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Functions
The H500 has a single multifunction button to support most basic phone features. Features like voice dialing, reject calls, redial last number, hold and conference calls (your cell phone and service provider must support this feature). You can adjust the call volume by pressing the volume buttons on the sides of the headset, and mute during a call by tapping both volume buttons at once. Also, if you find the flashing blue light annoying like I did, you can adjust the settings to turn it off. Overall, the H500’s controls and functions are easy to use and simple to remember.
Sound Quality
For most users, sound quality (incoming and outgoing) is the most important aspect of a Bluetooth headset. In order to accommodate this, the H500 uses an omni-directional microphone to improve voice capture for outgoing sound, and a speaker that fits snuggly against the your ear for better incoming sound.
When a headset’s outgoing sound quality is sub par, end users will often complain, "what's that static sound" or "I can't understand what you're saying". So, a good indication of a headset's sound quality is whether you can hold a conversation without the end user realizing you're on a headset.
After using the H500 to make numerous calls, with both the SLVR and E815, only one individual complained about poor sound. Other than that, nobody even knew I was using a Bluetooth headset. So, from the standpoint of outgoing sound quality, the H500 stood up to the test and demonstrated excellent performance.
Incoming sound, for the most part, was also very good. When using the headset in normal settings, every call was crystal clear and I didn't experience any problems. However, the sound quality quickly diminished in noisy environments, but this is usually the case with or without a headset.
Range
Compared to most other Bluetooth headsets, the Motorola H500 offers a range that is just a little over average. It uses a Bluetooth class 2 radio supporting both Bluetooth 1.1 and the newer 1.2 standard.
When using the headset with the Motorola E815 cell phone, I achieved a range of up to 25-30 feet before the signal began to fail. When I used it with the compatible SLVR, the range was around 20-25 feet. Calls with the SLVR began to experience crackling noise at around 20 feet with incoming sound, however users on the other end didn't notice any voice breakup until around 30 feet.
Conclusion
The Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset is a perfect example of Motorola’s commitment to developing state of the art Bluetooth devices. The H500 certainly lives up to my expectations for a quality Bluetooth headset. With exceptional battery life, good sound quality and a relatively inexpensive price tag, the H500 is certainly a Bluetooth headset I recommend.
Pros - Excellent battery life
- Good sound quality
- Cheap price
- Universal Motorola charger
Cons Posted June 9, 2006 by BlueTomorrow.com Editorial Staff
