Let's cut to the chase - we've tested dozens of Bluetooth headsets in our time. Although manufacturers play the marketing game by touting superior specifications like sound quality, noise cancellation and battery life there's one key ingredient that matters the most. And it's the most subjective criteria - comfort.
We've been testing the Marque M155 for a few weeks now and it's one of the few Bluetooth headsets that hasn't left us with a sore ear even after a couple of hours of use. To accommodate the majority of users, the Marque M155 comes with three ear inserts in small, medium and large sizes. The medium suited us best. There's also a removable over-ear hook so that the headset doesn't fall out. We found it unnecessary in our testing but your mileage may vary.
The Marque M155 can pair with up to devices - we used it with an iPhone and a computer with a VoIP softphone. The pairing process is straightforward. When the Marque M155 is switched on, it provides an audible indication of remaining battery life. After a full charge using a computer's USB port, the device claimed that it had five hours of talk time. We used it for a couple of days between charges and it never went flat during our testing. When connected to an iPhone, the Marque M155 displays a battery meter at the top of the screen, adjacent to the clock.
When incoming calls came in while driving there was no need to take our hands off the steering wheel. The Marque M155 will answer a call when you say "answer" making it completely handsfree. This is a great benefit as you're not distracted looking for an answer button while driving.
Sound quality was a mixed bag. From our end we could hear incoming calls clearly. There was no fuzziness or static. However, on a couple of occasions the party at the other end of the line noted that we sound distant, as if we were in a tunnel. It wasn't for every call and may have been a reflection of signal strength as we were driving.
Charging was via USB. The Marque M155 comes with a convenient cable that provides a micro-USB connector for charging the headset that also has a USB port so that you can use a single USB port on your computer to charge both the headset and your phone. It's a small thing but handy if you're a traveller whose laptop has a limited number of USB ports.
So, would we recommend it? In a word - yes. The Plantronics Marque M155 is inexpensive, easy to use, delivers good sound quality and is comfortable.
Summary
Product: Plantronics Marque M155 (http://www.plantronics.com/au/product/m155)
Category: Bluetooth headset
Likes: Comfort, sound quality, handsfree operation
Dislikes: Some parties complain that mic quality isn't great
Price: $60
