Let‘s cut right to the chase – while marketed as a dynamic solution for crystal clear remote calls, the Anker S500 speakerphone has exhibited some unforgivable flaws that hinder more than help modern hybrid work.
As leaders in work-from-home gear, Anker dialed up excitement in 2021 for the S500‘s voice enhancing abilities. But after the pretense diminished, recurring functionality issues surfaced that destroy its daily utility.
Before condemning this device outright, let‘s walk through an objective breakdown of the Anker S500, from conception to common criticisms. Evaluating the weak spots bolsters healthier purchase perspectives. You may realize superior options better suit your needs after scrutinizing the questionable perks.
Overpromises Lead to Underdelivery
The work-from-home revolution coinciding with the pandemic led companies rushing solutions to market to address audio communication pain points.
Anker seized this opportunity by packaging the S500 speakerphone as the premier device for immaculate conference calls. Its advertisement boasted:
- Zoom/Google certified for flawless video integration ✅
- Quad microphone array with VoiceRadar technology to isolate voices ✅
- Acoustic echo cancellation to prevent reverberations ✅
- 24 hours of cordless runtime ✅
Employees locked into makeshift home offices drooled over these dream features promising work-approved calls. Initial reviews glowed over its performance too.
But months later, the mirage faded. Complaints amassed of the S500 failing to achieve even basic telephony standards, let alone enhance them.
Rather than sharpen calls, it muddled them with distortions galore. And that amounted to betrayal for remote teams who invested substantial dollars towards optimal communication.
Let‘s diagnose the primary shortfalls shattering hopes, before prescribing remedies.
Key Reasons to Avoid This Speakerphone
Here are 6 deal-breaking flaws discovered in the Anker S500 that should give anyone pause:
Reason 1: Atrocious Voice Quality
- Tinny, robotic, echoey, intermittently drops out
- Callers sound muffled or faint despite WiFi stability
- Ruins discussions rather than enhancing them
Reason 2: Spontaneous Shut Downs & Reboots
- Power fails or restarts without reason in the midst of calls
- Disrupts workflow and professionalism of meetings
Reason 3: The "Mute" Button Baits & Switches
- Privacy gets compromised as audio still transmits when light indicates mute
- Ambient noises are falsely captured assuming function works properly
Reason 4: Permanently Broken Bricks
- Complete speakerphone failure despite resets and updates
- Rapid deterioration lifespan compared to price tier
Reason 5: Single Bluetooth Connectivity
- Limits mobile flexibility for multiple unit conference room setups
- Competitors permit more simultaneous connections
Reason 6: Momentary Mic Mishaps
- Voice clipping from delayed noise cancellation
- Omits initial words which requires adaptation
Now let‘s diagnose what plausibly provokes such pestering performance problems.
Reason 1 – Pitiful Audio Signaling
One expects a $200+ speakerphone to transmit decent quality, two-way call audio without headaches.
Yet owners report the Anker S500‘s sound as so horrifically distorted that conversations get lost. Voices sound muffled, echoed, tinny, dropping in and out.
What factors contribute to such pitiful signaling?
The integrated acoustic echo cancellation and quad microphone array aim to subsidize noise while clarifying speech. However, the algorithms and filters seemingly bungle audio processing instead of balancing it.
Rather than leveraging the hardware properly through software optimization, it applies excessive digitization artifacts. The noise subtraction also goes overboard, subtracting the human element of natural diction.
These effects leave both speakerphone users and call recipients perplexed at the unnatural, deficient delivery. The technology literally manufactures poor quality in the name of enhancing it.
While the S500 complies with device communication protocols like Bluetooth 5.0, the extras meant to enrich audio achieve the opposite outcome. The printed promises end up hollow without sufficient R&D refinements.
Reason 2 – Shutdowns Sabotage Seamlessness
Getting abruptly disconnected without explanation infuriates anyone. Now imagine your $200 business investment randomly conking out mid-call with a client. Unthinkable, right?
Yet Anker S500 owners endure this nightmare far too often. Units power down sporadically 30 minutes into conversations or reboot without prompting.
Attempting common troubleshooting like battery reseats, case wipe downs, cord re-plugging yield only temporary resilience. The shutdown cycles soon repeat, discontinuing calls at the worst moments.
What components prompt such whimsical performance wavering?
Excess generated within the system likely overtaxes the integrated chipset. As the quad microphone and audio processor feverishly attempt echo subtraction, overheating shuts the system down to prevent permanent damage.
But owners rightfully expect sufficient stress testing before a product launch, not paying to function as beta testers after the fact.
Beyond internal heat regulation issues, faulty battery connectors could also trigger abrupt stops. Given the speakerphone relies on lithium ion cells for 24 hour usage, depleted voltages may manifest from hardware defects rather than true drain.
Either way, such uncertainty leaves customers feeling cheated by mercurial reliability. Unstable power delivery earns the S500 a failing grade.
Reason 3 – The Façade of a Mute
Toggling between public and private discussion is a pivotal speakerphone capability for calls. A correctly functioning mute option guarantees confidence in sensitive communication temporarily off the record.
By all accounts, the Anker S500‘s mute seems to activate appropriately. The button depresses, light indicator shifts red, and internal software shows transmission paused.
Except…audio still somehow travels across!
Owners complain of embarrassing incidents where ambient sounds leak through despite screens suggesting muting. The deception jeopardizes sensitive chat assuming noise gets contained.
This bug bears little forgiveness, especially at the S500‘s price point. Such core functionality flaws should raise red flags for shoppers expecting discretion.
Delving deeper into root causes, we can surmise:
- Software mismatch between interface displays and actual muting
- Latency in relaying hardware input to software processing
- Inadequate audio cancellation missing certain frequencies
Consider how a competitive device like the Poly Sync 20 allows monitored audio playblack during muting to truly confirm deactivated pickup.
Anker compromises transparency here either due to developer indifference or technical limits. But without trust in tooling, the product fails its mission.
Reason 4 – Premature Product Death
While no technology lasts indefinitely, consumers anticipate a certain lifespan when investing substantial dollars. Given Anker sells the S500 at a $200+ tier, buyers expect quality components enduring daily rigors.
Yet complaints of completely bricked devices suspiciously early in ownership erode confidence in craftsmanship.
Even trying extensive troubleshooting like factory resets and uninstall/reinstalling software drivers, some units enter unrecoverable dysfunction. Operability ceases despite gentle usage patterns.
This signifies inadequate stress testing to validate robust design. Were materials internally evaluated for real-world context application before release?
Seeing such rapid deterioration suggests Anker rushed the S500‘s development, prioritizing fast production over longevity. The investment feels wasted when low-grade materials facilitate premature breakdowns.
Buyers deserve reasonable usage without confronting catastrophic failure warnings months after unboxing. Anker owes customers believable build quality aligned to price tags.
Reason 5 – Restrictive Bluetooth Connectivity
Bluetooth absolutely offers advantages in mobility and ease of use. However, depending on a single stream proves restrictive for large meeting locales requiring multiple speakerphones.
Yes, Anker attempts offsetting this limitation with alternate USB-C input. But managing hybrid connections splits focus for smooth interactions.
Contrast this to the Poly Sync 20 supporting triple simultaneous Bluetooth pairings. Executives prefer scaling audio across rooms without worrying about cables or moving parts de-syncing.
Creative sorties might rejoice MacGyvering daisy-chained workarounds. But professionals desire seamless out-of-box functionality without such jury-rigging required.
Reason 6 – Microphone Margin Missteps
A minor gripe some acknowledge involves occasional microphone lag during initial call responses.
Noise subtraction features require brief processing ramp up time. This delays initial audio capture, clipping first words uttered.
Humans rarely remember compensating for technology deficiencies. We expect seamless symbiosis from AI aids.
So when the S500 stutters through staggered opening sentences, frustration follows. Participants must consciously offset mic latency despite advertised intelligence promising otherwise.
While not catastrophic, such adaptation taxes users unfairly. Our gear should dynamically adjust to human conversation patterns, not the inverse.
If positioning as an elite conferencing appliance, the Anker S500 must transcend these noticeable blemishes without consumer consciousness tax.
Escape the S500 – Supplant with Superior Solutions
Given these pervasive morale-crushing flaws, what alternate options exist delivering reliable wireless audio?
Plenty! Here are just a few cross-section suggestions suiting personal and enterprise needs without reliability headaches.
Poly Sync 20
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| Specs | Poly Sync 20 | Anker S500 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20+ hours | 24 hours (claimed) |
| Bluetooth Connections | Up to 3 devices | 1 device |
| Microphones | 2 MEMS-based | 4 element array |
| Mute Function | Trusted with audio playback | Unreliable without guarantee |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 18 Months |
| Caller Voice Quality | Consistent high marks | Mixed reviews |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
The Sync 20 strikes a sweet spot delivering caller voice transparency without audible artifacts. Reviewers praise seamless Bluetooth multi-connections for flexible room coverage too.
Jabra Speak 510
Ideal for personal desks needing a performance lift, Jabra engineered the Speak 510 purely for shared talking. It omits bells and whistles but nails sound staging that keeps audiences riveted.
Turtle Beach Recon 50
Sometimes headphones suit mobile contexts better by containing noise. These game-grade cans capture vocal nuance cleanly while letting you walk about untethered. Bonus: it pulls double duty for mobile gaming too!
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Repurposing existing Bluetooth speakers into speakerphone roles prevents waste. For affordable clarity bolstering, the rugged Bose Portable performs admirably at a fraction of proprietary devices.
As hybrid work trends amplify, quality communication must keep pace. But the Anker S500 demonstrates alarming gaps not ready for primetime. Until revisions resolve such call crippling defects, better solutions await without frustration.
Your conferencing clarity deserves an ally, not adversary. Hopefully this breakdown has helped steer toward gear that delights, not disappoints.
