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REVIEW: Comparing the Jawbone to the NX6000

Posted August 31, 2007 9:00 AM by Gregory Ng
Categories: reviews 


A few weeks ago I ranted and raved about the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. I know some people feel the ear fit is tough to work out but it works really well for me and I thought the sound was amazing.

After publishing the review, I was contacted by someone representing the Gennum NX6000 Bluetooth Headset. He had read my Jawbone review and asked if I would consider testing out this headset as a comparison.

Being one who always enjoys a little head to head showdown I agreed. Having just completed my testing and review of the Jawbone a few weeks ago, I decided to give the NX6000 a try.

I decided, based on reader complaints of the Jawbone that there were 2 main areas of consideration when comparing the 2: comfort and sound quality. I tested the NX6000 while driving home from work with my beloved Red Sox on the radio and the windows rolled down. My buddy on the other side of the call seemed to hear me well enough as I motored down the highway. He had no complaints. I did not tell him which one I was using at the time (sort of a Pepsi challenge). I kept it a secret because he had already voiced his dislike for the styling of the Jawbone. But when I then switched back to my Jawbone, and he actually said, “wow, that sounds better, which one is that?”

I then decided to really test out these headsets out using the ol’ roll only one window down so that the vibration of air makes you feel like your head will explode.  My conversation with the Jawbone in was met with the following quote, “Hey, why is Manny hurt again?” This of course is referring to Manny Ramirez whose oblique strain may sideline the leftfielder for 10 days. That’s irrelevant other than that when I switched to the NX6000 in the midst of the head exploding air sound, I received no response as my buddy hung up on me as the sound was “too annoying”.

2 things to note here: Do not try switching headsets while driving down the highway. Use a partner. And, even though the NX6000 has a better feature in that the noise cancellation is engaged at all times (you need to physically turn on the Noise Shield on the Jawbone) it is not as effective.

The NX6000 has the following line in their User’s Manual: “ For optimum results, face away from the loudest or closest noise sources when practical.” Most of the times I need my headset, it is not practical.

Now for the comfort. Many readers complained about the fit of the Jawbone around their ears. I personally had no issues after i found the right ear loop and ear nubbin thingy. The NX6000 comes with an extra earloop and 2 ear nips and I again, had no trouble getting it to fit. The unit is light and is compact enough to not feel like you have a super computer on your head.

Now for the price. The NX6000 sells for $140 and can be purchased here. The Jawbone is a few bucks cheaper.

The verdict? Although there was a sound difference, I feel the basic difference for users comes down to style. Many people are turned off by the styling of the Jawbone. My feeling is you aren’t hiding the fact you have something jammed in your ear, it might as well look cool not a black blob in your ear. Both units fit my ear fine but I have heard and read complaints from other readers that the ear fit is difficult in both units. 

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Comments

  1. So what product could be better to compliment [sic] your iPhone?

    Posted by Frank Green on September 1, 2007 8:15 PM

  2. I purchased and returned the jawbone within a week primarily because I found the controls difficult to actuate and the headset clunky to wear. I was not aware that the noise “shield” had to be activated manually. Maybe I will give it another try some time in the future when Jawbone has its quality control issues ironed out.

    <on soapbox>
    In the meantime, it would really be nice if someone would build a noise cancelling bluetooth earpiece that had a voice tube capable of extending to my mouth. (Okay, how about a removeable voice tube for those who don’t want it.)

    In all my years using headset and earphone sets, the very best ones had the AT&T style voice tube which not only captures the user’s voice but, by its very design, mechanically eliminates most background noise.

    I actually modified a Jabra X10 with a voice tube and got significantly improved results. I only wish someone would get a clue and do the same.
    </off soapbox>

    Posted by Jeff Gomberg on September 3, 2007 10:38 AM

  3. About the noise shield function, I have to point out a correction.  The noise shield function on the jawbown is ON by default.

    Posted by Tom on September 14, 2007 11:30 AM

  4. Re: Jawbone

    Pro:
    Noise cancelation is good.
    Cons:
    1-The metal ear loops broke without provokation on both of my right sided ear-loops.
    2-The black casing of the proximal end slipped off, remaining in the charger, when disconnecting Jawbone from it’s charger. (Crazy Glue fixed the problem)
    3-The ear loops need to be longer in order to curve around the ear & softer (near gel type) ear buds would help for a tailored fit.

    BTW
    Aliph did not respond when I requested info for an article to be published in a national publication.

    Posted by Troy B. Williams on October 20, 2007 8:00 PM

  5. The Jawbone is great as I still am able to like it after 8 months of rugged use in an outdoor agriculture based environment. Yet there is much room to grow in the areas of 1. The ear loop,have broken 9 to date and have 8 more on order. I adapt all ear loops for my right ear. Large, small, left or right it doesn’t matter they all break in the same place. Can you say JUNK. They need better engineering. 2. Charger. Who designed this? It takes 3 minutes to hook mine up. Heck all it needs is a port to plug in a small male adapter, like how Motorola did theirs. Over engineered JUNK. Other than that the operation has been flawless ahd noise cancelation is GREAT !!! note: replacement loops are too expensive.

    Posted by derek hoelscher on November 2, 2007 11:58 AM

  6. I tried 4 different Jawbone headsets. All of them were terrible for me. People constantly complained they couldnt understand what I was saying. The Jawbone works for many but not everyone. The curve of your face plays an important role here. I have a long egg shaped style and this headset wont work for me no matter what I tried.
    I agree with one poster. Just come out with a headset that actually is near the mouth. I dont think people who really need a noise canceling headset care about how it looks. I just need it to work so clients do not hear all the noise.

    Posted by Wahlen on November 15, 2007 9:26 AM

  7. I justpurchased a jawbone today, so I will post later the results. I have tried a couple of other earpieces, and all have not performed like the ales people promised they would. If the jawbone doesn’t work , I will forget about them all

    Posted by kenny shaw on January 12, 2008 5:39 PM

  8. Sorry for a dumb question, but I really can’t get, what BTW is?…

    Posted by Fred C Lehman on May 5, 2008 3:18 PM

  9. "BTW” means “By the way”

    Posted by Jeff Gomberg on May 12, 2008 6:05 PM

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