SAMSUNG WEP420

 WEP420 headset with cover open

BLUETOOTH SOLUTIONS: THE B&O ROUTE By ROY NAKANO SAMSUNG WEP420 If Bluetooth headsets were judged solely on looks alone, the Samsung WEP420 would be the hands-down winner. That's because Samsung commissioned Bang & Olufsen to design the WEP420. Bang & Olufsen is the Danish high end audio company noted for its high aesthetics and modern lines. Several B&O designs are on permanent display in the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Yes, the WEP420 qualifies as a work of art. B&O didn't just shape the headset, however. It set out to design the most beautiful charging base (the manufacturer calls it The Cradle). By all accounts, the goal appears to have been accomplished. Paired together, the headset and Cradle would not look out of place in a jewelry case. Samsung claims that the WEP420 is the first Bluetooth headset to incorporate a sliding cover. The manufacturer says it helps to reduce background noise and at the same time cover up buttons to extend its classy look. The audio quality is indeed very good on the WEP420. The WEP420 matches its good looks with very good sound quality. In addition to the sliding cover that shields noise, B&O made sure that the high quality components are used to sustain high fidelity sound to and from the WEP420. High end audiophiles grumble about B&O sometimes putting aesthetics ahead of ergonomics or performance in its designs. That seems to be the case with the WEP420 in two respects. First, it's extremely easy to accidentally touch the redial button on the headset. I found this to be the case even with the sliding cover closed. Second, the earhook is high on style, but low on fit. The earhook is connected through a soft spring which extends comfort and also allows for the headset to be worn on both ears. It's a one-size-fits-all design, but it really doesn't. The lack of an ideal fit means constant fiddling with the unit to make sure it doesn't fall off, which also means accidentally touching the redial button every now and then. Aside from these two grumblings, it's hard to complain about the WEP420 - particularly at the prices they are being discounted to. It's the least expensive unit of all the ones tested here - by a substantial margin. Ergonomics 4/10 Audio Quality 8/10 Aesthetics 10/10

EP420 Bluetooth headset  in its Cradle WEP420 SPECIFICATIONS List price: $129.95 Street price: $55 Bluetooth v 2.0 Four hours talk time 70 hours stand-by time. Bluetooth wireless connectivity range: 30 feet Ear-hook can be worn on either ear LED indication / Slide call answer / mute / hold / redial PACKAGE CONTENTS: · Samsung WEP420 Bluetooth Headset · Charging Dock · AC Charger · User manual For more information: Samsung.com/consumer/accessory Next: Plantronics Voyager 520 Back to Page One For more information regarding California law on cellular phones, click here