Motorola Bluetooth Headphones HT820 & PC Adapter PC850

Motorola Bluetooth Headphones HT820 & PC Adapter PC850

Published August 25, 2008 at 01:15:57 PM, by David Schulman

Wireless is the new digital. The chips and antennas are getting smaller and smaller, they're using less and less energy, and they're becoming more and more ubiquitous throughout the modern tech scene. In the last three years, since wireless cards have become a standard in mobile computers, we've seen an explosion in the different applications users can now have for their devices. This is no different with Bluetooth devices.

Even though the technology encountered a rocky start in 1999 developers have been implementing Bluetooth chips into more and more products. The majority of these products have been geared towards cell phone users because of Bluetooth's ease of use and because users want to keep their wireless devices completely wireless. With the glut of 'hands free' wireless headsets on the market today consumers now have the ability to pick out the device that fits their needs and style the best. With this in mind, Motorola has come out with a very different take on the Bluetooth headset.

The HT820 Bluetooth Stereo Headset is a common enough looking pair of behind the neck headphones that promises to untether you from both your cell phone and from your computer. With the ability to stream, take phone calls, and listen to music from your computer as well as control your play list with built-in media controls, this pair of Bluetooth headphones sounds like it could be a complete solution for mobile communication. Will this Bluetooth headset help free you from your tangled wired workspace or will it prove to be just another of the dozens of Bluetooth gadgets out there? Lets see how it holds up.

Design
The Motorola HT820 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones could pass for your everyday pair of Sony street style headphones, besides the fact that there aren't any wires coming out of it and that both of the drivers are emblazoned with a big Motorola M. Media controls sit on the top of either driver. The right channel holds the forward and previous track buttons while the left channel has the volume up and down controls. The big Motorola M's I mentioned not only brand the product but they're also buttons that turn on the device, divert calls to the headset, put the headphones into 'pairing' mode (more on this later), and have many other functions. There is also a 2.5mm headphone jack, for plugging in the included audio cable to your device for better audio quality, and a mini USB port on the right side of the headset which is used to charge the HT820's internal battery.

One of the most notable characteristics of the Bluetooth headset is how big the ear pieces are, not to mention the pulsing blue L.E.D that emits from the M logo buttons. This feature can be turned off by holding the next and previous buttons, but it is still an odd design choice. The casings are sleek and stylish, but because of all the technology stuffed into such a small device the size is unavoidable. This is not to say they're unattractive to wear, but don't expect to blend in to the crowd while wearing them.

Quibbles aside, the HT820s really shine when one considers what they are capable of doing. The majority of Bluetooth headsets on the market only stream phone calls, but Motorola's headset promises much more. With an additional adaptor, Motorola's PC850 ($49.99), you can stream music and other audio from your computer, and with Motorola's DC800 Bluetooth Home Stereo Adapter ($99.99) you can listen to music from your home entertainment system over the headset. Besides the ability to listen to your audio wirelessly the headset also lets you manage your calls with the push of a button, and if you're listening to something when a call comes in it will pause your music so you can take the call.

Included with the HT820 Bluetooth Headset: Instructions and safety guide, cloth carrying bag, wall charger, 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, warrantee information

Conclusion

Pros:

• Attractive design
• Effortless setup
• Good audio quality when wired

Cons:

• Music quality with Bluetooth below par
• A tad bit expensive
• Bulkier than most headsets

Recommendation
While it isn't an all in one solution for those who want to stream high quality music and have the ability to take calls, the HT820 still gives you the superhuman ability to listen to audio, take or deny phone calls, and use voice dial all without wires or having to take out your phone. This product is really for power users who want the ability to do all of this without fail. Audiophiles stay away! These headphones sound like a pair of $120 when connected with the included cable, but their main function is to do everything wirelessly and listening to your music via Bluetooth is not the greatest.

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Technical Specifications

No specifications are available.