 "i.Tech BlueBand")
We’ve been talking about Bluetooth A2DP for too long on the site, but we haven’t actually reviewed any compatible headsets yet. That’s changed now, as we have the i.Tech BlueBand, a pair of A2DP compatible wireless headphones, for review.
For those who came in late, A2DP is Advanced Audio Distribution Profile—a method by which compatible Bluetooth devices can wirelessly transmit and receive stereo audio in higher quality than the normal mono handsfree or headset profile.
The BlueBand is a soft and flexible pair that’s also extremely light, coming right under 70 grams. This makes it comfortable to wear for prolonged periods. However, the band rests on the lower part of your head or above your neck (depending on the size of your head) and that puts a little pressure on your earlobes. If the band was to rest on the top of your head (like conventional headphones), the BlueBand would have been much more comfortable since they are so light. The headphones can also be folded for easy storage.
The right side earpiece has buttons which are used for volume control, pairing and answering phonecalls. There are no playback controls on the set as it doesn’t support AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile).
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The BlueBand supports Bluetooth v1.2 and can handle Headset, Handsfree and A2DP profiles. Headset and Handsfee profile support means you can also use it with your phone to answer phonecalls (yeah, it has a microphone). When you get a call during listening to music, the BlueBand beeps and you can answer the call by clicking the button on the side.
Pairing was quite a painless procedure. It is detailed in the provided users manual.
The BlueBand is compatible with any phone, media player or even a PC, provided the device supports A2DP. We tried it with the Sony Ericsson W950i and it worked as expected.
The BlueBand does NOT come bundled with an adapter or with a 3.5mm stereo jack that can make any normal device (such as an iPod) instantly A2DP compatible. The adapter has to be purchased separately, adding to the cost. The Plantronics Pulsar 590As come bundled with an adapter.
On the other hand, the BlueBand also comes with a software for Series 60 smartphones, which enables older non-A2DP phones (such as the 6600) to communicate with the headphones. The BluePlayer software emulates A2DP over the older phones, which is a very interesting approach.
The BlueBand is not a bad sounding pair of headphones, but I wasn’t too impressed with the quality. Needless to say, I was playing high-quality MP3s on the W950i. I’ve used the Plantronics Pulsar 590As which sounded better. But once again I iterate that they are not bad sounding. If you don’t demand absolute studio-quality sound from your portable gear, then the BlueBand might sound just fine to you.
The BlueBand comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that’s expected to last up to 7.5 hours and it actually over performs in this department. I started playing a bunch of tracks (a LOT of tracks) at around 8pm after I left from work and I remember waking up at 4am when the W950i died. The BlueBand did not!
The i.Tech BlueBand wireless headphones cost around Rs. 5000. While they are a decent performing pair of A2DP headphones, the Plantronics Pulsar 590As which cost around Rs. 9,000 are a better bet because they come with an adapter for non-Bluetooth audio devices and it also supports AVRCP for controlling music from afar. Also, as unnecessary as it is to mention, the Plantronics sound a lot better than the i.Tech.