Parrot Zik Wireless Headphones by Starck

Reviews for Parrot Zik Wireless Headphones by Starck

Customer Reviews and Ratings

4.0 out of 5 stars

Based on 63 reviews

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  • 3.0 out of 5 stars

    Works best with iPhone

    • Written by from Byron

    I bought these mainly for use in my office where I listen to music on my MacBook Pro (mostly because my music collection will not fit on any other device). My conclusion is that they do indeed work with iTunes on my MBP but they don't work great. First, while pairing is easy, connecting is cumbersome at best. You must pull down the Bluetooth menu, select the ZIK, then Open Sound Preferences and make adjustments (mute internal speakers, turn up headphone volume). Then there is usually some initial BT rejection and after going through the process again it will connect. Unfortunately it doesn't always make the most stable connection so once in a while it will just cut out and need to be manually restarted. But when it works, it works well and sounds good.

    In use with the iPhone 4s connection is flawless and simple. I actually once tried to connect to my MBP [right in front of me] but accidentally connected to my iPhone sitting on the charger in a room over 40 feet away and it sounded great. Of course the iPhone has the Parrot ap which allows dynamic adjustment to the sound along with battery monitoring. It should be clarified that there is currently NO software available to adjust sound nor monitor battery on the MBP.

    Battery life is disappointing; about 6.5 hours with all the sound enhancement/noise canceling on. Considering I am working at my desk about 9+ hours a day, this is annoying (especially considering that while listening on the MBP there is no way to know the battery level... it just quits). I would get a second battery but there is currently no way to charge a second battery outside the headphones.

    Like I said, when they work they sound really good and do what they are supposed to. My hope [and reason for keeping them] is that Parrot is paying attention to reviews like this and will offer firmware/software to amend the annoyances as well as an external battery charger or extended life battery unit. For now, I give them 3 out of 5 stars for being rather pricey headphones with great sound quality but poor battery life and slightly flawed functionality on a device they don't appear to be focused towards.

    237 of 270 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Like being different

    • Written by from new york

    I've tried several headphones - Bang&Olufsen, Sennheiser wireless, Vmoda & a host of others.
    I like Vmoda cross fade but annoyed by cables.

    I love to ZIK concept & find performance and sound quality pleasing. I'm certain there will be s/w updates & offering of a spare battery soon. I'm still familiarizing myself with this product but purchased with the expectation of exceptional performance during phone conversations & reliable Bluetooth music enjoyment. I'm pleased so far.

    160 of 194 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great Headphones!

    • Written by from Lakeland

    I just received these headphones and they work very well. The sound quality is very good and the pairing is dead simple. I have not had them long enough to test battery life so I cannot comment on that. The touch control is slick and works as advertised. All in all I'm very happy with my purchase.

    151 of 183 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    If you want headphones in $299 to $399 range.. PARROT ZIKS are THE BEST!

    • Written by from Stratford

    I am comparing to the following products that I also own:

    BEATS by DRE DETOX edition (Professional $399++)
    BEATS by DRE Studio Noise Cancelling ($299 retail)
    BOSE Quiet Comfort 15 over ear ($299 retail)

    The Parrot Ziks have the best fit, hands down! The shape of the ear pieces, just fit and allow for hours of comfortable listening. There are also lightly etched meter lines to go back to the same length every time. The Beats Pro are heavy, which I don't mind, but the more rounded shape, don't fit the ears as well- Parrot Ziks and Bose are built for comfort! Ziks win in design and NO CORDS with bluetooth listening, and App to control them!

    The Parrot Ziks and the Beats Pro both have superior build quality. They are sturdy and feel like they could take a good amount of abuse, whereas the Bose are plastic and although are much lighter, they don't feel like they could hold up to heavy or severe use. I like the Beats Pro because of the swiveling ear cup design (if you DJ). However, the round cups on the Beats can't compare to the Super well fitting ear cups on the Parrot Ziks.

    Bose includes a very nice rigid case. The Beats Pro and The Parrot Ziks lack a good case! Just a plain old bag for either- definitely a downfall on the overall package. I haven't mentioned The Beats Studio b/c are flimsy, noise cancellation is minimal- not worth the money!

    Now for sound quality.. The Parrot Zik Wireless headphones sound amazing through the wireless blue-tooth AND when attached via cable! I was expecting the cable hook-up to loose a lot, but is actually remarkable (just as good as blue-tooth) Parrots and Beats are both great for bass and mid tones- but mid to high is where the Ziks shine. I found myself re-listening to tracks I've heard 100s of times and picked up sounds I've never heard before. If you want 3D sound- Ziks are for you. If your audio source is solid, the Parrot ZIk Headphones will AMAZE YOU! Bose has a lot of catching up to do in the sound quality department.

    The Parrot Ziks also have the best design- cutting edge and very solid. Revolutionary touch adjustments and cable-free listening for hours. If you are at the $299 headphone level- it is DEFINITELY worth the extra $100 for the Parrot Ziks! If listening via cable I prefer to use the Fiio E17 portable amp (look it up)!

    94 of 97 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Top Ranked Headphones

    • Written by from Jefferson City

    Let me start by saying I have tried all the major headphone brands. I was looking for headphones that would satisfy all my needs, three of which were most important:

    Superb Sound Quality; Active Noise Cancelation; Quality Craftsmanship

    Started with Beats by Dre. Good sound quality, great bass, good noise cancellation. However, felt cheap and were already showing signs of defect after first use.

    Then there were the Bowers & Wilkins P5's. Great set of headphones. Superior sound quality and craftsmanship. However, they did not have active noise cancellation, which is essential on plane rides (at least for me it is). If I could afford it, I would have these as my second pair. Definitely a favorite!

    Next, I tried Sennheiser's PXC450's. The salesman informed me of Sennheiser's extreme R&D department and how they were a superior brand. You pay a premium as well. However, to put it frankly, they sucked. They were overly large, design was mediocre, and above all, the sound quality did not stand up to any of the others.

    Then there were the Bose Quiet Comforts. I'm a big fan of Bose and they have another great product with these headphones. Great sound quality and noise cancellation. However, I was a little concerned with the craftsmanship of them. Although very lightweight, I'm not a big fan of the overall plastic construction. On the whole, a great set though.

    Finally, the Parrot Zik. These were brand new to the market when I bought them. I read a few reviews and looked at all the photos and decided to try them out. The technology implemented is pretty cool. Swipe of a finger and you can change songs or turn up the volume, all while your phone is in your pocket (cordless!). Sound quality is very good, Bose and B&W is a little better. What sold me was the "solid" feel and technology of the headphones. They seem to have high quality materials and construction, and the bluetooth enabled controls make for extreme convenience. Also, another cool feature: Say someone walks up and starts talking to you. Instead of pausing the song and taking your headphones off, with the Zik's, you can simply slide the headphones to your neck and it will automatically pause your music while you talk. Once you slip them back on, music resumes! Since they also had Active Noise Cancellation, they were the obvious winner in my review.

    64 of 67 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Awesome... AFTER updating firmware

    • Written by from Lehighton

    OK-

    I received these headphones as a christmas gift this year. I knew that I was getting them, researched them and couldn't wait to tear open the box.

    SO...

    I paired the Parrot Ziks with my iPhone first, and started listening to music.

    When I first started using them, I was severely impressed by the design and comfort of the headphones along with the noise canceling feature.

    HOWEVER...

    I immediately noticed that the "next/previous" feature was not working at all as advertised; however the volume touch gesture was in fact operating correctly.

    I decided to let them fully charge and try them again later... This time by pairing them with my iMac and using them to listen to music/make conference calls via iChat (now "Messages")...

    AGAIN... Disappointed.... The music started to cut out, the audio sounded horrible and thin, then I started picking up random television program audio from god knows where!?!?

    I WAS ON MY LAST NERVER WITH THESE POLISHED CRAPHONES...

    UNTIL---

    I updated the driver to version 1.03...

    Instantly I fell in love with the Parrot Ziks.... No more audio problems, no more dropped bluetooth connections, call quality is great AND all touch gestures are working!


    BATTERY LIFE---

    A great deal of people seem to be complaining about the battery life... I don't think we can expect much longer battery life than what is currently availalbe with this much technology built into wireless headphones....

    I used my Zik's a solid day through use of wireless music listening around the house, making phone calls to about 2-3 people.... AND listening to my "Ambiance" app on my iPhone while sleeping....AND they didn't die until the next day around noon.... To me that isn't bad considering the high quality design of this product.


    SOUND QUALITY--

    I am an audio hi-fi nut. I own a small audio/visual production studio and own loads of high end audio gear (current setup is Apogee Quartet through KRK Rokit 8 studio monitors with Sub)... So you can imagine that being impressed by sound quality to me is hard to accomplish. I also own a BOSE surround sound system in my home that is all digital and sounds ridiculous for movies and 5.1 channel audio localizations. I owned a pair of BOSE Quiet Comfort Headphones (I think that's what they were called?) Anyway, those were my real first 'personal noise canceling' headphones that I used on the go and was always bragging about how good they sounded and how you couldn't hear anyone talk while using them. Those were great until the cheap connector on them broke right off and the wires to either can developed a weak connection... Pretty disappointed in Bose's parts as of late...

    ANWAY... YOU GET THE PICTURE.

    Parrot has outdone themselves as far as SOUND Quality goes with the Ziks. The bass is truly responsive and doesn't have any sort of unnecessary gain boost like the majority of headphones do nowadays.

    The ability to control the binaural localization through Parrot's "Concert Hall" app is AMAZING.... Way too often headphones are made and produced by companies (or designers) who produce/listen to one type of music.... This app gives you the ability to place the frequencies in the right POCKET for the type of music that YOU enjoy....

    ALSO the ability to simply drag and drop the EQ frequencies and make your own USER EQ is amazing...


    OVERALL 4 STARS...

    Only because Parrot undershot the product lifecycle on this one....

    Never release a product with faulty firmware... ALL customers have high expectations from the GET-GO... if they are let down during the initial use of a product.... THAT'S IT.... return city, bad mouth bash.... you get it.

    62 of 64 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Better than Beats!

    • Written by from Tucson

    PROS:

    These headphones were well worth the investment. They have a memory foam inside the ear cups that is very comfortable. The features work great and I love the fact that the sound quality is so great even though it's bluetooth. I am a huge freak about sound quality meaning I can't have a whining noise in quiet parts. These headphones sound excellent with no added whining noises. With that and the cool, sleek design, you can't go wrong.

    CONS:

    There have been two times in the past week that I have had my phone in my back pocket listening to music, and when my arm passed to long in front of my side, the music would skip a couple of words. It doesn't bother me seeing as how it rarely happens.

    53 of 56 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Best headphones I've had yet

    • Written by from MONTREAL

    In the first few days of owning these well-designed headphones, I'm on cloud nine. I'm a user experience (UX) designer, and these are AWESOME - the sound quality is truly excellent, and the sound and call controls are easily grasped and work as designed.

    The headphones have paired easily with all my mac products (including an older 3GS iPhone I use in Canada, despite it not being officially supported). My 2006 MBP, my iMac, my iPad, my 4S and my 3GS all work beautifully with these headphones (as soon as someone provides a more interesting UX than Apple, see how quickly I go there instead). The only "issue" I've discovered is that to change the device I want to use the headphones with, I have to turn off the bluetooth for the last device I used, and turn ON the bluetooth for the device I want to use. But I don't particularly consider this an issue - how else are the headphones to "know" which device you want it to use with, other than the last one you used, if you have several all in range?

    I've had Bose ear buds, Dr Dre headphones and other brands of listening devices (Apple ear buds I've never liked at all). Many expensive and many of good quality to begin with. But each suffered wear and tear issues (despite me taking care of them) after daily use for less than 2 years. I'm hoping these last longest.

    47 of 55 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Amazing... With a huge drawback

    • Written by from Dallas

    First let me start by saying.. I love music, I love sound... I been looking for some Bluetooth headphones after my Phiaton's failed on me. I wore those headphones around my neck daily, and I was just thinking of simply just getting another because they sounded great. And the convenience of not having it tired with a headphone jack to any of my device were great as well.. But on the other end, I wanted something different.. A completely wireless experience..

    Now, it brings me to the Parrot Zik... I'm rather a techie when it comes to gadgets and everything. And, I researched plenty of headphones.. Compared it to the Harmon's wireless headphones and Beats wireless headphones, the features for the Zik's just out weigh those headphones.

    Pros...
    Amazing Sound
    NOT overwhelming bass, a completely wholesome sound
    Wireless Touch Controls
    Incredible Design
    Noise Cancellation
    Syncs with an App

    Cons...
    BATTERY, BATTERY, BATTERY

    There's simply no comparison in regards to the features with these Zik's, the battery is my main concern. I do have a Mophie Powerstation, but I plan on buying a spare to keep with me while on the go, because 6 hours is just not good enough. I'm satisfied with these Zik's.. The price is expensive, but when I looked at other headphones and the features Zik's has.. I get it. I'll recommend them just make sure to get a spare battery...

    40 of 44 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Incredible product, the perfect belnd of form and function.

    • Written by from Nashville

    Let me first say that I'm no true audiophile, but I am very particular and have over the past few years tried at least 20 different pairs of headphones. It seems that each time I buy a pair I go for the pricier ones as in general I've learned that you get what you pay for.
    I love Bluetooth technology and have had numerous pairs of Bluetooth headphones but I wasn't sure that someone could make a Bluetooth product that also had excellent sound, great design and noise cancelling technology.

    WOW! When I got these I got these .... I was blown away.

    Such a beautifully designed product, and it’s not just about design. I would say these are to the headphone world as the Tesla Model S is to the Car world.

    Because I like Bluetooth, but also have a need for the noise cancelling technology these were perfect for me. Previously I would go back and forth from the Bose QC15 and the Harmon/Kardon BT's - which are both nice products. After using these for one day, I gifted my Bose and HK to some deserving coworkers.

    If I were to make a Venn Diagram of headphones these would land in the intersection of Beautiful design, Great Sound, Incredible Build Quality, Advanced Features, and Comfort.

    38 of 40 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    need work

    • Written by from San Francisco

    The concept of gesture touch headphone is brilliant. But i found the sound response to be less than ideal. I have not been able to use the phone functionality - just doesn't work. If you wear a beanie or cap over your ears and under the headphones, the sensor thinks you have taken them off and disconnects. The volume control from swiping the right can only uses part of the full volume control of your iphone. So you have to turn volume up manually and then can only turn down about 50%. If you have the volume manually set low, the Zik volume only turns it up a little. It takes a long time for them to turn on and sometimes they just randomly turn off. Super annoying.

    They look good and feel good.But they slide off my head when I am laying down because they are so heavy. The battery doesn't last that long. It is great that you can recharge it with usb though.

    I am on the fence about wether or not to return them. There are a lot of problems with them. For the price I don't recommend.

    47 of 59 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Unbelievable sound, with some exceptions

    • Written by from Los Angeles

    Not a big fan of long reviews, so I will get right to the point:

    PROS:
    - Unbelievable sound and control of sound (amazing)
    - Super high-quality materials used
    - 'Feel' like an expensive piece of equipment should
    - Work extremely well with the iPhone, almost flawless in all uses

    CONS:
    - Only work so-so with a Macbook Pro or other laptop with bluetooth
    - 6 hours of battery life is really short once you start working
    - No external battery charger available (although they sell extra batteries)
    - Do not work as a 'headset' on a laptop with Skype
    - After a while, the headset feels 'heavy' on the top part of the head, almost have to take them off to give your scalp a rest

    The sound quality and the controls the iPhone App gives you make these headphone sound amazing. However, I am seriously considering taking them back. The battery life is just way too short and not being able to fully use them with my MBP is a killer. I have about 10 days before I can't return them.

    33 of 37 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Parrot Zik Score BIG!!!!!

    • Written by from Laurelton

    These are AMAZING headphones! The sound is crisp with pumping, but controllable base and very clear and distinct midrange and highs. They have enough volume to spare. They are pricey, but you really get what you pay for with these. Technology wise, there are no BT headphones that come anywhere close to these. I would guess that many of the folks who give these bad ratings have the same limited knowledge about how to work them that the salesperson (Not Apple) I dealt with had. These headphones totally come alive when using the Software for iPhone/iPad or Android9 Firmware upgrade required and NFC works with Jelly Bean OS only). It is virtually impossible to properly sell these and show what they can do without the mobile software. I'm using mine with a Samsung Galaxy note 2 and the NFC pairing was completely effortless. NFC is so cool and convenient (C'mon Apple!) I also tried them with my IPad 3rd Gen and outside of having to take a few extra steps to pair them; I had the same great experience. Noise cancellation is superb! Careful, you will forget where you are if you are on the train with these and miss your stop.

    I will tell you this; make sure you put them on correctly. If you put them on backwards, you are sure to think there is something wrong with them.. Get an extra battery for those long days of use and you're good to go!

    Only complaint.... The soft bag "thingy" to store them... Parrot could have definitely done better for these gems with a hard case to protect them!

    Overall... A+ Rating for the Parrot Zik's - couldn't be happier!

    33 of 39 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Perfect headset.

    • Written by from Mississauga

    I absolutely love the Zik by Philippe Starck for Parrot.
    I picked up a pair for myself and 2 colleagues last week, and now everyone we encounter wants a pair. Downloading the new firmware wasn't an obvious procedure, but if you've ever downloaded anything online, you will have no issues.
    Subtle and effective in design, and with sound quality that can be ultimately controlled for ones preference, not to mention, crystal clear phone/voice quality.
    The on ear controls are very handy when walking with iPhone in pocket - helps you don't have to be constantly looking down at the phone when negotiating pedestrians.
    I highly recommend this product if you're in the market for a beautifully designed, and equally function-able product.
    A+++++++++++

    26 of 26 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    BEST HEADPHONES EVER

    • Written by from Santa Monica

    These headphones are the same price as beats, but unlike beats, they dont just use a $5 microchip to boost the base with an equalizer. These really do have the bass. When you listen to these you can tell that they really are worth the $399.

    33 of 42 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent Headphones

    • Written by from Plano

    The Parrot Zik's truly are excellent headphones. The noise cancellation is so far beyond what Bose, Sony or Beats have it's not funny. Then you take into consideration the build quality, and the ergonomics of the controls...you won't even think twice about any other pair.

    But we need the ability to buy a spare battery.
    And I'd like it if it would work with my desktop computer (bluetooth just drops).
    And a firmware update to make the headset feature better would be nice.
    And I'd love it if the noise cancellation worked when I used the 3.5mm cable.

    27 of 30 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Different: fully digital phones for noisy world

    • Written by from Fairbanks

    These headphones have two important differences from most that may affect your satisfaction:

    (1) Audiophiles are used to the paradigm of pure unvarnished reproduction of sound. The ideal amplifier is "a straight wire with gain;" the perfect transducer produces sound waves exactly as input electrically (no harmonics, no variation with frequency or level). Audiophiles typically find fault with any sort of "addition" or processing of signals, even compression and tone controls. These headphones in contrast have digital signal processing at their core. Digital signal compression over Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, equalizer and "concert hall" effects are built in (the latter three can be switched off). As many reviewers have noted, listening with the headphones' DSP off is disappointing. They are not designed to - and do not - reproduce accurately without the DSP (that is, as passive headphones).

    Noise cancellation does a good job on droning air handlers and motors, but also colors music subtly. In an otherwise quiet environment you might prefer to switch it off. I find the equalizer and concert hall effects intriguing and use them on some recordings, but purists are bound to find the effects introduce artifacts. These headphones are well designed for listening in non-ideal listening environments (office, commuting, airplane, busy household) but not for critical audiophile listening.

    (2) The headphones have a sophisticated digital controller: the Parrot Zik app on your iPhone. Do not think of the app as an optional add-on, but rather a key component in listening with these headphones. But also do not confuse the role of the app as the music source. You might get the impression from some reviews that the headphones only work well if using iPhone as the audio source, but that is incorrect. Using the standard audio cable with 3.5mm plugs, you can listen through any source with an audio jack. The three components for listening are audio source, headphone, and controller (iPhone app). Listening to a source other than the iPhone via the cable, the app still controls the noise cancellation, concert hall effects, and equalizer (so long as still Bluetooth paired with the iPhone).

    Quibbles:
    - the headband is heavy enough to slide back and forth as you move
    - every change on the controller (iPhone app) generates sharp audio "click"
    - the cans are not fully around the ear, but largish on the ear

    22 of 22 people found this useful

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  • 3.0 out of 5 stars

    Batteries ??????

    • Written by from Bethel

    Great headphones, but if you need spare batteries forget it. Apple doesn't carry them and Parrot won't have them until Christmas (maybe). I spent up to an hour on hold with Parrot so I'm lucky it wasn't a technical problem, they work but a battery in the bag would be a good thing to have. Wait awhile to buy these to see if Parrot gets in gear and backs up their products.

    27 of 33 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Concept is intriguing

    • Written by from Kent

    I love the idea of not having to bring my iPad out of my bag to play music, functionality is great.

    My only concerns is definetly one that everyone has touched on is we need a pare battery or something along the lines and update firmware so it's compatible with more bluetooth hardwares e.g. Playstation 3... I say this because it's already in the league of being used as a handset so why not a simple headset as it has mics(4 to be exact).

    They are Greg none the less and I'm happy with my product but there's a lot more cons than pros at this stage and I know it can b fixed, hopefully that's sooner rather than later.

    23 of 26 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Nice sound, nice integration with iOS6

    • Written by from Seattle

    There are a few negatives below, but these headphones are staying with me! I think they're excellent.

    I have used the headphones for a few days while doing outside chores. I'm more than satisfied with the simple touch controls on the headphone and to tweak settings in the iPhone app.

    All is not perfect however. When inclining forward to work on something, the headphones start to shift forward on my head. This is not a problem at the desk and won't be in an airplane seat. I made a simple fix which is a short section of black cord extending around the back of the headphones. It is unobtrusive and works well. I hope Parrot will at a removable strap in their future package. That's more important to me than a fancy hard case. (It comes with a cheap drawstring pouch.)

    Another problem I have had is music occasionally shutting off, then back on while I'm moving around and working outdoors. Tech support tells me there's a firmware update in beta aimed to fix this problem by decreasing the sensitivity of the touch panel.

    The battery gives enough life for my purposes, though might not be enough for heavy users.

    Bluetooth works great and in my one test my voice quality was reported to be very good.

    The automatic pause when the headphones are removed: brilliant! That feature makes it quick to attend to VIPs in the family!!!

    21 of 23 people found this useful

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