Let’s talk Bluetooth headsets for a second, shall we? They’re not exactly everybody’s favorite thing to use, but they’re a must-have in the car if you want to stay safe and legal. After the break, we take a look at the Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bluetooth headset.
The tech
We first got a look at the HX1 back at CES. It features a “CrystalTalk” dual-microphone system that helps cancel out background noise. And when things get really crazy, you can turn on “stealth mode” and start using the vibration in your melon to really cancel things out. That comes at a slight degradation in sound quality, but at least you can be heard. Here’s how Motorola explained it to us:
The fit
There are no two ways about it: The HX1 is a snug fit, and it goes deep into your ear. That’s not to say it’s uncomfortable, it’s just that it extends further into your ear canal than you may be used to with a Bluetooth headset. It comes with hook for behind-the-ear wear, or spring loops if you prefer that route. (Which I do.) You’re not going to want to wear the HX1 all day long, but it’s fine for fits and spurts.
The hardware
Noise-cancellation technology aside, there are two standout stand-out features of the HX1: An honest-to-goodness on/off switch, and a standard microUSB port. If there are two features we want on a Bluetooth headset, those fit the bill.
There’s also a volume rocker button, call button and the “Stealth Mode” button, in addition to an LED light that shows connection status and charging status.
Call quality
This is subjective, sure, but I found call quality to be mostly on par with other top-tier headsets. It’s not horrible, but you definitely know you’re on a Bluetooth headset. Stealth mode worsened things a bit, but it does allow you to be heard in very noisy environments.
Note: I had a heck of a time with the HX1 and the Google Nexus One. While they paired and connected just fine, callers on the other end couldn’t understand me at all, and I experienced the same in my own tests. Problem with the Bluetooth stack, perhaps? We’re still trying to track this down. It worked fine with all the other Android phones I tested it on (including other HTC phones).
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a Bluetooth headset with some serious noise-cancellation capability, the Motorola Endeavor HX may will fit the bill. It stays put in your ear and is relatively low-profile. The headset’s a bit on the pricey side, however, at $109.95 in the Android Central Store, but you’re getting a lot of noise-cancellation bang for your buck.