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May 15, 2007 Nokia BH-501 Review Posted by Phil Schwarzmann at 04:36 PM | Categories: Device Previews, Multimedia

Jussi-Pekka Erkkola from Nokia Multimedia was nice enough to lend me the new Nokia BH-501 stereo bluetooth headset, I just spent a long intimate weekend with it and am absolutely loving it. My first experience with stereo bluetooth and I'm quite pleased with this first generation device from Nokia.

I won't bother describing the looks, just have a peak at the photos. It comes in either black or white. The speakers are covered in that typical black, soft headset stuff. It's held on your face with two soft rubbery pieces that sit on top your ears, and a rubbery band wraps around the back of your head. The headband isn't adjustable, so one-size-fits all. At first I was a bit concerned, but it sat on my head quite firmly. I went running and cycling over the weekend and it barely moved around at all, although I still wished it could have been a tad firmer. It's nice a light, and after a while you forget you're wearing it.

The headset is quite large so you can't really put them in your pocket, but what's nice is that it'll wrap very firmly and comfortably around your neck if you don't want them on your head. As you can see from the photo below, they look a bit ridiculous on your face. Mono bluetooth headsets took a while before they were visually acceptable to wear in public without people thinking you were from Star Trek, I'm sure these will be no different.

The BH-501 has all the standard bluetooth features. Accept a call, end a call, redial last number, volume up, volume down. Connecting to my N95 was a cinch, reconnecting it was simple as well. What I was really missing was the music player controls (stop, RW, FF, pause, play). It would probably be a bit complicated for some to fast forward and rewind while the device is your head, but geeks like me would quickly figure it out and enjoy it.

Now of course to the most important thing - the sound. I'm no audiophile, and honestly I haven't spent time with a lot of different headsets, but I was quite happy with the sound quality of the BH-501. My music was clear, the bass was deep without distorting at max volume. Since the speakers sit on top your ears rather than inside your ear, you don't get that ear-drum-piercing sensation if you like your music loud.

And speaking of loudness, the maximum volume is very good. I remember my first bluetooth device was basically worthless on a bus or on a busy street. And my Nokia E70's maximum volume was so low, it too was basically worthless. Obviously having the audio come in stereo helps with the overall loudness. While I was cycling on a busy road and listening to an audiobook with a soft-spoken reader, I wished it could have got a bit louder. I turned the "loudness" on in my N95 and cranked up the equalizer, which didn't change it much - but it was still acceptable.

One concern I do have probably has nothing to do with the headset, but with the bluetooth technology itself. The sound would occasionally cut out for a split second or two. At first I thought it was because of my cycling or running, but it also happened while just sitting still. It could be my N95, but more likely it's just bluetooth being, well...bluetooth.

What was very impressive was the microphone built into the right earpiece. While cycling at a fast speed, I was chatting on the phone. Even though I heard the loud wind beating up against me, the people on the other end didn't hear it at all, which was typical for my other headsets. The mic is positioned on the back of the earpiece, so wind wouldn't hit it if you're traveling forward. A very pleasant surprise!

So all-in-all, a great piece of first generation equipment from Nokia, not much I'd improve it it all. Big thumbs up from me!

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Comments

Alternatively, you can buy the BH-500 instead, which is an adaptor that plugs onto the end of any wired headphones and turns them into bluetooth A2DP headphones:

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/Nokia_BH-500_Stereo_Bluetooth_Headset_Review.php

The BH-500 has music controls, and a clip so you can wear it. It's pretty much like a phone-connected ipod shuffle.

"At first I thought it was because of my cycling or running, but it also happened while just sitting still. It could be my N95, but more likely it's just bluetooth being, well...bluetooth."

I didn't get any cut-outs at all with the BH-500, so I assume it must be a problem with the BH-501 rather than a bluetooth thing.

Phil, do you have email checking on or some other stuff which could be doing data connection at regular intervals. I have noticed that during that time BT kind of cuts out.

Phil, do you have email checking on or some other stuff which could be doing data connection at regular intervals. I have noticed that during that time BT kind of cuts out.

I thought the same thing and made sure all other apps were closed. I have no idea if it's the headset, or the N95, or the way I have it setup. Or maybe the headset I was given was a proto which can have problems. It didn't cut out THAT much at all, so it was a problem. I'll get my hands on another BH-501 and see if I have the same issues.

Well, I'm not intimate with BT technology but I think A2DP streaming is quite a heavy process running on the phone. There are hundreds of processes running on the phone (er, computer) and some of them have higher priority than BT audio thus cutting it out for a while.

Is there a way to give it higher priority?

I have a BH-501 and i've also experienced the cutouts when connected to my N95 but when i pair it with my PC,i don't face any.The sound is just fine,but i can't get the microphone to work on the PC though.Any pointers?

travis

hey, there's an "almost" same headphone in the market marked with "i-Tech blueband" name. Specs and look is same, except no nokia wording. and it's cheaper if not mistaken. and i just saw there's another newer version called "blueband r" which support avrcp and a2dp. but not sure about quality, haven't come across any review about it yet.

Want to check out wwigo - webcam wherever i go, which converts every series60 camera phone into a webcam at www.motvik.com

-ramu

Hi,

experiened the same cut outs with my N95. But i just changed the energie saver option from animation to time and date and now there've been no cut outs so far.

Phil

Hi.. im from malaysia.
i have bluetooth BH501..i get dc will i was listen to music and aslo on call..it get dc whn i move the headset from my eyes..and aslo sometime cannot turn ON..any comment

same issue here, with my N95, cuts off at some point. Dunno if its the headset or the phone. sound quality is nice.

i have sent my bh-501 to warranty clam..now i got it back, and working fine so far...advice not to leave the headset in the car or any hot temp...it will spoil the battery.

the itech blue band is te same thing.

basically I Tech make the bh 501 for nokia.. i am guessing the bh 503 that has come out is nuthin but the ITech blueband R

i get disturbances with my 501 whn talking and fone in left pocket, but in the right pocket its fine.. n more puzzling is whn im listening to music, there is hardly any disturbance.. staying still or jumping from the roof...

any suggestions>??

cheers!

These headphones make a decent set producing decent sound.. But they didn't last a month under normal usage. I didn't even abuse it in any way, no accidents, just normal usage. Bad buy.

Pros: Decent Sound

Cons: POOR Workmanship
POOR Service
Uncomfortable to use
Signal easily affected by physical barriers
No Music Player Controls
Weak microphone
Did I mention the poor workmanship?

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