Customer Reviews

Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset (Nickel)

5 star:		(107)
4 star:		(101)
3 star:		(62)
2 star:		(55)
1 star:		(58)

 

 

Motorola may have evolved the perfect set of operation instructions coupled to simple feedback sounds and lights with the H500. Plus the 3 buttons are easy to operate because they are large enough and in convenient locations though they could benefit from being less smooth/easier to feel with some tactile bumps. I also had the latest Logitech "Mobile Traveller" headset to compare to which had confusingly complicated feedback sounds and light patterns and difficult buttons and fewer functions (no hold). I paired the headsets to a Motorola Razr V3 for testing.

-----The wind-cancelling technology and greater volume capability were the only advantages missing from the H500. Under noisy conditions such as in a car or crowd of people, the H500 could benefit from greater volume capability so that you can hear better.

-----I tested the headsets by calling a credit card voice response system for uniform responses. With the slightest bit of wind noise from a fan, the H500 mike cannot pick up your voice at all while the Logitech had no problem. It may be that the H500 mike is so extremely sensitive it gets overloaded by noise and wind and this limits pickup in those conditions.

-----I tested voice quality by recording on the phone's voice recorder and by calling my answering machine, then listening to the results. The H500 seems to provide the whole audio range where the Logitech seems focussed more toward the high end. This means that if you have a deep male voice it sounds more natural from the H500, but you will be more understandable and less muffled sounding from the Logitech which gives your voice a thinner and higher sounding quality.

-----The H500 is not as secure on my ear (which is of the sticking out variety), but it won't come off even if you shake your head upside down. Plus, this makes it very comfortable (you forget you're wearing it) and easy to hook it on and off with one hand. I could not put on the Logitech without 2 hands (and a mirror) and a lot of rotation adjustments and then after wearing it for a while, it would slowly start to pinch and hurt.

-----The construction of the H500 is all quality plastic and soft rubber against the ear instead of cheap foam covering which cruds up and shreds.

-----The electronic range is fantastic and I believe this strong signal connection is important if any interference factors are nearby. I am able to hear people quite clearly at distances away from the phone where they stated my voice is completely lost. In listening to recordings, it does seem that the H500 adds some electronic noise (like static or popping) compared to talking on the phone directly.

-----The headset's ringing tune is "Flight of the Valkyries" by Wagner, which I think is cool. The Razr phone itself reverts to a simple call alert sound when a headset is connected.
Now here is that perfect operation set:

STATUS-----ACTION Button-----RESULT
Switched Off-----Hold until steady light-----Pairing mode
Switched Off-----Hold until tones up-----turns On
Switched On-----Hold until tones down-----turns Off

On Standby-----Press (beep)-----Voice Dial
On Standby-----Hold until 2nd tone-----Redial

Incoming Call-----Press (beep)-----Answer call
Incoming Call-----Hold until 2nd tone-----Reject call

On a Call-----Press (beep)-----End call
On a Call-----Hold until 2nd tone-----Hold call
On a Call-----Press both Volume-----Mute/Unmute call

Call Waiting-----Press (beep)-----End 1, Answer 2
Call Waiting-----Hold until 2nd tone-----Hold 1, Answer 2

On 2nd Call-----Hold until 2nd tone-----Switch Calls
On 2nd Call-----Hold both Volume-----Join 3-way call

I have a Motorola e815, and was using a Motorola hs850 headset (see my review). That headset was compact and easy to use, but felt very wobbly, and the sound quality (especially receiving volume) left something to be desired. I got the h500, and I really love it!

First, it's volume is much better than my previous headset. When the environment is noisy, I can hear my call! The transmitter is about the same quality-not as good as a wired unit, but good enough to be heard on the other end. A big plus here is that when the phone rings, there is a tone in the headset when it's one also. The HS850 didn't have one, and if you miss the ringtone, you miss the call. This backup tone has alerted me several times before I was aware of the phone itself.

Second, the earpiece is better designed and more comfortable. It has a small notch that fits over the front curve of your ear, that aligns the mic on your ear. The earpiece, while thin, doesn't feel as flimsy as my previous Motorola, which always felt like it was ready to flop around at the slightest motion. While it's not rock solid, it feels much more secure.

Third, it has a mute feature, handy for those times when you need it.

Finally, the finish is great. The on/off button is surrounded by chrome, and the plastic body looks metallic. The finish exudes quality. Pairing this unit was ultra simple. I don't have talk/wait times yet, but I love this headset. It would be perfect if it had a battery indicator or caller ID feature. It's a keeper.

With my Motorola Razr cell phone that I purchased last year, I also purchased a Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset for hands-free use. Initially, I was very pleased with the H500, but soon discovered a number of problems that eventually eroded my initial opinion about it.

First, a poor & uncomfortable fit. The inflexible hook that is supposed to keep the H500 secure to the ear was clearly not designed with people who wear eyeglasses in mind. Consequently, it is a constant battle to maintain a snug fit of the H500 against the ear, which involves trying to keep the eyeglass frame on the outside of the H500 ear hook while still both contained by the ear lobe. Otherwise, the H500 can dangle loosely allowing the forward-part of the H500 to bend away from the ear by half an inch or more. Also, I have discovered that after about 30 minutes to an hour of wearing it, the H500 becomes uncomfortable even if I'm not wearing my eyeglasses at the time.

Second, high noise susceptibility. I quickly discovered that when walking outside and there is a light breeze, the person to whom I am speaking gets to hear a loud hiss, making it difficult for him/her to hear what I'm saying. The problem worsens if you are facing the breeze. Cupping the ear can help a little, or walking in a direction that is perpendicular to the wind direction, which is not necessarily possible.

Third, frequent loss of connection with the Razr. When I use the H500, it is normally not more than 3 feet from the Razr as I keep the Razr in a pants pocket. Three feet is certainly well within the H500's Bluetooth signal range, but even so, it routinely looses its connection with the Razr. When this happens, I can still hear the person who is talking to me, but the person that I'm talking to cannot hear me at all. What's really annoying is that when this happens, there is no warning signal of any kind given by the H500. You only find out when the person you are talking to starts saying, "Hello, are you there?" To let the person on the other end know that I'm still there, I have to quickly grab the Razr, open it and hold it to my ear while I do what I have found to be the only way to restore the connection between it and the H500: shut off the H500, then turn it back on and wait for it to reconnect to the Razr. This is really "fun" when it happens while driving, but happens elsewhere too.

Fourth, bad button design. One of the challenges of using the H500 is having a good place to keep it when not in use. You dare not keep it in a front pants pocket because even if you have turned it off, it can be very easily turned back on, especially if there is anything else in the pocket with it. Why is this a problem? Sure it needlessly consumes battery power, but more seriously, when it gets accidentally turned on, the same thing that accidentally turned it back on can cause it to make the cell phone call back the last person that you called without your knowledge. Oh, you'll probably find out later when the person that was accidentally called back by the H500 asks you why you called and didn't say anything. Only if you are wearing cargo pants, where you can keep the H500 in a large & loose pocket on the side of the leg (with nothing else in the pocket), can you be assured that the H500 will not be accidentally turned on and unintentionally call back someone. This problem is not limited to clothing pockets: it can happen if you put the H500 in a briefcase, backpack or any other place where something can press up against it.

Hence, my overall rating for the Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset is 2 out of 5 stars. I have replaced the troublesome H500 with a Jabra HT 150, whose far more flexible design makes it much more comfortable to wear, does not interfere with eyeglasses and so far, does not suffer from the same inability to maintain a connection with the phone during a call.

Since purchasing my Razr, I've done some extensive shopping and comparison to improve upon my Motorola H820 Bluetooth headset. After trying a couple other popular brands, I've purchased this model and am very happy with it.

For Razr owners, the H500 uses the same charging attachment as the Razr, which is a HUGE plus. The button placement is simple and easy to master. I had no problems whatsoever getting the headset to connect with my phone or using it to place calls.

Sometimes less is more -- that's certainly the case with this little Bluetooth headset. It's the best all-around value in a Bluetooth headset, especially for use with a Razr.

Bought two of these yesterday. Pink one for the lady and grey for me.
Voice quality, both incoming and outgoing is excellent. So light, you can wear it for hours w.o. a problem - you forget it is there. Volume is definitely loud - but can be adjusted, if you want.
We are using it w. SE r520m phones - first generation ("years" ago) that had BT built-in.
I had bought a Cardo "Allways" head set in 12/03. It was so cumbersome, neither of us really used it. It was uncomfortable.
I can see I'll be using this most of the day. I am a heavy cel phone user - 2000 min./mo. - mostly day time.

I find it strange in reading reviews of these items that some find a model to be quite good in a feature (eg. volume) and others find the same model unacceptable. Since no two people have the same size OR shape ears, probably a headset should be tried on for fit before purchase - just like you would a pair of shoes.

...mt

Okay, I'll admit it: I have larger than normal ears. Perhaps that's why the earpiece works pretty well for me. I can wear it for long periods without any discomfort, even though I also wear glasses.

The sound quality for the user is also excellent. I can hear the person on the other line perfectly. It's really quite impressive. However, I will say that the person on the other end isn't particularly loud. Generally, I can hear the other person without any trouble while driving at around 70 mph in my Acura RSX, but it's a little faint with some people. I think this is the main deficiency of the device -- the sound could be louder.

On the other hand, it's very lightweight, has an amazing battery life, has a low price, and it pairs with my Nokia 6600 without any problem. All in all, I'm glad I bought it.

I bought this headset to complement my new LG PM-325 from Sprint. I'm an extreme gadget lover, and the features of the H500 really appealed to me, as did the fact that it doesn't have any type of boom mic that you have to deal with to use it.

Upon receiving the unit, which came packed in a standard blister pack type of package, I opened it up and began exploring (thanks for NOT using one of those hard to open packages, Motorola... I didn't have to risk bodily harm to get to my new toy). The AC adapter that comes with the unit is small, has folding prongs, and fits easily into my laptop bag. There are several pieces of literature, one of which is a fold out micro-poster that explains very clearly how the H500 works, and what the various button combinations do as well as what the visual/audio feedback signals mean.

The unit charged up quickly and then paired with my PM-325 without a hitch. Pressing the multipurpose button is met with a responding beep, and then the voice of my phone asking for a name to dial. After making several test calls, and 1 legitimate call, I am rather impressed.

The H500 sounds clear, fits securely and comfortably on my average-sized ear, with a clever swing-out ear hook that is on a sturdy hinge. The only disappointment, which perhaps can be attributed in part or whole to my PM-325, is that the range seems to be about half that of the stated 30 feet. I plan on using this in my car, or just around my apartment with the phone near, so this is not a problem for me.

Overall, I am more than impressed with this unit and highly recommend it. I'm currently researching a Motorola IHF1000 Hands Free car kit for this phone, as this relatively inxpensive headset has impressed me that much.

--- Update ---

My PM-325 died. I bought a RAZR V3m, and this headset really began to shine. I can walk entirely around my 1,000 sq ft apartment with not even so much as a crackle. This headset also lives in my car 90% of the time... I charge it maybe once a month, and it gets at least 2 hours of use per week.

The motorola bluetooh 500 is very lightweight and sleek but the main feature I purchased it for is the one feature I am very disappointed about. Being able to go wireless. My customers complain that while talking to me they get an echo on their side of the phone, both cell phones and land line phones. It gets so annoying to them that they ask me to cut the bluetooth off. Customer service from motorola is very personable but I still have a problem with the bluetooth. Heading back to the store where I purchased this item for their tech support or hopefully exchange.

The Motorola H500 is a very well made and full featured headset. The sound quality is amazing, much better than most wired headsets. The sound is crisp and clear, with very little distortion. The unidirectional microphone is good at cutting out background noise. Most people think that I'm on a landline! The user guide looks more like a quick start guide, but IMHO it's well written. This would seem to be enough guidance for most people, I mean it's just a headset. It's also very tiny, feels great on the ear, and it's a perfect visual match to shiny silver phones, especially the Motorola RAZR. Also of note is the fact that this headset uses the new Moto mini USB charging port (like the one on the RAZR). So people with Motorola phones that use the old style charging port will have to carry 2 chargers when traveling. Other than that, it's a great headset and highly recommended.

Its a good headset...have this for a month. Made pretty good in terms of construction, not flimsy. Fell out of pocket on the concrete yet did not hurt. Its small and attractive.
User Manual is bad...does not describe anything properly. Since it has a multi function button, it will take time to figure out how to use it but it works.
Sound quality is better than previous models but not enough.
Connection quality is good...thou it dropped the signal once when it was only 1 feet away..but again its once.
Connects pretty fast to the phone. Fits well on the ear.
Battery life is very good. Once the phone is paired with the headset and phone bluetooth connection is ON, u can switch off the headset to save battery. When the phone rings, u can press the MFB(multi function button) on the headset for 2 sec to connect fast and then u can take call. This is the best feature which will save both phone battery as well as headset battery as u do not have to switch ON the headset always...just keep the phone bluetooth connection switched ON. This works the way HS850 works when the boom mic is closed(disconnects headset) and when open connects it.