Place this great-sounding Bluetooth headset straight in your ear--the Plantronics Discovery 925 requires no fuss or adjustments.
The Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth headset ($150 as of December 1, 2008) was a joy to use in my tests. This model, which lacks an over-the-ear piece, required very little effort to place in my ear. With one hand, I just popped it in and settled it into place: It stays put, even though it has no earhook.
The secret? The tip sports an extra (but tiny) loop-shaped piece of plastic that sits outside the ear canal. This piece has a stabilizing effect on the headset, and helps prevent it from slipping out. I was surprised at how snug and stable the headset felt; even when I threw my head back in laughter, the headset budged not an inch. Likewise, it felt solid in its position when I walked around. Another plus: The Discovery comes with small, medium, and large tips.
The headset has a long V-shape, making it look a bit like an old-fashioned bobby pin. Measuring almost 3 inches, this model is the longest one we reviewed for our latest headset tests. As such, I was constantly aware of the Discovery resting on my cheek--but given how sturdy the unit felt, that feeling didn't bother me. (As for visual appeal, one observer thought the Discovery looked dorky. I don't agree, but that's just me. You be the judge.)
The Discovery's audio quality was top-notch. Call recipients reported that my voice sounded crystal clear, as if I were standing beside them, and one described the quality as better than that of a cell phone handset. When I turned up the music on my stereo considerably, however, the other parties could hear it; they said it was a little distracting, but not bad enough to drown out my voice. When I used my phone's voice-dialing features (such as "call Bekah mobile"), I had to repeat my commands a few times before the Discovery would get it right. At the edge of the range limit (33 feet), my voice sounded crackly, but calls did not drop.
Accessing the big call control button at the top of the Discovery was easy. The skinny volume button, tucked away at the back of the earpiece, was harder to reach; its awkward placement took some getting used to.
One bonus I appreciated is the Discovery's rechargeable carrying case. The case, which can also act as a storage unit, comes with its own battery; when I was miles away from a computer or power outlet, I was still able to give the Discovery a full charge for 3 hours of use (though the case itself, at that point, needed to be recharged, of course).
For color-conscious headset wearers, the Discovery comes in gold, black, and cerise versions; the accompanying charging cases match the headset color.
