Samsung WEP700 Bluetooth Headset

One of the Bluetooth headsets we tested for our latest roundup, the Samsung WEP700 ($90 as of December 1, 2008) delivers only mediocre call quality, and it didn't sit too well on my small ears. The earhook's loop is rather wide, and better suited for larger ears. Samsung does not include an alternate-size earhook or earbuds. In fact, the WEP700 comes only with a charger and a user guide. (A colleague with larger ears checked out the WEP700 for size, and the overall fit felt secure.)

With the headset in my ear, the multifunction button--that is, the on-off/call button--was hard to access at first. I had to run my finger down the face of the headset to feel it; the smallish button doesn't immediately stand out to the touch. But after a few calls, I knew where to press. The volume controls are on either side of the headset; these were much easier to find, thanks to the well-defined minibuttons. (I just had to remember which side was "volume up," and which one was "down.")

Call audio on the WEP700 was middling or better. Sometimes my voice sounded pretty clear. Other times it sounded faint, but all my sentences came through fine and without distortion, according to call recipients. During one call, I received complaints about crackling and an echo. When I tested the range limits, my voice still came through 25 feet away, and it started crackling after that.

(For more on choosing the right headset for you, see our Bluetooth headset buying guide.)