Samsung SBH500 user reviews (Black)

Pros Comfortable ear padding, very reasonable sound isolation, beautiful sound reproduction, intuitive control layout, attractive design elements

Cons Grossely uncomfortable headband, ridiculously fragile

Summary I received my SBH500 headset from a friend that worked for Samsung at the time. I was looking for a quality wireless music headset and they offered me this, as it was a surplus device for them that Samsung didn't want back. My first impression was that the design aesthetic was pretty cool for bulky headphones. The controls are well designed and placed, the charging port cover is clever, and the light ring indicator is attractive.

My opinion began to sour, however, when I put them on. Jerrytmi's review I find extremely insulting, as I do not have elephant ears (I have to endure comments from most of my friends about how strikingly small my ears are), but this headset not only pinches into my skull behind the ears, but some of the plastic seams on the headband actually dig into the base of my ears. After ten minutes, to say it was very uncomfortable would be an understatement. It felt like it was cutting into me. Perhaps after several days of continued use I would grow accustomed to the sensation, but I really didn't want to have to get accustomed to it, at the time it hurt! But, all the same, I did just that. Most headsets and earphones hurt for the first couple of days I use them, so I gave it a fair shot, not to mention the sound quality was very good and well worth investing some time into. Sure enough, the plastic digging into my ears didn't hurt quite so much after a few days, but the pinching at my skull didn't get any better, but I learned to live with it.

That all ended, however, the day the plastic sheared off on one side where the headband met the extension off the earpiece. I taped and zip-tied it, and within two days the other side sheared off. This was in under three months of ownership. So far, every attempt to repair it has ultimately failed after a few days, so I have removed the headband in hopes I can fashion a more suitable way of wearing this device. But after three months, I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO. The worst part is that, while searching the internet for a guide to how to disassemble this headset so I could remove the rough bits of plastic left over, I found that many people had their headband shear off in the exact same place! This is a very clear case of poor design testing, and given that Samsung is one of my favorite tech brands, I'm grossly disappointed. My only consolation is that I didn't have to pay any money for these, so I haven't really lost anything, but I can't help but feel for everyone who has lost out because of these.

My bottom line: don't waste your money on this headset. Samsung makes others that are far superior, as do most other manufacturers. If Samsung ever revisits this design and implements a different headband, I will strongly consider buying another set. But in this instance, I'm walking away with my dignity intact, and my headset not.

Pros Great sound quality, good bass.
Nice controls
Comfortable if you don't have elephant ears.

Cons None for me

Pros Sound quality
Easy to use controls

Cons Uncomfortable
Connection goes in and out
Dials numbers automatically

Summary I was looking for an affordable bluetooth headset to listen to music and to use while talking and these headphones looked great. I found these at a best buy and I got them home and tried them on and everything seemed good at first. But after about 10 minutes they begun to hurt my ears while having them on. Also listening to my tunes the sound would drop and come back. Also the headset started to dial a previous number I called. The only things I liked about them was the sound quality minus the dropping of the sound. Also I liked the ease of using the controls but this headset I would not recommend because they are so darn uncomfortable.

Pros Control design is nice. The light ring looks cool. That's about all ...

Cons Pretty much everything else. Atrocious design flaw on the top part of the band for the top of the ears.
Unknown on sound quality, didn't bother.

Summary I bought these at retail at Best Buy for $69.99. The main reason for me getting these was to have something to wear while working out at the gym. I did not read the editor?s review here on CNET before the purchase (although it looks like maybe I should have)
My first take on these as far as looks go are pretty much the same as the editors?. They are bulky looking and feeling. As I type this part I am wearing them as they are charging for the first time to use them tomorrow at the gym. After having them on for 10 minutes now, I am starting to feel pressure on the tops and backs of my ears. The padding part of the design is nice, but right now it is not looking good for these actually making it to the gym with me to wear during actual activity.
Infact, 12 minutes will do it for me for these. I don?t see a need in even testing out what kind of sound quality these have. The top part of the band that rests on your ears, well it just goes beyond uncomfortable. I don?t think that the issue is so much that the rigid part of the band rests on your years, but combine that with the band actually pinching your ear AND that part digging in, there is just no excuse. Somebody at Samsung should have actually put these on an average size human head before they went to market. A little bit of space at the top where the band meets the padding could have solved the comfort problem.
But even so, these are way too thick and bulky to wear while working out for me. If you watched the video reviewfor these, take pretty much every word of it as accurate.
Very much disappointed with these.