Samsung WEP500 Bluetooth headset
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: AWEP500JLECXAR
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Samsung WEP500 is a small Bluetooth headset that has a great fit as well as excellent sound quality.
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CNET editors' review
Samsung WEP500 Bluetooth headset price range: $44.99
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 09/19/2007
The good: The Samsung WEP500 is a tiny lightweight Bluetooth headset with excellent performance and easy-to-use controls. It also comes with a portable charging case.
The bad: The Samsung WEP500 has unfortunate button placement, and the lack of an ear hook may deter some people. You can't charge the headset without the case. It is also rather expensive.
The bottom line: The Samsung WEP500 is a small Bluetooth headset that has a great fit as well as excellent sound quality.
When we first saw the Motorola H9 Miniblue earlier this year, we thought it was the smallest Bluetooth headset we've ever seen. Samsung, however, has recently launched a Bluetooth headset that's just as tiny. Called the Samsung WEP500, this minuscule headset is about the size of a quarter and is even lighter than the Miniblue. But don't let its size fool you, as the WEP500 also packs in advanced noise reduction technology, like automatic volume control, which resulted in excellent audio quality. It even comes with a compact charging case. That said, the WEP500 has somewhat unfortunate button placement, and it will cost you at a hefty $119.99.
Measuring only 0.98 inch by 1.1 inches by 0.3 inch and weighing around 0.3 ounce, the WEP500 is definitely one small headset. It has a nice round shape, and we like that it appears rather inconspicuous when worn. The WEP500 has two microphones, one underneath the multifunction button and one at the bottom of the headset. There's also an indicator light at the bottom. The multifunction button is actually the entire top of the headset, and is really easy to press. It is, however, in a rather unfortunate position. As you attempt to place the headset in the ear or make any fitting adjustments, it is inevitable that you'll press this button since it is on the top. We found that this resulted in several accidental phone calls. Aside from that, the volume rocker on the left works just fine and is easy to press as well.
Behind the headset is a somewhat flat earpiece that sits just inside the ear. There are two styles of earpiece covers to choose from--one with a protruding tip so it sits deeper in the ear, and one with a loop spring for those who prefer not to have the tip. The WEP500 even comes with three different loop-spring sizes for different size ears. While we didn't have a problem fitting the headset in the ear, we do think that it felt a lot less secure than other headsets, like that of the Miniblue. In this case, we would've liked to have had an ear hook as an option for that added security. Otherwise, it did feel pretty comfortable in the ear, and we managed to wear it for long periods of time without any noticeable discomfort.
Features of the WEP500 are fairly standard. They include answering, ending, and rejecting calls, voice dial support, last number redial, call mute, placing a call on hold, answering a second call, and the ability to transfer a call from the phone to the headset and vice versa. You can also choose to turn the indicator light on or off. The WEP500 Bluetooth headset comes with a compact charging case with a plastic swivel lid. You can't charge the headset without the case, so be sure not to lose it.
We paired the Samsung WEP500 with the RIM BlackBerry Pearl. It paired successfully without any problems. Call quality was fantastic--voices sound loud and clear in quiet office environments as well as on noisy city sidewalks. We were impressed with the noise-reduction and echo-cancellation technologies, as well as the automatic volume control that adjusts the volume to make up for changes in background noise. That said, it won't prevent extremely loud background noise from places like a crowded bar or restaurant. For day to day situations though, we found it more than sufficient.
The Samsung WEP500 has a rated talk time of up to 3.5 hours and a rated standby time of 3.3 days.
User reviews
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excellent headset
by student420 on September 9, 2007
Pros: sound quality, noise and WIND cancellation, small size
Cons: none so far (well could be cheaper)
Summary: i just bought this headset from a cingular (now AT&T) corporate store yesterday. So far it has been really nice. The small size is awsome, the sound quality ...
Summary: i just bought this headset from a cingular (now AT&T) corporate store yesterday. So far it has been really nice. The small size is awsome, the sound quality is excellent, and it cancels wind noise better than the jawbone! everyone i talk to says i sound good and their incomming sound is good too. great fit too, feels really secure, never falls out either.
Updated
NOBODY CAN HERE ME ON THIS THING. IT WORKED GOOD FOR THE FIRST DAY OR TWO FOR SOME REASON, AND THEN I NOTICED I DOESN'T WORK WORTH A CRAP. DOES NOT WORK AT ALL OUTSIDE, EVEN IF THERE IS JUST A LITTLE BREEZE. INSIDE PEOPLE STILL COULDN'T HEAR ME, I STILL HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPEAT MYSELF. I EVEN EXCHANGED IT TO SEE IF I JUST HAPPENED TO GET A BAD ONE (FROM A CINGULAR CORPORATE STORE) AND IT STILL HAD THE SAME HORRIBLE SOUND QUALITY (MUFFLED AND HOLLOW). THIS HEADSET IS OVERPRICED JUNK, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. IN THE FUTURE I WILL WAIT AT LEAST A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASE A HEADSET TO REVIEW IT.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very frustrating to use...
by Innovator58 on January 10, 2008
Pros: small size, sleek and unobtrusive look
Cons: poor fit in the ear, poor sound quality, terrible ergonomics
Summary: I bought the Samsung WEP500 at my local ATT store for $99 (with a $30 mail-in rebate, for a total of $69). I loved the look of the headset, and ...
Summary: I bought the Samsung WEP500 at my local ATT store for $99 (with a $30 mail-in rebate, for a total of $69). I loved the look of the headset, and had high hopes for it's performance. I was looking for something approximating the performance of the Jawbone headset I own, but without the bulk. I should mention that I've gone through about 12 different headsets over the last couple of years, and so far the Jawbone has been the best performing (but least comfortable) unit I've owned (followed closely by the Jabra BT250V - more comfy but less of a performer).
Well, I'm not sure what the good people at CNET saw in the WEP500, but within 4 hours I returned it. It seemed that the DSP functionality was better at screening out my voice than surrounding noise. The center location of the multifunction button virtually guaranteed that I was going to redial my last caller, which I did an embarrassing 6 times! If Samsung could eliminate the "quick touch redial" feature of the multifunction button, it would be a great improvement. Unfortunately they would also have to work on the noise-reductionfunction as well. Keeping it in my ear (regardless of which eargel I used) was the straw that broke this users back.
In summary, as attractive as this unit was, I found it simply impossible to use.4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not User Friendly
by Ikonradio on December 29, 2007
Pros: Small design
Cons: WONT STAY IN EAR! Horrible location of multi-purpse button!!!
Summary: This is by far the worst bluetooth headset I have purchased. This device will not stay put in your ear for an extended period of time. No matter how you ...
Summary: This is by far the worst bluetooth headset I have purchased. This device will not stay put in your ear for an extended period of time. No matter how you position it, it will slowly slide out. Also, the multi purpose button is in a very bad location. It's located at the very top of the device which is horrible because when you re-position the device, which you will have to do often after it slips out, you WILL touch the button. This often results in accidental hang-ups or redials. I've had this headset for less than a week and I'm already looking for a replacement for it and I paid the full price of $89.99. I wouldn't GIVE this device away. It will be discarded of.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The knock-offs are killing this product
by thechil on June 5, 2008
Pros: Sleek design, tiny size, call clarity
Cons: Button placement, only average battery life
Summary: I truly believe that many - if not all - of the below average reviews the WEP500 receives are actually based on poorly built replicas from China, and not on ...
Summary: I truly believe that many - if not all - of the below average reviews the WEP500 receives are actually based on poorly built replicas from China, and not on the OEM Samsung unit. On a site like cNet, you'll be reading opinions of buyers who purchased from unknown outlets. These opinions, while honest, don't always represent the original product.
Like most folks, I was initially attracted to the headset because it's tiny, affordable, and carries the name of a major manufacturer. To put it briefly, I've been completely satisfied with the unit.
Nearly all of the negative reviews that I read before purchasing the headset cited poor reception, thoughtless button placement, and a lack of functionality in general. I will admit that the multi-function button (it's the portion in the photo that has the telephone headset etched into it) takes some getting used to. The reason is because every time you insert or adjust the unit in your ear, the natural placement of your index finger will be directly on top of the multi-function button. This will inevitably cause a calling error or two, or ten.
However, other than the multi-function button's placement, the unit performs very well. I find both incoming and outgoing voice signals to be good if not great. The only drawback to a conversation with the WEP500 is its tendency to over amplify sounds very near to your body (running faucet, etc). Voice dialing is accurate and reliable.
The battery life for talk time is average but the standby life is excellent.
Like all in-ear headsets, the WEP500 can become uncomfortable if worn for long periods without a properly fitting insert cover.
My only other complaint is with the charging system. The cradle is very small and isn't a problem to carry around since it conveniently doubles as a hard carrying case for the headset. My gripe is with the wall charger that mates with the cradle. Although the unit is a standard 5V - 500mA charger, Samsung neglected to provide the incredibly obvious convenience of a mini USB style charging port on the cradle. Instead, we're stuck with a proprietary plug similar to the first generation Nokia cellphones. With so many high end mobiles, smartphones, and even other headsets making use of this common charge/data port, it seems like a no-brainer to include it on the cradle (effectively eliminating the need to carry extra wall chargers around with me). No such luck.
In conclusion, the WEP500 isn't the best headset to ever grace the earth, but it might be the best looking. Furthermore, it certainly doesn't deserve the technical beating it's taking here on cNet. I honestly believe that half (if not all) of the negative reviews are aimed at cheap clones bought on eBay. This headset works fine! I’ve owned mine for over 6 months now.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A product well worth its money
by Evrain64 on May 1, 2008
Pros: Exceptional sound quality,
Cons: Overly sensitive multifunction button, can be unconfortable for those with small or slick ear channels
Summary: First things first: I regret having waited roughly three months before buying this headset, thanks to the (in my opinion) superficial and outdated user reviews on most sites, most irritatingly ...
Summary: First things first: I regret having waited roughly three months before buying this headset, thanks to the (in my opinion) superficial and outdated user reviews on most sites, most irritatingly even those here on CNET.
What I wanted was an headset with excellent sound quality, DSP and a small form factor, mostly due to my erratic lifestyle and a TERRIBLE experience with an outright crappy headset, namely the H500 from Motorola: at first, I considered the Jawbone, but looking like a Borg wasn't my intention; then the Blueant Z9, but I was dissatisfied with some user reviews from trusted sources and its form factor. At last, after almost picking up a WEP200, I finally bought this lovely gizmo from a local reseller.
First of all, the thing is TINY, and I mean it. My colleagues and friends all commented how discreet and elegant it was, and they were right: moreover, I find its charging cradle perfect to carry it with me without risking to damage it. My ear channel is fairly small, so I had to fumble a bit with the provided rubber covers before just using its default one, which ensures a decent and unexpectedly secure fit at the cost of a slightly muffled incoming sound.
What surprised me the most, though, was its incredible sound quality: I tried to phone a few people without telling them I was on a headset (nor on a mobile phone, for that matter) and all of them commented how my voice was crystal clear, even while driving or in front of an open faucet; ironically, a few times it was their devices that malfunctioned. Auto volume balancing and other exotic features work as advertised, aswell, doing their job and ensuring clear communication in a wide range of situations, even in the middle of a busy emergency room.
Flaws? I can hardly call them such, but there are a few. First of all, the ************ button. Yes, it's placed in an unfortunate position, it's incredibly sensitive, but I really can't understand all the whining: it took me three days only to learn how to handle the WEP500 without triggering a phone call by accident; besides, one can always press it again to terminate it, again making such observations true but rather pointless. Also, the battery can be stretched to as far as 4 hours of talking time, but hardly beyond that point; charging it daily solved the problem for me.
Now, my opening statement was a somewhat annoyed reverie against the reviews I've read so far on this product. That because most of them can either be referred to early adopters (surfing the Web I noticed how units produced in early 2007 were often faulty, sometimes entire stocks - mine was manufactured on February 2008) or people who bough a fake. One user in particular commented how the included earhook (intended as an earloop) broke and the headset kept falling out of his ear. Problem is, the WEP500 isn't shipped with an earhook! Besides, Samsung headsets have spawned an army of cheap chinese clones, I wouldn't be surprised if many unsatisfied customers actually didn't receive a genuine unit.
To sum it up, I strongly recommend this WEP500 to those looking for a headset with the aforementioned features: small, discreet, elegant, excellent sound and noise cancellation, that nice cradle. And for God's sake, don't let outdated or superficial reviews fool you: after using this headset for over two months, I've been unable to find any of the flaws everyone is bragging about. So yes, CNET this time was right with its review (although I would've given it an 6,5/9), but not everyone shops wisely.Updated
A small addendum to my review: first of all, what the asterisks hide is merely the word "multifunction", although I don't know wy it showed up like that. Also, my proposed rating would be 8.5/9 (and no 6.5/9).
About the WEP500' performance: it is absolutely flawless, but beware of your phone: at times, using an old Nokia 6600, the headset wold require repairing due to commands not being recognised anymore; also, twice I had to adjut thevolume due to the interlocutor experiencing echo, and twice I had to recall them due to the headset sending a constant stream of loud static over my voice. Both problems were caused by my failing phone, as I never experienced them again after using it with my HTC TyTN II.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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not a very good product.
by AsItLies on December 28, 2007
Pros: small yes, that's about it.
Cons: horrible sound, terrible fit, bad charging design.
Summary: I'm confused how some could say the sound on the other end is anything but abysmal. I had numerous people say I didnt sound like myself at all. Hearing ...
Summary: I'm confused how some could say the sound on the other end is anything but abysmal. I had numerous people say I didnt sound like myself at all. Hearing on this end was ok and volume was ok.
Pairing was easy, expected with a samsung sph-m510. The multifunction button worked but anytime you pushed it the fear was you were gonna loose it out of your ear. It's not stable at all. It really felt like it was in your ear as a "balancing act", any moment it was gonna loose it's balance!
You can get (from Samsung only afaik) a little plastic ear clip that slips over a part of the device, which does help a little. But, to put the thing in it's little cradle to charge, you have to take the clip off... you guessed it, only took about 3 times before the skinny plastic clip broke.
I tried everyone of the rubber ear pieces that come with it, no dice, it never felt stable. And again, sound on the other end was awful. I tried the Plantronics Voyager 520, works great and wish I hadn't wasted 50 bucks on the sammy... anyone want to buy one? cheap?
Good Luck1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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COME ON CNET, LET'S GET SOME HONEST REVIEWS HERE!!
by DESIGN-STUDENT on October 9, 2007
Pros: nice build materials (chrome)--and that's the only pro!!
Cons: SOUND QUALITY IS TERRIBLE, WON'T STAY IN YOUR EAR, ECHO CANCELLATION DOES NOT WORK AT ALL, $119 IS A RIPOFF (AT THE CINGULAR CORPORATE STORES)
Summary: What can i say, this is an awful headset. There is static on every call. Everyone I called complained that they could not hear me. They also complained that there ...
Summary: What can i say, this is an awful headset. There is static on every call. Everyone I called complained that they could not hear me. They also complained that there is a constant tapping noise on every call. I bought the wep500 from a Cingular (now AT&T) corporate store. I even exchanged it, thinking I might have gotten a lemon, and the new one had the same exact problems. So I just ended up returning it all together. I can't believe Cingular charges $119 for this piece of junk. Also, the extra microphone does not cancel out any enviromental noises AT ALL. I tried standing next to a television set on the same volume I always listen to it at (which isn't loud at all), and everyone I talked to could hear everything eminating from it clearly. Everyone I called when driving could also tell I was driving around in my car, they could hear all the traffic noises CLEARLY. The extra micophone that is supposed to block out envirmental noises actually provides better sound quality than the microphone that picks up your voice! I heard loud static on every call too, and echos (so much for the so called "echo cancellation technology"). As stated before, I tried two of these headsets from a cingular corporate store (they're not counterfeit crap from the internet) and they both had the same horrible quality. I cannot believe CNET gave the wep500 an 8.0, the only thing I can figure is that Samsung does a lot of advertising on this website. Come on CNET, lets get some honest reviews here! DON'T BUY THIS HEADSET, IF YOU DO YOU'LL BE SORRY!! (the samsung wep410 is a much better choice and it's not even reviewed on CNET for some reason).
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Horrendous! Doesn't stay in ear and has echoed/hollow sound!
by Loganwa03 on September 5, 2007
Pros: Size, aesthetic, and brand
Cons: Function button, attachment, sound, and voice quality
Summary: The size of the ear insert is tiny and poorly designed, doesn't fit and doesn't stay put, especially when driving, etc. Had complaints about voice quality on the ...
Summary: The size of the ear insert is tiny and poorly designed, doesn't fit and doesn't stay put, especially when driving, etc. Had complaints about voice quality on the other end as well. Overall would go with the Aliph Jawbone product, having tried both.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great little headset. I recommend it.
by Boweske on April 20, 2010
Pros: Great sound clarity, easy to use, better than more expensive sets. Have bought another one, just need to get a phone to partner it with. (Lost the phone I was using)
Cons: Overall life is about one year. Samsung replaced faulty product quickly and to my satisfaction. when it eventually died, I bought another one on line. Couldn't get it to connect to any of my phones, mainly motorola razor.
Summary: Overall, it has been great. I really like it. Original one came with an ear loop, but that didn't last too long as I had to keep taking it ...
Summary: Overall, it has been great. I really like it. Original one came with an ear loop, but that didn't last too long as I had to keep taking it off to charge the unit. I would get another if the price was right.
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I have had my share of bluetooths and this one I love.
by sculmer1956 on August 29, 2009
Pros: It gets good sound and I work in a noisey place. It fits in my ear nice .
Cons: okay one draw back, at first I would accidentally recall the last number, but I got use to being more careful not to do that.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: AWEP500JLECXAR
- Description: The Samsung WEP 500 Mini Bluetooth Headset prides itself on an innovative design of round shapes and easy-to-use features.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Width 1 in
- Depth 1.1 in
- Height 0.3 in
- Weight 0.3 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Additional Features Volume control,
Voice activated Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
- Headphones Form Factor Ear-bud
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Microphone
- Type Built-in
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Power
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Samsung
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001
