Pros: Lightweight, Comfort, Sleek design, Sound Quality

Cons: Button size

Price Range:  Mid – High ($79.99)

To kick things off, way to go Jabra with the cool packaging of the Extreme!  It reminded me of Aliph’s Jawbone packaging, in that it was displayed in the clear thick plastic, positioned as if it were on a bluetooth throne.  Would clever marketing tactics such as this prompt me to buy in a retail store? They sure would!  Let’s hope retailers refrain from doing any repackaging.

I must say, from the very first use, this headset has been nothing but impressive.  Having a poor Jabra experience a few years ago, I was a bit skeptical of call quality and overall functionality, but Jabra sure did change my disposition with this Bluetooth device.

Measuring in at a mere 1.9 long x 1.1wide x 0.7 inches, The Jabra Extreme holds the ideal size and look for someone seeking a quality device with a distinguished appearance.  It bares a pewter color on the outer half and black on the inner.  On the outer gray half there are tiny holes where the dual microphones are placed along with the clear thin Jabra branded Answer/End Call button.  Located on either side of the Answer/End call button are the small volume buttons, which I find to be a bit too small but nonetheless make for easy volume management.  The On (Green) and Off (Red) switch is positioned on the left side of the earpiece, allowing for quick access to shut the device off.  The Extreme uses Micro-B USB for charging, and as a bonus, comes with a semi-flexible USB charger that can plug into the car charger or the computer for charging access almost anywhere.

Comfort:

The Extreme in my opinion is one of the more comfortable Bluetooth earpieces I have used.  Because it is lightweight, at times I didn’t even know I was wearing it.  It comes with two additional eargels (called Ultimate-fit Eargels) that sit firmly in your ear, however it was the standard device eargel and out-of-the-box setup that I found to be most comfortable.  The eargels can be easily removed by simply using your thumbnail to pry at the bottom of the area of where they sit.  The additional Ultimate-fit Eargels come with loops (for the left or right ear) that can be used for more stability in the ear by pressing against the ear inner wall.  The Extreme also comes with two very thin earhooks (small & large) that can loop over the outside to fit the left or right ear.  At times, I found this to sometimes cause irration on the back of my ear, but I find this to be nothing out of the ordinary when using a Bluetooth device.

Sound:

I think the Jabra Extreme truly stands out in sound quality.  Not only does this earpiece eliminate everyday background noises for both parties on each end of the phone, but also provides a rich and full sound.  Normally there is a ‘tinnyness’ that I have experienced with Bluetooth earpieces, but the Extreme supplies a unique low-end frequency, allowing for more clear, crisp conversations.

Jabra’s noise cancelation technology known as Noise Blackout Extreme works directly with their dual microphone system increasing the volume control and call quality.  This overall system works incredibly well, as volumes automatically adjust to outside environment noises creating a generally remarkable sound quality.  Jabra’s multipoint technology, that allows for two devices to sync up at the same time (8 devices overall) to the earpiece is another fine added feature.

Although the Extreme does support A2DP for the ability to listen to music, I do not recommend this function, as the mono output just doesn’t provide the best sound quality.  Plus, listening to music in only one ear really generates an imbalance of sound not allowing for the finest user experience.

Design:

Clearly Jabra has put much attention into the design of the Extreme.  It’s sleek and sexy, but more importantly brings all of the functionality together in respect with the look.  Switches, buttons, and LED indicators are all respectfully in their right places on this advanced device.  Although I did not find much comfort or ease of use with the Ultimate-fit Eargels, that is not to say it could not be much more comfortable for another user, especially for someone with a smaller ear.

The Bottom Line:

Although I did not find success in using the Jabra Extreme’s Ultimate-fit Eargels, I found this device to be quite amazing!  Coming from an audiophile who tends to be quite picky regarding sound quality, Jabra clearly redefines what Bluetooth earpiece sound quality should be, and that is rich, full balanced sound.

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