Are you listening to this?

GIZMO GALLERY

Splurging Rs 9000 on a set of headphones might make sense when you have the option of going wire-free.

Logitech's Free Pulse is a comfortable wireless headset that connects to any 3.5mm jack plug and thus not only will your MP3 player be able to be connected without wires, but anything else that supports a 3.5mm jack.

The headsets can be used not only with an MP3 player but also with music stereo systems.

To increase or decrease the volume , one needs to reach to the the '+' or '-' buttons on the side of the headset, which initially have to be done with the headset off or you will not know exactly where to push.

The Free Pulse is a clear improvement over the past Logitech headsets, thanks to a svelte new design and smaller speaker units. The package contains a battery charger that can power up both the headphones and the transmitter simultaneously.

Logitech Free Pulse has a play duration of seven hours. During our tests, the Free Pulse Bluetooth headphones worked well with an iPod Nano, a Microsoft Zune, an Apple iBook and a Dell Inspiron laptop.

The headphones' good sound quality under various settings, especially since they are wire-free is impressive. But audiophiles should be aware that there are better sounding corded headphones in the market.

For users who plan to put their iPods in a backpack and hit the road, the headphones' 20-to-25-feet wireless range should work well for them.

Powering up the devices, you need to select the appropriate custom-fit adaptor for the music player and snap it into place on the bottom side of the Free Pulse Wireless receiver/transmitter. The device comes with different custom-fit adapters to fit all versions of the Apple iPod.

For those who have MP3 players other than the iPod, there is also a short extension cable to work with any media player that has a stereo mini-jack.

Functions lacking on Logitech's Free Pulse wireless headphones are integrated buttons for advancing a track forward or backward and a play/pause button. You would still need to pull your audio device out of the pocket to skip or replay a track. Priced at around Rs 7,195, it's worth a look.

Plantronics has launched the Pulsar 590 series where the Pulsar 590A includes the headset and a Bluetooth universal adaptor that enables devices without Bluetooth to work with the headset and the Pulsar 590E that comes with only the Bluetooth stereo headset.

The Plantronics Pulsar 590A headset is not a sporty wear, thanks to a bulky design that lends an appearance of an old-school pair of clunky headphones than the sleek Bluetooth headsets one is used to seeing.

You can pair the Pulsar 590A with host of mobile phones, iPods, laptops and desktop computers. The headset paired with everything with ease except the Apple iMac that lacked support for A2DP.

In addition to working with mobile phones, MP3 players and other mobile devices, the Pulsar 590A also comes with a set of in-flight cables that allows you to connect the headset to the audio jack commonly found on airplanes.

This is a great feature if you spend a lot of time flying, and it will save you some money since many airlines charge for a headset.

The sound quality is very good when working with both the iPod and mobile phones. The Pulsar 590A adds more bass compared to the iPod wired headsets, but is otherwise comparable to the wired headsets bundled with these devices.

If you are no fan of wires, this is the headset for you though it's a bit pricey at around Rs 9,000.