Bluetooth adapter for a wired headset?

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
I like the Plantronics MX500 wired headsets, very comfortable earpiece with a nice boom mic tube, but sometimes want to walk around while on the phone. Are there bluetooth adapters that a phone headset plugs into?
 

paperwastage

Golden Member
May 25, 2010
1,848
2
76
Look at the Sony sbh52 line(they have multiple models)

Not sure if microphone on yournwired headset works though.. You're supposed to use the microphone on that dongle itself
 

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
Thanks that got me started, checking some possibilities, and will report back what I find.

Most of the devices put the mic in the pendant and use stereo headphones, but some usually older ones let you plug in any headset you want, but downside is old discontinued tech.
 

paperwastage

Golden Member
May 25, 2010
1,848
2
76
yeah... unfortunately this is a very niche area

let me know if you find anything... would be interested to know about it too (I have a Sony MW1 - used it for running, has FM radio/microSD card... firmware/software could be improved though)
 

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
I'm looking at a few devices, but for the short term I bought a Plantronics Pulsar 260, pendant that supports stereo music and a full headset with mic.

Agree on the niche, but seems odd that many would not want to keep their existing high end headset like we do.

Depending on what I like, don't like, I may keep looking. I'll post again once I have it a bit in a week or so.

BTW one other point I learned is that none of my older cheap phones support APTX the best bluetooth format for sound quality.
 

paperwastage

Golden Member
May 25, 2010
1,848
2
76
I'm looking at a few devices, but for the short term I bought a Plantronics Pulsar 260, pendant that supports stereo music and a full headset with mic.

Agree on the niche, but seems odd that many would not want to keep their existing high end headset like we do.

Depending on what I like, don't like, I may keep looking. I'll post again once I have it a bit in a week or so.

BTW one other point I learned is that none of my older cheap phones support APTX the best bluetooth format for sound quality.
says discontinued on plantronics' site :|

reviews aren't good on amazon... says it uses 2.5mm instead of 3.5mm, subpar sound when using a 2.5->3.5mm adapter

it says it has a built-in microphone, so does it use the wired headset's mike?

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-UPP260-Pulsar-260-Stereo/dp/B000N8P4R8
 

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
These are 7 years old, some will have serious battery issues. My first from ebay was DOA, vendor shipped another right out. Second one charged, but I couldn't get it to pair, checked Plantronics support and the incl instructions were wrong, had to hold down power and mute at the same time to initiate pairing mode. Worked fine.

So far paired it no issue with Android phone, Samsung Galaxy light, and it does music incl skipping tracks. Sound seemed fine to me, and yes it works with my mono headset fine. Mic is in the headset portion, not the pendant.

More to test, but its been kind of busy.

Old battery could explain a lot of the complaints. Looks like the battery is a generic Lipoly sold by its dimensions, 403020 or 402030 something like that, about $5 on ebay from China, so I may try to revive the DOA unit.

I'll post more once I have more play time.

High quality sound may require something supporting aptx. Wired much cheaper option if you can go wired.
 

iahk

Senior member
Jan 19, 2002
707
0
76
this is a bit pricier but it's multi-purpose

Samsung Level Link
http://amzn.com/B00X7W89UG

it can send and receive audio. I've been using it since this summer and have no complaints. it supports aptx and even aptx low latency. battery life is rated roughly 6hrs and that's pretty accurate.
 

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
Level Link seems to switch between Xmit and rec, mic in body, vs Pulsar works with conventional headset that has its own mic. Plantronics we use with it is a MX500, very light on the ear with a noise canceling boom mic tube.