Review: Jabra's BT8040 Bluetooth A2DP Mono Headset

Jabra BT8040

Jabra BT8040

Jabra BT8040

Jabra BT8040
Weight	9.9g (0.35oz)
Body Size	38mm x 17.8mm x 12.7mm (1.5" x .7" x .5")
Talk Time	Up to 6 hours
Ear Loop	In-ear
Left/Right Ear?	Both
LEDs	1, multicolor
Pairings	Multiple, 2 simultaneous
Headset Sound	Excellent
Mic Sound	Excellent
Included Accessories	AC power, USB charging cable, 6 ear loops

I am a big fan of small Bluetooth headsets, so I was elated to get the opportunity to try out the Jabra BT8040, which measures only 38mm (1.5") long. The BT8040 sports a classy silver and black color scheme, and ships with an AC adapter, a USB charging cable, and a whopping 6 ear loops in the box. It also supports A2DP, which is interesting for a single-ear Bluetooth headset.

The Jabra BT8040 uses small unique ear gels to maximize comfort. These feature a large springy loop on the back, which fits in the inner part of your outer ear for a secure fit. There are 3 different sizes, with 2 of each included in the package. These ear gels also sport somewhat of a sound channel that directs sound directly into your ear, insuring minimal sound loss. The unique ear gel design makes the BT8040 simple to put on and incredibly comfortable to wear, especially for extended periods of use. It would not be uncomfortable to wear this headset during an entire 8-hour workday at all.

Like most Bluetooth headsets, the BT8040 features only 3 buttons. The main button is located on the outside, right in the middle of the headset. It is surrounded by a raised edge to make it easy to find by touch. The volume is controlled by a rocker that is positioned on the outside, towards the back end of the headset. After extensive use, the buttons and their locations turn out to be a big complaint that I have with the BT8040. The main button is rather small, and positioned one length too close to the front of the headset, making it feel rather awkward when pressing. Likewise, with the volume buttons on the outside, rather than the sides of the headset, it often felt as if using them would either shove the headset into my ear completely, or jostle it loose.

The BT8040's LED indicator light is hidden in the middle of the volume rocker, and flashes in several different colors to notify you of different events. To power the headset on, you simply hold down the main button for approximately 5 seconds. The LED will flash either green, yellow, or red, to indicate the current battery level. While this is indeed handy, it's somewhat confusing to always see a different color when powering the headset on. The first time the headset is powered on, it automatically enters 'pairing mode', indicated by a solid blue light. You can activate this mode later by pressing and holding the main button for several seconds, until the blue light appears.

The Jabra BT8040, despite having only one earpiece, supports the A2DP profile usually reserved for stereo headphones. When the headset is connected in A2DP music mode, the LED indicator shines purple. A2DP music mode allows you to enjoy the best sound from your A2DP-compatible music phone, while still being able to use the BT8040 to receive calls. Since both audio channels are coming through one earpiece, I found the sound quality to be greatly improved, as well. I like to listen to music while I go grocery shopping or run errands, and the BT8040 allows me to do that safely, keeping one ear alert to outside sounds, as opposed to standard stereo headphones.

Jabra BT8040

Jabra BT8040 and Jabra JX10