Review: Jabra WAVE

Introduction:

The Jabra WAVE is the Bluetooth headset that might be your savior on a windy day, or that is what its manufacturer is reassuring us. Retailing at around $60, the headset's main selling point is its ability to work exceptionally well in windy environments thanks to the shape of its boom microphone and the DSP (digital signal processing) algorithms that it incorporates. Needless to say, we couldn't leave the Jabra WAVE untested so we gave it a chance to impress us, but did it succeed? That will become apparent at the end of our review. Now, lets start by taking a closer look at the unit itself.

Jabra WAVE package and contents

Design:

The crescent-shaped Jabra WAVE has been designed to remain mostly hidden behind your ear while a boom microphone extends forward towards the user's mouth. We do agree that the headset is relatively big when compared to other models, but in reality, that isn't that much of a drawback because the WAVE feels much lighter than one would expect. At 0.46 ounces or 13 grams, it may be heavier than many other headsets out there, but thanks to proper weight distribution and a wise choice of materials, the WAVE does not put a strain on your ear. Unfortunately, we cannot quite say that you will stop noticing it entirely. The headset can be felt at most times because of the large contact area with your ear.

		With RIM BlackBerry Curve 8520
The Jabra WAVE is able to work exceptionally well in windy environments thanks to the shape of its boom microphone

The Jabra WAVE's plastic body has a soft touch finish added to it, and the side, which is supposed to firmly hug your ear, has been rubberized in order to provide a tight grip. These rubberized areas may be prone to collecting dirt and dust, but thanks to that extra bit of friction that they provide, the headset would barely move no matter how much you turn and twist. However, the wobbly earphone, which is supposed to lay on top of your ear canal, simply feels like it is going to come off any moment. Luckily, the second eargel that has been included in the set has a longer tip and feels a bit more comfortable. Once you get used to the headset, you should have no troubles wearing it for long periods of time.

On top of the Jabra WAVE we find a dedicated on/off switch, which is something that we do not get to see quite often on Bluetooth headsets. Right underneath it is a microUSB port that is used for charging the internal battery, but its cover is so flimsy that it falls off by itself most of the time. We are also treated to a well exposed 2-button volume rocker and a couple of LED lights that indicate the device's battery level and status. So how do you answer calls you might ask. Well, something that we were quite happy to find is that the boom microphone also has a button on its tip – pressing it picks up and hangs up calls. We can gladly say that finding the button with your finger could not be any easier.

On top of the Jabra WAVE we find a dedicated on/off switch and a microUSB port

Now that we know that the Jabra WAVE is not something that you might be embarrassed to wear in public, let's find out if it really delivers the superior audio quality that it should.
Performance:

Achieving clear sound under strong gusts of wind can be a challenge for any Bluetooth headset, but does the Jabra WAVE really stand out of the crowd? Well, frankly it successfully eliminates a great amount of wind noise, especially if a foam sock is used on the boom microphone. Unfortunately, even though the other party could pick whatever we were saying without much effort, our voice did not sound as loud as one would expect it to be. Besides that, we did sound a bit digitized and unnatural on the other side of the line, probably because  the headset's DSP processing was manipulating the sounds in some way. Nevertheless, we could hear the other party loud and clear without even the need to turn the headset's volume up to the maximum. Overall, the sound quality that the WAVE delivered was pretty good, yet still not exceptional enough to leave us speechless.

The Jabra WAVE is rated for 6 hours of continuous talk time, which is not the highest figure that we have ever seen, but it should be more than enough to last you throughout a day or even two of heavy usage. Few thing that bother us, however, are that the charger's cable is a bit shorter than it should be, and that a microUSB cable for charging from a USB port has been inexplicably omitted from the set.


Conclusion:

The Jabra WAVE seems suitable for those of you, who are fans of the professional looking behind-the-ear design, and who need nothing more than a reliable Bluetooth headset that can be used for a whole day at a time. With its good wind noise reduction capabilities and fair price, the Jabra WAVE will definitely gain a lot of fans. Our only major complaints are that the earphone does not fit perfectly over the user's ear, and that our voices were simply not heard loud enough on the other side of the line. That being said, make sure you try the Jabra WAVE on your ear before you buy it, and if it feels right, then purchasing one will not be something you will regret.