CellPoint has recently acquired a couple of Bluetooth headset product lines from Gennum, one of which is called the nX6000 and we recently had the opportunity to review it here at the ‘Brick. This model wasn’t Gennum’s first crack at the mobile headset market. Prior to this version was the nXZEN PLUS 5500 and in our opinion they’ve done quite a nice job with improving the look while still maintaining a very quality product.

There are a few main features of the nX6000 that are important to point out, which are also key things we look for when choosing a good headset, the first of these being its size. This device measures only 1.75 x 0.8 x 0.5 inches and weighs a mere 0.38 ounces making it a feasible solution for multiple continuous hours of comfortable use. It comes packaged with 3 different sizes of ear tips and 2 different sized ear hooks. The ear tips are designed to fit slightly inside your ear which makes a much clearer sound and helps keep the device in place. Some headsets that do not do this will flop around when the wearer moves their head, making a loose feel. Even with glasses the device was easy to wear and fit comfortably.

The second main item we like to look at when buying a headset is the ease of use. With small headsets there isn’t a lot of room for many buttons, and like many the nX6000 uses a single button with multiple durations of presses to complete different functions.

This model has three buttons which are designed flush against the surface but have a small bump giving it enough tactile feedback to tell where they are while being worn. The headset is designed to fit on either ear and when being worn on the right, a button can be found on the top rear to increase the volume and another on the bottom rear to decrease it. A third button on the bottom middle is the main controller for the headsets operation.

We tried out this headset with the Motorola SLVR and the RAZR in which the Bluetooth connections were both equally easy to set up. Using the main multi-function button consists of 3 different types of presses; a tap, a 1 second press and a 3 second press. Differentiating between these was a little intimidating at first, but while using the headset it was surprisingly intuitive with the included tones while wearing it. Turning the device on and off, and making, answering and ending calls where very easy to accomplish without thought. However, using some of the more advanced features such as hold and 3-way calling required referencing the handy little wallet-sized “cheat sheet” included with the instructions.

Our 3rd (but not least) main concern with headsets is the sound quality for both the wearer and the person on the other end, and for us this was the most impressive feature of the nX6000. According to the company, the headset uses something they call FrontWave technology which creates a “cocoon” of sound quality around your voice. The dual microphone array on the outside of the headset is able to identify and focus on sounds coming from around your mouth avoiding everything else, even in noisy situations.

We found this feature to be very accurate, delivering excellent sound quality to the listener on the other end of the phone. The included instructions suggested facing away from external noises which was natural for us when talking, and even with other conversations or traffic to the side or behind, the wearers voice always came through very prominent.

The nX6000 headset can be paired with up to 3 different devices and delivers up to 6 hours of talk time and 90 hours of standby time. The multi-function button supports answering, rejecting and ending calls along with initiating calls, transferring and muting. Depending on the phone you use with it, the nX6000 also supports voice dialing, redial, hold, call waiting and 3-way calls. The designers were also forward thinking with this headset by giving it firmware that can be updated by downloading through the products website and transferring from your PC through a mini-USB connection. This connection also is used to charge the device and is surrounded by a LED light that indicates the current battery state.

Overall the nX6000 is an excellent Bluetooth headset that’s sized right with great noise-cancellation features and intuitive functionality. The headsets can be found at a number of retail and online stores such as Amazon and Buy.com, retailing for around $120.

nX6000 Bluetooth Headset