BlueParrott S650-XT Review + Mic Test

BlueParrot has released a convertible noise cancellation headset. Here is my review and unboxing of it. I previously purchased a Rand Mcnally convertible headset and I had to return it due to poor quality.
I ultimately returned this one due to software issues with the headphones. All customer service could say was ask me what phone I was using. They need to update the software on these headphones immediately or it will be an ultimate fail.

[@twistedfuk666]

Thanks for the review , driver

[@NelksLife]

No problem!

[@seekrytayznman1]

Great review! Can you do a comparison video between the Rand McNally Cleardryve 220 and the Blue parrot S650XT please?

[@snarkytrucker6995]

Question 1) What Sony headphones did you compare this to? 2) Were you using a call recording app? My experience with those apps has been they completely screw with anything bluetooth.

[@kentaintevenhere]

Mine hang up my phone calls for no reason I just swapped mine out and it did it again I read it says it has a internal hardware or software flaw . I think ima get the AirPods max headphones next , they like twice the price but I know they won’t hang up randomly when I’m on the phone

[@NelksLife]

That’s weird! Maybe that’s something they will fix with an update through the app soon.

[@sawyersecurity]

I have the air pods max headset, audio quality is awesome, but unless you are in a quiet environment people have a hard time hearing you. At least that is my experience.

[@RonSpilker]

@@sawyersecurity The microphone are the only reason to buy these headsets. Otherwise, you can get a great pair of Jabra true wireless earbuds for the same prices as these.

[@bigwillie7734]

Mines drop calls too and I switch them out and still drop calls what’s next ???????

[@billtalbert6165]

They more then likely need a firmware update check to make sure that generally solves most issues.

[@danwhite3489]

Had the 550 for over 2 years. Wore them out. Probably dropped them at least 50 times. Purchased the 650 and really like them. Not having aby of the issues listed in the other coments. The main issue I am having is the voice on my phone repeating back to me who I am calling or what am I texting. Sometimes the voice is there and sometimes it is not. Have made several calls to Verizon because i think it is a phone issue and not a Blue Parrot issue, but my 550 worked fine with the same phone. Anyone else having the same issue? Some times it will just dial the number and not tell who it is calling.

[@_BlickyBree]

Have you updated the firmware? I just did today after doing some reading. So far so good.

[@evac311]

Great review. Glad you covered the hear through feature

[@omoyeleR]

I almost returned them until I learned how to use the hear through. That stopped all that popping noise

[@NelksLife]

Yours was popping? They really need to do a software update to these ASAP. I ended up returning them simply because customer service asked me what model phone I have like that matters and didn’t give me any reassurance that they were working on updating it.

[@israrahmed1251]

@@NelksLife which headphones did you end up buying after returning these?

[@josephbrandt3359]

@@NelksLife I’ve returned two pair of these. In the ANC on feature, they’d make all kinds of crackling sounds. The faster you drove, the more they’d crackle. Standing outside of a vehicle, they wouldn’t make the crackling sound in the ANC on mode. I need something when I’m driving, not standing outside a vehicle.

[@billtalbert6165]

I own the RM 220 never had any issues with them at all.

[@grscott75]

Gonna try those next

[@sawyersecurity]

I wore them for less than a day. Now let me say I love BlueParrott i have had 3 sets of the s450 and hands down have an amazing mic pickup for calls. Now, the s650 was such a let down. Without hear thru it sounds even more muffled than the s450, and with hear thru it sounds like I have a head cold. I have never tried the nice sony noise canceling, but my Bose or my Apple air pod pros KILL these on ANC and hear thru to the speaker. You mentioned you could hear the selection change for anc, now be on a phone call and press the button. It is guess which one is activated as now no message is heard now. Maybe I have a big head but these are super tight and the ear pieces do not swivel to conform to your head. I also wear glasses and had indentions on inside of my ears from glasses frame in less than an hr, and had to remove because it was painful. The microphone size (how far it sticks out) compared to s450 is enormous, but you can make clear phone calls while running a chainsaw if that was somehow even safe. The power button on the s450 was a physical sliding toggle, and you knew if they were off or on just by feeling. They have moved the power button to the side under the BlueParrott button, and have the anc button where power was on s450. It is also a push button. So every time you grab your headphones to put them on, yep guaranteed to press the anc button. Again, i loved my S450 and will be going back to those while I can, but so disappointed I waited 3-1/2 months to get these.

[@NelksLife]

Yeah totally not one size fits all. Would be pretty neat if you could replace the earpieces.

[@josephbrandt3359]

These are junk in my opinion. I’ve return two, thinking they were defective. Read my review.

[@busa290]

You have a lot going on. I just got mine last week and I’ve worn them for five days straight at work and at home. They work fine for me. I have both the S450 and this new one the S650 and I put the S450 up and I’ll probably pull them out when the S650 is charging. I don’t have all the problems you have with head phones. I just put them on and listen to music or talk on the phone, I’m not that technical or picky. All the bells and whistles are there but who cares. The sound is good for me because it cancels out all the noise. My truck is noisy as hell and I like to ride with the window down. This S650 works for me maybe because I’m not very picky. It’s solid nicely weighted so when I jump out of the truck it doesn’t fly off my head and down the isle. I also have all the other apple EarPods and more they all are around the same to me but when driving I’d rather wear these new ones the S650. Best set I’ve had so far and I’ve had almost all the blue parrots. I can’t stand people who walk around with their speaker on their phone in their hand and screaming out loud into their phone where you can hear both sides of the convo. I can talk low in theS650 and have a private convo. My driver brothers and I chat throughout the day and they say this one is very clear and crisp. That’s more than enough for me. My bro went and purchased a pair just yesterday after we talked and he was impressed with the sound quality. We were talking yesterday and we both asked the same question, are you off and home. We thought we both were home and not driving but we both were driving. Makes it worth it that it was that quiet on the headsets with the noise cancelation, the crisp sound of our voices and a solid head set that we can feel on our head. Nothing else matters for us.

[@josephbrandt3359]

@@busa290 it’s a sad day when someone calls you while wearing the S650 - XT‘s and you cannot answer the phone call. As soon as your phone rings, you press the multi function button, nothing happens, your phone is still ringing, the automated message tells you to answer or ignore the phone call, you speak the word “answer“ nothing happens. In my opinion… When you pay for all the bells and whistle‘s, the bells and whistle‘s should be working! There are too many glitches with these headphones. Are in my final opinion, while operating a commercial vehicle, these headphones become a distraction when they don’t work as intended. So when you pay for all the bells and whistles, those bells and whistle‘s should be working as they are intended to! J U N K!!!

[@busa290]

@@josephbrandt3359 I agree with you on the answer feature. I’m trying to figure that one out myself. There has to be a work around. My S450 does it also but I just simply change it over to the Bluetooth on my Cell phone. The 650 doesn’t do it right away. It takes a few seconds to complete the connection. Have you called the company to see why it doesn’t connect? Hopefully my research will solve the mystery.

[@busa290]

I’ve been wearing the 450’s with two ear phones for over 5 years and nobody has said one thing to me about wearing them while driving. I’ve worn them in the presence of DOT officers and state police and they have not said one thing.

[@1Galan2incredible]

It's not illegal in most states, but it mainly depends on the safety policy for the company you drive for.

[@SEMI-Diesel-Chrome]

It’s not ilegal at all. People assuming. And you know assuming is the mother of all fukups

[@arubberball]

I bought one earlier today, and I plan on returning it asap. Bulky, heavy, and very uncomfortable to wear.

[@justusmorgan1995]

Mine keep shutting off randomly and keep beeping

[@NelksLife]

Mine started doing this after the video too. I think these just came out so they need to do a software update ASAP or a lot of people will go to another brand for good.

[@NigelM18]

Mine friggin beeped all the time today. I was thinking it had something to do with apps like my email and such but I'm sending them back and not wasting anymore time figuring it out.

[@prabhdeepsingh2390]

Thank you

[@truckingwithtramjam]

I’m confused…. You state in your review you love them, but your title state “they are trash!” Clickbait?

[@NelksLife]

They ended up having software issues after I made the video so I edited the title after.

[@NigelM18]

I had the pair for one day. Tomorrow I'm sending them back. Horrible connectivity. They constantly hung up my call.... in less than an hour it hung up over 4 times. The whole day probably over 15 times. There is a hissing sound in the background and you can tell when it's about to hangup on you cause the hissing cuts out for about a fraction of a second, comes back for a fraction of a second then they just go silent. The noise cancel modes just made popping sounds in my ear and when someone called me I would answer and the headset was dead quiet which was not a good sign apparently. I had to select speaker then select BT to get the set to wakeup and start hissing its communication abilities again. Horrible Horrible product. I'm waiting for some b550s now.

[@NelksLife]

Yeah I returned mine after about 2 weeks. Epic fail by BlueParrot. All customer service could say was ask me what phone I was using lol... Clueless idiots.

[@NigelM18]

@@NelksLife wow, they talked to you? I sent in my return request through my email order and I got 3 emails all automated this morning. Sent it back via UPS this morning.

[@tundradude4894]

Did you update it immediately?Straight out of the box it needs to be updated or you’ll get issues like your describing due to old firmware installed

[@MustangMommy09]

@Tundradude48 hey how can I update mine

[@zzsdadYY]

@@MustangMommy09 The app you can download to your phone allows you to update them.

[@peterparkerakaspider-manth2977]

why are they trash I have the buleparrott B350-xt and mine is working really great nothing wrong with it.

[@NelksLife]

This isn’t the 350. They need a software update.

[@peterparkerakaspider-manth2977]

@@NelksLife you did not read my post 😡😡 i said i have the b350-xt.

[@allenhenderson3863]

They are trash if you don't believe me buy a set and see for yourself just make sure you are able to return them.

[@kneishaneefrancois]

this the one here i like mine so much i only use it importantly

[@brianmason3941]

Well thanks for the review. I have a Sony headset but i think they’re a step down. Have to yell to be heard on the phone. Looking at the Apple headset but for $750, i want to see some reviews first. Leaning toward Jabra Evolve2 85 UC. My Plantronics UC Focus was awesome until the little boom mic came apart and shit the bed. Wife LOVES her S450 BX for driving her Corvette convertible. Cheers from the great white north.

[@NelksLife]

They’re definitely a step down from Sony. I was impressed at first when I made this video but the software built into these is what ruined it for me. Random calls hanging up and beeps. Cheers

[@mcmikythemushroomking]

aux doesn't work most the time and ive tried over and over only way to use mic is when connected to bluetooth when when your gamic makes you lag bad if ya dont got good internet, really ticks me off this model of the headset is almost complete trash, and tbh there not comfortable at all. 2/10

[@NelksLife]

I ended up returning these

[@brettabbott7699]

In your video, you say the headset is great, but in the title of the video, it says " They Are Trash ". Why the title?

[@NelksLife]

They were great at first. BlueParrott needs to do a software update and customer service refuses to acknowledge it. They ask you what phone you’re using instead… lol

[@Jester4U]

@@NelksLife the update is on the app now

[@coconutfred269]

I wonder if he has expensive Sony headphones

[@NelksLife]

You may want to re-listen to what I was referring to when I mentioned Sony.. Obviously its not better lol.

[@jtaran87]

So music vs the Sony which sound better? I know jabra owns blue parrott but Sony is hard to beat for sound. Main thing I will use these for sound.

[@NelksLife]

Nah Sony is definitely better for sound. I was referring to the noise canceling technology. Jabra is really good! I tired them out.

[@josephbrandt3359]

I’ve returned two of these. The ANC on feature… ticks, clicks, and has a whalloping sound while driving a big-rig. While in my Escalade, it also made the same sounds. The faster you drive any vehicle, the more the sound in the earpieces would be. If you’re outside of a big-rig, or other vehicle, like in an open area, they don’t make the crackling sound as mentioned. Not worth $250!!!

[@NelksLife]

Totally trash headphones. It’s a shame that it’s mainly a software issue.

[@morenike_]

I have a question I see it comes with come cables what are they for? Would it be possible to use this wired to a computer with the mic no Bluetooth or is the only way to use the mic is via Bluetooth. I work from home and need a better headset and I saw a test video and these are so amazing but I can’t use Bluetooth, so I was wondering if they have like a converter or something.

[@NelksLife]

Hello. I recommend to buy a Bluetooth usb dongle on Amazon and this should solve your problem. I think they go for like $15. I hope that helps.

[@truthseeker1833]

Returned mine because it kept disconnecting on its own

[@truthseeker1833]

My 450 have been perect

[@andrewandrew2457]

how do you make the noise in the background that says say your command louder everything else works perfect with these?

[@andrewandrew2457]

Or the answer or ignore (i want it to be louder literally sounds very low it might be on my😂 phone side bt its also new 13 pro max

[@hawkssidekick4831]

You did a good job explaining things I have one and I agree with a lot of stuff you sad

[@reveurerrant3323]

Hi, do your ears fit fully inside the cup? I can't tell if the ear cup is too small....

[@NelksLife]

Not with these. I did notice though when I was using headphones that fully cover my ear, they get hot. Its personal preference. The Rand Mcnally ones will cover your ear though. I returned these because of the customer service person on the asking me what phone I have when I told him the headphones has a software problem lol. They can update them, but that wasn't reassuring.

[@reveurerrant3323]

@@NelksLife Thanks! Do you think Rand Mcnally ClearDryve 220 have bigger earcups?

[@okinawanah3463]

Your reefer went into defrost mode lol

[@NelksLife]

Probably. lol

[@tundradude4894]

Are these updateable through the App or do they require a connected laptop with Windows or Mac?

[@NelksLife]

They are updatable through the app on Bluetooth. Hopefully they do an update to fix the issues. I returned mine.

[@tg3026]

Why did you return the headphones after such a great review?😢

[@blakmath2554]

Crap, taking it back.

[@NelksLife]

I returned mine too

[@cwc8979]

How’s the lightweight truck doing?

[@NelksLife]

I’m lease now. I miss the lightweight.

[@velocity1231]

Which headphone is good ? Any suggestion please

[@NelksLife]

Hello. The last set I used was amzn.to/3rUxJyi by Blue Parrot! It comes with two detachable clips so you can wear it over or behind your head.

[@allensmith5230]

Seems like you love S650 but your title says they are trash?

[@NelksLife]

That means that I did when I recorded the video but a few weeks later it started having problems that can easily be fixed with an update. Customer service only know to ask you what type of phone or device you’re using… lol

[@allensmith5230]

@@NelksLife ah ok. I’m considering buying a pair. Thanks for the video.

[@allensmith5230]

@@NelksLife I cannot update my S650, I tried with my iMac, iPhone and even a windows computer, I wonder if I just got a broken one.

[@Jester4U]

@@NelksLife the update is out

[@bayarearaised1894]

Bro it’s silent af how you acting like the noise cancellation is good when there’s no noise to begin with??? I’m

[@NelksLife]

I don’t think you’ve ever used noise canceling headphones before.

[@veslicktvtwe]

Are the ear pieces removable?

[@NelksLife]

Not that I know of. All you can do is remove one side to use it while driving.

[@davonbutler8161]

Same here trash!!! So disappointed

[@lashan4636]

Why does it say they trash?

[@NelksLife]

It ended up having problems after a week that can easily be fixed with an update. Customer service was too busy asking me what type phone I use…. I returned it.

[@lashan4636]

@@NelksLife I got the 550 and returned it same day. Got the 450 and it’s been good

[@RARE4x]

🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@johnm5855]

This thing disconects by itself the 550 was way better and it is tight also i was on the phone and it deconexted automatically

[@NelksLife]

I had the same issue about a week after making the video so I returned it because customer service had no idea what he was talking about.

[@RichReturn]

Damn. I just bought this today and lost the recipet

[@NelksLife]

If you bought it at a truck stop and used your rewards card you can pull the receipt there. Or you can probably do an exchange. Or they can find it with the card you used to pay.

[@RichReturn]

@@NelksLife true i got it at flying j but hopefully they let me exchange it at a different flying j

[@tyrannydrums]

This headset is garbage don't buy. Just spent 250 dollars on s650. Unit turns off every 2 min even after Dec 2022 update. This is a known issue after reading reviews yet blue parrot keeps selling faulty junk for 250 dollars! Shame on blue parrot! Cleardryve is the same way! All these trucking headset companies need to do better. A bigger names company is going to find the nitch that you guys are missing with quality and take you all out of the game. S650 being returned 2 hours after purchased. BUYER BEWARE!

[@NelksLife]

I returned mine as well. Its junk.

[@cath7308]

This new model is junk! Won't let you answer most calls and drops others.

[@NelksLife]

True.

[@Deez-zf5gc]

Hello, the video was cool. I am at Prime fixing to upgrade to lease. I was wanting to ask some questions who has fresh lease information. Do you have Instagram or some way I could ask some questions? Thank you

[@NelksLife]

Hello. You can find me on Discord at the DriverLineup group.

[@brianbechtel9575]

Don’t do ANY lease purchase! Scams!