Up until 3 months ago when I would play computer games (like Call of Duty 2 and Counter Strike) using just a normal pair of earbuds, which worked fine, but I wanted something a little better. LTB produce a pair of 5.1 headphones that connect up over USB, and they sent me a pair to try out.

Included in the box are the headphones, USB-to-3.5mm adaptor, driver CD and manual. There was a second driver CD taped to the outside of the box with newer drivers, but I just downloaded the latest ones (for Windows) of their website.

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As a VoIP phone, the APIOTEK VP-0002 could be the thinnest in the world with only 7.5mm thickness; it has been 100% developed for�use with�Skype. Unlike other regular Skype phone handsets, the APIOTEK VP-0002 has a shiny, elegant design�due to its stainless metal back casing. It reminds me of�the Apple iPod and Nokia 8810 GSM cell phone.

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Love ‘em or hate ‘em, using a Bluetooth headset is the perfect companion when it comes to using a cell phone. I personally ONLY use a headset when driving or sitting at my desk conversing with clients via my smartphone or Skype. I really don’t need the Captain Picard references or the need to look “fashionable” with a blinking blue light in my ear dining at a restaurant while worrying if my “ear roach” will fall in my salad plate (which I did see happen one time!)

But I’m not here to talk about the Five Rules of Bluetooth Headset Usage but rather review the Scala-700 VoIP Bluetooth Headset which will change the way you’ll perceive using a headset.

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I freely and openly admit that I have purposely avoided getting a Bluetooth headset.� It isn’t that I’m opposed to them (although I do find it funny at the airport when people forget to take them off and try to go through security!) it is just that I have never found one that I’ve been completely thrilled with.� Most of them either weigh too much on my ear, the ear bud isn’t comfortable or the sound quality for me and/or whoever is on the phone with me has been less than wonderful.� With this in mind, when Judie contacted me about doing a review of the new nXZEN 5000 VoIP Bluetooth headset I was happy to review it but not overly enthused.� Now, a month later, I’m glad I did the review!� I have found the nXZEN to be one of the better headsets that I have tested both from an ease-of-use perspective as well as sound clarity and quality.� Combine those two with a lightweight form factor and you have a winning headset that any Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone or Smartphone user should consider.

To begin, the nXZEN is different than many of the Bluetooth headsets available in that it will work with Voice over IP technology as well traditional cellular-based calls.� If you think about it, this somewhat makes sense.� As long as you have an application on your device or your PC, getting the data to output/input to the headset really isn’t that difficult but it does take some effort.� nXZEN has done that and done it well.� In using the headset with the included Skype client for PC and the application available for Pocket PCs, I found the sound quality to be good.� Because of my day-to-day job, I was also able to test the headset with the Cisco Systems Cisco Agent Desktop (CAD) and Unified Communicator and it worked flawlessly with them.

The nXZEN is small, coming in at an amazingly light 17 grams (.54 oz) and is 59.9mm long by 28.5mm high.� This small, lightweight package makes the nXZEN 5000 comfortable to wear for hours without any feeling of pressure or weight on your outer ear.� Further, the clip bar which holds the headset on your ear is reversible, easily flipping to be worn on your left or right ear.� Finally, it comes with a wide range of various shaped and sized ear buds to meet the comfort level of virtually any user.� The ear buds easily snap on-and-off of the nXZEN and I recommend trying them to see which one fits your needs best.�

all photos click to enlarge

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