Pause Thriller to answer a call? The Samsung Modus 3500 Bluetooth headset will do it for you. Read our full review here.
Samsung Modus 3500 Overview
The Samsung Modus 3500 allows you to listen to music and intermittently answer calls while doing so. This Bluetooh headset measures just under two inches in length and offers some swanky gloss style with a minimalist design. It's equipped with a Talk button, Volume Control, On/Off switch, and proprietary USB terminal for connecting the charger and included stereo ear buds. Samsung throws in a small farm of headset ear inserts and a clip to keep the headset secured on a shirt or collar. It was apparent that the Samsung Modus 3500 fits the city-dwelling fashion chick quite well after our testing and analysis.
Using the Samsung Modus 3500
Fitment was a peculiar issue, as outlined in the video. We just couldn't find a comfortable position for the Samsung Modus 3500 to rest while using the headphones. And while the headset itself was highly uncomfortable, due to the hard rubber ear insert, our preference sided with the headphones. But because the headphone cords were so short and the clips were oddly placed, the cords had a tendency to "attack" our neck, coiling up like an annoying snake. Even when we wore a button-down shirt, as suggested by the included instructions, we had a difficult time finding a comfort zone with the Samsung Modus 3500. The hot model on the packaging was wearing a wifebeater, but how many of us walk around all day trying to look like Travis Barker or Pink?
Answering and listening to calls was easy—just press the sexy little acorn-shaped button and your music is placed on hold to take the call. Press it again when the call is done, and we're back listening to our favorite Kenny Loggins song. We also had no problem pairing the Samsung Modus 3500 to our iPhone, and the phone slipped to the device by default every time we powered the little bugger on. We got a wall charger with the Modus 3500, but it would be convenient to have a USB cord for computer charging on the go. A few handy accessories are available—not included—for the Modus 3500, one of which is a USB to 1/4-inch female jack for using your own headphones, and a USB to 1/4-inch male jack for plugging into other devices. We liked the female jack, though we lacked the ability to use the phone feature since we used our own headphones.
Samsung Modus 3500 Sound Quality
Here's the unfortunate part of this whole story. Let's start with the little headset itself. The Samsung Modus 3500 sounded like someone was hiding in a potato sack with a mouth full of marshmallows. Sound was muffled, words were sometimes unintelligible, and clarity was nonexistent. When we switched over to the headphones, we noticed a definite improvement while talking on the phone, but it still wasn't the best we've experienced. You're going to want to talk with the headphones every chance you get because the headset alone will drive you to drink.
Now, unfortunately the headphones could not pick up the slack while we listened to music. At high treble, it sounded like a little elf was crunching cellophane in our ears—crash cymbals, wailing guitars, Geddy Lee falsetto—the Samsung Modus 3500 just had no idea what to do. There was also no bottom end, which made listening to "Whoomp There It Is" a sad experience. We switched to our Koss headphones and all was well, but, like we said, the ability to answer calls while listening to music was then purged, and that's the whole point of the Samsung Modus 3500. Talk and music range was just over 25 feet from our iPhone.
Samsung Modus 3500 Value
We think Samsung is onto something here, but the Modus 3500 needs some time back in the garage. We need improved headset sound quality, better headphone quality for music, and a more convenient way to secure the Modus to our body. If Samsung could step up to the plate on the next version of the Modus 3500, then they'd be onto something, but right now we can't justify this against an iPhone with mic headphones, even if it means we have to be tethered.
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