Reviews Written by Phillip
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Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers Computer Speaker
Computer SpeakerPrice: $40.00 to $79.99 Compare PricesJuly 28, 2006
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December 5, 2005
Stereo or Skype, Take your pick!
8 of 9 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Easy to configure, Great accessories
Cons: Sound quality in headset (mic) mode is lacking
I was given the Plantronics Pulsar 590a headset as an early gift this year. A friend and I have been using Skype more and more (rather than our cell phones) so she bought these for me as a gift.
In the box:
Pulsar 590A Headset,
Hardshell transport case,
Charging base with AC adaptor,
USB Charging adaptor,
3.5mm audio ford (for use in flight),
Bluetooth Adaptor (for use with non-bluetooth equipment).
The accessories are great. The hardshell case is an absolute MUSt if you plan on traveling with these. the USB charging cable is also a definate plus as it fits inside the case with the headphones, adaptor, and audio cable.
Pairing the headset with my Dell Latitude X1 laptop was simplicity itself. Once paired, I was able to get crystal clear music that sounded as if I had physically plugged in to my computer. Unfortunately, the mic did not appear to work. A little playing around with the Bluetooth settings on my computer revealed that the headset actually has two modes of operation. Audio Sink and Headset. In Audio Sink mode (what I defaulted to, sound quality was perfect, but the mic did not work. In headset mode (I had to manually configure the pairing for this) I found that the sound quality was not nearly as good as in Audio Sink mode. This could be due to the capabilities of my laptop's Bletooth configuration, but I don't know for sure.
Making calls from Skype, was simple. Once the headset is connected (configured in headset mode) You need to enter the Options dialog and change your Audio In/Out settings to point to your Bluetooth Device. There are no virtual place holders, so once you disconnect the headset, the computer will default back to the "Windows Default Device" setting. After that it was smooth sailing. My friend said that the quality of the microphone was great, she was able to hear quite clearly without issue.
The earpieces are similar in size to standard headphones and are pretty comfortable. The headset itself though has a tendency to squeeze rather tightly on your head. A little careful bending will remedy the majority of the tightness and make the fit comfortable.
The cost of the Pulsar 590A is similar to that of the Creative CB2530 Bluetooth stereo headset, but with the added capability of the microphone and the accessories, I would say that the Pulsar 590A is the better deal. (I own both, but if I had to keep only one, these would win hands down).
I gave the headset a slightly lower mark on support because of the apparent lack of Knowledge base information available on the website. Nowhere is it mentioned that the heaset can be configured in 2 modes, onr does it provide any real information from what I was able to see. Thus the hit.
Overall, an excellent headset, well recommended, and well worth the price. Multiple capabilities, great accessories. ...
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GREAT little speaers
2 of 2 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Simplistic setup, PERFECT for work in a "cube farm"
Cons: These ain't your daddy's Bose system
My first experience with these speakers was in a Besy Buy in San Jose. I was looking for something for use with my laptop when at work or on the road. Unfortunately, the testing bombed out because in order to hear them over the noise in the store, I had to drive the volume WAY up, which is not a good idea on these speakers. At high volume, they tend to vibrate and distort, which makes them sound like complete trash.
My second test was at the same Best Buy, but on a MUCH quieter day. That test made the decision for me. After getting them home and plugging them in I was very happy with the choice. They sounded excellent. Now for the REAL test.....how will they do at work?
I set them up on either side of my monitor and adjusted the volume to a low level where I could hear clearly, but hoped not to bother anyone else. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that if I walked 6 feet, I could just barely hear them. VERY NICE.
If you're looking for big bass, move along, there's nothing to see here, but if you're looking for a good set of travel speakers that do a great job, these are well worth the price. ...