Plantronics 640 Headset:
04/10/2006
By: Aaron Glenn
Purchased From: Ustronics.com
My Motorola HS810 died recently, a victim of the hair-thin wire in the boom
mic snagging on the hinge and being torn when answering a call. No functional
microphone, no headset. This prompted me to look for another headset with similar
characteristics, minus the few complaints I had for the Motorola. The devices
have been paired with a Siemens S55.
Fit and Form Factor:
I purchased the Plantronics Discovery 640 for several reasons. First, I was
overdue for Bluetooth 1.2. Second was the light weight and small form factor.
I disliked the Motorola's bulk – seemed it was about to fall off the
ear whenever I turned my head quickly. The 640 hasn't disappointed in this
category. Its light weight and in-the-ear silicone bud allow it to sit firmly
without moving. There are three earbuds to accommodate a range of ear sizes.
There is also a plastic over-the-ear hook for added support, but I find it
unnecessary. The one complaint I have is that the point of the silicone earbud
tends to poke into my ear and becomes uncomfortable with extended wear. The
earbud is also easily switched from left-ear to right ear by simply twisting
it on the headset. This was a problem I had with the Morotola – switching
ears required unsnapping the ear hook and reversing it. The 640's earbud, while
securely snapped into the headset, doesn't seem like the kind of thing you'd
want to put in a pants pocket for fear of snapping off the tiny plastic connector.
Carlos
Eduardo comments: I can't get the 640 to stay in my ear without the earloop,
but once in, it fits well.
Sound Quality and Range:
Range and clarity are very good, much improved from the Bluetooth 1.1 device
I had been using. I've found effective range over 30 ft. indoors before any
noise really began. Incoming audio quality is very good. Outdoors the headset
is susceptible to wind noise, though somewhat better than my previous headset.
Background noise is also minimized slightly better. Other features not found
in all headsets: You can mute calls by pressing the Up and Down volume buttons
simultaneously until a beep is heard. If you move out of range of the headset
it will beep, then stop functioning and close the link. Holding down the
control button is required to relink to the handset. The device will attempt
to relink
once on its own though when first moved out of range.
Carlos Eduardo comments: Good sound quality, but it degrades quickly with
distance. Maybe mine is not as good, but in my 640 I get comments from people
telling me I sound like I'm muffled or distant.
Setup, Pairing, and Function:
Setup was simple and intuitive. The first attempt to pair the headset with
my handset failed (probably due to the phone), but the immediate re-try was
successful. Since then I've had no problems. Answering a call with the headset
turned on is done by pushing a button on the back of the device. I've had
consistent success linking to the phone immediately for calls.
Battery Life:
The headset battery life is close to the published time, though I haven't
had one continuous five hour conversation to rigorously test this. One thing
I
got used to on the Motorola headset that is absent with the Plantronics is
the ability to turn it off by simply flipping the boom closed. The 640 requires
you to hold down the power button to turn the headset off. Inadvertently
leaving it on overnight could leave you with a surprise if you were counting
on using
it the next day prior to charging it again. I have not used the AAA battery
extension to charge the headset yet; it snaps onto the dock the same way
as the charger adapters.
Interesting but marginally useful features:
1. Included in the headset package is a selection of charger adapters that
fit the following cell phone chargers: Motorola, Nokia, Siemens, and Sony
Ericsson. This allows you to avoid bringing the Plantronics charger cord
on trips. The
real inconvenience of a second charger cord during travel is questionable
though, since you would potentially still bring the external AAA battery
charger, and
the charger sleeve with the cell phone adapter snapped on. And if you are
travelling with one charger cord, you may need to charge the phone and headset
overnight.
Having only one charger may be limiting unless you plan to wake up in the
middle of the night and swap devices. If you use a phone with a foreign plug
during
travel this could, however, be beneficial by eliminating the separate converter.
A USB charger cord is offered as a sold-separately accessory, which is arguably
as useful as the multiple charger adapters, especially if travelling with
an iPod charger or computer.
2. The headset and accessories come in a compact aluminum-like rectangular
case. The back of the case has a 1”x2” mirror, presumably so you
can make sure your headset is on properly. I'm not sure why this is important...
3. The headset has a series of color codes that it flashes depending on the
function. This is called the “Headset Status Undicator”. To signal
battery life, the red light will flash in one, two, or three bursts. This is
useless when you are actually using the headset since you can't see the indicator
light behind your ear. I suppose if you watched your headset in the mirror
supplied on the case you could see the flashing lights though.
Overall I am pleased with the device, and have no significant deficiencies
to report. This headset is for those who like a small, attractive and light
headset with good sound quality. There are other devices with better wind-noise
blocking, better battery life and different attachment methods if you seek
out those features. But for an over all well performing headset, and one
that offers flexible charging methods and comes with its own mirror, this
is a good
choice.
Rating: 9/10
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