The Unsung Bluetooth Headset: BlueAnt’s Z9i

When it comes to high end Bluetooth headset, many go for established names such as Plantronics, Jabra and Aliph. Mention BlueAnt and many will be scratching their heads and go ‘Blue what?’ Such was the reaction when I first head about this little headset and such were the reactions of my friends when I introduced them to it. Don’t be fooled though, there’s nothing little or small about it, besides its size and as you can probably the end of this review, you’ll want to get yourself one.

Introduction

The Z9i is the next generation of Bluetooth headset created by an Australian company called BlueAnt. The first version, the Z9, performed remarkably well and I had wanted to review it but by the time I got around to getting hold of one, the Z9i was out and that was the one I laid my hands on.

It’s a really small and light headset as previously mentioned. Just how small and light you ask? Try 1.61 x 0.68 x 0.44 inches and 0.35 ounces without the ear hook. Don’t let its size fool you though because this little ant packs a lot of features that it’s much bigger cousins don’t. It comes with a 2 year warranty (most headsets I know only give 1) and has an MSRP of $99.95. All this comes together to give you one great headset in such a small package.

The Package

So just what are you getting for that $99.95? This section aims to answer just that question.

The Headset

Nicely package, the BlueAnt Z9i sits alone at the top like a rare diamond in a museum’s showcase. There are 3 buttons on the headset, the multi-function button (MFB) as well as the volume up and down button. On the MFB button, you get the BlueAnt’s logo which is a rather nice touch I might add.

There are 2 microphones at the base of the headset, one to pick up your voice while the other picks up surrounding noise. They work together to eliminate ambient noise to give you and your caller a great conversation. Unlike the Jawbone, there is no need to fiddle with fit and contact because those 2 microphones does the work for you. Definitely a time-saver.

On the back of the headset, you have a tie-clip. I rather liked that idea because when I want to take out my headset, I can just pin in on my tie or pocket or just about anywhere I please instead of tossing it into my pocket. I would have preferred a loop to string a neck loop through but for those creative enough, I am sure you can find an alternative.

The ear loop and ear bud which rounds up the back of the headset is removable and interchangeable with the other option that comes with the headset (more on that in a bit).

The charging port is located on the side of the headset and uses a proprietary charger. I wished that BlueAnt had used a mini USB port because God knows I could do with one less charger.

Ear Buds

Yes, you get a total of 2 ear buds. A larger version which is already attached to the headset and a smaller version. Switching them is as simple as unscrewing one and putting on another. Nothing difficult about it.

Ear Loops

Like the ear buds, there are 2 ear loops: a black one that comes attached with the headset and a transparent one as well. They’re both of identical sizes so it’s more a fashion choice that you choose one overt the other. What’s great about the ear loops is that they are adjustable to fit your ear. A little on the loose side? Compress them for a snug fit. Too tight? Why not stretch it a bit then? Not many headsets I know of are able to do this but the ones on the BlueAnt’s Z9i is able to do so.

Charger

Nothing fancy here. A simple US version head for the charger is what came with my package. Nonetheless, it works just fine so no complains from me here.

Firmware Upgrade Cable

I initially thought that that was actually a USB charging cable for those of us who prefer charging it from our computers. Apparently that is not the case. It’s actually a firmware upgrade cable and you use it to (what else) upgrade the firmware of the Z9i. I particularly liked the fact that the Z9i supports firmware upgrades and I’ll be covering this more in greater detail in just a bit.

Manuals, Manuals, Manuals

When it comes to manuals, I can tell you this: BlueAnt doesn’t skim. There are 3 pieces of literature that comes with your BlueAnt. A complete manual, a quick guide and one for your warranty.

The complete manual is useful for when you first get your headset to get you familiarized with the device. However, due to the many features supported by the Z9i, it’s almost impossible to remember which button combination does what.

That’s what the quick guide is for. Thin and small enough to fit into your wallet, it’ll make for a great reference guide when you’re out and about and need to know how to do something. I found myself in such situations more than once and am glad that BlueAnt had the vision to include such a guide with the package.

The last piece is more about warranty and how to get in touch with BlueAnt’s technical support. Some may call it extra but when a company goes out of it’s way to show you how to contact them when you are having problems, you know that you are in good hands.

2 Year Warranty

Now, I don’t usually cover warranty in my reviews because it’s usually the standard 1 year agreement. Not with the BlueAnt Z9i (and I think all BlueAnt products) though. It comes with a 2 year warranty which shows just how confident BlueAnt is of their products’ build. You don’t just slap on such a long warranty on an electronic product unless you are certain that it can last that long at least.

Getting The Right Fit

So before I get into the nitty-gritty of headset performance, I wanted to stress on how easy it is to get up and going with the Z9i. With many high end headsets out there, you get an array of options for fitting. Not with the Z9i. You only get 2 ear buds and 2 ear loops to choose from.

While some may claim that BlueAnt is skimping, I look at it from another way. A study has shown that when someone is presented with more than 3 options, making a decision get’s very difficult. Maybe BlueAnt took this study into consideration?

Whatever their reason, it was easy to get the right fit for me. And when I did, boy, did it fit well. From spending almost 2 hours getting the Jawbone to fit right on my ear, I spent less than 10 minutes with the Z9i and it fits even better. What’s more, I realized that I could use the headset without the ear loop if I wanted to and it would still stay there and work just as effectively. Nice!

Call Quality

I have to say that I am loving the call quality of the BlueAnt Z9i. It comes with 2 versions of noise isolation, standard and max. Standard eliminates most ambient noise and is the default mode which is always on. However, in situations when that’s not enough, you can turn on max noise isolation. The drawback? My voice sounded more digital.

Now this compromise is something I will gladly accept because the important thing is getting my message across. Truth be told, the digitization is not as big a deal as you think and your callers might not even notice it. While using the Z9i, I did not receive any complains from my callers. There were some who claimed I did not sound clear but that was because I thought standard noise isolation mode would be sufficient. Switching to max isolation mode solved that problem.

For those curious about the noise cancellation capability of the Z9i, here’s a video showing just that, but of the Z9. Even though it’s of the older generation model, the Z9i builds on its strength.

Call Volume

It’s not just important for your callers to hear you but just as important for you to hear your callers. Unless you’re just leaving yourself voice notes but that’s another scenario altogether.

The call volume on the Z9i is really loud when you turn it all the way up. So loud such that I had to use a lower volume. When you couple the in-ear setup of the headset together with the volume loudness of it, you know that you have a headset that now empowers you to have a clear conversation from just about anywhere.

So Many Features

If call quality and volume were the only doubts you had, you’d think that the MSRP of $99.95 was more than justified. It gets better though when you see just what features are available as well. Instead of covering them all, I’ll highlight some of the more useful ones which I found:

Always On Noise Cancellation

You have a noise cancellation headset. So why would you want to turn it off? You might be surprised but there are some headsets in this category that actually provides one with the ability to do just that. If you argue that it’s to save battery life, the Z9i actually packs 5.5 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby time. How’s that for something so small?

Another useful thing I found about the noise cancellation feature is that when you switch between modes (standard and max), you will get an audio prompt that tells you which mode is currently in use. That’s a really nice touch BlueAnt. Rather than use beeps to tell you you’ve switched modes, your headset tells you ‘Max isolation on.’ It doesn’t get any clearer than that!

Pairs Up To 5 Devices

I know you’re a busy guy and you might be using more than one Bluetooth capable device. Don’t you just wish you can pair your headset with more than 1 device? With the Z9i, you can. With up to 5 devices. Be it another phone or a computer, as long as it supports the Handsfree profile, your BlueAnt Z9i will pair with it as well.

Multi Point Technology

The fun does not stop there though. What’s the point of pairing with so many devices if you had to keep track of which device needs to be connected to the headset? You would not have such a problem with the Z9i though, thanks to it’s multi point technology.

What this means is that you could pair up your device with up to 2 devices at the same time. For me, it’s my computer (for Skype) and Glofiish X500 Pocket PC. I can be on Skype with my friends and family overseas and when a call comes in, I can just as easily switch the from the computer and the X500 and back again with just a combination of button presses. Convenience does not get any better than that!

Auto Reconnects When Disconnects

My device has a tendency to reset itself from time to time and when this happens. I am unaware. With the BlueAnt Z9i, I can now be informed when that happens though the notification beeps. What’s even better is that when the device restarts, the headset will automatically reconnect to the Pocket PC and be all good to go.

Another useful application of this feature is to serve as a reminder when you have left your phone behind. Because of the beeps you hear when that happens, (hopefully) you will remember that your phone is not with you and that you would go back and get it.

Upgrading Firmware

There is a saying about electronics that no matter when you buy it, it becomes obsolete by the following day/week/month. With Z9i’s firmware upgrading option, you can prolong it.

Just use the supplied firmware upgrade cable, download the software, install and run it and you’re all good to go. A firmware is basically a software for the headset and by installing a newer version, you’re eliminating existing problems. And seeing how on the ball BlueAnt have been in releasing upgrades for the older Z9 model, I am sure they would be showing the same dedication to the Z9i model.

I did manage to do a firmware upgrade as my version came with 1.0 and there was a 1.1 lying around. While the step by step instructions were clear and easy to follow, I wished it was a lot simpler, especially for first time users who have to install this and check that. Try it out and see what I mean.

What I Like About It

• Complete packaging with everything you need.
• Small and light but packs a lot of features.
• Great fit.
• Superior call quality and volume.
• Pairs up to 5 devices and simultaneously connects to 2 at a time.
• Notification when device and headset disconnects.

What Could Be Improved

• Use of standard (mini USB) connector instead of a proprietary one.
• Have a lanyard loop as well.
• So many features means so many button combinations (a double-edged sword)
• Provision of a carrying case would have been a nice touch.

Conclusion

The ant is considered the strongest among all animals because it can carry up to 60 times its weight. The BlueAnt Z9i Bluetooth headset seems to imply that as well. It may be small and light but it packs a lot of features that are lacking in many of the high-end offerings out there.

It works great right out of the box, from getting a good fit to carrying out a decent conversation. Ever since I got my hands on this headset, I have not found another to replace it. If you have not heard of the BlueAnt Z9i or have yet to try it and are looking for a good quality noise canceling headset, I highly recommend that you give the BlueAnt Z9i a go and see just why I am so ecstatic about such a small piece of plastic!

Manufacturer: BlueAnt

Model: Z9i

MSRP: $99.95

Available Colors: Gloss Black & Soft Touch Red

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