Gennum has taken strides to create a better designed device with more options and clarity in the nXZEN PLUS 5500. Overall, I had an enjoyable experience with the device. I rarely needed to use the ear hook due to the great fitting ear pieces and its lighter weight. I at times wished for a case or neck strap to place the device when not in use. The battery life advertises a talk time of up to 7 hours and although my tests provided around 6 hours, it is still a good amount of talk time considering its array of functions. Included in the package is a USB charger (and an AC adapter), so it easily hooks up to your PC while not in use and charges quite rapidly.

I found the phone most comfortable method of using the device by using the smaller ear loop with no ear piece. This method wraps around your ear and places the speaker just out of the ear canal. For shorter periods of use and maximum clarity, I prefer using the medium ear piece and no ear loop. This fits the headset snugly into your ear canal, but can cause irritation if in their consistently for over 20 minutes. With the included fitting options, most users will be able to find their perfect fit.

The sticker price of $159.99 is a premium price in the consumer headset market. With optimized features such as mp3 pairing, effective noise cancellation and dual microphones, the device is worthy of the price only if these are options you will use to their full potential.

Gennum has recently struck a deal with CompUSA. Look for the nXZEN PLUS 5500 ($159.99) and the nXZEN 5000 ($149.99) to be able available in all of their 250+ locations in time for the holidays.