TreoCentral.com - View Single Post - Finally... the BEST Bluetooth headset for Treo 650

JesseRPI · 12/15/2004, 10:49 PM

I started out using a really cheap-o headset that I got almost for free called the Cardo Allways. I scored this baby from Woot.com for a few bucks just to try Bluetooth a few months ago with an older phone. At the time, I had to use a 2.5mm to Bluetooth adapter because my Sanyo 5500 doesn't have Bluetooth. Well, when I got my Treo 650, I paired the headset and checked my voicemail a few times with it. I think I made about 2 or 3 calls, mostly to test the Treo 650 itself, and didn't even think about the headset since I had already ordered a Motorola HS810 and was just waiting for it to be delivered. My thought was that ANY $50+ headset is gonna work better than this cheap-o Cardo Allways one. Well, to make a long story short... after trying about 6 different headsets, the most expensive of which was $130, I realized that either Bluetooth was just a bust, or I maybe something was wrong with the Treo 650. After pretty much giving up, returning all my expensive headsets, and giving in the pure perfection of my trusty Plantronics wired headset, I decided to dig up my Cardo Allways just for old times sake. Well guess what?! Little did I realize but when I had first tested the headset with the Treo on its first day of arrival, no one mentioned any distortion, popcorn sounds, or voice fading whatsoever because THERE WASN'T ANY! The headset had worked perfectly! I started making calls and actively asking people if they could guess whether I was using a wired or wireless headset. Every single person I spoke to said wired, of course! I was amazed, and can still hardly believe that such a cheap headset works so well - I can get a full 20 feet between the headset and the Treo, there is no or imperceptible interference, and it works perfectly... Allways! (what an ironic, albeit mispelled name for a headset!) Anyway, the one flaw in this headset, which pretty much every other headset has is that it is prone to pick up wind noise. However, Cardo (www.cardosystems.com) just released a new headset that is similar to the Allways, except that it has wind noice reduction technology and a 9 hour battery life (the Allways has a 6 hour battery). I ordered mine and am expecting it on Friday. I will definitely post more about it as soon as I receive it. Oh... one thing that might be discouraging - the Allways headset it very ugly. The new one, Scala 500, is a bit more attractive, but I'll judge it more on asthetics when I see it in person. So, if you do get one good piece of info from this post, the super cheap (probably less than $30 online) Cardo Allways is thus far the BEST bluetooth headset for the Treo 650.

12/15/2004, 10:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
JesseRPI Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Philadelphia PA Posts: 198 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Finally... the BEST Bluetooth headset for Treo 650 I started out using a really cheap-o headset that I got almost for free called the Cardo Allways. I scored this baby from Woot.com for a few bucks just to try Bluetooth a few months ago with an older phone. At the time, I had to use a 2.5mm to Bluetooth adapter because my Sanyo 5500 doesn't have Bluetooth. Well, when I got my Treo 650, I paired the headset and checked my voicemail a few times with it. I think I made about 2 or 3 calls, mostly to test the Treo 650 itself, and didn't even think about the headset since I had already ordered a Motorola HS810 and was just waiting for it to be delivered. My thought was that ANY $50+ headset is gonna work better than this cheap-o Cardo Allways one. Well, to make a long story short... after trying about 6 different headsets, the most expensive of which was $130, I realized that either Bluetooth was just a bust, or I maybe something was wrong with the Treo 650. After pretty much giving up, returning all my expensive headsets, and giving in the pure perfection of my trusty Plantronics wired headset, I decided to dig up my Cardo Allways just for old times sake. Well guess what?! Little did I realize but when I had first tested the headset with the Treo on its first day of arrival, no one mentioned any distortion, popcorn sounds, or voice fading whatsoever because THERE WASN'T ANY! The headset had worked perfectly! I started making calls and actively asking people if they could guess whether I was using a wired or wireless headset. Every single person I spoke to said wired, of course! I was amazed, and can still hardly believe that such a cheap headset works so well - I can get a full 20 feet between the headset and the Treo, there is no or imperceptible interference, and it works perfectly... Allways! (what an ironic, albeit mispelled name for a headset!) Anyway, the one flaw in this headset, which pretty much every other headset has is that it is prone to pick up wind noise. However, Cardo (www.cardosystems.com) just released a new headset that is similar to the Allways, except that it has wind noice reduction technology and a 9 hour battery life (the Allways has a 6 hour battery). I ordered mine and am expecting it on Friday. I will definitely post more about it as soon as I receive it. Oh... one thing that might be discouraging - the Allways headset it very ugly. The new one, Scala 500, is a bit more attractive, but I'll judge it more on asthetics when I see it in person. So, if you do get one good piece of info from this post, the super cheap (probably less than $30 online) Cardo Allways is thus far the BEST bluetooth headset for the Treo 650.