The Best of Both Phone, and Tablet
Entered CNET Catalog: 05/15/2007
SKU: 0895930001001
Manufacturer: Sound ID
Manufacturer description
As you go through your day, the acoustic environment around you is constantly changing - from the relative quiet of your car or office, to the high activity levels found in airports and on city streets. If you're like most mobile phone users, you're frustrated by the performance of your hands-free device - specifically, its inability to eliminate background noise and provide consistent sound clarity in a wide variety of locations and situations. Meet the first hands-free Bluetooth device that can be personalized to meet the most demanding listening needs. The SM100 EarModule redefines high performance in mobile communications. It processes the sound the way your ears do, by automatically boosting what background noise drowns out without over-amplifying what's already clear. Compatible with all popular Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and audio accessories (Skype and VoIP), the SM100 EarModule combines the freedom of mobility with superior sound clarity and comfort.Product summary
The good: The SoundID SM100 Bluetooth headset has a comfortable fit and excellent performance; with wind noise reduction and voice capture technologies that enhance audio clarity. It adjusts to different noise levels, plus there's an environment-awareness mode so you can hear your surroundings with headset still in the ear.
The bad: The SoundID SM100 Bluetooth headset's environment-awareness mode results in a noticeable background buzz that can be quite distracting.
The bottom line: The SoundID SM100 Bluetooth headset is excellent with above-average performance.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 08/31/2007
We were very pleased with the SoundID Personal Sound System SoundFlavors Bluetooth headset from a year ago, but we felt the price was a little too prohibitive for most people. The SoundID SM100, however, is much more consumer-friendly at a more affordable price point, without sacrificing quality. Manufactured with a thorough understanding of the science of hearing--the founder of SoundID is an otologist from Stanford University--we have to say that the SM100's audio quality was indeed amazing. We were impressed with the headset's noise reduction technology, and it has quite a comfortable fit as well. It's still fairly expensive at $129, but the quality and performance is worth the price.
Though not the most stylish headset we've seen, the SoundID SM100 is still a supremely tiny and compact device, measuring only 1.75 inches by 1.0 inch by 1.2 inches and weighing a very lightweight 0.4 ounce. Its body is egg-shaped, with a tiny boom mic jutting out the bottom. A large multifunction button sits on the front and is suitably raised enough above the surface so it's tactile and easy to press. On the left spine is the volume rocker as well as a Personalized Program button to switch between different sound amplification modes (more on that later). All these side buttons are a little on the skinny side but are still easy enough to press.
On the back of the headset is a rubbery earpiece that's tapered to a narrow point, for a deeper fit in the ear. It has a flexible rubber ear loop attached to it for additional security. The SM100 comes with a couple of other rubber earpieces (one small and one large) to fit different size ears. When inserted properly into the ear, the headset feels very snug and comfortable, and we could see ourselves wearing it for long periods of time. Also, you can add an over-the-ear hook for additional stability. The earpiece can be swiveled to fit either the right or left ear.
The SoundID SM100 comes with multiple modes and functions to better optimize the audio performance. For example, there are three Personalized Sound modes or Hearing Enhancement programs--Normal, Moderate, and Strong--and you can toggle through these modes by hitting the Personalized Program button. As the names suggest, these modes toggle through normal sound clarity to strong sound clarity, depending on your hearing needs.
There's also something called Environmental mode, which amplifies the sound around you when you're not on a call. This is because a lot of Bluetooth headsets sometimes act like earplugs, blocking outside sound when you're wearing the headset. Well, with Environmental mode turned on, the surrounding sound is amplified so you can better carry on a face-to-face conversation while still wearing the headset. While we commend this feature, we often found this to be less than ideal--for one thing, when the Environmental mode is turned on, there was almost too much amplification of surrounding sound, resulting in a constant background buzz. We would just rather take off the headset to have a conversation. If you want, you could also turn off Environmental mode by toggling through the Personalized Program button.
Another neat feature is One2One mode, which is available only if you have another SoundID SM100 lying around. If you do, you can pair them with one another and activate a kind of ad-hoc two-way radio communication.
We tested the SoundID SM100 Bluetooth headset with the RIM BlackBerry Pearl, and the pairing process went smoothly. Call quality was exceptional. Callers could hear us just fine--they reported some background noise in especially windy environments, but even then they could hear our voice just fine. We also tried making calls with an automated voice service without a problem. Though we weren't too pleased with the Environmental mode because of the background buzz, we do think it's better to have that turned on than to go around half-deaf because of the headset. We liked the three different hearing enhancement modes for better clarity, and we certainly love the headset's noise compensation technology that alters the sound level depending on environmental noise.
Other features of the SM100 include the typical answering, ending, and rejecting calls, call-waiting support, voice-dial support, call mute, and a battery life indicator. The SoundID SM100 Bluetooth headset has a rated talk time of 8 hours and a standby time of 3 days. With the Environmental mode turned on, the standby time is 24 hours.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40out of 40 user reviews
Absolutely outstanding bluetooth, a must buy!!
Pros: This bluetooth is outstanding! The sound quality is spectacular for the user and callers say the sound is better on the bluetooth than with the phone. Connections to phones are quick and easy. Battery life is very, very good. Very comfortable.
Cons: Multiple hour calls can eventually lead to some minor discomfort but nothing too bad. Charging time isn't as quick as I would like but it is still very good compared to others.
out of 40 user reviews
Good headset but overpriced
Pros: Smaller size (I personally don't like larger headsets)
Fits well in ear
Decent noise cancellation
Plenty of Advanced Options
Cons: Environmental Mode always has static background
Overpriced
The SM100 has more features than your average bluetooth including but not limited to: Voice Dialing, Call Mute, Call Reject, Call Switching, One2One Mode, and Environmental Mode. One2One Mode allows two SM100s to be in direct communication with each other, this isn't a particularly useful feature since the distance between the two headsets can't be that far apart but it is a feature that other headsets don't even offer. Environment Mode allows the user to amplify the surrounding area by the use of three settings toggled by the Personalized Program Button located near the volume buttons on the headset. I honestly hate the Environmental Mode because there is always noticeable static in the background, its hardly a feature worth having on the phone at all.
The price for this headset comes in at a relatively high $129.99 on Soundid's website but I was able to find it for $29.99 on eBay. For $30 the headset is well worth it but for $130 I think you would be wasting your money on a product that doesn't reflect such an expensive pricetag.
Overall this is a fantastic headset a sleek design, plenty of features, but not quite work the price unless you can find it on sale.
out of 40 user reviews
Great earpiece that assists hearing loss too.
Pros: Very small and light.
Totally comfortable
Use as "cheap" hearing aide.
Paired up with my Moto easily.
Cons: Nothing so far
out of 40 user reviews
Just ok - uncomfortable after a while
Pros: Easy to use
Long battery life
Cons: Comfort in ear - hurts after a while
The personal sound levels still do not work.
out of 40 user reviews
ZERO for 2
Pros: Nothing can be said, didn't work.
Cons: Bought two from Costco, neither worked.
out of 40 user reviews
Great sound, but unreliable
Pros: wonderful sound, adjusts volume according to conditions, nice fit, simple controls
Cons: Quality is an issue with this device, too fragile as compared to other bluetooth ear pieces I've owned
out of 40 user reviews
Perfect except for the Buzzing
Pros: Sound quality was great on both ends+
Size +
Cons: The buzzing, whining, feedback was too annoying. - -
The fit wasn't the best either and I tried other earpieces --
out of 40 user reviews
Frigging outstanding, It don't get no better!
Pros: Just Damn Good AND SMALL compared to all the space head others.
Cons: Would like deeper ear insertion
out of 40 user reviews
The best headset i've had so far!
Pros: Small and compact. Does awesome in the wind. Clarity is awesome.
Cons: The enviromental background speaker makes a buzz if you choose to use it.
out of 40 user reviews
Excellante!!!
Pros: Adjust level of noise reduction, size, customer service
Cons: Volume button is awkward.
What really sold me on Soundid was when I had a problem with the headset. Contacted customer service and they emailed me an invoice to send the unit back for a free replacement. Best customer service and I will definitely buy their next model when it comes out. Only negative is the volume button is awkward and I keep forgetting which way is louder or softer. Costco has a great deal on this headset now.
out of 40 user reviews
Excellent headset....
Pros: People can hear me in windy conditions, Environmental mode is great and it's very light
Cons: I wish it would fit just a little better in my ear. It is probably impossible to make it fit in everyone's ear.
out of 40 user reviews
You've got to be kidding...
Pros: Small, that's it.
Cons: Poor range, awful voice quality on both ends, little function
1) Voice quality is abhorrent both to the caller and the receiver.
2) Range is non-existent. If your phone is in your pocket, the unit will not function.
3) All calls must be placed from the phone itself. This unit does not function with auto call features.
Basically, this is a terrible unit. I do not understand the high reviews it has received. I may have purchased a defective unit, but that simply speaks to poor quality control by SoundID. Do not buy.
out of 40 user reviews
Best I've used by quite a margin
Pros: Very small, stays firmly in ear, easy on/off
Cons: Noise circuit can't be off when in call
I don't think the talk time is as long as it could be, but it lasts much more than an hour on a full charge, maybe even several hours.
I'd like to see them allow the noice cancellation to be turned off when in call mode. Once off the call the noise prevention circuitry stays on and drains the battery unncessarily fast. You have to make sure the noise cancellation is off. It's easy to tell when it;s on due to the whistling noise it makes in your ear trying to act as an amplifier for ambient sound. Sometimes you don't even notice it.
I think with just a few slight improvements this really would be a perfect headset. But with so few minor flaws, I give it a firm vote of 10.
out of 40 user reviews
Best ear fit-Still not for Convertibles
Pros: The ear fit is amazing
Cons: Noise Cancellation not great
out of 40 user reviews
Best So Far
Pros: Great Fit, Black color is cool
Cons: Environment Mode a waste
The fit is BY FAR the best. I lost my BlueAnt because the earpiece was so flimsy and the device needed a complicated firmware update. The Sound ID extends a bit into your ear canal but without the uncomfortable feeling you get from so many other "ear plug" style headsets. And the ear loop thing really works! It keeps the unit snug in your ear without any pressure or feeling like your ear is stopped up. The sound in office environments is excellent and that is what I use it for most. I live in NYC and the outside sound level is harsh when I am in the cty. With this unit, I CAN hear when I am outside but I still have to strain if it is windy or if their are a lot of people around me (ie. Grand Central Station). I am a big advocate of not having unrealistic expectations of these devices. They won't make you hear like superman and if you work in contruction--you will still need professional equipment! But for the average Joe (or Mary), this is the best I have tried yet.
The phone has two main modes: Environmental and PersonalSound. Environmental is supposed to let you hear normal conversation when you are NOT on the phone. It just hisses in your ear and unless you have real hearing loss--it's not helpful. PersonalSound is kind of cool--you can play between three setting while you are on a call until the conversation is clearer and/or louder. I have used that suceesfully and it works to varying degrees depending on how noisy your surroundings are.
All in all, it's pretty good. I would recommend it.
out of 40 user reviews
The best one yet!
Pros: Excellent fit, Clear sound, Lightweight, Excellent Customer Service
Cons: No Shirt Clip
Paired with my Blackjack the sound is crystal clear, no static and folks on the other end say they can't even tell I'm on a bluetooth. Unlike most of the others, the buttons are easy to use once you get used to it.
The only downside is that it would be nice to have some sort of clip to clip it to your shirt when not in use, like the BlueAnt. It's so small and light, that I am afraid of loosing it. Also, the ear hook is a bit cheap and it cracked when I tried to attach it, but not a big deal since it's totally not needed. I sent customer service and email about the hook and there was a replacement in my mailbox about 3 days later - now that's service!
Overall, I LOVE it!!
out of 40 user reviews
By far, the Best Bluetooth Headset
Pros: Great Sound, Excellent DSP, Superhuman Hearing
Cons: ..... None yet. Oh, it should be black, then it would score an 11 out of 10.
The new plantronics voyager 855 had high expectations but didn't perform. It's uncomfortable and flops around on your head.
The Soundid SM100 however is great. The battery life is excellent, the volume is excellent, the clarity on both sides is top notch. It's dead silent when you are on a call, you can hear the person you are talking to and nothing else. The environmental mode is really cool! You can simply have superhuman hearing at the push of a button. I saw a slightly negative review and the comments of the CNET staff say that there is noise in the background of environmental mode.. Of course there is! It's amplifying everything around you so you don't become disconnected. I'm sorry but I don't have the option of taking off the headset every time I'm off a call... Just too many calls to do that. As a true poweruser I'm very happy with this headset, and I've never been "happy" with a bt headset before.
I recommend this to everyone. Don't wait around for the invisilink q7, which will probably not perform as we all hope. Pick this one up at the best price you can get it for and be HAPPY!
out of 40 user reviews
GREAT headset
Pros: Great sound quality and trendy
Cons: Environment awareness can cause buzzing noise
out of 40 user reviews
THE REVIEW by CastingYou
Pros: Excellent performance
Cons: Price is a bit much, yet might be worth it for the product is ahead of its time!
The SoundID SM100 Bluetooth headset has a comfortable fit and excellent performance; with wind noise reduction and voice capture technologies that enhance audio clarity. It adjusts to different noise levels, plus there's an environment-awareness mode so you can hear your surroundings with headset still in the ear.
Designed for versatility, the SM100 offers three modes of use,Mobile Mode, Environmental Mode, and One2One Mode.This lightweight and Ergonomic in-ear Headset can wirelessly connect to compatible devices, amplify surrounding Sound when not being used with a mobile phone for enhanced in-person communications, as well as link to another SM100 Ear Module to form two-way radio connections.
Features:
* Personalized Sound: With the SM100, a User can personalize the headset to address his or her specific sound preferences resulting in crisp, clear Audio across mobile communications settings.
* Environmental Mode: When a user is not on a Cell Phone call, the SM100 amplifies the environment to allow both ears to work together and eliminate the occluded effect associated with traditional headsets improving everyday in-person communication
* Noise Navigation System: Sound IDs Auto Focus for your Ears, determines the loudness frequency, Pitch and tempo of incoming sound so the SM100 can initiate counter measures reducing wind and background noise while improving speech understanding and sound quality
out of 40 user reviews
Great Design but doesn't live up to expectations
Pros: Small Design, Light Weight
Cons: Irritating rattle, very short talk time
I'm not sure if this a design flaw or if that is supposed to be normal but if that is the case then this bluetooth device is WAY overpriced.
Hopefully you have better luck.
out of 40 user reviews
Terrific sound and fits comfortably
Pros: Great Sound, Comfortable Fit
Cons: Xtra (Behind the Ear) Ear Attachment Doesn't Work Well
out of 40 user reviews
The best bluettooth available
Pros: Sound quality is awesome and is customizable
Cons: none- this works perfectly
out of 40 user reviews
Only average at best
Pros: incoming call volume & comfort in ear
Cons: weird high pitched hiss even when not in environmental mode
out of 40 user reviews
Great sound and small
Pros: Small, confortable, good sound
Cons: background noise from enviro mode.
I meant to add the range is less than the voyager 510. Not sure that it even gets close to 30 feet. My 510 definately got the 30 feet.
BTW, you can get it at Costco. It comes with a car charger, home charge and a USB charger, which is what I use. Just plug into the front of my computer and voila, instant and SMALL charger.
out of 40 user reviews
Simply the best!
Pros: A bluetooth headset that really works!
Cons: Buttons take time to get use too.
out of 40 user reviews
The best, far and away...
Pros: Sound, weight and connectivity
Cons: Price at local discount electronic store was outta line...
Working environment: Office 25%, Field 75%. Road noise and ambient noise is higher than average (background noise of wind, diesel engines, etc). My work requires hands free communications.
Paired with my Treo700w.
At first I tried with the environment filter turned off per other reviewers recommendations. I got a terribly tinny sound reception and was getting worried that I wasted my money. Then I tried it with the first level of the filter turned on I am ecstatic. Battery life not an issue.
I don't even know I'm wearing it as the weight is negligible and the fit is superb.
The best feature is that the bluetooth connection is always solid. Some other headsets sometimes wouldn't establish a good connection and I'd have to call my voicemail to see if there was a connection! Never a problem with this guy.
The unit is pricey when purchased at the local discount electronics store. I couldn't wait for delivery from "that big river in South America.com" as my previous POS headset was crushed in the field and I needed a replacement that day. Worth ir? Yeah.
A solid "gotta have" reommendation.
out of 40 user reviews
Defective x 2
Pros: Good customer service
Cons: Incessant buzzing, tinny, poor audio in both directions
out of 40 user reviews
"chapeau" for this piece of art ! i love it!!!
Pros: everything is so coooooool!!!
Cons: different colors are not available
out of 40 user reviews
Excellent audio quality but battery life is very poor
Pros: Excellent audio quality and ear fit.
Cons: Battery life is very short (one-day even with minimal use), volume control on the headset could be a little more user-friendly and look and finish is substandard
out of 40 user reviews
Finally - the Right Combination !!
Pros: Sound quality clearer than Plantronic, Motorola and BlueAnt for both parties on the call, ease to wear for longer time than the others
Cons: Still a little loose feeling, but it is comfortable for longer time periods than the others
This unit is close to land line quality with comfort that allows it to be left in the ear for longer than any unit I have tried in the past. The ease of advancing greater background filtering is better and more assuring with the quality of the button. The charging options are better than most with USB, car and AC. The charge time is better than the others I have used.
out of 40 user reviews
The best so far!
Pros: Small, Sleek. Easy to charge. Volume control. Fit.
Cons: Not entirely the fault of the headset, but I still feel like sometimes I have to yell to be heard. The unit doesn't control the impact of the wind over the microphone.
out of 40 user reviews
Best on the market
Pros: Light weight, comfortable, simple, and good value
Cons: Same as all other one ear wireless headsets... it would be nice to listen to all the audio features of my device not just the phone.
out of 40 user reviews
Best Bluetooth yet. Wipes out ambient noise. People can hear me!
Pros: SM100 cancels outside and surrounding noise. Even works in a convertible at 70 mph.
Cons: None of the ear pieces stay in my ear well without the clip
out of 40 user reviews
Impressive design and funtion
Pros: Small size, great sound clairity
Cons: Buttons are very close together.
out of 40 user reviews
SM100 is comfortable, lightweight and sounds great.
Pros: People I talk to do not know I am using bluetooth.
Cons: Enviromental mode is a feature that could be skipped.
out of 40 user reviews
The best bluetooth headset by far
Pros: Great to use in noisy background
Cons: Charge time isn't long enough
I do wish it would stay charged longer, sometimes mine is dead after 7 hrs. But I wouldn't trade it for anything on the market at the moment.
out of 40 user reviews
Incredible sound and power
Pros: Clarity for both parties, power of blue-tooth
Cons: background noise filtering
The Good.
This device has exceptional clarity. I've used countless Jabra, Plantronics and Motorolla headsets and this blows them away. The call clarity on both ends is simply remarkable. People swear you're sitting in a quiet room when you're shooting down the freeway with road noise all around. The buttons to amplify the other caller are indispensable, you can hear them extremely well if they're talking quietly or they have lots of background noise.
The second part of the equation is the bluetooth power. I mostly use PDA's. Samsung i700, i730. Treo 700wx. I've also used the Samsung SCH-a990 music/camera phone. Without fail, all other headsets I have used crackle during calls when I walk with my phone/PDA in my pocket. Not the SM100. It's clear as a bell. I highly recommend this as a bluetooth cell phone headset.
Listening Mode: I didn't have much use for it's environmental boost mode. It lets you amplify everything you hear through that ear so A. You don't miss anything because of a little bud in your ear and B. You can boost whatever is coming into that ear if you are hard of hearing. It's fun to have, I just didn't use it that much.
out of 40 user reviews
Excellent in noisy environments
Pros: excellent in noisy environments, Excellent clarity on the remote end,
Cons: ear piece can be uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time...
out of 40 user reviews
Best that I've tried
Pros: Comfort, size, sound, in-ear design fast and easy to put in place and helps block out external noise
Cons: So small, I misplace it in my pockets all the time
out of 40 user reviews
best I have used
Pros: small light very comfortable
Cons: has a faint noise at times when on hold
