REVIEWS / HEADPHONES / GENIUS,KYE SYSTEMS CORP

Genius BT-03i Headset

06 Nov, 2008, 8:17 pm IST | by Shayne Rana | Headphones Headphones

Stereo Bluetooth headsets (A2DP-enabled) are getting increasingly popular these days, as they are convenient for wirefree audio streaming. But the integration of the device as a mobile-cum-audio headset is what makes it a truly great idea. On the menu today is Genius’ offering in the form of its BT-03i Bluetooth headset, and here’s what our sampling revealed...

Form Factor
The BT-03i’s design could be its undoing. Till you get the hang of it you’ll probably not know exactly how it sits on your ears. When you do, you may not like it. It uses rubber straps that go over your ears. The headset has to be worn backward, as with a lot of the newer designs, but I found this quite uncomfortable. The speakers, however, are quite comfy on the ears, though the neck band could be a hindrance. My advice – don’t try any headbanging.

One of the weirdest things is that you’ll never figure this device is Bluetooth-enabled. Other than the name ‘BT-03i’ there's no indication on the pamphlet or device or even the packaging. The universal Bluetooth symbol is nowhere to be found. The bundled CD is loaded with the user manual in various languages and it lets you know early on how to pair the device, and then... wham! It’ll hit you like a ton of bricks – this IS a Stereo Bluetooth headset!

The device uses touch-sensitive technology for adjusting the volume and taking or ending calls. The touch pad area is located on the left. The charging port (mini USB) and power key are located on the right.

Performance
The touch-sensitive technology used in the Genius BT-03i is simply brilliant. With a simple slide of your finger in either direction you can increase or decrease the volume. The good thing is it’s not overly sensitive; so someone bumping you in the train won't interrupt your audio experience.

The audio experience is quite decent. There’s a substantial amount of thump in the bass line to keep your head bobbing, though as I mentioned that’s not a good idea. Perhaps foot-stomping would be a better idea. The dynamic range is balanced enough to keep most users happy, but audiophiles will notice a slight distortion in the earphones when the volume is peaked.

The sound tends to get a little out of whack at peak volume if the recording is not of optimum quality. However, the average mobile phone user who is looking for wireless audio won’t find this a relevant issue – or will they?

Tags: Bluetooth

Would you buy it?




RELATED STORIES

HTC Desire S price slashed to Rs.15,990

HTC has slashed the price of their Desire S, and the phone will now retail at Rs. 15,990 - an all-new low.

Partners for Mozilla's Boot to Gecko mobile OS to be revealed at MWC

Apple concepts we'd love to see for real

Logitech ZAAG iPad2 Keyboard Case

Is the 'Curved' iPod Bangle the latest from Apple?

Dell to discontinue sale of 7-inch Streak tablet in the U.S

Wynncom beefs up low-end handset category with 6 handsets

What is Bluetooth?

25 Nov, 2007, 10:31 am IST

What is Bluetooth?

Amazing Bluetooth Hack!

21 Oct, 2010, 02:06 am IST

Amazing Bluetooth Hack!

Bluetooth Basics_ What is Bluetooth?

17 Jun, 2010, 12:34 am IST

Bluetooth Basics_ What is Bluetooth?

How to Connect a Bluetooth Headset

16 Jul, 2008, 05:55 am IST

How to Connect a Bluetooth Headset

 

How We Test

What do the ratings mean?

Ratings are simple - higher the score, the better the product. A brief listing of the features and what they mean are given below.

1 - 3

The product is bad in almost every aspect. We strongly advise against purchasing this product.

4 - 6

An average product that isn't the best you can buy, but isn't the worst either.

7 - 8

Product with this rating is highly recommended because it's priced sensibly, has a good set of features and performs well.

9 - 10

Exceptionally excellent product with features and performance unlike any we've seen in the past. A must-have for everyone!

What is the Average User Rating?

We at Tech2 take product reviewing very seriously and every product is tested with the utmost care and level of objectivity. The end user who buys a particular product and uses it over an extended period of time has his own take on a product and there might be nuances that he or she can shed light on. The Average User Rating is present to help readers get the complete picture of how good or bad a product is. The Average User Rating is calculated by averaging the ratings by the thousands of readers visiting Tech2.com every single day. To record your own rating of a product, simply click on the user rating bar. If you disagree with our ratings or our community's product rating, please don't hesitate from voicing your opinion in the comments section below the review.

Leaked Images, Availability, Pricing,
Specs, Pre-order

On video: HTC One V

On video: HTC One V

18 May, 2012, 04:44 AM

4.5

On video: Cowon Z2 (16GB)

On video: Cowon Z2 (16GB)

15 May, 2012, 04:58 PM

2.3

On video: Samsung WB150F

On video: Samsung WB150F

08 May, 2012, 04:23 AM

5.0

MORE VIDEOS

features

5 must buy gaming headsets

5 must buy gaming headsets

Serious gamers rely on their hardware to be at the top of their game.

By Rossi Fernandes

The Importance of Good Ear Care

The Importance of Good Ear Care

Learn to take care of your ears; you need them.

By Siddharth Basrur

GOTY 2010 - Headphones and Earphones

GOTY 2010 - Headphones and Earphones

The best that 2010 has to offer are big names with good quality sound. The

By Ashish Koshy

MORE FEATURES

Motorola RAZR XT910 Review

Carlos Castilho Azevedo Jr.

Sun May 27, 04:24:25

SteelSeries Siberia V2 Now Available in India

Swastik Divakar

Sun May 27, 00:42:32

MORE DISCUSSIONS