Jonathan Takiff: Go 'hands-free' with Bluetooth cell phone devices

THE GIZMO: Bluetooth headsets.

LOOK OUT! Do we really need an expensive study to tell us that driving while talking on a mobile phone is dangerous to life and limb?

We shouldn't even need laws - already on the books in 14 states and about to be enforced in Philadelphia, starting Nov. 1 - that make it a crime to hold a mobile phone to your ear while driving.

What we do need is a good performing and relatively cool looking Bluetooth wireless headset to convince us that "hands-free" calling is the way to go. Yes, activating the Bluetooth communications feature on your mobile phone to link wirelessly with just such a headset will drain the phone's battery faster and take an extra button tap to get going.

But using a "hands-free" headset is way more pleasant when taking a long call. You can stash the phone in your pocket, or even walk 30-plus feet away from it. And the life you save (and tickets you avoid) may be your own.

SECRETS OF THE TRADE: What makes a good Bluetooth headset?

_ An easy linkup with your mobile phone.

_ A light, comfortable design that can handle a long drive.

_ Easy-to-use buttons.

_ Enough (rechargeable) battery power to keep a jabber jolted for several hours.

Beyond the basics, the microphone should be of the "miniboom" variety - not just a little doodad on the earpiece or earphone cord (like the one that came with your mobile phone) but a real mike that swivels toward your mouth.

And if you can get a wireless headset that has built-in noise suppression circuitry to block road noise (or your vehicle's climate-control fan), so much the better.

PLANTRONICS IS ON THE CASE: I've been using a Plantronics deskphone headset for years and know the brand makes serious gear that really lasts.

So when the company offered me two new Bluetooth headset models to compare, I jumped at the chance. Both proved good performers, each with its own design philosophy.

The Plantronics Discovery 975 ($129) is smaller, lighter (8 grams or 0.3 ounce) and more fashionably discreet.

A loop-topped silicon ear tip holds the device in place without the need for around-the-ear support. Two subtly placed buttons run the whole show. AudioIQ adjusts incoming calls to a comfortable volume and equalizes the sound to reduce tinniness and sibilance (fuzziness on the "s" and "f").

This circuitry also cancels background noise (up to a claimed 80 decibels) with a dual microphone system, essentially subtracting the extraneous sound not coming from the louder (primary) microphone.

Coolest feature of this Bluetooth headset is the built-in recharging battery hidden inside the small, supplied carrying case. This power booster essentially triples the device's five-hour talk time to 15 hours before the whole system needs to be recharged with the supplied AC adapter. A tiny LED screen on the case shows charging status.

The other Plantronics Bluetooth headset I've been testing is the Voyager Pro ($99). It's a bit bigger, with a higher-capacity battery (six hours) hiding inside the rubberized pod that wraps around the ear.

There's room on this case for separate up/down volume buttons. And the more easily swiveled boomlet mike is more obvious in a high-tech way. When you use it while walking down the street, it's clear that you're not talking to yourself!

Though heavier (17.5 grams), I found the Voyager Pro more comfortable to wear. Its weight is evenly dispersed and the silicon ear tip doesn't tug. It has no protective case, but Plantronics swears the Pro will take a licking and keep on ticking. This headset folds so flat, I forgot it was hiding in my shirt pocket.

MORE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER: The Zivio Boom ($129.95) has a thin, telescoping "whip" of a microphone that extends close to the mouth but could poke an eye out if you're not careful!

I admire its modernistic appearance, with outside mounted buttons.

Battery life is longer than most - 10 hours. Noise reduction is just OK.

Proportions on the boom-mike Cobra Deluxe Bluetooth Headset ($119.95) are XXX-large. Worn with an over-the-head support band, it looks like something a big-rig driver (or sports coach) would favor.

Best news is that the sound is clear and loud enough to overcome a heavy diesel's roar, and the rechargeable battery is good to go for eight hours.

The wee Mobile Edge Comfort Fit ($59.99) lacks a couple of features I prize: active noise reduction and a boom-style mike.

But it's nicely priced, comfortable and as close to invisible as a Bluetooth headset gets. Expect five hours of talk time before dropping it into the supplied charging dock.

Several reviewers have awarded top honors to the Jawbone Prime ($129.99).

Sound quality and noise suppression are major appeals, along with a spiffy patterned case in a choice of colors. But this Bluetooth headset lacks the extending boom mike feature I like, and battery life is skimpy at 3.5 hours.

Send e-mail to takiffj@phillynews.com.