Samsung WEP430 Review
The new Samsung WEP430 Sporty Bluetooth headset offers one of the most original designs that I have come across to date with a unique ergonomic ear-ring that literally wraps around your ear to provide an ideal fit for outdoor activities such as running and is sweat and water resistant (not water proof).
The front of the Samsung WEP 430 is given a “carbon fiber” look around the logo while the Call Answer/End and Volume Up/Down buttons as well as the back of the unit (below) sport a silvery orange coating. The flexible ear-ring for its part combines a solid black plastic frame and light grey rubber lining to provide a comfortable fit around your ear. There is also a small and discrete indicator light just under the logo.
Measuring only 3” long by 1.75” wide and an ultraslim 0.75” deep (image below) the Samsung WEP430 is quite possibly the most pocketable Bluetooth headset around (alongside the Motorola H700). Also, it offers a pretty good 5 hours talk time with 130 hours of standby time and weighs only 15.3 grams.
In terms of performance, I found both of the inbound and outbound call quality (tested on Treo 680 and Palm Centro) to be very good and loud at maximum volume. The built-in noise reduction and echo cancellation technology is surprisingly good for such a mid-range Bluetooth headset – although the Samsung WEP430 will not completely cancel background noise as my favourite Editor’s Choice Jawbone does it nonetheless quite significantly reduces it to still allow your voice to come through intelligibly.
My biggest disappointment with this and most other Samsung headsets is the fact that they still have not standardized the charging connectors to mini or micro USB or even to a proprietary one that can be charged via USB. This means that the only option remains to use the bundled wall charger (pictured above). It’s a small detail but an important one since I travel all the time and don’t want to have to carry an additional bulky charger.
Because it’s a completely new design you may find it a bit odd to fit your Samsung WEP430 for the first time but once properly in place it stays there (you may need to stretch your ear lobe a little for a perfect fit). The flexible ear-ring and the oval front essentially “sandwich” your ear while the back speaker comfortably rests on it and provides easy access to both the call and volume buttons.
Overall, the more I’ve used this new Samsung WEP430 the more I’ve liked it. Although it doesn’t provide quite the same level of superior noise cancellation as my Jawbone the call quality was nonetheless consistently good. The unusual design, sporty look, comfortable fit and great pocketability also helped to win me over. Highly recommended.
Treonauts always look for something unique… 
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Comments
Re: "pocketable"
How easy/hard is it to press the main button when the unit is in your pocket? More than once, I've had a BT earpiece on standby in my pocket do a "redial last number" on its own. I even had one in my messenger bag turn itself on then redial the last number a half dozen times.
Whenever I read the reviews on BT units, there never is any mention of how they work with hearing aids. I have an in-the-canal hearing aid (one in each ear). I currently have a cute little pink BT the model number has slipped out of the brain at the moment. It's a Motorola and very small. For the most part I can use this without feed back or discomfort. Comments I would like to see would be in regards to feedback. Feedback would make it impossible to wear! Second comment would be if it pushes or doesn't push on the hearing aid in the canal (or in the ear). If it pushes on the hearing aid, guess what, it pushes ont he ear drum!! I like the looks of this one. If I were to use it, it would certainly stay in place with the five earings to hold it there! If you need a tester for the hearing aid compatability, you have my e-mail. My guess is that no one has really been concerned or thought about hearing aid users wanting to use BT. :- ) I do! We get left out of alot of the cool electronics that involve the ear!
Thanks for 'listening'.
MikeTeeVee - the fact that I've never had a BT headset accidentally redial in my pocket obviously doesn't mean that it could not happen. Having said this, I would simply turn it off in your pocket/bag if you experience this.
Karen - thanks for sharing the needs of people wearing hearing aids. I have to admit that it's not something that I had ever stopped to think about.
Alayan - you will be glad to know that I did get a haircut yesterday... ;-)
Cheers, A.
Have you tried the BT while wearing glasses (even sunglasses)? I wear glasses and find that some of the over-the-ear types do not fit right due to the frames.
jackson - Yes, it does come in different colors (tho may not be available yet), Silver, Gray, and Orange.
http://dailymobile.se/2007/10/10/samsung-wep-430-bluetooth-headset/1050/
I bought the WEP430 for my Treo 650 then, recently, upgraded to the 700WX. I can't seem to get it to connect with my 700WX. Are they compatible and, if so, how do you connect the two?
Thanks,
Andy
Karen,
I stumbled across this blog in my research on Bluetooth hearing aids and I saw your post. Apparently, there aren't any hearing aids with Bluetooth technology now (as far as I know), but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the near future. I also have two in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids and I've found some very neat products that actually send the signal to your hearing aid! It's like your hearing aids turn into headphones!
Basically how they work is they send the signal to a coil in the hearing aid called a telecoil (t-coil for short). Most, but not all, hearing aids come with the t-coil. Ask the audiologist/representative of the place you bought your hearing aids at if yours have the t-coil. After finding out about this, I was very surprised to learn how few people know about this.
Anyway, my main point is to let you know there are some products that let you use Bluetooth through your hearing aids. If your hearing aids have the t-coil, you can receive/make calls, listen to the tv, to music on your phone/mp3/computer, etc. all in one! What an elite class we are in! ;) I recently bought this thing called a neckloop. It uses Bluetooth to receive the signal from my phone and sends it to my hearing aids. I haven't received the neckloop yet, but I've read alot of good reviews about it and I can't wait to try it out.
I'm sorry for the long post, but I thought it would be good for other people with hearing aids to find out about this.
You can find out more about the t-coil here:
http://www.hohadvocates.org/index.php?contenttype=Feature&target=home&subtarget=feature&selected=25
Products that make use of the t-coil here:
http://www.tecear.com/Turn-On-To-T-coil.htm
I bought the Artone Bluetooth Neckloop. I opted for the neckloop over earhooks because I didn't want to clip/hook anything onto my ears. It looks uncomfortable to me. I bought my neckloop from http://www.localbattery.com/bluetooth-neckloop.html. There's more than one place to purchase from, but I got it from this site because of their return policy.
Google t-coils and neckloops! Good luck!
Layce
Will this earpiece work with music on blackjack II. Will it switch from phone calls back to music etc?
For a long time I've been looking for a Bluetooth headset that I can use in a fairly unique way. When I saw the pictures of this Samsung wep430 it piqued my curiosity because of its design and was wondering if you can help answer this question for me. I'm trying to find a Bluetooth headset that I can activate for making and receiving calls by bumping it against the headrest on my wheelchair or my pillow when I'm laying in bed. Most Bluetooth headset's have a recessed activation button and that makes them impossible for me to use, do you think this one would solve my problem?
Rick,
My motorola h700 doesn't have a recessed button, therefore I'm constantly bumping it and activating it. I'd recommend this model for your needs.
I'm not convinced by this product, I've heard a lot of mixed reviews although I've never spoken to anyone who has used it. I do like the design, Siemens also have fantastic designs and colors for Hearing Aids
An informative blog! I also have two in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids and I've found some very neat products that actually send the signal to your hearing aid! It's like your hearing aids turn into headphones!
Has read all in detail, excellent blog! Most Bluetooth headset's have a recessed activation button and that makes them impossible for me to use, do you think this one would solve my problem? http://samsungnova.ru/
Have you tried the BT while wearing glasses (even sunglasses)? I wear glasses and find that some of the over-the-ear types do not fit right due to the frames.GooD Luck
http://www.magweb.com/actors/rachel_mcadams
I am interested in it for a long time! Will this earpiece work with music on blackjack II. Will it switch from phone calls back to music etc?
http://bmarena.info/story.php?id=84473
An informative blog! The built-in noise reduction and echo cancellation technology is surprisingly good for such a mid-range Bluetooth headset – although the Samsung WEP430 will not completely cancel background noise as my favourite Editor’s Choice Jawbone does it nonetheless quite significantly reduces it to still allow your voice to come through intelligibly.
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