Bluetooth headsets afford Treo owners a fantastic new wireless capability and freedom. But they are not suited for cars, trips into the city (such as to a busy Grand Central Terminal), or other noisy environments, where your voice can be obscured.

A good alternative exists: theBoom wired headset from UmeVoice, which utilizes a patented technology to mitigate ambient noise and send only the sound emanating from your lips through the microphone. The company says that the technology is used by Blackhawk Helicopter pilots and traders on the New York Stock Exchange floor. I can attest to the fact that the technology really does work.

The ability to cancel out ambient noise is achieved through a dual-port microphone coupled with a specific acoustic shaping which causes indirect sound waves to cancel themselves out and permits direct sound (such as that of your voice) to pass through. This is achieved without software, nor power, but solely through a reshaping of the aperture (hole) in which a two-port microphone is housed. As a result, your voice can be heard quite well in a variety of environments.

Models

theBoom headsets are available in four main designs, three of which will be covered in this article. We’ll be looking at theBoom v4, theBoom “O”, and theBoom Quiet. They utilize the same technology for delivering clear sound, and each has an inline volume control and mute button (press and hold) on the ample wiring. With an additional adapter, you can also use each for making VOIP calls, gaming, podcasting, and more!

We’ll take a quick look at the models and their applications.

theBoom v4

theBoom v4 is the model I found myself using most often, as it follows the typical design of a boom-style headset. It is easily adjusted to fit the individual contours of one’s head, with a firm pressure seating the loop around the ear and moving the microphone into place. Once situated, the headset stays in place. A conical ear gel extends into the ear, leading to a comfortable fit and excellent performance. I found this headset to be perfectly suited for use within my car which does not have the best soundproofing and is subject to road noise at higher speeds. Callers were usually unable to tell that I was tearing through the upper limits of my gearbox while merging onto the highways of the New York City metro area - that’s a pretty significant trial.

theBoom “O”

theBoom “O” fills a niche for home/office use. In a sea of cubicle walls at many companies, you’ll often see employees with a half headset on while they conduct business with clients and coworkers. theBoom “O” follows the cues of earlier headset manufacturers using an over-the-head design with a headphone-style earpiece on one side and a plastic gripper on the other to assure a secure fit. The microphone boom extends from the earpiece and has the same maneuverability as found in theBoom v4. The design is very comfortable, allowing multi-hour conference calls with ease.

In comparison with theBoom v4, theBoom “O” is more comfortable as it is not attached only to your ear. I tested this model while working from home and taking calls from work while having my kitchen renovated. As with the v4, the callers could not clearly hear the sounds of construction: they were muffled while my voice was clear.

Note that instead of the 2.5mm cellphone jack we’re accustomed to, theBoom “O” in this image has a speaker/mic cord plugged in. You can use this adapter with any of the models mentioned in this review, which allows them to be used as computer headsets for Skype or any other VoIP application of your choice.

theBoom Quiet

theBoom Quiet is slightly different than the previous two models in that its utility is not constrained to making and receiving calls. theBoom Quiet is primarily designed as a set of noise-cancelling stereo headphones, similar to those manufactured by companies such as Bose. The headphones are powered by a pair of AAA batteries, and when turned on provide a measure of isolation from outside noises. You can plug these into your iPod, computer, or your home stereo and enjoy clear, crisp sound mostly devoid of distractions. This functionality was severely tested while undertaking a flight to California, seated near a small child who was not enjoying the experience. As soon as we reached cruising altitude I was able to turn on the noise cancellation and plug in my computer to watch a DVD and I soon forgot where I was. The noise from the engine, crying child, and snoring rowmate was greatly diminished, and I was able to enjoy myself and relax. As with most headsets like this, the noise reduction does not fully eliminate the sound, but does greatly muffle it.

theBoom Quiet is not just a set of noise-cancellation headphones, however. An included accessory microphone can be plugged into a port on the left headphone and positioned near your mouth to achieve the same fantastic call clarity found in the first two models. For traveling, this may represent a holy grail of sorts, in that you can hear and be heard and have a quality set of noise cancellation headphones all in the same package.

theBoom Quiet includes a semi-hard case with pockets for cellular and audio adapters as well as the microphone. It’s a little bulky, but for a full set of headphones with noise cancellation, it’s worth the packing space.

It’s worth noting that in all of the pictures of theBoom headsets there’s a significant length of cable attached. This is a double-edged sword for obvious reasons: great flexibility, and a good chance of entanglement. I personally prefer it.

Issues

There are two negatives that I’ve encountered while evaluating UmeVoice’s theBoom products. The first is cost. The second is that occasionally the microphone boom can become misaligned, causing your voice to be treated as ambient background noise instead of emerging clearly from the din. This is fixed by re-positioning the boom, but can be a nuisance.

Conclusion

I’m amazed at the quality and clarity of sound that the UmeVoice theBoom headsets provide. Whether in a crowded train terminal or the bustling streets of New York City, you can be sure that the caller will hear your every word. Each model is sturdily built and comfortable to wear. Cost and minor positioning problems may be issues for some users, but I believe the benefits of these headsets far exceed any negative. I recommend the headsets to any Treo user looking to get their message across regardless of background noise volume.

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