Customer Reviews

Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth MOTOROKR/MOTOACTIV Stereo Headset (Gloss Black) [Retail Packaging]

5 star:		(136)
4 star:		(134)
3 star:		(75)
2 star:		(64)
1 star:		(84)

 

 

These have been the best bluetooth headphones I have ever experienced.

MY USE: I bought these for all-around use (walking around campus, indoor climbing, and cycling), and they have performed magnificently. So far, they have been very sweat-resistant and chalk-proof while climbing indoors during the off-season (I don't believe in headphones while outside :)). They hold on tight when road-biking, and they have been very good for walking around campus and answering calls as I listen to music. I also occasionally use them with my iMac to watch movies without disturbing others.

STRUCTURE: First of all, the headphones look fantastic. Really sleek-looking headphones, I get compliments all the time on them, followed by amazement when they find out that they're bluetooth! The fit of the headphones was a little awkward at first - I expected the little buds to go into my ear a little deeper. While they are apparently meant for people with larger heads, I've gotten really comfortable with the way they fit on my head. They rest just outside of my ear canal without being crammed inside. They also rest comfortably on my neck when not in use - I'll often wear them around my neck in class or at work, forgetting they're on!
The buttons on the headphones are fantastic. They really did a great job here. The volume and phone controls are on one side, and the music controls on the other. You can still do things like redial a call, ignore a call, and turn on/off the "enhanced sound" mode using the few buttons. Also, the buttons are rounded off very well, so very easy to feel with your finger.

AUDIO QUALITY: The audio quality is good. While I don't consider myself an audiophile (proudly, btw), I do put weight on audio quality, and the sound from these headphones absolutely cut it for me. Better than Apple's earbuds (not hard to beat), and as good as the Skull Candy headphones I was using. Using either the Sony bluetooth adaptor, or my Sony Ericsson w580i, the audio came out great - actually, it was a huge improvement over the quality of the w580i w/ provided headphones. The default "enhanced sound" mode is actually very good - not just idiotically cranked-up bass like most sound "enhancements". But if you prefer a custom EQ, all you have to do is hold down one button for a few seconds and it turns off.
The microphone works well most of the time, but it's no replacement for a standard bluetooth headset in terms of ONLY hearing your voice. But my voice is heard distinctly - just with some background noise.

BLUETOOTH: Pairing is a breeze. The bluetooth signal has been an issue for me at times, though. Just carrying my phone/iPod around in my pants pocket just doesn't seem to cut it - my body is just too much of a barrier (and I'm not a big guy). However, in my backpack, or across the room, the signal has been flawless. So, my solution is to either always keep the phone/iPod in my backpack, or slip it into a front shirt pocket. But when I don't have any of these options, it gets really annoying having my music cut in and out - incredibly annoying, in fact. Like having a scratched CD. It's maddening! (the booklet recommends purchasing an arm band for this reason.).

Oh, and these guys will hold a charge all day with use throughout most of the day. But not much past that.

I wanted to listen to music on my HTC Diamond [Sprint] while exercising and around the house, without wires. This unit has good sound, and nice controls - I can activate voice command for hands free dialing, and I can change music tracks without pulling out the phone; Nice.

Unfortunately, the thing is really uncomfortable after a while, especially while wearing my glasses. Note, however, that I have a large head, and the unit is not adjustable [like that would have been difficult to design in].

Additionally, and I knew this before purchasing by reading other reviews, you cannot carry your phone in your front pocket while using these outside. I put the phone in my rear pocket if walking, but I'll have to wear a fanny pack or some other trick to get the transmitter within line-of-sight of the back of the headset. This is another pain-in-the-rear [no pun intended!].

I will say it's really cool to be out for a run when the phone rings and the auto-answer is turned on; the unit picks up and I can talk without having to slow down. I can dial out, as well, with the voice command.

The bluetooth technology is limited, but I think the designers could have made this more friendly.

This unit may just be the best available, for now, but it seems likes it should still be in "beta" to me.

I bought these because my Zaggs wouldn't stay on while running. So, after reading the reviews, I decided to give these a shot. I have an Iphone 3G OS 3.1.2.
Pros:
Three sizes of earbuds.
The SRS works very well.
Sound is good, almost as good as my VModa Vibes.
The MOTOROKR's stay on while running around the track.
Distance is decent, about 20-25 feet. (for mine)
Useful carrying bag.
Easy connection.
Runs with Pandora, AOL radio, Ipod, and GreatMetal.

Cons:
Track skip doesn't function with Iphone.
There are six buttons to remember, not a big deal, just takes getting used to.
Battery isn't removable.

Overall:
Honestly, I would have given them 5 stars if the track skip worked. I am happy with the purchase and would recommend these headphones.

WARNING: Do not purchase these if you plan on using them for working out hard.

If you sweat a lot, then the controls will get all messed up. I.E. the volume up will not work or get stuck and keep going up. Considering they try to pass it off as headphones for "active" people, I think that's a shame. This was the same problem as the original S9s, and you would think they would have corrected it with a new release, but apprently not.

Another thing to consider is if your plan on bench pressing, laying down, or putting your head on the headrest, the compartment in the back will get in the way.

Otherwise, when they do work, they work great. Sound is amazing. Pairs easily with my HTC mogul. Great range. Too bad I'm going to have to return them.

These headphones sound great, and should be a fantastic success. But you just cannot use them for working out -- sweat makes them unusable very quickly. I'm on my third pair sent me by Motorola, and all three pairs have died within a few weeks. Great if you just want to listen to music, worthless for running or weight lifting or other cardio. Too bad, I want to love the product.

These worked great until I jogged with them. I think the sweat shorted them out. Now my controls do not work and the headphones are stuck on low volume. Contacted motorola and this issue is not covered in the MF warranty. Not worth the money if you wish to use these for running. To tell the truth, I bought these only for running.

There weren't a lot of options out there for wireless headphones in the price range I was looking for anyway, and these got mostly good reviews.

I have to agree, they sound good, I use mine while at the gym. I do a lot of cardio on the treadmill and the elliptical machines. I haven't ran in them yet, but for my 60 min workout, they work pretty good. Another gentleman at the gym had them, and I asked him how he liked his and he said they worked great, he even plays basket ball in them. So I figured I'd give these a shot.

They are light, seem to fit well. They can be a little tight for people with larger heads, and I found that when I look straight up, or straight down, they kinda pull out from the ears, not a whole lot, but not a big deal either. They seem to resist the sweat pretty well.

I use them with my iPod Touch, and pairing was easy. For some reason, when I have music playing right when they connect, the sound goes in and out for about 5 seconds, then, its steady music. The volume controls work, but the pause/forward/back doesn't, but I find it easier to do that with the iPod anyway. I have not tried to answer a call with my iPhone yet, but it paired with the iPhone 3G just fine also.

These headphones do have a lot of bass, and here is what I found regarding audio quality.

They come with 3 sets of rubber 'ear phones'. They are initially equipped with the large. I tried the small, but they go too far in the ear canal and the sound was very muddy (I listen to metal/rock/alternative such as Pantera, Janes Addiction, Depeche Mode, Crystal Method etc...) I went to the mediums, and it pulls the ear piece out enough to give excellent sound. Though when I sweat, it seems to snug back down in the ear a little, so I think I might go back to the large earphones. I also played with the EQ settings on the iPod and found the 'Rock' setting worked best for my taste in music (or lack there of depending how you look at it :) ) So before you frown on the audio quality, try out the different ear phones and see which work best for your music selection and activity.

Like others have said, they have a non-user replaceable battery good for about 400 charges according to the manual. But, the trade off is, no more wires and my iPod no longer goes shooting down the treadmill and onto the floor.

Update (01/08/2011):

Well, they are toast. The sweat got to them. I will say though, probably my fault. I should have taken the time to clean them up right after working out. I imagine if you clean them up immediately after your work out they will last longer. What I mean by "cleaning up" is, taking off the rubber ear phones and making sure all of the moisture is gone from the inside and the speaker portion itself. I was just wiping them off, and calling it good.

So, I may get another pair, or wait and see if a specific "sport" model comes out by someone.

The description and the good reviews are spot on. The low-end response (80 - 240 Hz)is incredible; and I find them comfortable and the controls easy to use. However, since I purchased them in March 2010, I have had to return them to Motorola twice (in May & July) for replacement under warranty- and note the replacements are refurbished units. In both cases, the right earbud failed; additionally, the first S9-HD also quit charging. This not a case of abuse; I am an audiophile using them primarily with my Droid and netbook, never at full volume or even for extended periods of time.

Overall nice design, however the fit isn't for everyone. If you have a 'wide' head or need to wear glasses this isn't a great product for you.

Pros:
Great sound
Controls are well placed
Play
Pause
Fast forward, back
Skip forward, back
Volume
Phone - reception isn't bad

Great for the athletically inclined. I have not been able to shake these loose. Run, jump, skip, bike with these and they'll stay in place.

Pairing doesn't seem to be a problem.

Battery life seems to last quite a bit. Listened to music for an hour and then had a phone call for an hour and the battery did not die.

Mini USB port. You can use the charger it comes with or use a Mini USB cable and charge from your PC.

Cons:
Can be very tight fitting for people who have wider heads.
If you wear glasses it can be even more uncomfortable after short periods

While the controls are not the easiest to work, the sound quality of stereo music from my Treo 800w cellphone's MP3 player is very good. I wish, however, that I could get the plugs into my ears a little better. If I push them closer, the sound really improves even though it was pretty good from the start.
I normally used a Jawbone II for talking on my cellphone so people are surprised when they can hear everything within a quarter mile of me with this headset. However, they say that the quality of my voice is better with this than the Jawbone.
If I had to buy someone a Bluetooth stereo headset, I would most likely buy one of these. Oh, make sure you get the newer "HD" model.