The Svelte Sexy Stereo Wireless Wonder…

It is a very real pleasure to host this as our first review as we return to the Gadget arena.

I tend to be a fan of Jabra generally - good quality products that do what they say on the tin and usually with enough design sense to let you know they’re still thinking, not just churning stuff out so when offered the Jabra HALO to trial, frankly I bit their hand off.

As always, the instructions were wonderfully clear and simple, as is the device itself.
2hrs charge time - little things like this make all the difference. How often have we all purchased mobile phones and wondered how long the initial charge time should be. If you want to see what I mean, google “How long should I charge my BlackBerry Curve 8900 for?” Chumps.

Next I picked up the headset.
Rapture!
Dark, smooth, soft… svelte is so the word for this gadget. Beautifully lined, light in weight, I was ecstatic bar one concern - what was the sound quality like?

Seldom has two hours seemed so long!
Finally, with no fuss whatsoever, I paired it with the HTC (Touch HD) and booted up the music player.

There are occasions when reviewing gadgets that I find myself near speechless. In some cases it’s because of the technological disaster I am facing and in others, like the Jabra HALO, it’s from pure delight.
Loud (I couldn’t take it up to full volume, such was its range),
Clear (I heard instruments and intonations that had completely escaped me previously!),
Bass thrilling (listening to Chicane later beside the roar of a Locomotive at Paddington Main Line Station, the music was overwhelming and I felt like I was in a club!) without any discernable distortion whatsoever.

Back to the office, wind howling, I called PI and she reported that the conversation was clear - the wind interfering no more than had I been speaking directly into my phone. Background Noise Reduction - tick.

Into the office and whack up the volume again - did my colleagues beside me cringe at the tinny sound emanating from my direction? No! I asked them if it was intrusive and they seemed puzzled until I passed the headset over and they realised the volume I had it on. Impressed looks all round.

The controls have however taken a tinsy-wincy little getting used to - although I must clarify immediately that this doesn’t dent my enthusiasm for this device even 1%.
The controls are touch sensitive with a bar beside your right ear to up / down volume and double-tap to go forward or backwards on track choice. A couple of times I near deafened myself!
This evening stood on the Tube (not long after the guy in StarBucks had admiringly said “Nice headset” - best compliment I’d had all day) I must have looked ridiculous tapping the side of my head repetitively trying to master the track jump function… Street cred slightly dented.

The only real letdown was the case that comes with it, when you fold the device up. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention this - the HALO collapses down nice and neatly, jacket pocket stuff-able! The case is a fidget, albeit reassuringly padded but with a cruddy Velcro seal. It shows an unusual lack of thought from a company I have come to expect a great deal from - and it is only because of this that this gadget gets anything less than 10/10.

I’ve worn the headset now for some 4 hours of commuting, 2+ hours of telephone calls and still not a sign of batteries fading.

Tech spec’s are in the link below but I’d offer this: -
The device is super slinky - think Yummy Mummy / City Professional but with a quality that also screams “I take my music seriously” and you have the Jabra HALO.
Now, could I please have ten more sets as special gifts please - because this is one gadget I’d give to the special people in my life with pride (and they sure as hell aren’t getting their hands on mine!)

On release in the UK this month and if you’re a music fan whilst on the go, exceptionally good value.

For more information see www.jabra.com
RRP - £99.99

Edit: - having worn the gadget for a further three weeks, they’re still getting lots of great comments about appearance and people who are somewhat more professionally into their music have also borrowed my pair and responded with really positive feedback