Jaybird Freedom Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds with Secure Fit-Bluetooth Headset – Retail Packaging – Midnight Black
Jaybird Freedom Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds with Secure Fit-Bluetooth Headset - Retail Packaging - Midnight Black
- Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Ear-Buds with microphone
- For stereo music and phone calls with built in microphone. Music controls include play, pause, next track and previous track.
- Secure Fit, Shake proof, Comes with extra ear tips
- Warm bass and premium sound with easy to access volume control.
- Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat
- For stereo music and phone calls with built in microphone.
- For stereo music and phone calls with built in microphone. Music controls include play, pause, next track and previous track. Phone call controls include; answer, reject call. Music will automatically pause and then resume after phone call.
- Music controls include play, pause, next track and previous track.
- Phone call controls include; answer, reject call. Music will automatically pause and then resume after phone call.
- Phone call controls include; answer, reject call.Music will automatically pause and then resume after phone call.
 | US $7.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 14:17:33 PST Buy It Now for only: US $12.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $5.69 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 14:17:42 PST Buy It Now for only: US $6.26 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Good but could be much better,
I’ve owned a pair of these earbuds for about a month. I bought them to replace an aging Motorola S9-HD headset. Comparing the two is a bit like comparing apples and oranges as they’re completely different physical architectures, but here are a few things that may affect your buying decision of the Jaybird Freedoms.
Let’s start with the things that are a plus for this product.
1. They paired with my iPhone easily, and re-pair each morning perfectly without any fenagling or necessity to cycle Bluetooth on and off. This wasn’t always true of the Motorola headset.
2. The sound quality is excellent. With one exception that I’ll talk about below, these are great for music or spoken word (audio books.)
3. They do appear to be impervious to sweat, although time will have to be the determinate of that. The warranty is for the life of the headset, so if they do go bad from moisture, Jaybird will replace them.
4. They charge really fast. I use them for about 4 hours a week and recharge them after my last run. They’re charged and ready for the next week in under an hour. Jaybird only supplies a short USB cable for charging with your computer, but I’ve connected that cable to an iPhone AC adapter and then the earbuds, and they charge just fine. This will be important if you travel and don’t take your laptop with you. Otherwise you won’t be able to use them after the battery is exhausted. For the record, the Motorola S9 and S10 come with a plug-in charger, not just a USB cable.
Here are some of the downsides of the Jaybird Freedoms.
1. If you’re exercising with an armband to hold your MP3 device, it really needs to be on your right arm. The Bluetooth transmitter for the the earbuds is in the right earbud and putting your device on your left arm will cause intermittent dropouts, especially when you raise your arm, e.g. weights. As soon as you open the package, you’ll see a notice about this, but inexplicably, there is nothing on their website or product description that warns you about this limitation. The same warning comes if you’re planning on keeping your device in your pocket, so be forewarned that you need to keep your MP3 relatively close to the right earbud.
2. The LED indicator on the right earbud is itsy bitsy teensy weensy. I’d venture to say it’s the size of a pinpoint. Why the LED couldn’t be more prominent is beyond me, but you’ll need to know exactly where it is and what you’re looking for in order to see it. I use a lot of electronics, and this is the smallest LED I’ve ever seen. In addition, there are only two colors (red and blue) so there is no way of knowing the current battery level with the LEDs. I assume the idea was to make the design as elegant as possible, but in my opinion, this is one of those cases of form over function.
3. These need to fit tightly if they’re not going to come out, or be constantly fiddled with, during your run. Walking doesn’t dislodge them, but running can cause them to slowly work their way out of your ear. I found I had to use the largest earbud and earpiece that came with the Jaybird and they now stay in solidly. I think I have an average size ear, based on other headsets I’ve used. If you have a large ear canal or ear, these may not work for you. The Motorola S9 and S10 are held in place because they are part of a rigid earphone assembly. My experience with the Motorola is that they would stay in place during a nuclear explosion. Not quite true of the Jaybirds.
4. Terrible packaging. I know that Jaybird would dispute this statement, but I had a great deal of trouble figuring out how to open the package and get to the earphones. The clear tape that secures the plastic cover isn’t at all evident (it’s along the top edge), so it takes some searching to figure out where to slice it to get the plastic cover off the the package. The problem is compounded because the instructions are jammed tightly between the box and the plastic cover, and it needs to be removed to get the plastic off. That’s assuming that you’ve figured out that the black wedge actually is a printed brochure. If the idea was to emulate Apple in elegant packaging, this one is a dismal failure. If the packaging was outsourced to a design firm, I’d fire them tomorrow. Apple wannabes.
I don’t know how good Jaybird’s customer service is or isn’t since I haven’t had to use it, but when I tried to submit this review on their website, it never got published. It’s interesting since there are several reviews there that tell of problems that customers have had with the headset, including bad wiring and outright failure. If a company is too defensive about customer feedback, especially when they ask for customer reviews, it makes me a bit suspicious about how good their customer service really is, or isn’t. From what I can see and have read, they’re responsive to defective…
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|truly sweat-proof bluetooth earphones, still getting used to the fit,
I have had the freedom JB-200 predecessor to these headphones for about 18 months. I loved the comfort of the JB-200; although I had to buy Acoustibuds to really get them to fit well. The JB-200 fit behind your ear, so the weight of the earphone was carried by the top of your ear, which is comfortable. I soak my clothes with sweat when I workout, prior to the jaybird jb-200 earphones I shorted out 2 other sweat-proof labeled headphones, including the hd-s9 motorolas. I loved the JB-200 earphones, I would have bought another pair, but they were end-of-lifed, and the freedom-fj3 is the replacement. My JB-200s broke because I am not careful with them, i dropped them several times, even once from 20 feet up onto concrete; I was not surprised when they finally broke.
I have worn the new freedom-fj3s 4 times. 1st with medium standard inserts, 2nd with medium deep plug inserts, 3rd with small deep plug inserts and gecko outer ear holders, 4th with medium standard inserts and small gecko outer ear holders. … there are many options.
The 4th wearing with the normal plugs and the gecko strips was the most comfortable, but still bothered my ear. Maybe I will get used to it; definitely not as comfortable as the JB-200s.
The freedom fj3 do not fall out if you are using one of the gecko strips or the deep plugs.
I have not yet shorted them out from excessive sweat. (but even the hd-s9s lasted about 15 workouts till they started shorting out, so I’ll make an update in a month.)
Sound quality: about the same as the JB-200. Base is a little weak, celerity is a little muffled, I would give them a 6/10 on sound … if I didn’t’ sweat so much, the Motorola hd-s9′s were far better sound, I would give them a 9/10.
Battery-life: more than 3 hours my longest workout so far with them).
I hope I find a more comfortable way to wear the freedom-fj3 earphones. I need music to get the most out of my workouts, and I prefer bluetooth. This seems like the best option currently available
UPDATE: owned for 2 months now
battery life seems to be about 5-6 hours (2 workouts at about 2.5 hours ea, battery wears out just about this time)
Comfort, I have found for me, I use the outer ear grips and the black earbuds, very comfortable. I am very happy with this purchase. I sweat a great deal when I workout, Jaybird is the only manufacture I have found which is waterproof enough not to burn out from the sweat. … ooh, also I found my cell (android evo 4g) has an equilizer function. By editing the sound I am now much happier with the high range on these headphones.
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|Fantastic headphones, even for non-bluetooth,
Fantastic buds. Used them for the first time yesterday at the gym doing rowing and weight training. So refreshing not to have cables. Solid without skipping for the most part except barely a few times when it was deep in my front pocket doing the ab wheel. Otherwise it kept its signal the entire time. Pairing was fairly easy and once you fit yourself properly with the hex ear bowl supports these things aren’t going anywhere. Battery life is great (5-6 hours) the only bit that I don’t like is the usb connection. I wish they would have stuck to a standard micro or mini usb. It’s not proprietary so you can purchase a longer cable online but it’s annoying having to have another connector at your disposal.
Well worth the investment and better than all other bluetooth headsets for gym purposes. Not to mention a sweat proof warranty. The sound is nice and clear, bass intensive music carries well. The case is a nice touch and keeps you from losing pieces. Large enough to hold a 6th gen nano and bluetooth adapter as well.
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