RuggedReviews.com Review of Jabra BT3030 and A120S Bluetooth Adapter

If you're like me, you're often searching for products to solve one problem and end up finding unusual gear intended for another purpose that gets the job done.

I was looking for a way to hear my P90X Workout DVDs in my living room without disturbing anyone. P90X is a pretty rigorous program that involves a lot of leaping, lifting, pushing and pulling, so regular corded headphones were out of the question. And the wireless headphoness I checked out were too big and uncomfortable to wear while exercising. So I focused my search on Bluetooth headsets and arrived at the Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth Headset.

The Jabra BT3030 is intended to be paired with a compatible Bluetooth enabled phone. Users can put their phone in a pocket or holster and either wear the dogtag sized pendant on a chain or clipped to clothing. Plug in a pair of wired headphones and you can take calls or listen to music from your phone without holding the phone to your head or dealing with a long tangle of headphone wires.

Since I wanted to use the unit with my DVD player. I purchased the JABRA A120S Bluetooth Audio Adapter (basically a sound transmitter). I plugged the adapter into the DVD player and paired it with the JABRA BT3030. The pendant delivered sound through the headphones. Sounds simple enough, and it was. The pendant paired easily with the audio adapter, and I was off and running and jumping and lunging.

When I clip the pendant to my collar and use earbuds with a very short wire (included), I have maximum range of motion and never have to worry about snagging wires on my limbs or exercise equipment.

This system is ideal for watching workout videos, doing chores where you don't wander too far from the transmitter, and listening to tunes. However, slight lag between video and soundtrack -- common in Bluetooth equipment -- might be annoying for regular TV and movie viewing.

The Jabra BT3030 pendant and adapter both charge using USB 2.0 cables, the same cables that many phones, GPS units and MP3 players use. The manufacturer says you can get seven hours of music and up to eight hours of talk time off a charge. I don't let mine run that low between charges, so I can't verify this, but it seems to me I get three-to-four hours when it's working with the transmitter.

Plug earbuds into the Jabra BT3030 pendant (above left), hang it around your neck on the included chain or clip it to your clothing (using the cross shaped clip), link it to a compatible Bluetooth phone, and you can listen to tunes or talk away.

Or, if you're looking for a way to hear your TV or your stereo while you work out or do chores without bothering anyone, purchase the optional Jabra A120S Bluetooth Audio Adapter (Bluetooth transmitter at top of photo) and plug it into your TV, stereo, music player, or computer. Pair it with the Jabra BT3030 pendant and you'll be able to move around without getting tangled in wires.