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Review of Jabra Supreme UC Bluetooth Headset

In the box:

Case
USB adaptor
Headset
USB cable
Adaptor for cigarette lighter
Replaceable Loops
Tip
Charger
User Guide

Traditionally Jabra came up with a rich kit for its flagship model. Key differences of UC (United Communication) version is a USB adaptor for easy computer connection and a set of chargers, but is the headset itself that different? Let's look if we have any changes associated with the speed reproduction. Certain things were borrowed from the original article, but I will try not to repeat myself, so feel free to find additional information in the article on Jabra Supreme.

Review of Bluetooth-headset Jabra Supreme

Design and Construction

Supreme is a combination of Jabra and GN, where the corporate solution meets the consumer electronics approach. I like such interesting combinations. For example, in Supreme we get a massive main block finished with a leather-like material, while at the back there is a special tip and the microphone base can be folded. It is difficult to create this type of mechanism and ensure there is no squeaking. Here the feat was achieved and the base moves smoothly. Metal was not used in the body and the multifunctional key on the front is made of plastic. In the assembled mode the headset fits a shirt's pocket well, but you'd rather not do it.

To my mind the model will appeal to male consumers more as it looks rather massive. Moreover, the body is dark grey and features no decorative elements. The company views men aged 35-50 as the target audience. I think Supreme will be liked by gadget geeks and those who like to try new things. On paper Supreme has no rivals in terms of features and noise suppression capabilities.

The headset weighs 18 g and the dimensions are 89.7 x 29.9 x 21.9 mm. In the box there is a case with sections for the headset and USB adaptor. I like the looks of the model without any reservation. A friend of mine suggested that Supreme resembles an element of military gear, which is probably influenced by the color, microphone size and the absence of shiny surfaces. It is a true boy's toy indeed. Nothing changed in terms of carrying the headset as it is still a bit loose around the ear and one feels like pressing it harder to the head. The protruding tip doesn't help a jot. Controls are the same.

USB Adaptor

Together with the headset you get a USB adaptor of unusual shape I have never seen before. It allows for connecting the headset and using it together with Skype, which I tested on MacBook Pro 15 and Sony VAIO Z without any hassle, but I would recommend reading the User Guide before as the coupling procedure is not that obvious. Moreover, you can simultaneously use the adaptor and phone and it is handy in an office environment. This pair wasn't smooth though, because iPhone 4S disconnected quite often, but the adaptor helped a lot. It can be useful not only for first-time Bluetooth users, but for experienced people as well. I like the simplicity of operation most of all. Walk into your office and connect Supreme easily for the instant Skype use. You can even listen to the music without attracting attention of your supervisor.

Power

The manufacturer claims up to 6 hours of operation and 15 days on standby. Real life operation turned out to be pretty consistent with on paper characteristics. Operation time is also affected by the fact that you can easily turn it off with folding the base. In my case Supreme worked for several days of active use. Interestingly, Supreme had to be charged first, which is a break from the long-standing tradition when accessories can be used right from the box. I wonder if it is a feature of Supreme or my sample was different. Charging time via the charger from the box is around two hours. Bear in mind there is also a USB cable and a small adaptor for the lighter and it can be used with other devices.

Phone Connection and Sound Quality

Not much was changed in comparison with the original Supreme as the sound quality depends a lot on the surrounding environment. It is convenient when you talk on the phone in a car, while a noisy street is not the perfect setting, because interlocutors may complain about the echo effect. More detailed information is available in the original Supreme review.

Conclusions

Do not forget that the abbreviation UC appeared for a reason and the headset can be operated together with apps from various companies (Microsoft, Cisco, Avaya, IBM Sametime). This is a true corporate solution, but it still has some issues. The final review has been slightly adapted from the original article.

Advantages:

Good kit with the car adaptor, USB cable and case
USB adapter can be extremely handy
It is subjective, but I liked the exterior and you cannot fail to mention the folding base, which disables the gadget
Convenient buttons
Effective voice controls
Excellent speech reproduction
A2DP is supported as well as simultaneous use with two phones

Disadvantages:

The tip is clumsy and the headset does not fit the ear well enough
Controls are also complicated and you will need at least one hour reading the User Guide before you will understand how it works
Light indicators look cheap and inappropriate

The set costs slightly more than 120$ and I advise you to buy Jabra Supreme UC as its price is clearly justified by the USB adaptor and case.

Do you want to talk about this? Please, go to our Forum and let your opinion be known to the author and everybody else.

Sergei Kuzmin ([email protected])
Twitter Livejournal
Translated by Maxim Antonenko ([email protected])