| BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Handsfree Kit |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Phones | Handheld | |
| Written by Hank Tolman - Edited by Olin Coles | |
| Monday, 19 October 2009 | |
BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Handsfree KitBluetooth handsfree kits are becoming quite commonplace these days. What sets one kit apart from the others? What are the key features that a consumer should look for when buying a Bluetooth kit? These are some of the questions that will be addressed as Benchmark Reviews dives into the BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Handsfree Kit. BlueAnt has made a name for itself recently through a series of successful and feature rich Bluetooth devices. No less is expected of the Supertooth 3, of course. Cell phone laws are rapidly becoming more and more restrictive. At the time of this writing, 36 states have some sort of cell phone restriction while using a motor vehicle. This up from 24 states just a year ago. The hands-free revolution is well under way. Some people even wear a Bluetooth headset practically from the time they wake up in the morning. For those of us less fashionable than they are, handsfree kits are more our style. We are constantly looking for the best in quality, versatility, and function for our inevitable daily phone use. Enter the BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Handsfree Kit. Released last year, this device was an upgraded version of their hit Supertooth Light kit. Benchmark Reviews has tested the Supertooth 3 extensively over the past few weeks to see if it can meet the needs of the cell phone users, both casual and talkative.
The Supertooth 3 is BlueAnt's sleekest and most elegant Bluetooth device yet. The list of features on it is quite impressive. With BlueAnt's track record behind it, it is not likely to disappoint. Let's see if it can stand up to the rigorous line-up Benchmark Reviews has in store for it. About BlueAntHeadquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and with offices in San Francisco and London, BlueAnt Wireless is a market leading designer and distributor of Bluetooth devices and accessories. We pride ourselves on developing high-performance, cutting-edge products that are easy to use and work straight out of the box. With a BlueAnt device you "simply connect". Our technology teaches you how to use your device, without the need to read a complicated manual, leaving you free to get on with your life. Our current product range includes the world's first voice controlled Bluetooth headset, sophisticated car speakerphones with multipoint and text to speech technology, and stereo audio speakers. We aim to simplify every aspect of your mobile communications experience by giving you best-in-class noise cancellation and voice isolation, as well as innovative voice control features. We are so confident in our products that we offer a full two year warranty and provide unprecedented customer service. If you have a problem getting your BlueAnt product working, give us a call and one of our team members will talk you through any difficulty you may have. Bluetooth Handsfree Kit Features
Supertooth 3 SpecificationsGeneral Specifications
Frequency
Battery
Weight
Dimensions
Package Contents
Closer Look: BlueAnt Supertooth 3When the Supertooth 3 arrived, I noticed a couple things right off the bat. First, I wasn't sure what size of a device to expect. Some handsfree kits are large and bulky, as if all the features need more room to fit. In my opinion, the original Supertooth device looked somewhat bulky. Other devices are tiny, because smaller is better right? Well, I certainly don't like feeling as though I might break a device I could be using quite a bit. Also, tiny devices tend to have tiny buttons, which makes things especially difficult while driving.
The Supertooth 3, however, surprised me quite nicely when it arrived and fit right in the palm of my hand. The buttons were a perfect size for my fingers. I certainly wouldn't have any trouble pressing them while driving. Even the smaller volume buttons were large enough to press each one singly, instead of fumbling around and hitting both at the same time.
The second thing I noticed was the size of the packaging. It seemed a little large for the Supertooth 3. Even with the accessories, the packaging is quite extensive. But it does show off the Supertooth 3 very nicely. The device is suspended in plastic in the upper half of the package, showing off its shape and features from all sides. The cylindrical shape of the package almost resembles the BlueAnt Supertooth 3 itself, tipped on its side. The bottom half of the package is reserved for the accessories and documentation. So upon further inspection, what seemed like too large a package ended up fitting the device quite nicely.
The Supertooth 3 really has a simple yet elegant design. Its curving body has evolved from the boxy original Supertooth shape. The colored answer and end call buttons makes quickly distinguishing the right one very easy. The buttons are slightly raised and made of a clear plastic that clashes enough with the black surrounding it that it is even easy to find the buttons in the dark, yet it is subtle enough not to be noticeable during the day. The BlueAnt logo is also colored, as are the LEDs located just under the buttons. The rest of the body is black and the rest of the writing is white. The sparse use of color really enhances the elegance of the Supertooth 3 while maintaining a sleek, professional attitude.
BlueAnt's Supertooth 3 is very lightweight as well, yet it is rugged enough for prolonged use. It weighs just 4 oz, but the sturdy body offers plenty of protection. The Supertooth 3 is attached to your visor using a clip and two strong magnets. The clip maintains excellent pressure on the visor and the magnets are surprisingly firm. There is no fear at all of losing the Supertooth 3 off your visor during a sharp turn, or even during off-roading adventures. SUV drivers will be happy to know there is Bluetooth device that can take the punishment they can deal out. The Supertooth 3 boasts 15 hours of talk time and up to 800 hours of standby time. I can't confirm or deny the validity of these numbers, but I can vouch for one thing; I have been testing the Supertooth 3 for 3 weeks now, and today was the first time it needed to be charged. The great part about the charger is that it is a USB plug. This means that the DC adapter I already have for my camera and various other electronic devices will work for the Supertooth 3 as well. I don't have to add another cable to my inventory. On top of the that, the Supertooth 3 comes with a 2 year warranty from BlueAnt. They really believe in their device. And after using it, I do too. Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Handsfree Kit Detailed FeaturesThe BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Handsfree Kit comes with an impressive feature set. The folks at BlueAnt really wanted to keep the name they had made for themselves and didn't skimp in the least on the Supertooth 3. The list starts off with the text to speech feature, which actually came in very handy. The Supertooth actually announces your caller if they are in your contact list. If not, it'll read off the number of the incoming call. This makes the Supertooth 3 not only handsfree, but like it advertises on the box, eyesfree as well. You don't have to take your eyes off the road at all to see who is calling.
That brings up another really handy feature, the contact list importation feature. To pair a phone to the Supertooth 3, you just need to turn it on. The first time it turns on, the Supertooth goes into pairing mode. Then it will ask you to pick from its six language options, American English, British English, Spanish, French, German, or Italian. Then it will give you a code to input when you find the Supertooth under your Bluetooth devices in your phone. After that, the Supertooth 3 will automatically connect to the phone's contact list and download it. If your phone doesn't support the automatic contact download, you can do it manually. Some phones don't support phonebook transfer at all, in which case the text to speech will only say the incoming number.
Another great feature is the voice answer feature. This is yet another feature that makes the Supertooth 3 is completely handsfree and eyesfree device. Instead of pushing a button to answer the call, you can simply say "Answer", "Accept", or even "OK" to answer the phone. Be careful, though, you have to wait for the beep after the Supertooth announces your caller. I made the mistake the first few times of speaking too early and the call didn't pick up. So here is the sequence, you'll hear the ring, the Supertooth will announce the call then it will beep. After that you can answer the call by saying any of those things listed above. Other words might work as well, but I haven't experimented with that yet.
Another nice feature of the Supertooth 3 is the automatic reconnection feature. The device senses vibrations from the car door opening and closing and automatically goes into pairing mode when you get into the car. While this is a great feature, and very useful, it is also about the most annoying part of the device. As soon as it is paired, the Supertooth 3 says "Connected to phone" in an extremely computerized and monotone voice. My wife and I laugh about it each time the device pairs with the phone. It's certainly not a deal breaker, but with a handsfree kit this feature rich, there has to be something to complain about.
The microphone on the Supertooth 3 claims to provide noise and echo cancellation. I can't prove that its true, but I can certainly say with conviction that the voice quality talking on the Supertooth 3 is far superior to any Bluetooth device I have used before, including headsets. It doesn't completely get rid of the sounds of the road or the wind, but it does reduce them. In fact, I was better able to hear my wife talking through the Supertooth 3 than through either the speakerphone function on her iPhone or through the handset itself. I've experimented various times while calling people. I will change from the Supertooth 3 to my speakerphone function, then to the handset function during the call. Each time the feedback I get is that the best voice quality is while using the Supertooth 3. They also say the wind and ambient noise is louder with the Supertooth than with the handset, but voice quality is still better. And ambient noise is not as bad as with the speakerphone in any event.
The speakers on the Supertooth 3 also provide surprisingly clear and loud audio output. I haven't had any trouble hearing or understanding the people on the other end of the call. Many of the Bluetooth devices I have used end up garbling or blurring the other caller, making a conversation nearly impossible. Not so with the Supertooth 3. It was relieving that I didn't have to switch back to handset mode a few seconds into an important call. Bluetooth Handsfree Kit Final ThoughtsSo the BlueAnt Supertooth 3 does not disappoint. It easily maintains the sturdy and feature rich name that BlueAnt has build for itself. The call through the Supertooth 3 is crystal clear on both ends, even if ambient noise isn't completely eradicated. While hands free is good, the eyes free that the Supertooth 3 provides is that much better, giving you an environment where your eyes never have to leave the road or your hands the steering wheel, almost. The BlueAnt Supertooth 3 claims to support voice dialing, but that's not exactly true. The voice dialing is actually through your phone, as long as it supports it. With the capability to download your contacts and read them to you as they call in, I can't imagine it would be that much difficult to integrate voice dialing. But maybe it is. My phone's voice dialing capability never was that impressive, so I just don't use it. Also, there is the issue of monotony. I chose the American English language when the Supertooth 3 first started up, but now I am re-thinking my decision. I don't know if the other voices are just as monotone and annoying as the American English voice is, but I certainly don't look forward to hearing "Connected to Phone" in that voice when I get in the car. An vocal upgrade is imperative. Other than that, though, there really isn't room for complaint. BlueAnt has really shown us what it takes to make a hands free device that shines: Features! Text to speech, contact list copying, voice answer, noise and echo cancellation, the Supertooth 3 seemingly has it all. It is certainly the best hands free device I have used and I am completely giving up my myriad of headsets for it. Still, all the features that make this device so great are really just old news all bundled together. The Supertooth 3 is coming of age now, as far as electronics are concerned, and I can only guess what BlueAnt might have in store for us.
BlueAnt Supertooth 3 ConclusionWhere performance is concerned, the Supertooth 3 really shines. BlueAnt has set a standard with their previous devices and didn't skimp on their latest edition. Voice quality on the receiving end of the call is excellent, though the noise cancellation doesn't cut out all ambient noise. The speakers provide great quality for listening over the noise of the road. The feature set is unbeatable, providing an excellent overall hands and eyes free experience. The BlueAnt Supertooth 3 is stunningly elegant. It sheds the cornered, boxy look of its predecessor and takes on a more curvaceous appeal. The shiny black enamel that covers the entire device gives it a sleek, professional appearance. The small dabs of color add to the overall effect. In all honesty, there isn't anything I would change about the appearance of the Supertooth 3. I think it's rather stunning. One of the nice parts of the cylindrical block style of the Supertooth 3 is that it makes the device feel comfortably secure. It's big enough to hold onto without fear of breaking, yet it is small enough to fit easily into the palm of your hand. The strong magnets and tight clip keep it securely fastened to visor. However, if it were to fall off for any reason, I am very confident that the Supertooth 3 could withstand the abuse without any problem. The Supertooth 3 has features all right. Plenty of them. From voice answering to noise cancellation, it has everything that makes a Bluetooth device worth using. With so many cell phone laws going into effect all the time, features are certainly the thing that will sell devices. And BlueAnt has pegged the market with so many. If only they could get a better voice. I certainly can't wait for the next model. The BlueAnt Supertooth 3 sells for $79.99 at NewEgg.com at the time of this writing. That is a little on the high end of Bluetooth hands free kits, but not too much. Especially considering all the features it has to offer. Still, with this recession hitting the wallet like it is, a less expensive device, sans a few features, might be a little more appealing to some. Though the price is a little higher than some other devices, I highly recommend the Supertooth 3, if for nothing else than for the exquisite call quality. I have looked long and hard for a hands free device to meet my needs and both me and those I keep in touch with, the Supertooth 3 has outdone them all. Pros:
|
|
Comments