Bluetooth headsets: How we test
Changes were made to our testing procedures in 2007, so results for 2007 models and later are not directly comparable with those from 2006 and earlier.
Our dummy has a microphone for an ear
Sound quality
The key to testing bluetooth headsets is a shop mannequin-style torso and head with a speaker for a mouth and a microphone for an ear.
After a headset has been attached, we simulate phone calls and take accurate measurements of sound quality for both sending and receiving sound.
To make the test more realistic, the whole set-up is in a room which lets us recreate the kind of background noise you get when driving a car. The sound quality of the best headsets isn’t too badly affected by this.
Comfort
Clever though this system is, it can’t tell us how comfortable the headsets are to wear. For that we need real people. We get a panel possessing suitably varied ears to try the headsets on and rate them for comfort.
Battery life
We also make sure the headsets have decent battery life buy seeing how long they’ll last when subjected to continuous chat – the best can go for about half a day, the worst under 4 hours.