In theory, all headphones should be wireless. Who wants a cord restraining them when jigging around to music? Yet Bluetooth wireless headphones, which have been available for about a year, have been slow to catch on. The headphones have generally been large, with poor sound quality. Also, as the phones and their adaptors use rechargeable batteries, users need to keep three devices charged, if you include a music player.
The latest company to cut the headphones cord is Plantronics, with its £129.99 Bluetooth Pulsar 590A. These smallish headphones work simultaneously with audio players and a mobile phone. When the phone rings, the music cuts out.
It sounds impressive, but in practice, the headphones have some way to go before becoming essential. On the positive side, they are easy to set up and use, and within minutes I'd paired both the small circular Bluetooth dongle that attaches to any music player and my mobile to the headphones. I then pressed play on my Sony NW-A1000 and could hear music. The quality isn't overwhelming, but the headphones are light and comfortable.
When a call came through they cut off the music, allowing me to hear my caller in clear sound quality. When the call ended, the music came back. Adjusting the volume meant a lengthy tussle with fiddly buttons on the side of the headphones, and the track controls did nothing apart from emit a loud beep. Apparently this feature only works with a limited number of players (not iPods).
The headphones and adaptor run for 12 hours from one charge and come with a docking station that powers both. So if you want a Bluetooth headset for your phone and never leave home without a music player, check these out.
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