BlueParrot B550-XT Review: Voice Control, Noise Cancelation, and More
BlueParrot's B550XT review: Voice Control, Noise Cancellation, and MoreA Bluetooth headset must have great audio quality and be easy to use. We conducted an extensive review of the BlueParrot B550XT after 100 hours of testing.
We like this
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Stellar noise cancelation
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Voice control
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You can customize the button
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Flexible mic
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Water resistance
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Bulky design
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Feeling rigid
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Wireless connection available in a spotty manner
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Pricess high
BlueParrot's B550XT headset is very good at noise cancellation and has a handful of neat features. However, the rigid design and lackluster companion app make it less enjoyable.
- Design
- Comfort
- Sound Quality
- These are the features
- Wireless
- Price
- Concurrence
- Final Verdict
- Specifications
BlueParrot B550XT was purchased so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.
BlueParrot B550XT is the best Bluetooth headset that cancels background noises. With voice control, advanced features and noise cancellation in the fifth-generation headset, the B550XT is the perfect headset for truck drivers or office workers. The BlueParrot B550XT Bluetooth headset was tested for two weeks by me. I evaluated its comfort and audio quality to determine if it is worth the $200 cost.
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Design: Strong and long-lasting
Headband-style monoural headset (single-ear), the B550XT. A thick leatherette-based over-the-ear cushion covers the speaker. The headset is held in place by a silicon rubber piece. It rests on the side that's bent to the curve of the skull. It's not particularly fashionable, the all-black B550XT headset is bulky and heavy, and it feels asymmetrical and bottom-heavy. It does offer some design advantages.
You can rotate the microphone around 270 degrees so that you can use it on your right or left ear. The boom of the microphone protrudes from speaker and has an adjustable boom to ensure optimal positioning. The headset has minimal button controls on the outside of the ear cuff— a power/pairing button, volume controls, and a customizable BlueParrot button. The headset can be controlled with just one hand. You can use your other hand for tasks such as typing and other activities.
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Too rigid
B550XT features a comfortable rubberized padding on the inner side of the headband. The soft exterior of the headband is almost leather-like. The thick padding protects the speaker. However, you have the option to remove the padding and use the included foam earpad. A removable microphone windscreen is also included.
Despite these added ergonomic features, the headset is too stiff on the head. After long periods of wear—three or four hours—the unit begins to feel uncomfortable. While the rubber curved headrest presses slightly against your head, the headband adjusts to fit perfectly no matter how tight or loose you make it.
The headset's quality build and long-lasting durability impressed me. Although the B550-XT is tough and durable, it's not as comfortable as I would like.
Although the B550-XT is tough and durable, it's not as comfy as it should be.
Related Reading: Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones Review: Solid
Sound Quality - 96 percent Noise Cancellation
B550-XT features a 36 mm speaker that can be adjusted to a frequency of 150 to 6800 Hz. The caller on the other side of the line can be heard clearly without distortion or static. The speaker sounds good on calls, but it sounds mediocre when playing music—mid tones sound slightly tinny, and the low end lacks fullness. It's not as good as headphones such the Sony WHXB900N or Bose 700.
Bi-directional electret microphones are available on the B550XT. The frequency range is 150 to 6800Hz. The headset has 96% noise cancellation, just like its predecessor. Although the B550XT headset is ideal for people who work in noisy environments, it does have some quirks.
Randomly, the mic dropped off on several occasions. Although I could hear them, they wouldn't be able hear me. The effect is that I am muted even though my mute function was not active. I finally did a firmware upgrade, and the problem seemed to be resolved. It was not an easy task to update the headset. Installing a program to update the firmware on my computer was necessary. The BlueParrot companion app did not offer an option to update the headset quickly and efficiently.
This headset offers 96% active noise cancellation.
Features: Voice control
The B550-XT's high noise cancellation is not the only benefit. It also has IP54 water resistance. This means that it can be protected from dust ingress and water splashing from all directions. It can be connected to up to 8 devices at once, with two being the B550-XT.
BlueParrot prominently advertises its voice control capabilities. "Simply speak, to talk" is the slogan. This product page boasts that it is the world's first voice-controlled headset. It is compatible with Siri, Google Now and has its own voice assistant. You can use "Hello BlueParrot" to wake up and follow-up with questions or commands. Ask, "What can you say?" BlueParrot can provide you with different commands. Although the BlueParrot assistant may not be as functional or feature-rich as Alexa or Siri, it still works well. Because the BlueParrot had very few options, I found myself switching to Siri.
You can also configure the BlueParrot button on your B550XT via the app. It can be set to mute or change the default setting, which is mute. You also have other options such as speed dial, walkie talkie/voice memo, and battery check. Although it's an interesting addition, after trying all the customization options I returned to default.
Wireless: Bluetooth Range is shorter than anticipated
Bluetooth Version 5.0 allows the B-550XT to connect wirelessly. The headset has an advertised range of 300 feet. During my testing, the headset was paired to several devices including my iPhone XR. Before I experienced a weak connection, I could only travel 30-40 feet from my iPhone. The range was extended up to 100 feet in an area that wasn't blocked by obstacles.
It doesn't come with a USB dongle. It does come with a USB charger cord and a car adapter. It charges within 3.5 hours and can last for up to 24 hours.
Prices: Somewhat pricy
The BlueParrot B550XT mono headset is expensive. The cost of the BlueParrot B550-XT is $200. This price tag is similar to many high-quality stereo headphones.
BlueParrot B550-XT vs. Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC
Plantronics Voyager 4220UC has dual microphones that provide active noise cancellation. It is an excellent choice for people who live in noisy areas. The 4220 UC, unlike the BlueParrot B550XT, comes with a dongle USB, Alexa-compatible and in stereo. The Plantronics Voyager4220 UC has a higher frequency range (20 Hz-20 kHz), but it is more suitable for music playingback. However, the BlueParrot may be more useful for single-handed operations as it is stronger and more robust. While the 4220 UC headset is more suited for indoor workers, the B550-XT headphones are better on the go.
Although the BlueParrot B550XT is a great device, there are some issues that can negatively affect your overall experience.
Specifications
- Product name B550-XT
- BlueParrot is the product brand
- SKU 706487018704
- Prices from $200.00
- Weight 5.8 oz.
- Dimensions of the product: 7.5x7x2.5in
- Water resistance IP54
- Noise cancellation 96%
- Battery life up to 24 hour talk time and 400+ hours of standby
- Charge time approximately 3.5 hours
- Wireless range up to 100 meters
- Bluetooth Version 5.0. Advanced Audio Distribution (A2DP v1.3.1), hands-free profile V1.7.3, headset profile v1.2. Phone book access profile (PBAB v1.1.1
- Size of speaker 36 mm
- Speaker Sensitivity at 1 mW/1 KHz 123dB SPL
- Microphone frequency range: 150-6800 Hz
- BlueParrott's B550XT headset comes with 1x USB charging cord, 1x car charger, 1x foam cushion and 1x warning leaflet.
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