Motorola Endeavor HX1 ears-on
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 25th 2009 8:00AM
posted Jun 25th 2009 8:00AM
We haven't had time to do proper battery testing, but in every other meaningful metric, we found the HX1 outperforms the Prime. For one thing, Motorola's set offers a simple, dedicated controls for call send / end, volume up / down, and noise reduction toggle (Moto calls it "stealth mode") plus a physical switch for turning the phone on and off; Jawbone's oversimplified two-button layout has always befuddled us, partly because we can never remember what combination of presses does what, partly because activities like pairing always seem like they're more complicated than they need to be. We also prefer the HX1's standard micro USB charging socket to the Jawbone's proprietary connector -- there's one less dedicated cable we need to tote around, and we find that it can be tricky to get a solid, reliable connection with the Jawbone's dock-style socket (it's a problem that's haunted them from day one, so we're not sure why they haven't moved away from it by now).
Though a clear plastic earloop can be connected to the HX1 to help secure it to the side of your face, we found that it's totally unnecessary because the actual bud -- the part that contains the speaker and the bone conduction sensor -- goes quite far into your ear canal and helps to lock the headset in place. Furthermore, the unusual bud shape serves to make calling far more realistic in extremely noisy environments because it's completely blocking out external noise in that ear and channeling sound as deeply as it can. The Prime, on the other hand, makes a stronger case for using the earloop -- the bud doesn't actually enter the ear canal at all.
We look at it as the best of both worlds. CrystalTalk is good enough for 90 percent of environments and situations that you'll encounter, and for the other 10 percent -- like when you're in an iron foundry or at a Cannibal Corpse concert, for example -- stealth mode saves the day. We're not sure exactly how much of the HX1's tech came from its Nextlink licensing agreement, but let's put it this way: Motorola's either designed a terrific product or made a terrific purchase.
Yes, but does it have a Borg-like randomly scanning laser beam? If Motorola wants its customers to look like tools they have to give us something.
When do we get a bluetooth headset that hides completely in the ear canal so we don't look like a douchebag when we're waiting on a call?
try holding the phone to your head...and you may, i stress may, not look like a douchbag
You would look even more like a douchebag when people can't see your headset and think you're crazy.
. . Errr... Actually, Moto already launched a product that is supposed to be "almost hidden" in your ear. It's the now-very-old H9.
. . Anyway, what I *really* want is a good bluetooth headset with earbuds-style headphones that uses this bone conduction technology. Something like the Sony Ericssons's HBH-DS970 with bone conduction would be really outstanding.
Oh my gosh. It's a real freaking power switch. What did we do to have Moto treat us so well?
Now if Plantronics and the others would figure out that holding a switch for 10 seconds to turn a headset off and on is ackward and frustrating. I'd rather pay 10 cents more and get a real switch.
Moto have had 'real switches' for about 2 years!!!
Can you comment on how it does in wind? Jawbones suck when you drive with the top down.
Motorola rates it to a very conservative 15mph of wind. We tested it in a stiff breeze of maybe 15-20mph and the person on the other end couldn't tell anything was happening. I suspect you'd be fine in much, much higher gusts in stealth mode since it's relying exclusively on bone conduction.
I may pick one of these up to replace my Mk1 Jawbone, I like the sound quality of the Jawbone but the proprietary charge cable annoys the heck out of me.
This one looks like it uses Micro-USB which is good because that is where most manufacturers are going, right now every phone and every other BT headset in our family (I even keep a mid-range Motorola headset in my car so I have something I can use if/when the battery in the Jawbone dies and I am of course unable to charge it until I get home) uses mini-USB and it's just a simple (and inexpensive) adapter to go from mini-USB to micro-USB.
How much did you pay that hobo to be your male model?
Didn't you get the memo? Unkempt beards are where it's at.
When, where and how much?
I must concur, this headset is definitely on my "must-buy" list. Especially since recent legislation in Ontario makes it illegal to drive and talk on a hand-held cellphone. Definitely glad I saw this before I decided to go for the Jawbone...buyer's remorse is the worst when it comes to tech products.
How does this compare to the BlueAnt V1? I feel the BA V1 is much better than the Jawbone.
I second that, I have a V1 and it's really great. I'd love to see a shoot-out review of these two side by side.
This is a nice review - very tempting.
I wish Plantronics would make more units like the 650e. The 655 and 665 suck as the AUDIOIQ makes you sound like a Borg. I do however like the eargels for the plantronics a lot. This unit doesn't loook as comfy as a plantronics eargel unit however you can't get a newer plantronics eargel unit without audioIQ so it is time to start looking at alternatives.
The bone-conduction tech, and the no-loop-around-the-ear mount came from Nextlink.
Looks like Motorola basically added th regular microphone based headset to get the best of both worlds.
Of course the Moto designers made a butt-ugly device, but I guess thats what you get with them.
I use my Nextlink Invisio Q7 in a convertible on the freeway, and people just hear a background rumble.
Regular headsets are completely useless in the car!
I'm desperately looking for a headset for my convertible.
Part 1 of the problem is people hearing you, which I've been waiting for this bone conducting tech.
Part 2 is you being able to hear them, and on the headset or two I tried a couple years ago, they just didn't sit snug in the ear like my Shure earbuds. How is the headset you mentioned as far as you hearing people?
Any chance of you testing this on the road Engadget?
The speaker in the Q7 is fantastic.
Because it sits so snug in the ear, you could probably operate a jackhammer and hear people just fine.
As far as people hearing you it's a bit more of a mixed bag. As Engadget said, people will say you sound a bit strange - some think it's a robot clone of you speaking. How you place it in the ear also greatly affects the sound. My ear-canals are apparently fairly big, so I have to be careful placing it, or the "baloon" with the bone-conduction mic doesn't get good contact. If it's not seated right, people can't hear you at all.
Can we get some availability/pricing info please?
it looks like a spaceship!
Any idea if this allows for streaming bluetooth mono music if the phone supports A2DP?
Price? Availability? Bueller?
I'm sure they'll post it once they have it.
Fry?
http://www.msgdigital.com/productdetail.asp?productid=47945&refid=froogle
Says $69.99
I just preordered one from there, they better not change the price.
Make that $99.99. Still beats the Jawbone's $129.99.
I've been looking for something to replace my Jawbone v2... this seems to be it.
I want one. Clever of Motorola to add regular mich tech rather than trying to perfect the sound quality of the bone conduction technology, and giving us a choice which to use. It's unclear to me whether this uses Invisio's soft spring technology to secure it inside the ear. If the price is 70-80 USD it's a bargain!
[s]Sweet![/s]
Interesting. But, probably not enough so to have me replace my SoundID 300 - which I like MUCH better than both my JB2 and my BlueAnt V1.
does it pair up with the G1?
Any words about comfort? I've read good things about the comfort of the Sound ID 200. Any comparison would be welcome.
They should put the technology in the design they used for the H5 from a couple of years ago. That was a great looking device, in fact probably the best looking BT headset ever made.
I don't get the whole "Extreme Noise Cancellation" fad that's going on. Do you really have conversations in places with so much noise that you are totally drowned out by the it.....I mean common' an iron foundry.....or a concert?!?!?! Why do you need this kind of stuff.....I mean can you really hear what's being said if Cannibal Carnivore is being blasted into your skull in one ear and a phone conversation in the other......can you concentrate about a call in that sort of place? Why would you want to talk on the phone anyway when being at a concert? The use case is stupid in my mind.....this is a engineering geek product with features in it which are only in it "just because we can"......
I think something like this would be ideal for me. I work from home which is great but sometimes you get a bit of cabin-fever. I'd love to be able to trek over to my local cafe just to work just to get out a little. Unfortunately the noise that comes with people talking, music blaring, and coffee grinders does not come across favorably to your boss or CEO that you're talking to on the phone. I've tried the Jawbone and various others and none of those block out the background noise completely. If this does that, then it is a "must buy" for me.
try the streets of manhattan. Honestly, the jawbone mk1 was good but not loud enough and usless on the street especially when raining. My next purchase was a blueant z1, which is total garbage. I mean, how do people love this headset; it's hard to hear, doesn't stay in the ear very well and the noise cancellation is worse than the jawbone.
Both these headsets fail the NYC street test - I want better and will definitely try the HX1
Can you mute/unmute right on the headset? I'm on a lot of conference calls and sometimes I need to be talking to someone in person while still half-listening to the conference call. The mute function on my Tilt phone is on the screen and it goes dark after several seconds forcing me to fumble with the phone. I called Jawbone and they don't have a mute function on their headset so that's a non-starter for me. I like the idea of background noise silenced while working in a cafe or other public place. I did recently get a convertible but I've pretty much given up on using my aging non-noise cancelling headset so I can't wait for this to be available.
Depending on who you want to believe, there are two pricings/availabilities (both preorder):
MSGDigital Retail Price: $119.99
Our Price: $99.99 Availability: 10/30/2009
OR
Mobilecityonline Retail Price: $149.99
Our Price:$129.99
Expected Arrival Date
Aug. 10, 2009
I'm not in anyway affiliated with either one of these companies, I just know after reading this review I want one badly. Hope it's sooner than August.
Any of these sets good for voice recognition with Dragon Naturalyspeaking? I would like to hear an audio demo of the sets discussed here.
I just started using Dragon and would like a wireless solution. They haven't tested any of these sets as far as I know.
This piece is hot. This site is the first place I have seen any actual review of this BT. I"m impressed and have already pre-ordered one at MCO. They have now pushed their date back to Sept.1 or thereabout.
Thx Chris for this review . It really gave me an insight on what to expect. Can't wait for this piece to be out. Keep digging into all these new gaggets and you,ve got an avid fan here in Bev Hills.
Seems like the prices are going up from what folks are posting. Every place now has them at $129.00. I am constantly on a cell phone and have to carry more than one headset and keep a wired headset handy if I wear both of mine out. I currently use a both Plantronics Voyager and Discovery headsets. I use the Voyager as my primary as people I talk to say they hear me clearer on it. The Discovery is more comfortable but its more important for folks to hear me than my comfort. I look forward to the HX1 coming out. I work from Starbucks and the like so having the noise canceling will come in handy on conference calls. Thanks for the review and the great comments.