It is another one headset that has behind-the-neck design. The headphones itself and the buttons look trendy enough, but the earpieces are too big. They are designed this way in order to avoid the interference of ambient noise, but due to this shape users call them “white eggs” (hehehe). So if you don't like such name, change their appearance with the help of the changeable color plates – orange, lime green, dark blue or red.

Controls 

The headband, albeit oversized, is flexible and can be folded, that's why they are easy to store. On the left earpiece you will see a Power on/off button, an indicator of charging status and DC jack. On the right one there are three buttons: Volume up/down and a button to make or receive calls. There is another one LED, much bigger, to indicate Bluetooth connection and pairing. To sum up, Blue: Power on mode; Red: Low power or being charged; Blue & Red: Pairing mode; Green: Full charged. The blue one flashes permanently while operating, and the indicator is too big to be not annoyed with it. I wonder, why manufacturers can't include the function of switching the light off – so many users are complaining, and there still are a lot of various headsets with constant flashing.

Calls

You can receive and make the phone calls due to auto-switching signal transmission technology and the built-in retractable microphone. If someone calls you while you're listening to the music, you hear a ring tone and can answer the call without touching the phone.

Dongle 

The Bluetake gives your non-Bluetooth device a chance to work with the headset. You'll have to plug the i-PHONO BT430 Bluetooth Hi-Fi Audio Dongle into your device which must have the built-in standard 3.5mm audio out jack. It can be MP3 / MD / CD player, PDA, PC, and so on. The package includes a piece of Velcro, so you can tie your device and the dongle together. The memory of the headphones is up to 6 devices.

Charging

Both the headset and the audio dongle have built-in rechargeable batteries. Bluetake provides multiple charging options. To recharge them (simultaneously or separately) you can use either AC adapter or USB cable included in the package, and you can listen to the music while charging. The life of battery is only 6,5 hours.

Package

The BT420EX retail box contains lots of things: BT420 Bluetooth Hi-Fi Sports Headphone, BT430 Bluetooth Hi-Fi Audio Dongle, 4 Extra Color Plate Series, Velcro Band, Velcro Tape, 1-to-2 Charging Y Cable, USB Charging Cable, AC/DC Charger, User's Manual and Exercise Outfitting Guide.

Good and Bad 

Well, as for the pros and cons I've detected... Firstly, no dropouts were noticed while listening near the audio source. However, the headset has a pitifully little range, it only takes to step 3 meters away, and the sound not only becomes intermittent, but also slows down. Secondly, you need to take the device with you, along with a dongle, as you can't stop/pause the music from your headset. If you want to make a pause in listening, you have to switch the headset off. Moreover, when you turn the headset off, you'll need then to connect it to your device again. In my case, after such re-connection the sound appeared to be considerably louder. I tried hysterically to reduce the volume and pushed the wrong button. In this moment I've learned, that if I push some other than the Volume on/off button (wait, there is the only one left – with receiver), the headset disconnects from my handheld. So, every time I confuse buttons, I have to re-connect the devices. VERY annoying. Also I've missed a lot the Next/Previous track button. The headphones don't support AVRCP protocol. As for the sound, it is not bad, but not perfect as well. Just normal. And the range is not too big – only 6 m.

The flawless pairing is one of headset's advantages. I paired it in a moment, without reading some user guides or whatever, just intuitively. You can start pairing either from the headset itself or from the dongle. But as for the phone, the pairing is much worse, and the quality of operation is miles from promised.

Not from my experience: users report an extremely sensitive Bluetooth adapter, unexpected cut off of headset, terrible sound and poor microphone level.

Furthermore, for the life of me I can't refrain from quoting Clint DeBoer. In his review he wrote: “The other thing that wore on me was my desire not to be seen wearing these headphones. Nearly everyone I met commented on how bizarre they looked on my head - a most unnatural and, as I mentioned earlier, un-cool look.” I've heard the same thing concerning myself.

It is one of the oldest Bluetooth headsets. This explains all the drawbacks of it. But the lowest base price is $180.00, which is too expensive for the bulky headset without Next/previous track button, as well as without Play/Pause one, but with low range and moderate sound.

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