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Bluetake plans to release two official audio transmitter adapters for the for the i-PHONO mini (reviews on them will be done as they become available). In my experience, i-PHONO mini is not compatible with any of the Bluetooth audio transmitters from the Bluetooth audio devices I have reviewed in the past. This includes the <a href="http://www.atruereview.com/blue_tango/index.php">Blue Tango Classic's</a> transmitter as well as Bluetake's own <a href="http://www.atruereview.com/iphono/index.php">i-PHONO</a> and <a href="http://www.atruereview.com/hi_phono/index.php">Hi-PHONO's</a> respective transmitters.</p> <p> i-PHONO mini is compatible with any data Bluetooth adapter (either USB or embedded) that is v1.2 or higher. This includes adapters such as the <a href="http://www.atruereview.com/bluetooth_wifi/index.php">Suncore BlueWiFly </a> and Bluetake's own <a href="http://www.atruereview.com/BT007Si/index.php">BT007Si</a>. </p> <p>Bluetake's i–PHONO mini supports the usual audio profiles such as the A2DP for high quality stereo sound as well the HSP and HFP for AM quality headset functions. In addition, it also supports the new AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile). AVRCP works in conjunction with A2DP and allows the headphone to control the playback functions of a media device (given the device is connected to an adapter that supports the AVRCP).</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/bluetooth_iphono_mini/07.jpg"><img src="atruereview/bluetooth_iphono_mini/07th.jpg" width="250" height="111" border="0" alt="Bluetake i-PHONO mini Bluetooth Stereo Headphone" title="Bluetake i-PHONO mini Bluetooth Stereo Headphone"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font></p> <p><strong>Performance:</strong></p> <p> First off, the Bluetake i-PHONO mini is very comfortable to wear. The gel-soft ear-hooks feel extremely comfortable. This combined with the headphone's light weight leads to extended hours of comfortable wear. When powered on, the status LED on the right earpod flashes a soft blue roughly every five seconds.</p> <p>To test the audio performance of the Bluetake i-PHONO mini, I paired it with the Bluetake BT007Si USB Bluetooth adapter. Sound quality, when using the A2DP paired connection, was superb. This was not particularly surprising from Bluetake, given the great job they did on sound quality on the original i-PHONO. I applaud Bluetake for spending as much effort on selecting quality speakers for the headphones as they do on the more technical components. </p> <p>Overall sound was very clear and wide with no particularly noticeable distortions. Highs and mids sounded very clean and even. Bass performance was also decent for headphones of this size. Though it is by no means overpowering, the bass of most music can be clearly felt; it kept up nicely with the music and never submitted to crashing.</p> <p>With the AVRCP, i-PHONO mini is able to control the playback functions of certain media players. The user manual states that Windows Media Player is controllable. In my experience, Winamp is also controllable though iTunes is not. Using the multi-function rocker switch on the right earpod, I am able to advance to next song, go back to previous song, stop, pause, and resume play. In addition, I am able to adjust the volume. Granted, I am able to adjust the volume on the headphone without the AVRCP, whenever I reach the volume limits of the headphone, AVRCP kicks in and the volume on Windows Media Player (or Winamp) subsequently becomes adjusted. All these functions require special routines from the rocker switch. The user manual clearly explains all the routines though.</p> <p> i-PHONO mini also functions great as a wireless headset for a Bluetooth enabled cellphone. I had no problems pairing it with either of my two test phones, a Sony Ericsson T610 and a Motorola V330. The microphone picks up my voice especially well. This was surprising given the mic's placement. It does pick up loud background noises, though my voice mostly came out loud and clear. Speaker performance was also very good. Though monaural, sound is played through both earpods. This, I feel, is a big advantage over standard Bluetooth headsets as it just feels more comfortable to hear the sound with both ears.</p> <p> Bluetake's i-PHONO mini can be paired with up to two devices at once (one audio connection and one headset connection). While listening to music whenever there is a call, the music is interrupted with soft, but alerting rapid rings. Pushing the power button on the headphone answers the call. As soon as the call is done, the headphone switches back to the music.</p> <p> i-PHONO mini's battery life was decent, lasting about 6 hours and 10 minutes before the soft low battery beeps started to sound (the beep sounds twice every minute until the battery runs out). While the battery is low, the status LED flashes red once every minute. After another 10 minutes, the headphone turned off altogether. Charging it from empty to full took about 2 hours. While charging, the status LED on the charger glows red. The LED turns green when charging is complete.</p> <p>As for range, I was able to be about 18' (~6m) from the BT007Si transmitter before the sound was continually cutting of.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p> <p> Bluetake has really outdone themselves with the i-PHONO mini. They managed to squeeze a highly capable Bluetooth headphone into such an inconspicuous ear-clip headphone form. Overall, it is by far the most compact Bluetooth stereo headphone I know of. It can easily slip into a roomy pocket.</p> <p>Sound quality, when using the A2DP, is superb. Thanks to the new AVRCP, the headphone is able to control the playback functions of certain media players.</p> <p>More than just a headphone, i-PHONO mini is also one of the best Bluetooth headsets I have ever used. It is so nice to be able to hear the recipient's voice from both earpieces. Additionally, the microphone picks up voices extremely well.</p> <p>Whether as a Bluetooth headphone or headset, Bluetake i-PHONO mini is simply spectacular.</p> <p><strong>Pros:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Very compact</li> <li> Great sound quality (both as headphone and headset)</li> <li> Comfortable to wear</li> <li> Can control certain media players</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cons:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Incompatible with older Bluetooth audio transmitters</li> </ul> <p><strong>Ratings:</strong></p> <table width="348" border="0"> <tr> <td width="97">Esthetics:</td> <td width="84">Excellent</td> <td width="153" rowspan="7"><div align="center"><img src="atruereview/bluetooth_iphono_mini/http://www.atruereview.com/Images/award.gif" width="100" height="125"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ergonomics:</td> <td> Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Performance:</td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Features: </td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compatibility:</td> <td>Very Good*</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Price: </td> <td>Very Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Overall:</td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> </table> <blockquote> <p>* The incompatibility with older Bluetooth audio adapters is due to the newer chipsets that are used in the headphone. The newer chipset has better overall performance though it is not compatible with older chipsets. This problem is not exclusive to Bluetake though. It seems that practically all new Bluetooth headphones have this problem.</p> </blockquote> <p>(Ratings Possible: Terrible, Very Bad, Bad, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent)</p> <table align="center" border="1" width="75%"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#0066ff"> <td><div align="center"><strong><font color="#ffffff">More Information</font></strong></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align="center"></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"><a href="http://atruereview.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=9771890&search=bluetake%2Bi-phono">Compare Prices</a></div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><a href="atruereview/bluetooth_iphono_mini/bluetooth_headphones.php"></a> <a href="bluetooth_iphono_mini/bluetooth_headphones.php">Previous (Description)</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer">  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>