Customer Reviews

BlueAnt Bluetooth Stereo Speaker with Multipoint, A2DP, and Text-to-Speech - Retail Packaging - Black

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

This is best handsfree car speakerphone I've had so far. My first was a Motorola T305 which I found to be (barely) adequate. I then purchased a Blueant SuperTooth II which I used up until the purchase of this unit. I really liked the SuperTooth II in terms of call quality, amazing battery life and the convenience of the on/off switch being activated by the microphone boom. It was a bit limited in its feature set as newer models were being released, but it was/is a solid performer. Based on excellent reviews of the Motorola T505 and my desire to get a new gadget, I also purchased one of those. I was not particularly impressed with it in terms of call quality or ease of use and gave it to the same friend who inherited my Motorola T305.

I was ready to get a new handsfree (nothing wrong with the SuperTooth II, I just wanted a new gadget again) and was pleasantly surprised to learn BlueAnt had just released the new S4. I quickly ordered one and received it on Monday (I'm writing this on Saturday).

First thing I noticed after opening the box is that the S4 is noticeably smaller and lighter than the II. It is nicely finished and I find it to be much nicer looking than the II, almost elegant in appearance. The S4 does NOT come with an AC charger. Instead you are supplied with a cigarette lighter adapter and an approximately 11" long USB cable. The S4 uses a micro USB plug with the port on the side of the device, next to the slide on/off/battery save switch. The port is covered by a lighter gray cover. Also in the box are the manual and two sunvisor clips...one for thicker, one for thinner sunvisors. The unit is held to the sunvisor clips by two rather strong magnets.

After charging the S4 for a while...the battery is rated at 20 hours talk time and 700 hours standby, I paired it with my phone. That was easy, the first time you power up the S4 it talks you through the pairing procedure. For those who care, the S4 uses a male voice as opposed to the II's female one. (Edit: The SR does use a female voicxe for "answer or ignore" incoming calls (see below))

A couple of things to note so that you do everything in the correct order and don't have to repeat steps. The S4 has upgradeable firmware. The unit I received came with firmware version 1.2 and version 1.5 is currently available. The first thing you should do is go to BlueAnt's website and download the updater software. Follow the directions EXACTLY...if you don't press the phone icon "button" long enough...until both the green and red lights cycle on and off...the program won't run correctly (ask me how I know) and upgrade the firmware. After you are finished updating the S4, it has to be paired with your phone (all over again if you previously paired it prior to updating it). It will also be necessary to transfer your phone's contacts. If you transferred your phonebook prior to updating the firmware you will have to do it again. Also, and this is not clear from the manual, you have to disconnect the S4 from your computer to transfer your phonebook.


So now that it was updated and set up, it's time to play with it. The main function of any handsfree kit is to allow you to communicate clearly with it. It that sense, the highest compliment you can pay such a device is that people don't know you are using it. Everyone I've asked during a call has indicated they could hear me clearly and weren't aware I was on a speakerphone, whether I was in my fairly quiet daily driver or my much louder sports car. The volume on the S4 is excellent and is adjusted by merely swiping your finger along the face of the unit. Note, the S4 does NOT have an FM transmitter. I did not want that function, but if you require it, this is not the unit for you.

The S4 has a few LED lights that can be easily turned off by voice command if desired. The voice command system has worked flawlessly and truly renders the S4 a handsfree unit. You can check battery level, activate your phone's voice dialing, redial, call back your last incoming call, confirm connection to your phone, adjust voice recognition sensitivity, update your phonebook and access Bing's 411 service (in my area with my carrier) all though voice commands. When a call comes in, the S4 announces either the contact's name or telephone number and asks if you want to answer or ignore the call. You can answer or ignore calls be either voice command or tapping the phone icon on the face of the unit...one tap to answer, two to ignore and a single tap to terminate the call. If you transferred your phone's contacts, the S4 announces the name for incoming call, otherwise just the number.

In the week I've had the S4 I've been very impressed with its call quality, feature set and convenience. Battery level is still at high after the initial charge. Assuming you don't need the FM transmitter function, I believe this is an excellent choice and recommend it without hesitation or other qualification.

I had wanted to get a hands free device for the car after getting and I Phone. I did a lot of research and reading and decided that I didn't want anything that dealt with the radio. I wanted to keep it simple. When my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, this is what I asked for. I love the Blueant S4. It is easy to use and was easy to set up with my I Phone. I did purchase a longer charging cord, as the cord that came with the S4 was about 6 inches long and wouldn't really work in my car. Now I can have the S4 charging if need be and not have to worry. No one realizes that I am on a speaker phone unless my son is in the car and decides to chime in with a hello or two. I would definitely recommend to others who are technically challenged like myself. If I can set it up and use it, anyone who can read and follow directions can do it too.

Let me just start off by saying that everyone's tastes would differ... and the opinions stated by myself may not be what you experience... I suggest reading more reviews... especially the critical comments about the item to help improve your decision making process...

Now with that said, The Blueant S4 was purchased to replace the ST3 which I purchased actually 2 weeks earlier... not that I didn't like the ST3 (I love it) but disappointingly it did not have multipoint. I believe that if the ST3 carried this feature it would be a top seller.

It is a nicely designed speakerphone and I do like the fact that the power buttons slide on/off unlike the heavy pressing you had to do for the ST3. Also the lights are not as bright so it is great to drive with at night.Slightly larger than the ST3 but still quite light... the visor in my vehicle didn't hang or fall everytime I hit rough stretches of road. Also really nice is the handsfree trigger where you say "blueant, speak to me" and the cool voice awaits your command... though I would have liked to have the language options available on it as the ST3. But the problem with the trigger is that there are times that you have a conversation and may just mention some words that the S4 believes sounds like the trigger phrase... and it goes waiting for you.

Unfortunately there are some key issues that are more serious than that though... Firstly, sometimes the commands are not recognized. Now my car is loud, but has been used in other vehicles as well and when there is an incoming call in which it asks you to say "answer", there are times it would not answer... also it says to touch the unit itself... which also is hit or miss... unless I have been doing something wrong.

The Speaker loudness during a call could have been a little better. The trigger voice you will notice is usually louder than the call itself, but it is pretty good... not as good as the ST3 though... with the windows down, it was a little difficult to keep a sound conversation dependent of your speed.

Another note that disappoints me is the voice dialing... I have 2 sony ericsson phones that have the system setup, however I cannot get either to voice dial through the S4... again I am not sure if this is just an issue with my phones or the S4 itself.

But most problematic with the S4 experienced, is the connection problems with the phones if you step out the vehicle. Many times I have stepped out the car for a few minutes out of range, then when I return I would expect it to connect by saying the trigger phrase and asking if connected... many times I get no response. Touching the center button manually should get it to connect and even then there are times that it doesn't... I have found myself on many occasions having to turn off the system and restart it just to pick up the BOTH phones I have...

Also, blueant could have done a better job with the components that come with the package... mainly the addition of a house charger and even if not that, they could have given a LONGER cord rather than the strip of USB connector they give you... I felt like was being short changed with the S4, after receiving all the ammenities of the ST3, which comes with a longer cord, a car charger separately and a house charger.

But all in all, it is still a suitable speakerphone for basically doing just that.. being a speakerphone. But to make this competitive in my opinion, Blueant has some homework to do. Perhaps a software update may improve some things, perhaps not, definately they need to improve their accessories available than what they give you now.

Good: Slide power button, trigger phrase quite helpful, lights not too bright for night driving, fairly good call quality, multipoint

BAD: Limited accessories, calls in the speaker not very loud, voice answer not always solid, voice dialing issues, reconnection to phone(s) problematic

Gets 3 stars from me. I will continue to test this item and return with more feedback as time progresses...

I was concerned about a battery powered Bluetooth speaker that mounts to your sun visor via magnets. Could this thing actually emit decent sound? Surprisingly yes. The BlueAnt S4 eliminated the need to drive around with an annoying little gremlin in my ear, and its wind, road, and background noise reduction really did the trick. The good news is that even if your phone doesn't support Voice Dialing, the BlueAnt S4 syncs your list of contacts so if you get a call, Charles will announce who the call is coming from. He'll even announce numbers that are not stored in your phone when a call is coming in. If you're an avid Bing user, you can tell Charles to access Favorites, then Traffic, Weather, Information, etc. however the BlueAnt S4 is especially worth it if your phone supports Voice Dialing over Bluetooth. That way you'll be able to take full advantage of hands-free interaction behind the wheel.

The BlueAnt S4 is, hands down (pun intended,) the best remote call accessory I've ever used. When I bought this I wanted something that would let me carry on a conversation in the car without holding the handset. Being able to hear and be heard clearly was my No. 1 requirement.

Not irritating people on the other end of my call, or forcing them to constantly ask me to repeat myself or listen to a bunch of road noise unless I press mute, was requirement No. 2. These people are not interested in my spiffy voice dialing if they can't understand me.

The S4 is a stellar performer in both areas.

I have not used any other hands-free speakerphone but I have used (or been subject to) every imaginable ear-piece/headset/microphone gadget -- both wired and un-wired. Every other device -- and this goes for expensive Jawbone-style ear-pieces down to the old-style Shure wired headsets -- always left one party or the other struggling to hear or understand.

The noise canceling is terrific. When I use the S4 in the car people don't even know I'm on a speakerphone. It's so quiet when I'm not speaking that people frequently ask, "Are you there?" yet they never have trouble hearing or understanding me when I do speak.

There are a few comments and reviews here that note this or that function doesn't work well, or the voice recognition isn't good, etc. I haven't had any significant issues. I can call/answer just fine. The available features vary depending on the phone(s) you have. I've used it with a Blackberry Curve and an old Sanyo flip phone (at the same time.) The voice recognition isn't 100% perfect, but it works as well as any other voice recognition device I've ever had, including fancy voice recognition software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking. I don't mind pressing a button on my old phone to dial if I'm going to get a great, hands-free, 30-minute call.

Recently a colleague with whom I speak regularly using the S4 was so impressed that he went out and bought one. For the first time I was on the receiving end of an S4 conversation. I was just as impressed. I couldn't tell he was using it. It was actually better than when he used the handset.

Battery life has been very good. I set it to turn off the hands-free command mode after three minutes to conserve the battery. Talk time has been very good. I haven't timed it but it's well past two hours.

Pairing is easy. Charging is fast. The dual phone support works well for those of you that carry separate phones for work and personal use.

All in all, I love the S4. If call clarity and ease of use is your priority this is a fantastic device. If you're main concern is some of the geekier stuff your mileage may vary.

**8-week Update
I've been using the BlueAnt S4 for eight weeks now and two minor issues have cropped up. Neither changes my overall opinion or rating, but they're worth mentioning for potential buyers.

First, the dual-phone support seems a bit iffy. As noted above, I have used the S4 with two phones simultaneously connected. This seems to cause problems with the Blackberry Curve. The main symptom is that the sound intermittently goes "warbly" -- sounds like both parties are under water -- and is unusable. Sometimes it will go away, sometimes it won't. Usually I just turn the S4 off and talk on the phone, but that defeats the purpose.

I can't determine any other cause except the dual connection. The problem only occurs when I have two simultaneous Bluetooth connections. And it only occurs with the Blackberry. At one point the Bluetooth profile seemed to get corrupted. I had to reset the S4, wipe out the connection data on the phones, and start over. This fixed some other issues, but did not cure the intermittent warble problem.

The problem has never surfaced with just a single BT connection, nor with my Sanyo phone.

The second problem is the S4 doesn't like cold weather. I live in Texas so it doesn't get really cold, but below 40-degrees F. the on-off switch doesn't always work. I have to switch it on-off a couple of times to get it started.

The unit has never failed to come on, and I have not contacted tech support. It might be a little defect, but it hasn't really bothered me.

Just a couple of minor things that might be fixed by some future firmware or something, but my rating and overall satisfaction remain the same.

I've been a Quad paralyzed from the arm pit / shoulders area down
since Dec. of '73. I've searched high and low for a truly hands free phone system for many years. The S4 in combination with my Motorola W490 voice dial bluetooth enabled cell phone have finally made it possible to make and accept phone calls totally hands free. If I need to call a business I voice dial Google411 or Bing411. Other contacts must be in the list in my phone unless I know the number.

The S4 still needs a bit more work on it's voice "hearing" capabilities. I leave the S4 by my head and neck when in bed and clipped on my chest high safety strap when in my wheelchair. When I'm in my chair I'm able to have it respond to "Blueant Speak To Me" about one of every two or three times. It "Accepts" or "Declines" calls at my command almost 100% of the time. It drops off when in bed. I'm sure it has to do with the tone of my voice as well as the location of the speaker. The difficulty in getting it to recognize me is why I only gave it four stars. My cell phone is always within a few feet of the S4 - on my night stand or in my pocket or lap.

I purchased the AC charger and can now charge in an automobile, by a USB port or by 120v AC.

If you have need of a speakerphone for your voice dial bluetooth cell phone or know of anyone who is physically unable to make phone calls this unit and an appropriate cell phone should be considered. It's mobile and relatively inexpensive.

The built-in voice command of "Favorites" with Bing is pleasant. I can find and connect to businesses, get stock quotes, weather, time, horoscopes, movies, news, traffic, directions, cheap gas, travel, sports and more.

I can't hang up the phone. After asking for a command three times the S4 will terminate the call.

R. Graham

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Edited on 08/08/2010
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I forgot to mention my thoughts about pairing this speakerphone with the cell phone I use. I read and re-read the downloaded from the Blueant website pdf Users Manual. After charging pairing is your next step. Just by reading the manual you would think simply by turning on your S4 for the first time it will find your phone, pair it as a bluetooth device and update your contacts (import the names or entries as they are listed on your phone) and go merrily along to the next step. In a perfect world or isolated case, maybe. After turning on the S4 for the first time it gives you a few steps to follow to place your phone in pairing mode to locate the S4. If pairing is successful it starts "updating your phonebook" in the S4. Mine started and failed twice. My friend Fred who was setting up my Blueant turned the unit off and on twice, went through pairing twice and only then updated the phonebook. Updating your phonebook is a several minute operation. It tells you it is updating phonebook please wait as it works. As you add contacts to your phone one of the default commands you can say to the S4 is "Update Phonebook." The S4 will search for new entries in your phone and place them in your Blueant. If you cannot update your contacts automatically during setup or by voice command you'll have to enter each entry by hand one at a time.

A list of voice commands is in the Users Manual. If you forget or want to know speak to the S4 and ask "What can I say?" and the available commands are spoken to you. Phone Command, Favorites, Am I Connected, Call Back and Redial are the commands I use most. There is Check Battery, Pair Me, Sensitivity Level, LED Light and Update Phonebook also in the S4 vocabulary.

Favorites contacts you with Bing411 service (I assume you must have it in your contacts, maybe not) by a toll free call made by your phone.

I contacted T-mobile (my carrier) to make sure Google411 and Bing411 had no hidden costs. They do not unless you agree to have something text messaged to your phone.

I used this product for 1 day before trying to update the firmware so I could make it even more awesome.
The speakerphone worked well and was easy to use. The built in Bing integration had a lot of potential and my non-techy father loved it.

So I tried to update the firmware to get better Bing integration. I "bricked" 2 different S4s with the updater. Heres the process:

First of all, you need to find an old 32bit computer because their driver doesnt work for 64bit.
Next give blueant all your personal info to get access to the installer.
Next, follow the instructions and watch the firmware updater fail at 15% over and over.
Return to store and rinse and repeat.

I like the product enough that Im going to go buy them over and over and return them until it works. Maybe when Blueant gets 10,000 of these returned as bricks, they will hire new developers and fix the updater.


Its really stupid when a company has a great product ruined by 1 little piece of software.

Ordered this item brand new through Amazon. The product was defective upon arrival (charging port was improperly assembled and would not accept the provided Micro USB Cable.) I contacted the company by email (response within 2 business days supposedly) and, finally, after 5 business days I called their phone support line. After 20 minutes on hold, I finally reached a live person. He told me he knew about this manufacturing defect and that I would need to get a new unit. However, I needed to return the defective unit at my expense. His excuse was "we are not Apple and can't afford to pay return shipping" (really even for a product that I have never been able to use and after being ignored by your email customer service for 5 days?)

I was then told that I needed to wait for an email with an RMA number and that it should arrive within 2 business days (and to check my spam box because they often end up in there.) Upon return, I was told the new unit would ship within 7-10 days. 4 business days later still no such email so I'm still waiting to return this unusable device. At this rate maybe in a few months I'll be able to get a working unit.

If this is the kind of customer service Blueant thinks their customers deserve, I suspect they will never become Apple.

I am so glad I took a chance on this device! What a difference it has made in my experience driving and using a cell phone.

It is clear, extremely well thought out and useful every time I use it. Voice quality is excellent. The design is beautiful.

The controls are well thought out and intuitive and it is unobtrusive. It pairs with the iPhone 4 perfectly. Address book download is perfect. Voice response is virtually perfect every time.

I thought I would never use the BING-411 thing. I use it all the time, especially to find cheap gas stations and movie times.

There are a few things I'd change about it:
1. I'd make it auto-reconnect with my phone when I walk away and come back. Right now I either turn it off and then back on or speak the command to ask it to reconnect. Strictly a convenience factor with me. (Note: sometimes, it has auto-reconnected. That surprised me and gave me hope.)
2. The charging cable is stunningly short. At least make the cable long enough so that it can be charged while still clipped to the visor. If this is a safety issue, make it longer so the cable can be really routed away from the steering wheel. I thought this would be a bigger problem, but the battery lasts so long and it recharges quickly, it hasn't been much of a problem.
3. It uses strong magnets to hold it to the clip on the sun visor. They are strong enough that I avoid getting other electronics near them. They work flawlessly - this thing isn't falling off accidentally in any situation. I just worry about getting other electronics (iPhone, laptop, hard drive) near it.
4. I hope they find a way to make it read and respond to text messages using the iPhone like it can on Android and Blackberry phones.

I love this device and would strongly recommend it. The people who designed it know how to make a useful device. Kudos.

I boughtthe BlueAnt S4 to replace my Super Tooth 3 because of the claim that it was totally hands-free. For the most part, it is however there are a few things that require using your hands. The first one is turning the unit on and off... is a slide switch on the side of the unit. I know this sounds like a nitpick, however, the slide switch can be awkward to operate compared to the large button on the ST3. Another situation that requires touching the unit is when you want to disconnect after a call. Again, I know this sounds like a nitpick but if you get to someone's voicemail and you don't want to leave a message, you have to disconnect manually.
You may wonder why not having to touch the unit is such an issue for me... I am a quadriplegic driver and I need to have both of my hands available for driving (IOW, I use hand controls).
Despite my pointing out the shortcomings for my particular situation, this is still the best solution I have found and I do recommend it to other paraplegic/quadriplegic drivers and even to those who don't drive, but need a way to answer their phone without having to use their hands.