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CNET editors' rating:
4.0
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 4 reviews
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Product summary
CNET Editors' ChoiceMar 06
The
good: The NaviPlay Bluetooth headphone kit offers an easy setup, a plug-and-play design, and a steady connection with only rare hiccups. It also includes high-quality noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones that can be paired with your Bluetooth-enabled phone for a completely cord-free experience. The base unit's design allows the iPod and the base unit to be charged simultaneously.
The
bad: The pricey NaviPlay headset and base unit must be recharged via USB port, separately, and at max volume, it's not as loud as high-end headphone units. You'll need to recharge the headphones and the base unit after about 10 hours of use, so they're better for daily life as opposed to long trips.
The
bottom
line: Despite a couple design issues (that aren't critical), the NaviPlay by Ten Technology is the best option for iPod users who want to enjoy wireless listening.
Specifications: Product type: Headphones ; Design: Ear-cup ; Sound output mode: Stereo See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 03/30/2006
There is also a flip-down stand that allows the iPod to sit upright on a flat surface. The headphones are of the small ear-cup variety and feature very comfortable padding on the ears as well as dual padding on the band that encircles your head. While sets such as the Logitech Wireless Headphones feature the clumsy wraparound design that puts unnecessary weight on the ears, we experienced absolutely no discomfort while testing these, even after hours of active and dormant listening.
The right earpiece of the headphones houses a series of navigation controls. While this wasn't a problem for us, we can imagine how southpaws might find this requirement a nuisance. The controls are situated in a four-way circular pad consisting of volume and track-shuttle keys with a button in the middle that acts as play and pause. In addition, the ear pads rotate up to 90 degrees horizontally to accommodate different-size heads.
Setting up the NaviPlay to work with our iPod was incredibly easy. Plug the iPod into the adapter, press one button on the bottom of the adapter and one on the side of the headphones to sync the units, and that's it--cord-free listening. There's also an embedded microphone right below the controls on the ride earphone for Bluetooth cell phones. In our lab tests, we successfully paired our Treo 650 with the wireless headphones. The connection required a few basic steps and went off without a hitch. Now, when we're listening to music, we can hear the phone ring through the earphones, answer the call, hang up, redial, and even switch to call waiting, all without even taking out our Treo. This is a huge bonus for users with Bluetooth-compatible phones and boosted our personal wow factor with the device. The receivers of our phone calls reported the sound to be slightly muffled but definitely "high quality." Since the microphone is built into the bottom of the right headphone, it also picks up surrounding noise.
We tried to connect the earphones to our Bluetooth-enabled laptop but were unable to establish a connection.
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- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 4 reviews
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Where to buy
Ten Technology NaviPlay Bluetooth headphones for Apple iPod:
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Amazon.com Marketplace
|
$65.00 | Yes |
|
