Logitech's FreePulse Bluetooth headphones improve on the company's earlier model with an updated Bluetooth 2.0 connection and a new design from Ziba Design, the same company responsible for the exterior of the Sirius Stiletto 100. The result: a compact, wraparound shape that suspends batteries, speakers, and buttons from your ears using gel loops and a "high carbon spring-steel headband" that encircles the lower back of your head (not the top).
I've been testing the FreePulse out for a few days now, and I am somewhat impressed, although I did run into a few issues, including a serious one that may have only affected my review unit (more on that below). There's also a degree of mystery surrounding the FreePulse's missing sibling, the Logitech FreePulse Pro for iPod, which has apparently been pulled before its release (more on that below too).
The FreePulse headphones are comfortable, considering that they're suspended by a combination of loops that hang from the section where your ears meet your head and pressure exerted against your ears, but not as comfortable as most headphones with wires.
The headphones weigh 2.1 ounces – 66% as much as Logitech's previous iPod-only model – but they're nowhere near as light as earbuds. The main problem with portable wireless headphones is that there's still no such thing as wireless power (outside of some of Tesla's theories). Wireless headphones need batteries, and today's batteries render an earbud design impossible. Omer Kotzer, Ziba's Creative Director on the FreePulse design project, acknowledged the challenge:
"Wireless comes with some burdens, including size and weight from thebattery and components, so Ziba looked at creating an elemental designin order to avoid packing air, and optimized each of the componentsseparately."
Granted, ears vary, but mine didn't like wearing the FreePulse forlong periods, even when I stopped using the loops and relied only onpressure against my ears to hold them in place. Still, the FreePulsecould work great for walking, the gym, household chores, and any othertime you really don't want a cord getting in the way.
Another battery-related issue is that theheadphones and transmitter need to be charged every couple of days withthe included dual charger (for about seven hours of life, out ofthe box). And since the batteries are Lithium-Ion, they only have acertain number of charge cycles in them before you'll need to followthe instructions in the manual for removing the batteries prior todisposal. My guess is that this would take 4-7 years – longer withlight use and near-total battery depletion before most recharges.
The sound quality was even, clear, and full, although stereo A2DP
Bluetooth costs a lot more than a headphonecord, so it stands to reason that corded headphones would sound betterfor the same $100. Again, it's all about trade-offs. How much do youreally hatethat cord?
The right earphone houses easy-to-access controls for Power/Mute, Volume Up, and Volume Down. Youcan also toggle Bass Boost, but there's no way to control playback onthe iPod or any other player using the headphones.
The FAA has not approved Bluetooth for use on the plane due topossible interference with the plane's navigation systems. Anotherdisadvantage is that you can't really use the FreePulse while lyingdown, because the wraparound part presses against the pillow and slidesthe earphones off of your ears. However, you can use them confortablywhile leaning back in a chair with a headrest by sliding the wraparoundpart down.
After I testing the FreePulse on and off for a week, I encountered aserious issue withBluetooth pairing after my test unit. The headphones and transmitterdongle became unpaired, and the manual's method for re-pairing them wasunsuccessful. I'm sending the headphones back to Logitech for testing,
since they say they've never heard of this issue before. I believethem that the issue is rare, but still, if your headphone does manageto get unpaired from its transmitter, there's apparently no way tore-pair them on your own.
Another mystery is the Logitech FreePulse Pro for iPod Nano, which appears to have surfaced briefly on Logitech's site and overseas online retailers, but is no longer for sale. From the pictures,
it looks like the FreePulse Pro was capable of controlling playback inaddition to volume, using a portable cradle that connected to the iPodNano's dock, and has a wider headband.
Could Logitech's FreePulse Pro for iPod Nano have run afoul of Apple's "Made for iPod" program,
which charges a licensing fee for products that connect to iPods' dockconnectors?
Update: Logitech told me they had to scrap the Logitech FreePulse Pro for iPod Nano because Apple altered the design of the iPod Nano. So much for my theory about the "Made for iPod" licensing issue.
