Content area
Full Text
While it's fairly common to see people walking around with Bluetooth headsets fixed to their ears, looking as if they're speaking to themselves, Bluetooth headphones are not that ubiquitous-at least not yet.
I define a set of headphones (as opposed to a headset) as a device that sends the audio to both ears, with stereo sound. One reason for the lack of available headphones is the lack of Bluetooth-enabled audio players. However, now that so many MP3 player-handset combos are hitting the market, there's a need for such a product. Enter the Bluetake iPhono mini (BT450Rx), which retails for $89.95.
The Bluetake iPhono mini sits somewhere between ear buds and full-size headphones. The set consists of a pair of speakers that fit around each ear, connected by a wire (but obviously untethered to the audio player). An added benefit to these headphones is that they double as a microphone. Hence, if you use them with your MP3-enabled handset and a call comes in, you simply switch over to "phone" mode without skipping a beat.
For the price and the comfort that they afford, the sound quality is acceptable. I must admit that I had a difficult time getting them connected to my music source, however: The software wasn't the easiest to use.
Single-IC radio, baseband
Aside from end-user issues, Bluetake's design is simple and well-engineered. The component count is minimal, thanks largely to the use of an RFMD Bluetooth controller IC. Since this headset is a second-generation product, the designers have already experienced and worked through some of the initial engineering pains. In particular, the microphone is hidden...