Hands-on with the X-mini BLU

Juniper Foo | Nov 28, 2008

XM-I has produced some truly cool mini speakers over the past two years, notably the Red Dot–winning X-mini capsule speaker that started it all for the team, and the double-barreled X-mini Max stereo spinoff. Not bad for a young upstart out of Singapore. The X-mini BLU heralds yet another effort by the company, this time harnessing its nifty sonic prowess for a Bluetooth stereo headset that addresses the growing need for combined phone/music earpieces.

So the question is, does the BLU live up to the standards set by its speaker siblings?

First things first. If you're picky about your listening experience, turn away. A wired headset will always best a wireless headset anytime. There's just no way to avoid the latter's hollowness, fuzzy trebles and sound degradation issues due to radio interferences. The one advantage you'd get in a Bluetooth stereo headset: It's wireless. So if you're looking for a headset that can switch between your music and phone calls wirelessly and at a touch of a button, read on.

Here's what we really like about the BLU:

Comfort & portability: At 72g, it's lightweight enough to be comfortable for extended wear. Not everyone will take to the neckband design, but the behind-the-neck mount won't muss up your hairstyle and isn't too tight or too loose to put pressure on your ears. Too bad the ear pads seem to be fixed-on form pieces and we don't see any way to change these should they get dirty or worn out. We like that the headset is hinged so it can be folded and packed away in the sturdy case that's supplied.
Decent battery run: At a rated 12 hours of runtime and 800 hours on standby, this is among the better battery life we've come across. In real life, we averaged about two days, depending on how heavy your own usage is.
Multiple device pairing: The BLU can pair with up to three devices, which is convenient if you want to sync this with your music phone, laptop and home audio. Pairing was a breeze, which required holding down the center button on the right earpiece for 8 seconds, which prepped the BLU to be found by another A2DP-equipped device.
Straightforward controls: The right earpiece is where the audio controls sit, so it's going to be a bummer for left-handers. Otherwise, the four tiny knobs and large center button are easy enough to find and remember for more commonly used functions. The earpiece center button and four buttons control On/Off, Pause/Play; Next Track/Previous Track; Volume Up/Down on A2DP-enabled music devices and PCs. The large and easy-to-find center disc also controls Call/Answer; Voice Dial; Redial; and Connect/Disconnect
Convenience: This has support for the Headset (HSP), HandsFree (HFP) and Audio/Video Remote Control (AVRCP) profiles with a mic. So it can definitely toggle between music playback and voice calls. If you are tuning in to music on a phone when a call comes in, a voice suddenly starts intoning the caller's number. This can be disconcerting since the music doesn't fade away for the call, unlike competing headsets, but is interrupted by the voice. This has its pros and cons, as it also allows you to ignore or reject the call if you recognize the number. Switching between music and calls is smooth and easy. Once you're done yakking, clicking on the center button brings you back to the music where it left off. All very convenient, and no more missed calls. What we particularly liked was being able to walk around the house sans wires--though within close range of our devices, but without needing to lug any along.

Here's what we hope to see improved on the BLU:

Microphone sound quality: The mic is integrated at the bottom edge of the right earpiece, which means it picks up just about any ambient noise there is. When we tested voice calls in the office, yours truly sounded muffled and slightly soft on the line, although the other party on a phone came in loud and clear through the BLU. In quieter settings, the headset worked reasonably well. Again, one has to remember that this isn't a wired earpiece or even a dedicated wireless one, so the quality and reception can be expected to take a dive. If you're planning to use this to Skype, just ensure that the surroundings are quiet as VoIP has its own issues.
So-so looks: This isn't going to turn heads. Fashioned after the signature look of its matte-black speakers, with earpieces that look like you're wearing two hamburger halves of an X-mini capsule speaker, the result is, well, pedestrian. We'd like a little more elegant sleekness, particularly when it's for the fairer gender. There's some attempt at personalization via two interchangeable headphone covers—a silver snap-on that attracts fingerprints and a black one.
Long charging time: The two times we powered up--once via the supplied AC adapter; the other through a direct USB port--it took 3-plus hours to top up. That's an eternity these days. You could still wear your 'cans while plugged in to charge, but that would defeat the whole purpose of being wireless. Another nitpit. There's no warning light to indicate low battery on the headset. One moment the headset was working, the next it was dead as a dodo, which was annoying just as we were about to use it for music playback.
Price: At US$99 or S$138, available December, the BLU isn't as cheap as we would have liked. Part of this is due to XM-I opting to throw in a limited-edition X-mini capsule with improved tweeter in the box. So even though you may already own a capsule speaker, you won't be able to get the headset alone. In place of a capsule speaker, the deal could have been sweetened with a universal A2DP adapter that would convert most legacy MP3 players, laptops and cellular devices to Bluetooth stereo compatibility.

In summary: The BLU is not the best, nor the worst Bluetooth stereo headset out there. What it has going for it are a decently long runtime, a really light, comfortable and easy-to-wear design, and, as befits its X-mini name, this pumps out a reasonably mean volume. Now all it needs is for XM-I to repackage this sans capsule speaker, at a lower price, to make the BLU worth a closer look.

Filed under: Music & Play
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rigelstuff

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rigelstuff says...
Good going X Mini!

But I question their decision for going with this form factor. I got an iTech BluBand R in February this year, and both ear hooks have started to crack. It's only a matter of time before my BT headset becomes utterly useless.

Maybe X Mini has used a more durable plastic... we don't know. But personally, they should have done something similar to the Jaybird JB200.

Dec 03, 2008 11:41