Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth Headset Review

Bluetooth wireless headsets for cellphones come in lots of shapes and sizes, with many new models sporting technologies to give the user the best sound quality possible. Some models work with noise cancellation, some pass through outside noise so you can be more aware of your surroundings, and others are just basic cheap headsets.

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Build Quality and Design

The body of the SM100 earpiece is made from thin plastic, common with many wireless headsets. I wouldn't say it feels cheaper made than other models, but the plastic does feel thin. This helps to keep the weight down so that it is less noticeable while you are wearing it.

Build quality compared to other less expensive devices would be called to question depending on who you ask. Items like the optional earloop feel quite flimsy, but could also be described as super light.

Another problem I noticed was some object inside the earpiece was loose, and I could feel it thump around inside when I shook it. From its size I would guess that it would be the battery.

Many of these little issues add up, and I really think that the SM100 is fairly expensive ($130) for what you get.

Sound Quality and Wireless Range

Sound quality on this headset was about average, but had a substantial problem that appeared over two review units. Any time that the device initiated a Bluetooth connection, I could hear interference through the earpiece. It could only be described as fax machines and modems singing in my ear.  This problem was present on any phone I paired with, as well as two laptops.

At first I thought this was a defect, but the company told us this was present in all their devices. The explanation was that some companies mask this noise using various methods, but they opted to not do this since it can reduce sound quality of the audio passing through the device. I find some of this hard to believe, since even the cheapest models I have used (sub 30 dollar) never had a problem like this.

Since this was such a unique noise that was hard to properly describe, I decided to record a sample of it. The recording ended up capturing the sound, but at a slightly lower frequency. The noise is actually much higher pitched in your ear, which might end up being out of the range that some older individuals can hear.

Audio Clip 

Adjustability and User Comfort

Sound ID includes three sizes of "ear loops" to customize the fit of the SM100 inside the user’s ear, as well as an external loop for a more secure fit.

When properly sized to my ear, I found the headset to have a "neutral" feel, where it just blended in after wearing it for an extended period of time. Even being the 4-eyed individual that I am, the glasses never made a difference in terms of comfort or grip inside the ear.

Comfort compared to other headsets was excellent; it never left a sore ear when removed at the end of a long day. 

Battery Life

Under normal use, the SM100's battery life came very close to what was advertised. The device would easily work throughout a couple of days of average use before it would require a recharge. Standby time could have been better, with some other headsets reaching 200+ hours, but other models don’t offer background noise amplification between calls.

One feature I really liked with this headset was the multiple ways to charge it. They included both a USB adapter and an AC adapter for wall charging. Both were handy since I could leave one charger at home, and use the other at the office.

Conclusion

The Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth headset is a comfortable device, but almost unusable from the interference you always hear in the background. No matter how good it feels in my ear, if I can’t enjoy it while making phone calls it's really hard to recommend.

My suggestion to Sound ID is to sacrifice a bit of audio quality, and mask the noise in any way possible.

Sound ID SM100 and Accessories (view large image)

Pros:

• Very light weight
• Incredibly comfortable
• Not one-size-fits-all 

Cons:

• Bad audio interference chirps in background

The SM100 is available for $130 on Sound ID's web site for $130.

Specifications:

• Up to 8 Hours of talk time
• Up to 70 hours standby time
• Charging time of about 3 hours
• Range: 33 feet
• Bluetooth version 1.2