Awaiting Your Next Command
Bluetooth headsets are a dime a dozen that it’s sometimes hard for companies to set themselves apart from the competition. Plantronics went for the beauty aspect on their 925 and Aliph focused on military grade noise-reduction technology for the Jawbones. BlueAnt decided to go back to basics and focused on the primary reason we get a Bluetooth headset in the first place: handsfree communication. With that vision, they birthed the BlueAnt V1.
Introduction
For the uninitiated, the V1 is a Bluetooth headset unlike any I have come across. It has a voice command feature that is built into the headset. No matter what kind of phone you are using, be it a basic Nokia 2760 or the top of the line HTC Touch Pro, it will respond to your every command.
Pricing for the V1 depends on where you purchase it. While the recommended retail price comes in at $129.95, there are stores that sell them for a lower priced. In fact, our very own store sells them for only $89.95.
One thing I like the V1 is that it builts on the strengths of the the highly favored BlueAnt Z9i, which, as some of you may recall, won our recent Shootout. So did the V1 replace the Z9i as my headset of choice?
Package
Like the Z9i, the package that comes with your V1 is packed with goodies. Sure the price of the headset may be on the high side but you get quite a number of accessories with it such as:
Chargers and Cables
Yeah you get both a car and wall charger thrown in from BlueAnt. I have never found the need to use a car charger for my Bluetooth headsets since they only take 2 hours to charge and can last more than a whole day of use but for those heavy users among us, you’ll be glad to know that you can charge your headset while in the car.
The USB cable not only allows you to charge your headset via a computer’s USB port but also gives you the ability to perform firmware upgrades on the headset which is one of the headset’s many redeeming qualities that I will discuss later.
The BlueAnt V1 uses a micro USB port which is not as common as say the mini USB port but considering that BlueAnt packs in all the types of chargers you would need to charge the headset, including a mini to micro USB conerter, this should not hamper your buying decision.
Ear Tips & Hooks
In my review of the Z9i, I had hoped that BlueAnt changed the ear tips to the ones like on the Jawbone as that would provide users with a more snug fit. I am not sure if they were listening to my suggestions but that’s the tips you get with the V1. Well done BlueAnt!
There are only 2 sizes, large and small but before you think this is not enough, I recommend you give it a shot. I usually have trouble getting a right fit with any Bluetooth Headset and the Z9i was the first in a long time that I actually found one that fit me properly. The same goes for the V1. They actually fit me really comfortably.
Besides the regular ear tips, you also get Comly tips. These go in your ear and also comes in 2 sizes. For users who work in noisy environment and always complain that they are unable to hear their headsets, these Comly tips will get the job done. Like ear plugs, you’ll squeeze them so they enter your ear after which they will expand to seal up the ear canal. They’re really soft and were comfortable so give them a shot when you get your V1.
The ear hooks were nothing special. If I didn’t know better, I would say they were identical to those of the Z9i. You get one rubber and one clear plastic hook. Both can be pulled and compressed so you get just the right fit. In fact, the V1 fits so snugly on my ear, there are times when I choose to not use an ear hook. Yeah, it’s that snug.
Manual
You get a nice booklet for a manual that shows you pretty much how to do everything, from initial setup to advanced commands. I definitely recommend that you take a look at it because the V1 does a lot of things and you’ll want to learn how to do them.
There’s also a warranty note that shows you how to get in touch with the company for such needs. Considering that BlueAnt gives you a 2 year warranty, you’ll want to store this in a safe place for future reference.
Headset
We finally come to the headset. For users of the Z9i, the V1 seems to be just like it, albeit with a different colored body. It’s got the standard main button, a volume up and down button as well as a charging port, tie clip and dual microphones for noise cancellation.
The headset itself is really small and light. You should have no problems using it for a day. It’s really comfortable. And if you do decide to take it off, there’s always the tie clip that allows you to attach it to your shirt pocket or cuff if you choose.
To me, the only thing missing was a carrying case but considering that you can clip it to your pocket or sleeve, this is something I am willing to let slide.
Setting Up The Headset
Easy as 1-2-3 and can be completed in under minutes if you ask me. Choose your preferred ear bud type and size as well as the hook, adjust to fit and you’re pretty much good to go. It took me under 2 minutes to get a snug and comfortable fit. The ear hook itself is flexible so you can easily pull and compress it to your desired fit.
Once you get the fit you want, turning on the headset for the very first time initiates pairing mode. Now unless this is your very first time pairing a headset with your device, there should be no complications. Just find the headset from your phone, enter the password when asked (0000) and you’re all set.
See, didn’t I tell you it would take under 5 minutes?
Voice Control
This is where the fun begins. I initially had trouble with the main button because, after using so many Bluetooth headsets, I have become accustomed to the main button being the one to press to answer or end calls. However, this is a voice-controlled headset so the button acts a little differently.
In standby mode, pressing the main button actually turns on voice command. Yes, it’s not complete handsfree like I had hoped for but wait: When a call comes in, you can pick up the call or ignore it by saying ‘Answer’ or ‘Ignore’ respectively. Look ma, no hands!
That’s not all the voice command is good for. Remember how I said that pressing the main button activated voice command? Well, there are actually some commands you can say such as ‘What is the battery level’ to check on your headset’s battery and even ‘Am I connected’ t see if your phone is indeed connected to the headset. If you get a negative reply, it will immediately search for the last paired phone and attempt pairing. How sweet is that?
The commands are pre set, meaning you cannot program it to do something it was not meant to but you can program the speed dials. There are 9 in total and this works hand in hand with your phone’s speed dial functions which means you need to set it up there first. But once you do, you can speed dial away from the headset, even if your phone does not support voice commands. Talk about adding value to your device.
Tells You Who Is Calling
What’s good is a voice command headset if you still have to look at the phone to know who is calling right? Well, it seems that BlueAnt thought about that because it actually tells you the number calling. I was rather impressed with this feature because now when I am driving, I don’t even have to glance at the phone to see who is calling because the headset tells me and I can just tell it to pick up or ignore the call, all while keeping my eyes on the road.
One drawback to this was the fact that it only tells you the number who is calling, not the name of the caller, even if it was in your phone book. So you would have to pay attention to hear who is calling. And how many among us know all the numbers in our phone book? Hopefully future versions would actually say the name of the caller.
Multi-Device Pair
Like many of the BlueAnt devices I have come across, the V1 also allows you to pair with more than device. In fact, it allows you to pair up to 8 different devices. Now I do not know anyone who has 8 different devices that they use regularly, but I guess somewhere out there, someone will find this feature useful.
Now before you throw out your Z9i and get the V1, take note that it only allows you to pair one device at a time. The Z9i allows simultaneous pairing with up to 2 devices; the V1 does not. So if this is an important feature for you, the V1 might not be the headset for you.
Firmware Upgrade
One thing I love about BlueAnt products is that their firmwares can be upgraded. What’s great about this is that should BlueAnt find a way to improve on the headset, firmwares are released for you to patch your device and make it better. Just because you bought the headset earlier than others does not mean that you are stuck with an older firmware.
Updating the firmware is rather easy but if you are a bit wary, not to worry, BlueAnt has a nice step by step guide for you. Just remember that all your paired profiles will be erased when you do a firmware upgrade so you’ll need to pair them with all your 8 devices when you are done.
Great Noise Cancellation Technology
In this day and age, carrying out a conversation on the move is almost impossible unless you have a Bluetooth headset with great noise cancellation technology. That’s exactly what comes with your Blueant V1.
There are 2 modes for noise cancellation: Standard which is turned on by default and Max. Standard mode is usually used when you are in mild noise areas such as in the office or walking down the street. But if that street is a busy intersection or your office is the stock trading room, you’ll want to switch to Max mode which is easily activated by pressing the main button once during a call.
During my tests, Standard mode was sufficient for my daily use though when I had to switch to Max mode, there was no drop in call quality on either end. I did get some feedback that my voice sounded more digital when Max mode was turned on but nothing that impaired the conversation.
Getting Used To The Button Combos
One thing that I would advise you to do is to learn the different button combos that you will use most often. For example, to end a call on most headsets, you would just press the main button. With the V1, pressing the main button toggles between Standard and Max mode. You would have to do 2 quick button presses to end a call.
That’s the thing with a voice command capable headset: pressing the main button activates voice command compared to other functions which you might be familiar with. In my first few days of using the headset, I had to constantly refer to the manual to make sure I was pressing the right buttons but it soon became second nature. To me, this temporary inconvenience was something I could live with when you consider the handsfree capabilities it gives you.
What I Like
- Complete package.
- Great headset design.
- Easy to set up.
- Voice command works really well.
- Able to answer or ignore calls with just a command.
- Tells you who is calling.
- Firmware can be upgraded.
- Noise cancellation technology is on par with the best out there.
- Ability to pair with up to 8 devices.
What Could Be Improved
- No carrying case included.
- Unable to pair with more than 1 device at a time.
- Button combos are different from other headsets.
- Does not read name of caller from phonebook.
Conclusion
The BlueAnt V1 is what a Bluetooth Headset should be in the first place. While it would have been great if I could activate all commands without having to use my hand, it’s still a great accessory for users who do not have a hand to spare.
Not only that, it packs all the features you expect from a great Bluetooth headset, from an efficient noise cancellation technology using the dual microphone system to being able to pair with up to eight devices. If only BlueAnt had thrown in simultaneous pairing…
If you drive a lot or carry loads of shopping bags, you’ll appreciate the ability to now answer or reject calls without having to push a button or remove your phone from the pocket. Couple that with the headset telling you who is calling, you’ll wonder how you got by without a V1 all this while.
Get the from MTS’s very own store for only $89.95. That’s a whopping 30.78% off the recommended retail price! Click here to get yours now!
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Regards for helping out, fantastic information.