iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free ShippingJabra Stone
Manufacturer: Jabra Part number: 100-99300000-60
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- While we love the style, portability, and feature set of the Jabra Stone, it does suffer from a few design and performance issues.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 02/08/2010 |
  | ||||
CNET editors' review
Jabra Stone price range: $119.95
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 11/16/2009
- Released on: 11/08/2009
The good: The Jabra Stone has a one-of-a-kind design that combines a headset with a portable charger. The headset fits easily over the ear and is small enough not to be noticed. Features include multipoint technology and A2DP streaming.
The bad: The Jabra Stone's controls are difficult to use; we wish it had a snugger fit; and the call quality could be improved. It also fits around only the right ear.
The bottom line: While we love the style, portability, and feature set of the Jabra Stone, it does suffer from a few design and performance issues.
Not many Bluetooth headsets combine style and performance, and when they do, they stand out. Examples include the Aliph Jawbone Prime, the BlueAnt Q1, and the Plantronics Discovery 975. Jabra, a company that has been in the Bluetooth business a long time, attempts to come up with yet another headset to add to the list, and that is the Jabra Stone. It has a unique, eye-catching style and also boasts features such as multipoint connectivity, A2DP streaming, and its own Noise Blackout noise-canceling technology. However, a few design and performance quibbles prevent it from reaching its full potential. The Jabra Stone is quite expensive, at $129 retail.
True to its name, the Jabra Stone combines a headset and a portable charging unit in a single pebblelike design. Measuring 2.3 inches long by 2 inches wide by 1 inch deep, the Jabra Stone is smooth and black all around, with a hint of silver speckle. It feels really comfortable in the hand, especially since it weighs only 0.25 ounce. Due to its unique shape, we can easily find it when feeling around for it in our bag.
To get the headset out of the charging unit, you simply reach underneath the Stone and push the headset out with your thumb. The headset automatically powers on when you take it out. On its own, the headset is tiny. It is U-shaped and curved almost like a single quotation mark, with a fat end and a skinny end. The headset is so thin and small that it looks very discreet when worn--it can easily disappear into your hair if you have long locks.
Since the headset is smooth all around, you might be wondering where all the controls are. There's actually a multifunction button hidden underneath the Jabra logo. It's hard to tell when we've pressed it, as there is very little tactile feedback--if it didn't beep when pressed, it would be almost imperceptible. The volume control on the headset is invisible as well--you actually swipe your finger up and down along the base to change the volume. The touch sensor works fine for the most part, but we would prefer physical volume controls so we don't accidentally change the volume when we're fiddling around with the headset.
Behind the headset are two LED indicators; one indicates the battery status, and the other is a Bluetooth connection indicator. Beneath that is the earpiece, which is wrapped in a circular ear gel for comfort. The charger pins are located below the earpiece. Though they are hard to see, the microphones are located on both the left and right side of the headset.
There is no muss or fuss when wearing the headset. Just slip it over the ear and the ear piece will settle gently into place. The skinny part of the headset that loops over the ear is made out of a flexible rubber material that can accommodate different-size ears. Since it is so thin, it won't interfere with glasses. We found the headset quite comfortable overall, though we did wish it had a snugger and tighter fit.
When you snap the headset into the portable charging unit, it automatically shuts off and begins to charge. The charging unit holds up to three full charges. It has a battery status indicator and a Micro-USB charging jack. The Stone also comes with a belt clip, which you can attach to the charging unit.
The Jabra Stone has typical headset features like answering, ending, and rejecting calls, last number redial, call mute, voice command support (if available), and the capability to transfer calls from the headset to the phone and vice versa. It also has multipoint technology, which means it can connect to two devices at the same time. We also like that it has A2DP streaming so you can listen to music from the music player on your phone. Of course you won't get stereo sound with a mono headset, but it's good enough for a quick listen. The Stone also has a low battery warning--it'll let out two short beeps indicating you have only 10 minutes of battery.
We tested the Jabra Stone with the Apple iPhone 3G. It automatically goes into pairing mode when we first powered it on, and we didn't even need a PIN to pair it (this may vary depending on your phone, however). Call quality was just OK. We tested the Jabra Stone in a quiet office, in a moving vehicle, and inside a busy cafe. In all the situations, we heard our callers without a problem. We did hear a bit of static and a high-pitched hum occasionally, but it wasn't too distracting. Volume was good, and we thought callers' voices sounded quite natural.
On their end, callers reported good call quality when we were in a relatively quiet environment. In the quiet office and in the moving vehicle, they could hear us just fine. They did detect a bit of echo and said our voice sounded a little harsh and robotic. They also picked up some road noise and radio music when we were in the car. But in both cases, we could still carry on a conversation. It was a bit more difficult in the noisy cafe. We found we had to raise our voice at times in order to drown out the environmental noise. The call quality wasn't terrible, but it's still not as good as we would have liked.
The Jabra Stone has a rated talk time of up to 2 hours on the headset alone, with an additional 6 hours if combined with the charging unit. It has a rated standby time of 12 days.
User reviews
-
-
Excellent product
by samarx on November 27, 2009
Pros: Just received today. Have used all day. Every function works as stated & I mean all. Sound quality on calls is great both ways. This by far the best bluetooth I have owned period! My wife has the Jawbone Prime. To us the Jabra Stone is better by far.
Cons: Short charging cable is it. Wish it were longer.
Summary: I have used all day & my wife used it part of the day to compare to her Jawbone Prime. Athe end of the day she wants to return her ...
Summary: I have used all day & my wife used it part of the day to compare to her Jawbone Prime. Athe end of the day she wants to return her Jawbone & get the Stone. All functions work great, fit for both of us is fine, felt good in thear & did not feel like it was going to fall out at anytime. The external noise canceling works as well as the jawbone Prime also has ability to listen to music on your phone. I have to say that cnets review was not doing this unit justice but that is only my opinion. Believe me, if you buy this unit you will be be very happy. Also you can hardly tell it is in your ear. I had this one in my ear for over 6 hours without a problem. I could go on & on but I think you got the idea how I feel about this product.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Poor fit. Dumb controls. All that for big $$$.
by vjhesketh on December 2, 2009
Pros: Design is cool. Storage in the "stone" is neat.
Cons: Inflexible fitting. Tapping controls are stupid.
Summary: w/o a good snug fit this device will make you crazy. The sound will be poor because the bud is not IN your ear. When you naturally try to ...
Summary: w/o a good snug fit this device will make you crazy. The sound will be poor because the bud is not IN your ear. When you naturally try to push the ear bud in your ear to hear better you will unwittingly hit a control button usually hanging up on your party. If you are just trying to get the device snug or handling it in any way it is much too easy to double tap and call your last party by accident w/o knowing it. For me to execute the tapping once I had the device set in my ear (loosely) I had to push the device hard enough to incur pain in my ear drum. I am taking this thing back tomorrow. Yikes!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Usless with iPhone 3GS
by jondrew1 on January 20, 2010
Pros: This blutooth is very lightweight, seems to fit quite well (only on the right ear)and the "stone"holder is a convenient place for the earpiece when not wearing it. It is so light you really dont notice you have it on.
Cons: As I said, its so light you dont even notice you have it on. That goes for the volume too. I could not get a volume level (phone call or streaming audio) loud enough for this to be usable.
Summary: I've only had this thing long enough to charge it and start using it, but there seems to be no way around the fact that I cannot hear phone ...
Summary: I've only had this thing long enough to charge it and start using it, but there seems to be no way around the fact that I cannot hear phone calls. The swipe touch volume is very difficult to operate. The Ikea like directions suck big time and Jabra's website reads like a Scandanvian version of engrish.com. I really like the feel of the earpiece and would hope there is something I'm missing that can correct the volume problem. Other reviews I've read seem to be all over the place on this issue. Some say the volume is fine, others say its unusable.Its hard to know what it sounds like on the other end (the person you are speaking to)since I can barely hear what they are saying. I'm going to play with it a bit longer, but the plan here is to return it and try the new ANT with streaming audio.
-
Very happy with purchase.....
by Eleceng01 on January 20, 2010
Pros: Good call quality, easy fit, and I found it to have easy controls. I also love the charger.
Cons: Getting it out of the charger when it is on your belt takes some practice. My biggest complaint is the 12" (if that) wall plug cable.
Summary: I have had it for about 1 month and I am very happy with it. As the editor's review mentions listening to music is not stereo, but it works ...
Summary: I have had it for about 1 month and I am very happy with it. As the editor's review mentions listening to music is not stereo, but it works fine when traveling on business or if you want to listen to an audiobook.
-
Looks cool, but total fail.
by TL_bellevue on January 10, 2010
Pros: Looks cool. Fit seemed good at first. Doesn't fall off ear like my Jawbone prime did. Auxiliary charger (the "stone" part) is really clever.
Cons: Poor sound quality. The integrated buttons are too easy to touch: the headset made multiple "redial" phone calls from my pocket while supposedly docked in the Stone and the person called could overhear everything said. Earpiece broke after 5 days.
Summary: The review for the Plantronics headset says it has "finicky buttons that are hard to touch." Let me tell you, that's exactly what you want! My jawbone prime (dead ...
Summary: The review for the Plantronics headset says it has "finicky buttons that are hard to touch." Let me tell you, that's exactly what you want! My jawbone prime (dead after 3 months of heavy use. Battery wore out) had integrated buttons that were too easy to touch, and the Jabra Stone is worse. The buttons are supposed to be deactivated when the headset is docked, but it can pop out the thickness of a hair and the buttons will work, even though it appears to be docked. The second day I had my Stone, I had a long conversation with a coworker, and later discovered the Stone had called my wife (the last number I'd dialed) 3 times during the conversation and she could overhear everything. You can imagine all the ways that story could have been much worse. Wait for the Jabra Stone II, whenever that comes out.
-
Downright Dangerous while Driving
by donausten1 on December 31, 2009
Pros: I have an iPhone and it is constantly losing pairing. Fiddling around with the phone and headset to get the pairing to work can cause accidents. Once paired, it can be good for a minute and then drops off.
Cons: Bad pairing; short battery life; poor angle towards the ear.
Summary: While the JX 10 and JX 20 were good for 5-6 hours of talk, the stone needs to be recharged every two hours. Granted, the charger is portable, but still, ...
Summary: While the JX 10 and JX 20 were good for 5-6 hours of talk, the stone needs to be recharged every two hours. Granted, the charger is portable, but still, if the JX's had room for a larger battery, so does the Stone. Also, I find it necessary to continually push it into my ear to hear. It comes with an alternate o-ring, but you may as well shove straws up your nose for all the comfort that one supplies. The Stone needs the pairing fixed (especially for the price) and the angle to the ear needs a better ear-gonomic design.
-
Jabra Stone...NOT Fit...nice idea in theory.
by dlichtenhan on November 17, 2009
Pros: Light weight is about all that I can come up with, oh yes and cute design, ultra modern. Doesn't do much good if it doesn't fit.
Cons: Horrible fit and I'm not talking about the right ear only. I don't mind that as much. BUT...Not adjustable in anyway. Only made for a very specific ear shape, size, depth. Controls are not very easy to use.
Summary: I wasted my money. I guess I believed all the hype. Back to my 'old faithful' Plantronics Voyager Pro.
Summary: I wasted my money. I guess I believed all the hype. Back to my 'old faithful' Plantronics Voyager Pro.
-
Good with major problem
by ball8565 on November 21, 2009
Pros: It's compact and fits well. Voice sound natural when working
Cons: Multipoint has serious problems.
Summary: I really like the unit. When using it with my two phones, I found that there is a problem. When paired up and in use I find that it works ...
Summary: I really like the unit. When using it with my two phones, I found that there is a problem. When paired up and in use I find that it works great and then the problems start. I attempted to make a call on my black berry and couldn't hear anything but static. I couldn't get a dial tone or anything. I repaired the phones and tried again. Only to have the multipoint work for a short peroid of time and then the static came back in the system. For some reason I can still listen to my music on the blackberry clearly but can't make or receive a call. I've not had a problem with my LG using the unit. I beleive that this is a problem with the unit when in the multipoint mode. I've not had this problem with other bluetooth units in the multipoint mode. This to me is a returner. I'll wait until the problem is corrected.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Coolest looking headset ever!
by edlex on November 18, 2009
Pros: Stylish organic non "geeky" looking, very light, charger/carrying case combo with belt clip
Cons: Non adjustable, open earbud design can leak sound, not very loud, expensive (for now)
Summary: I couldn't resist getting it as soon as I saw it. It is much smaller in person than I imagined. Paired flawlessly with my Palm Pre without the need ...
Summary: I couldn't resist getting it as soon as I saw it. It is much smaller in person than I imagined. Paired flawlessly with my Palm Pre without the need for the stupid "0000" pin. I haven't experienced the humming that the cnet review referred to. All call have been crystal clear but the noise cancelling is pretty much non existent. Had to cup my ear to talk in a busy bar or else the other party couldn't hear me. Not a deal breaker for me but maybe for others it is. I always use the right ear anyways but the fact that you can't tweak the fit leaves me with a loose feeling. Does play nice with sunglasses but when I wear a cap I have to sometimes tuck the top part of the loop under the cap or it pushes it out too far. The open earbud design can lead to sound leaking if it's not placed just right in your ear, so even at max volume it's not very loud. The major pluses are the comfort and especially the look. I finally don't look like some geek with a Borg implant hanging out of my head. The charger/carrying case combo is another major plus. Belt clip included so I just clip it on my jeans and when I'm not using it it's charging in the stone. Overall I'm very satisfied and other than the price (which I'm sure will go down as soon as ATT loses it's exclusivity) I would highly recommend.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
comfortable over the ear
by Texas96 on November 17, 2009
Pros: over the ear design that's easy to wear all day, simple easy to use controls, multipoint pairing with 2 active devices, portable charger and case
Cons: no issues yet
Summary: flawless pairing with iphone 3G and blackberry bold, discovery 925 never would pair unless connecting the iphone first then activating bluetooth on the bold. glad to find a new over ...
Summary: flawless pairing with iphone 3G and blackberry bold, discovery 925 never would pair unless connecting the iphone first then activating bluetooth on the bold. glad to find a new over the ear headset, didn't want another headset that had to be jammed into your ear to stay put or relied on a flimsy wire loop that dangles on your ear. went looking for a Voyager Pro but decided to give this a try. I have no issues with the controls
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Jabra
- Part number: 100-99300000-60
- Description: A headset featuring a ground-breaking shape - a sleek and elegant design that, even when placed in the charger, easily fits into the palm of your hand. A headset that features advanced noise cancellation without the boom arm on your face, allowing it to be discreet without compromising on audio quality. A headset that comes with its own portable charging unit - making it possible to charge when and wherever you want - no strings attached. Combining stunning aesthetics with unrivaled technology, the Jabra STONE mobilizes the next generation of noise canceling, Noise Blackout extreme, which uses dual microphones to reduce background noise while carrying your voice true and clear. Plus, Jabra STONE's soft rubber padding makes it so comfortable you don't even realize you're wearing it.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- Width 2 in
- Depth 1 in
- Height 2.3 in
- Weight 0.2 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Compatible Mobile Devices Bluetooth devices
- Additional Features Multiuse, Voice dialing, Volume control, Answer/end button, Battery level indication, Noise Blackout Extreme technology
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
- Headphones Form Factor Over-the-ear
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- Sound Output Mode Mono
Microphone
- Type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Omni-directional
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Portable charging unit, Belt cup, AC charger, Eargel
Power
- Power Device Headset charging stand - External
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable
- Run Time (Up To) 8 hour(s)
- Standby Time 288 hour(s)
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Jabra
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Jabra products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.jabra.com
- Address:
77 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, NH 03062 - Phone: (603) 598-1100
- Fax: 603- 598-1122
