Headset heaven

I did my testing on an iPhone 3G because it works with multiple Bluetooth devices. I also tried each headset in a variety of settings: in the office, on a dock, by the pool at my beach house, driving in my convertible with the top up and with it down. I drove my assistant, Candace, crazy with constant calls to check the sound quality. She was glad to see this test come to an end.

The first thing I noticed when unpacking the devices was how much their design had improved since the bad old days. In particular, the Jawbone and the BlueAnt (both $130), with their simple, smooth, rectangular shapes, would not seem out of place in a modern art museum. I was not ashamed to wear these babies in public.

The Plantronics ($100) was the loser in terms of design and comfort. Its bulky housing, which fits behind the ear, is about double the size of that part on the others, and I could not get the device to feel secure. Still, the sound quality was above average, thanks to the larger speaker.

NEXT: Voice control