iSkin Cerulean F1

The $189.99 iSkin Cerulean F1 + TX is no different. Though this pricey Bluetooth headset actually looks pretty inconspicuous (that's a good thing), audio quality and wearability issues (as well as a few other design and performance quirks) make it hard to recommend. With its Cerulean set, iSkin includes everything you need to listen to your tunes wirelessly, whether you're using an iPod, an iPhone, or a computer.

The device will also work with most Bluetooth enabled mobiles phones and MP3 players. The package comes with the Cerulean F1 wireless headset, the TX transmitter (which attaches to any dockable iPod, but not non-Apple MP3 players), and a TX to USB adapter that lets you connect the TX transmitter to a computer. Also included is a USB cable for charging the headset, two sets of plastic ear loops, and a set of rubber and foam earbud covers.

In designing the Cerulean F1 headset, iSkin clearly took cues from the Jabra BT8010. Like the BT8010, the F1 features two thumb sized earpieces that loop over your ears like traditional Bluetooth headsets the two headsets are connected via a cable that you wear behind your neck.

(Unlike the BT8010, the F1's connecting cable is not detachable). The F1 earpieces are lightweight and discreet, which is great considering that most Bluetooth headsets aren't.

The left earpiece contains the battery, while the right earpiece houses built in controls for powering on the earbuds and microphone, increasing or decreasing volume, rewinding fast forwarding songs, and ending taking phone calls (when paired with a Bluetooth equipped cell phone). Unfortunately, the volume and track control buttons were too small for our fingers. In fact, when wearing the headset, we found it nearly impossible to hit either button without taking the earpiece off to look at where we were pressing.

Pairing the F1 headset with the TX receiver was a lot easier simply plug the receiver into your iPod, power on the F1 headset in pairing mode, and the two will instantly recognize each other. The headset and transmitter are great for broadcasting across short distances, such as from your pocket to your ears, and they're also reliable at longer ranges. iSkin rates their maximum operational range at 33 feet in our tests, we maintained a solid signal between walls, through closed doors, and around other wireless devices in our apartment.

One quibble we found that, when kept in our pocket, the TX transmitter disconnected from our iPod Nano too easily. We also had issues with our music's audio quality. Though songs came through clear and loud, they seriously lacked bass even our iPod's bundled headphones offered more oomph during certain tunes.