Review: Plantronics M1100 Savor

For those who use bluetooth hands free, you might be familiar with the brand already.  Currently, the 2 brands respected as the the producers of best bluetooth earphones or headsets are Plantronics and Aliph.  Each uses different technology, Plantronics uses computerized noise reduction using multiple microphones, they call it AudioIQ.  While Aliph produces Jawbone earphone to read cheekbone vibration to produce noise free communication, known as Noise Assassin.

Plantronics M1100 or Savor is probably famous since it was the smallest bluetooth earphone to use advance AudioIQ3, which means Savor utilizes 3 microphones to capture surrounding sound, including the user's, to produce the clearest sound of the user.  The party who receive the phone will hear the user voice clearer even if the user is in a crowded place, such as a mall or bus station.

I have been using Plantronics M1100 for about 1 year already, so my apology if this review is very late in the game.  However, being one of the best bluetooth earphone available in the market right now, I think it is still beneficial for you who wants to get one.

Specification:

• Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
• Weight 9 g
• Recommended Use Cellular phone
• Additional Features
  Voice Activated Dialing (VAD),
  Call reject,
  Secure Simple Pairing (SSP),
  On/off switch,
  Multipoint technology,
  Built-in DSP,
  Volume control,
  Answer/end button,
  Mute button,
  AudioIQ,
  Sidetone detection,
  QuickPair,
  Voice Commands,
  Wind Noise Reduction,
  Plantronics Vocalyst service,
  Bing411 service,
  Built-in 3 microphones,
  Echo cancellation,
  Last number re-dial

Headphones

• Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
• Headphones Form Factor  Earbud 
• Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
• Bluetooth Profiles
  Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP),
  Hands Free Profile (HFP),
  Headset Profile (HSP)
• Sound Output Mode Mono

Microphone

• Type Built-in

Connections

• Connector Type 1 x USB

Miscellaneous

• Included Accessories 3 gel ear tips

Power

• Power Device Power adapter - External
• Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
• Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
• Run Time (Up To) 4 hour(s)
• Standby Time 168 hour(s)

Manufacturer Warranty

• Service & Support 1 year warranty
• Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year 

Build:

• Solid, although made of plastic
• Big buttons and easy to access power switch

Comfort:

• Light weight, sometimes you will forget that you are still wearing it
• Can be worn for up to 4 hours without discomfort, after that you will start to feel the silicon pushing into your ear
• Optional 3 size of silicon tips makes it easy to choose the best fit

Performance: 

• Very clear sound into so you can hear the caller without problems
• Can be used to call or receive call in crowded place, but not noisy place.  Meaning, if you are in a mall, no problem.  But if you are riding a bike at more than 40 kph, your voice will be covered in wind noise
• Excellent battery life, 4 hours of talktime and 1 week of standby for such a small thing.  Please beware that you will most likely forgot to charge it.
• Durable, any other bluetooth will start to have problems after 1 year, this one is still running like there is no tomorrow.  the only degradation that I found is the battery life is bit shorter now
• Micro USB charging connector means you can charge with any available USB charger. 
• A2DP means you can listen to music streamed from your phone or media player, but the sound volume is rather weak for stereo music, but monolog sound has good level of volume.  At least, I can listen to audiobook discreetly.
• Multipoint connection enable connection to 2 phones simultaneously and both are active.

NotableWeakness:

• No dedicated volume up and down bottom, only circular volume, which is problematic sometimes
• So tiny, sometimes it hides in the seat of my car, even got lost in my jacket's pocket.
• No carrying case included

Conclusion:
Savor is not the most stylistic bluetooth earphone in the market, but the most practical and functional bluetooth earphone that you can wear for hours while driving or in a busy place without any discomfort.  Nowadays, it's price has slopped down from 1 year ago (around US100 now), but the performance that you can get from Savor will satisfy your daily use.  

Comparison to Aliph Jawbone Icon (my wife used one):  
After 1 year, Icon starts to have some minor problems, like connection to the phones become unstable and the sound quality is less than when new, some static noise has started to appear.