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Gadgetell Review: Jabra Sp700 - stop looking like a jerk

by JG Mason on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:52 AM

Jabra sp700

Product: Jabra SP700.
Price and Availability: $99 out now
Pros: Doesn’t make you look like a tool.  Easily answer calls in your car.  Makes not upgrading to the expensive new cars “tech package” a lot easier to live with.  Sound is great, surround sound through speakers is even better.
Cons: no air of superiority that comes with a headset (wait, maybe that should be in the Pros?)
Overall: I’ve already ordered two for my cars.  I give it 10/10

If you are like me, you’ll go to almost any length not to wear your bluetooth headset.  An incoming call when I am in the car sends me fumbling around my front seats for the tiny headset, the awkward install into my ear and then my eyes are back on the road.  Surely that is safer than just answering the phone?

This is my new solution: the Jabra SP 700.  I love this darn thing.  I had my doubts this would work for me, as despite my feelings on the look and overriding “tool-i-ness” of a bluetooth headset, there is something almost fun about being plugged in like that.  But this Jabra piece changed my mind.

Form
Almost hiding on my visor, the unit looks good as its buttons are hidden on the sides.  A sexy almost Scandinavian voice announces settings like “power on” or “connected” keeping my eyes on the road.  I’ve not tired of her yet, but I am sure that is coming.  Set up, as with most bluetooth devices, is super simple.

Better yet, the unit comes with a built in FM transmitter that pumps your callers voice through your cars sound system.  It creates a very warm environment that is more like talking in person than on a call.  I really dig it.  Jabra can also send music on your phone to the cars.  The SP700 will even search for the best frequency for you to transmit over, very cool.

Function
The sound quality is indistinguishable from just using the phone.  Callers sounded clear to me and me to them.  Road noise was swept away and people were amazed I was driving around, much less on a dirt road.  Jabra says the SP700 has echo cancellation and noise reduction all aimed at making your conversation as natural as possible.

I let my wife borrow it this morning.  She phoned more from the road after a couple of uses and wanted to let me know she was keeping it.  She was headed into the office to show it to her friends.

All calls are announced by that sexy Scandinavian voice, keeping me focused on the traffic, not searching around for my phone.  Taking the call is as easy as tapping the visor-mounted unit.

Jabra has put out an excellent option for hands free communications in the car.  I highly recommend.

Product page: [Jabra]

 

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Comments
  • Uncle said:

    Well.. I must say it’s far from sexy almost Scandinavian voice… best regards from a norwegian who bought this yesterday :)

  • Richfiddler11 said:

    I discovered a cool trick for getting better FM reception in a metropolitan area:

    My FM radio has a setting for the USA or Europe, and the European setting includes both odd and even frequencies.

    So I set the FM radio to Europe setting, and tune in to an even frequency like 89.2 MHz, for example, that nobody else in the US is using.

    Works much better, and I’ll have fun, fun, fun until the FCC takes my SP700 away ;^)

  • joan Fitzparick said:

    does anyone else have trouble connecting the usb cable to the car charger? mine will not fit and they both came with the jabra sp700

  • veer said:

    Does it have a feature to Pair with mutiple Bluetooth devices?

  • Ron Haney from El Paso, TX said:

    I bought a Jabra SP 700 Handsfree for my SUV. The Jabra unit is incredible. People on the other side of the conversation say the quality is clean and clear and they hear no background noise. My mom thought I was calling from home. The built in speaker lacks bass but the sound is very clear and cuts thru road noise making the conversation effortless. Another cool feature is to listen thru the FM radio. the quality is a little better but either option is great. The Jabra costs a little more but it’s worth every penny. I would not hesitate to buy a second unit and would highly recommend it to a friend. FYI…. I am a chief broadcast engineer for 5 radio and 2 TV ststions so I speak from a professional position.

    If you go with the Jabra I don’t think you will be dissappointed

    RON

  • Julian said:

    Another plus, the Jabra uses the same plug as my Nokia N97, so I got a decent car charger & extra data cable when I bought this as a bonus!

  • Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
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