones
Excellent range
Cons:
Doesn't seem to be compatible with my Blackberry 8030
Does not block background noise on the user's side
Not the most secure fit
Not intended for use with streaming music/mobile GPS
I have tried several bluetooth headsets over the years. This particular one has many positive attributes that I enjoy. It also has some significant downsides to it, that I can't easily excuse for the price I paid.
Out of the box, it comes with both a wall charger and a USB cord for charging. There is no complete paper-based manual, instead it comes with a CD. I'm sure that is a pro on the environmental side, however, I like something that I can refer back to without having a computer handy.
Charging is super quick- I would have to estimate that it usually takes well under an hour. The lighting system is very helpful in indicating where in the charging process it is (it goes from red to a gradually shifting to a solid bright green).
Pairing is very easy to do- I have done it a few times on the go when I've upgraded or changed my personal and work phones.
Making calls through voice activation is good (if your phone is compatible). It is not something that can be used for streaming music or navigation use, like I have on my EnV/Voyager- it will shut off reception of the sound and not recognize that you require the ongoing listening ability. According to an associate at the Verizon store, it is working as intended. I see this as a flaw, as who really wants a secondary bluetooth to accommodate functions that will be commonplace across phones in the not-so-far-off future?
Sound quality on the user's end is great. I have had a few complaints from callers if I've got backgound noise, which was disappointing for its noise-cancellation claims.
Where it gets dicey is when I attempt to use it with my Blackberry. It works like a charm with my LG's I've paired it with. The Blackberry is touch-and-go. Often, when I engage it's use (either before I place a call or during the call), the incoming sound is very metalic and robotic sounding. I don't even know what I would sound like if I tried to talk during this. Sometimes after maybe 20 seconds, it will sound normal. Other times, I have to toggle back and forth between my handset and bluetooth to get it to "click". Even when it is working right on my end, I have been told that I'm static and hard to hear. I usually wind up just defaulting to my handset or speaker phone if I need to participate in a discussion.
Battery life seems decent- no complaints there!
Probably the best thing about this is the range. I can leave my phone on the couch and go run to my car or let the dogs out with no break in reception. I still sound fine on my LG and hear perfectly on both phones (assuming that it finally starts working well on my end for the Blackberry). This is the beauty of the newer Bluetooth technology. I had a Plantronics that I love but the phone had to be within about 18" of my ear or it would get static-sounding.
Volume-wise, this phone does well. I'm always turning the volume on everything up- with this one I can hear easily, as the gel covering funnels the sound into your ears (rather than my old Motorola H500 that rested outside of the ear- I never could hear well on that one).
In terms of fit, the headset comes with a number of different contoured gel ear moldings that pop on and off of the speaker. The gels are right/left interchangeable so you can move it from ear to ear without making any adjustments. They are easy enough to change, but I really have yet to find one that is 100% secure. I'm on my second headset currently, as was on the phone with the first one, when it was brand new, washing dishes and... you guessed it. It still worked after the fact, but I blamed the "disconnect" that I had with the Blackberry on residual water damage. As you can see from my review above, it wasn't. Based on this, I think they are pretty durable though. The Verizon consultant that I worked with on another issue said that his dog chewed his into 4 pieces- he put them back together and it worked like a charm. That says a lot for a bunch of plastic!
All and all, I have mixed feelings about this purchase. For the price they are charging, I'd expect truer noise cancellation and the ability to pair it with any phone with ease. I'd also think that it would not time out for ease of use with modern cell phone media applications. I think it's a decent headset (when it works), but would imagine you can find a less pricey multi-device pairing headset that functions equally as well.7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEST of the BEST
by IIEZ3II on February 1, 2008
Pros: The comfort is absolutely AMAZING!
Cons: Money if you are not a big spender
Summary: I am the pickiest person when it comes to bluetooths, and I work for U.S. Cellular so I am constantly trying them out to see which one is the ...
Summary: I am the pickiest person when it comes to bluetooths, and I work for U.S. Cellular so I am constantly trying them out to see which one is the best, and I honestly think my ears are deformed because I have yet to find the most comfortable headset, until I bought this puppy, OMG it is seriously like an Ear Condom, it fits perfect and my ear doesn't hurt after an hour like with other headsets...I even forget it's on my ear...I LOVE IT! I bought it yesterday and I LOVE IT! Thank you so much Jabra you are AMAZING I am selling the crap out of your products.
6 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not for people on the go
by westcoastime on July 6, 2008
Pros: small compact nice design well thought buttons
Cons: this is an earbud and not an earset needs better hold
Summary: This type of desgin easily falls out of
the ear not meant for any activity - not secure - get one with ear loop much more secureSummary: This type of desgin easily falls out of
the ear not meant for any activity - not secure - get one with ear loop much more secure3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Technical functions excellant -Ergonomics poor
by Thule1 on April 21, 2008
Pros: Communication features work very well. Very small and lightweight.
Cons: Falls out of the ear easily regardless of which gel is used. - User guide only available via Internet.
Summary: I like the unit so well that in spite of the poor ergonomics that allow it to fall easily out of my ear regardless of what gel is used or ...
Summary: I like the unit so well that in spite of the poor ergonomics that allow it to fall easily out of my ear regardless of what gel is used or how fitted, that I created a mechanical earpiece hanger from an old Jabra part I had on hand so that the unit stays put in my ear even under moderately heavy physical activity. I wore it for two days as a test. Very comfortable fit and I almost forget I had it on. The features of the device work well and perform with excellent clarity. The multicolored function lights are helpful but for those of us with visual color deficiency, they are not as useful as intended. It doesn't matter because they are easy to decipher. This seems to be a superior unit. The Best Buy price is $59.99 when I bought it. If you don't like it you have 30-days to return. I'll keep it.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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good for phone calls, poor for MP3 listening
by truthinadvertising on March 8, 2008
Pros: comfortable and phone calls are audible
Cons: volume for MP3 listening is too low
Summary: I had wished for a dual function BT mono earphone and was excited when I read the BT8040 review on cnet. $80 at Best Buy.
I had no problem pairing ...Summary: I had wished for a dual function BT mono earphone and was excited when I read the BT8040 review on cnet. $80 at Best Buy.
I had no problem pairing the BT8040 with my Blackberry Curve. The earpiece is comfortable and stays in place even while jogging. Overall as BT mono earphone, average to above average.
But the problem is that MP3s play at a volume that is too quiet in most environments. Audibility in the home and office is OK. And while walking in a quiet and windless area. But if there is any ambient noise, then the volume is inaudible or barely audible. I've tried the BT8040 in the car and outside. Forget about listening to MP3s while walking near traffic. Even while jogging the sound is drowned out by wind or approaching vehicles.
I'm disappointed that BT8040 is very limited for the function that I bought it for.
I've read the same complaint in forums and other reviews. Trying different earpieces as suggested by a reviewer didn't work. Product support page doesn't mention the issue.
My plan is to return the BT8040 and wait for a BT mono headphone that works in both functions2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice & Small
by jonmacklin on May 10, 2008
Pros: small compact size
Cons: not as loud as I would like it to be
Summary: While I really like the small, compact size of the jabra, I bought it based on some reviews I read that said the headset had good volume control and could ...
Summary: While I really like the small, compact size of the jabra, I bought it based on some reviews I read that said the headset had good volume control and could be turned up to a really loud level. now maybe I listened to too much loud music growing up and my hearing is a bit shot, but I have not been impressed with the volume control of the jabra. I have an older motorola bluetooth and honestly the jabra is not any louder than the motorola. If I'm in a quiet room or an office setting the volume control is for the most part fine, but when I'm in any type of public place and even sometimes in the car, I often struggle to hear it adequately. I have a Lexus and the car is super quiet when driving, so its not the noise of the car that's creating unnecessary background noise.
I love the size of the jabra and haven't experienced any of the fitting issues that other reviewers have... the included eargels work great for me. so overall I'm satisfied with it, but really want a bluetooth headset that is louder. if anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Jabra
- Part number: 100-98040000-02
- Description: The Jabra BT8040 is a multiuse headset that supports your mobile and office desk phone applications. The BT8040 Bluetooth Wireless supports high performance audio, multipoint, no-hook wearing style, up to 6 hours talktime, lightweight, and supports Bluetooth 2.0 technology.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Width 0.7 in
- Depth 0.5 in
- Height 1.5 in
- Weight 0.4 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Additional Features Volume control, Answer/end button
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
- Headphones Form Factor Over-the-ear
- Headphones Technology Dynamic
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Bluetooth Profiles Headset Profile (HSP), Hands Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
- Sound Output Mode Mono
- Sensitivity 110 dB
- Impedance 16 Ohm
Microphone
- Type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono, Omni-directional
- Sensitivity -44 dBV/Pascal
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories 6 ear tips
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable
- Run Time (Up To) 6 hour(s)
- Standby Time 200 hour(s)
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
