Review: Jabra JX10 - is smaller really better? - Communications - HEXUS.net

Specification and use

It’s obvious that Jabra thought beyond the scope of just making a high-end headset when it came to the JX10, it’s so much more than a headset in an oversized box.

Jabra includes a USB charging lead, a standard wall charger, a travel pouch and a desktop stand.

It has to be said though, that the USB lead is one of the shortest I have ever seen. But it does its job and most of us have rather too many over-long cables cluttering up our desk space.

It's no surprise to see the 1.2 Bluetooth specification appearing on the JX10 - it's now the standard for most new devices on the market, and is definitely something buyers should look for as it gives better connectivity and syncing capabilities over the previous-generation Bluetooth standard.

With a quoted talk time of six hours plus eight days standby, the JX10's spec is impressive considering its size. The range of the headset is seemingly standard for Jabra, coming in at 10 meters or 33 feet.

One of the strange things about the JX10 is the ear hoop; it doesn’t actually hold the headset in place when in use - that is done by the shape of the ear piece itself. It’s actually possible to wear the JX10 without the ear hoop - and, being that it’s quite delicate, removing it is not a bad idea.

While we were at CeBIT, we managed to catch up with the VP of Sales and Marketing for Europe at Jabra and brought up the issue of the ear hoop and how delicate it felt. He advised us that, through customer feedback, they had now started to ship the JX10 with three ear hoops, just in case users have problems.

I used the JX10 on a recent three-hour motorway drive and was very impressed by its performance. The call quality was excellent and it coped with the varying levels of road noise admirably. A few days later I had to take another trip, without a recharge to keep the JX10 kept going, and a few callers asked if I was driving hands-free as they said the clarity of the call was so good.

There is a negative with the JX10 beyond the ear hoop. Its small size leads to problems if you have large fingers (not everyone does, of course) and means it is rather too easy to misplace. But it's also small enough not to look stupid if you wear it all the time.