BlueAnt Q2 Voice-Controlled Pure Conversation Bluetooth Headset (Black, in BlueAnt Retail Packaging)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0043AJD9M
• Item model number: USEN-BAW-Q2
  

By : BlueAnt
List Price : $129.99
Price : $57.98
You Save : $72.01 (55%)

Product Description

BlueAnt Q2 Voice Controlled BluetoothHeadset.

 

BlueAnt Q2 Voice-Controlled Pure Conversation Bluetooth Headset (Black, in BlueAnt Retail Packaging)

 

Technical Details

• When phone rings, respond saying Answer or Ignore, or make call by simply saying Phone Commands.
• When you receive call from your contacts,Q2 will use its integrated Text to Speech (TTS) engine to announce the caller's name
• BlueAnt developed an Android application that you can download for free to any Android 2.0+ handset.
• Integrates with Bing-411 to provide voice access to a world of information. True multipoint technology
• Once you have installed the application on your phone,your incoming text messages read out automatically through your connected Q2 headset.
• Supports true multipoint - connect two phones at the same time and answer the one that rings
• Up to 4 hours talk time and 100 hours standby
• Use your voice to control headset

Customer Reviews

Pros:
+Excellent Speaker/Mic/Noise Cancelling Sound Quality
+Voice Controls!
+Caller ID Announce! (Using Phone's Contact Names)
+A2DP (Streams Music, Nav Directions, Skype Calls, PC Sounds, etc.)
+Voice Activation
+Upgradeable ; Customizable
+Vlingo Integration (enables speech-to-text sms readout/sending, emails, news/weather/social media svcs, etc.)
+Works With Phone's Voice Commands/Google Navigation (via Vlingo)
Cons:
-Long Charging Time (3-4 Hours)
-A2DP Only Works With 1st Device It Connects To
-Too Easy to Misdial With MFB
-No Mute Buttion
-On/Off Switch Hard To Access While Worn
-A/C Charger Not As Nice As Older Ones (clip-on prong instead of previous fold-out)
-USB Cable Extremely Short
I have owned numerous bluetooth headsets over the years (Plantronics, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Generics as well as BlueAnt). I purchased the BlueAnt Q2 to use with a Motorola Droid X, and hoping to also use it on my PC for Skpye calls. although there are other devices that offer many similarities and strong competition to the Q2, My review makes a direct comparison to the Plantronics Voyager Pro+, because 1) it's in the same price range, 2) very similar in features, and 3) it's the only comparable one that I actually bought. Obviously, my review comparison is mostly due to 3, above, so if you are curious as to how it compares to other models, such as the Aliph Jawbone Icon, I can't help you there - although there are plenty of reviews and comparisons on the web.
After having bought the Plantronics Volyager Pro+ and using it for about a week (which replaced my 2-yr-old BA V1). I much prefer the Q2, although the Pro+ has a couple features that I really wish the Q2 also had. I was a little put off with the almost 4 hours it took to charge the Q2 (Pro+ charges in 60-90 mins) but after it was fully charged, I was immediately blown away by the strength and clarity of the speaker quality. Pairing was a snap and after pairing, it immediately uploaded my phone contacts. My all-time favorite feature is the Caller ID announce by contact name, which eliminates the need to pick up the phone to know who's calling. This feature, backed up by the ability to answer or ignore the call by spoken command, truly puts this headset at the top of the "hands-free" category. Voyager Pro+ only beeps, and does not offer voice controls. Whether driving or walking in crowds, no one has complained they can't hear me. At first, the Q2 would make my ear sore after about an hour or 2, forcing me to take it off several times during the day. However, after experimenting with the ample variety of earpieces included, I found one that fit me quite well and made it much more comfortable.
The Q2 can hold up to 2,000 contacts per connected device (can connect with 2 devices - each phone number counts as a contact (i.e., contact name "John" has home, work and mobile number = 3 contacts for Q2)). Next favorite is integration with Vligno application (android market) which enables text messages ; emails to be read to you, speech-to-text sending of sms, emails, directions to Google Navigation, and other cool features like listen to news, weather, movie times, posting social media, google searches, and on and on... It's free and highly customizable, including different settings for standard use and InCar. The Pro+ offers a similar service called Vocalyst, which requires you call into the service. It is much more limited, cumbersome to use, and has tiered services subscriptions of 24.99/59.99 per year, or monthly at a higher cost.
The Q2 also works very well with my phone's Voice Commands Feature, and I can speak directions to the Google Navigation through the headset. I could not accomplish either with the Pro+ (I even contacted Plantronics re: spoken directions to Google Nav, and they confirmed it could not be done). Big plus for the Q2.
The Pro+ had an edge on the Q2 in the following areas:
The On/Off and volume buttons and very small and placed closely together. The Pro+ has larger buttons that are placed well apart from each other for easy access by feel. The Q2 has enough room to add a little spacing. I'm not sure why they felt compelled to condense things to much. Especially the on/off switch, that besides being tiny and flush with the frame, is placed behind the charging jack. They could have simply designed it with a little tab or bump for easier access.
No Mute feature. Pro+ has Mute Function
A2DP Streaming only works on the first device the Q2 connects to. This was very disappointing since when I want to do a Skype call, I have to disconnect the Q2 from my Droid X, then connect to PC, and repeat the process when I'm done on the PC to enable A2DP services on the phone. Also, the Q2 often does not automatically reconnect once the connection is lost. The Pro+ automatically reconnects, plus although it can handle streaming to two devices (one at a time, of course), and automatically does so when it receives a signal. As a result, I ended up having to keep the Pro+ for use on the PC and dedicate the Q2 only to the cell phone. This was very disappointing, considering the cost of each of these devices.
As mentioned before, the Q2 charges very slowly compared to the Pro+. Also, it gives about an hour's less talk time.
The Pro+ has a long mic boom that swivels, thus keeps the mic much closer to the mouth. Another favorite of mine with the Pro+ is the unibody design that wraps around the ear. I'm not very fond of the thin, removable earloop the Q2 has. the Pro+ is indeed much more comfortable to wear. Along those lines, the Q2 has a knack for attracting lint, which contrasts loudly with its black plastic screen. The velvet bag is rather useless as a protector. For the Pro+, Plantronics offers a sturdy leather holster with integrated clip (sold separately for about $10, but well worth it. Too bad the Q2 didn't fit in it).
The included USB cable allows you to either plug it in to the included A/C adapter, or directly into a USB port. However, as mentioned earlier, it's very short - practically useless. I'm using the charger cord from the Voyager.
A final disadvantage is the fact that once the Q2 is paired with 2 devices, an attempt to re-pair will require you to reset the device ad re-pair all over again. The Pro+ allows you to re-pair without needing a reset.
Both devices are very nice, perform well, and are similarly priced. I have pointed out the tradeoffs, but the but Plantronics' heavy subscription costs for their Vocalyst service, lack of caller ID announce and voice controls really pulled it far below the Q2, especially considering it's not as well-developed or as easy to use as the free Vlingo app that supplements the Q2. Overall, I am much happier with the Q2 for use with my mobile phone, mostly thanks to the Caller ID feature, voice controls and Vlingo. It would have been ideal for use with my PC as well, but the need to disconnect/reconnect every time I change from one device to the other is exremely unworkable. As mentioned, the Voyager Pro+ is also a lot more comfortable for wearing long periods at a time. such deficiencies are minor, and I look forward to seeing them added in future models of this awesome little device. Given they are practically the same price, the Q2 offers much better value for the money to me.
Since the Q2 is advertised as muliconnect, but it can't truly multiconnect via A2DP, I can't give it 5 stars. I think it rightfully deserved 4.5 stars but since that's not possible, I give it 4 stars.

I bought my first BlueAnt two years ago and have been very impressed with their sound quality. When they introduced the Q2 I decided to upgrade so that I could get all the new features. The sound quality remains good, but unfortunately I can't use most of the features I bought it for. The caller announce uses weird pronunciations so it's hard to understand sometimes. My phone, although only a few months old, does not have the latest version of Android, which is version 2.2 (beware of the Android version when you purchase an Android phone). The text to speech feature on the Q2 only works on Android 2.2. The voice dialing also does not work with my phone (Motorola CLIQ). So, I could have purchased a less expensive BlueAnt headset to get the sound quality without the features. I definitely recommend this brand but if it's features you want, then I strongly urge buyers to make sure it's compatible with your phone.