Bluetooth car kits are all about giving you access to your mobile devices while you’re on the road without taking your focus off safe driving, and the Jabra FREEWAY is one of the best for that task. It features HD-quality calling on both ends of a call for the clearest communication, one of the loudest volume outputs, and comprehensive hands-free control that allows you to stay connected to your social networks without ever touching your phone. For these reasons, the Jabra FREEWAY earns the Top Ten Reviews for the best Bluetooth car kit.
Speakerphone Performance
One of the defining characteristics of the Jabra FREEWAY is the three 7-watt speakers. Most Bluetooth car speakerphones only have one speaker. Only a few have two speakers. With three speakers, it can cut through the noisiest freeways and cityscapes, ensuring that you can always hear your caller.
The Jabra FREEWAY also features HD voice capabilities on both ends of the call. The difference between HD voice and the standard voice quality is the reach of the frequency range. The standard voice quality for most Bluetooth hands-free devices only has a frequency range of 150Hz to 3.4kHz. This is just enough of a frequency range to produce an outline of the voice. With HD voice, the FREEWAY expands the frequency range, reaching as low as 50Hz and as high as 7kHz. This allows for more than twice the natural frequencies of your caller’s voice to reach your ears, which results in a clearer voice and better communication.
For noise reduction and echo cancellation, the Jabra uses its Noise Blackout system, one of the most effective noise reduction systems available. It combines the use of two microphones and an internal digital signal processor. The two microphones are positioned to isolate the frequencies of your voice from the frequencies that compose the background noises – the sound of the road, the air conditioning, the chatter of your kids in the back seats and surrounding traffic. It’s very good at making sure that your caller only hears your voice.
Hands-Free Performance
This is one of the best Bluetooth car kits because it keeps your focus on the road. The hands-free performance is comprehensive with all the Bluetooth profiles that provide you with the most control. The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile allows you to stream any audio from your phone, including GPS directions. The Hands-Free Profile gives you the ability to use voice commands to perform functions such as answering, rejecting and ending a call. The Phone Book Access Profile allows you to voice-dial contacts in your phone and receive vocalized caller ID. The Audio/Video Remote Control Profile allows you to control your phone’s playlist from the device.
Jabra includes a one-year subscription to the Jabra Assist app with the kit. This app allows you to compose text messages, tweets, status updates and emails with your voice. It also reads incoming text messages, tweets, status updates, emails and other text to you. The app allows you to stay connected to your online social networks while you’re on the road without having to look at your phone. The only downside to the app is that you have to pay a subscription fee after a year.
Battery Performance
The battery has a talk time of 14 hours and a standby time of 5.7 weeks, which is below average. However, the talk time is still good enough for a 1,050-mile road trip on a single charge, so this is only a minor flaw, especially if you use it more for commuting. It only takes three hours to fully charge, and you can plug it into your car’s charging port.
One of the battery performance features it has that only a few Bluetooth hands-free car kits share is a motion sensor that recognizes when you get in and out of your car. When you enter your car, the sensor automatically turns on and pairs with your phone so that you don’t have to waste minutes getting it set up every time you leave for work.
Help & Support
The Jabra FREEWAY comes with a one-year warranty. If you have any issues or concerns, the customer support representatives are very helpful. The only flaw with the support is the lack of a live chat feature. You can also peruse the FAQs page or access the manuals for more detailed information.
Summary
With three 7-watt speakers, the Jabra FREEWAY has one of the loudest outputs of any Bluetooth car kit. With its HD voice audio and dual-mic Noise Blackout system, you can take even the most important calls in your car with confidence. In addition, the comprehensive hands-free features allow you to keep your focus on the road, making the FREEWAY one of the best Bluetooth car kits available.