Motorola MotoROKR Behind-the-Neck Bluetooth Stereo Headset (Black)
Manufacturer: Motorola Part number: 89274N
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Motorola Rokr S9 HD is a simple and lightweight stereo Bluetooth headset, but take caution when using it for an active lifestyle.
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CNET editors' review
Motorola MotoROKR Behind-the-Neck Bluetooth Stereo Headset (Black) price range: $50.99 - $139.99
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 07/01/2009
The good: The Motorola Rokr S9 HD has a comfortable and secure design and great audio quality. The buttons are easy to use as well.
The bad: The Motorola Rokr S9 HD can feel unwieldy when exercising or working out, and the Bluetooth connection cuts out occasionally if the paired device isn't positioned correctly. Also, the power button feels stiff, and the charger jack cover isn't secured properly.
The bottom line: The Motorola Rokr S9 HD is a simple and lightweight stereo Bluetooth headset, but take caution when using it for an active lifestyle.
When Motorola came out with the Motorola Rokr S9 headset two years ago, stereo Bluetooth headsets were still fairly new, and the S9 gained popularity because of its sports-centric design. Now that more phones have stereo Bluetooth capability (including the iPhone 3G, thanks to its latest firmware update), Motorola is wise to keep hammering away at making new headsets, like the Motorola Rokr S9 HD. It has a similar design to the S9, but is equipped with higher fidelity sound for your music-listening needs. We quite like the sound quality and the fit was OK, but it doesn't handle sports activity as well as we would like. The Motorola Rokr S9 HD retails for $99.99 but you can find it for as low as $60. The Rokr S9 HD comes with a Motorola D650 iPod adapter.
The Motorola Rokr S9 HD has a design almost identical to the S9. The neckband connecting the two earpieces floats slightly behind the head, and you wear the headset so that the ear loops hook over the top of your ears. It's not at all clunky or bulky, but we did find that it does pinch the sides of our head slightly. The S9 HD can also be a bit of a hassle if you have longer hair. Otherwise, it's quite comfortable to wear and it's easy to slip the headset on and off because of the slightly flexible ear loops. The earpieces sit just inside the ear opening, and there are three different size earbud coverings for a more custom fit.
The battery of the S9 HD is housed in a long and flat base at the back of the neckband. Underneath the base are the power button and charger jack with an indicator light in between. The music player controls are located above the right earpiece and the call button and volume controls are above the left. These side earpiece buttons are raised above the surface and are easy to find and press, but the power button on the neckband is a bit stiff. Also, the charger jack is covered up by a rubber flap that isn't very secure, thus reducing the headset's moisture resistance.
We tested the Motorola Rokr S9 HD headset with the Apple iPhone 3G and the Casio Exilim C721. The Rokr S9 HD comes with SRS-WOW HD sound that really amps up the overall fidelity of the music. You can choose between two SRS-WOW HD settings: one has fuller sound with more clarity, and another has balanced audio with enhanced bass. Music quality was quite spectacular as a result; the bass sounded round and full, and we were impressed with the surround sound qualities of the high-definition audio.
Call quality was a little less than stellar, but still surprisingly good. We could hear our callers loud and clear without any problems and vice versa. However, callers did detect quite a bit of echo in the background and they said our voices sounded rather harsh and machine-like at times.
We also tested the Rokr S9 HD out while jogging outdoors. The headset bounced up and down a lot, which felt a little uncomfortable and unwieldy. We also found that the Bluetooth connection would cut out every once in a while, especially if we were really jogging at a rapid pace. This happened a lot more when the paired handset was in the pocket, which might've caused a slight antenna interference; we would advise you wear an armband for better connectivity.
Other features of the Rokr S9 HD include support for call waiting and last number redial, plus the ability to transfer calls from the headset to the phone and vice versa. The Rokr S9 HD also has multipoint technology, which means it can connect up to two phones at once.
The Motorola Rokr S9 HD comes with a Motorola D650 iPod adapter, which will add stereo Bluetooth functionality to any iPod via the dock connector. It also comes with a drawstring pouch for the headset. The Rokr S9 HD has a battery life of up to 6 hours talk time and/or playback time.
User reviews
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Only one word "Outstanding"
by kernelnuts on September 21, 2009
Pros: The sound quality is amazing.
It connected to my iPhone without any issue.Cons: I could see where it might be somewhat uncomfortable to someone with a large head.
Summary: I had the previous version of this headset (the non-HD version) for over two years. I used the headset for 8+ hours every day and it just recently gave out (...
Summary: I had the previous version of this headset (the non-HD version) for over two years. I used the headset for 8+ hours every day and it just recently gave out (the usb socket wore out). So I decided to get the HD version and I couldn't be happier. The sound quality is better than any other headset I have ever heard (bluetooth or otherwise). The HD version also fits much better and does a much better job of blocking outside noise.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Products function buttons will fail after moderate use.
by Mikegonzo2 on August 23, 2009
Pros: product has good sound and is lightweight
Cons: I had to return my s9 6 times (yes, no exageration) under warranty, and this was with normal use in the gym, no abuse of any kind. Each time motorola replaced it with a new one, every new device failed the same way.
Summary: product has good sound and clever design but even after complaining to Motorola customer relations because of the constant failures, they simply don't care and I was tired of ...
Summary: product has good sound and clever design but even after complaining to Motorola customer relations because of the constant failures, they simply don't care and I was tired of paying the shipping costs to send them back, after several shipments back to motorola, you can actually buy a new pair with the money spent. Dont buy this headset unless you seldom have need to change the volume or advance or skip songs on your ipod, it positively will stop working after dozens of uses of the buttons.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Useless product! Don't sweat or expect customer support
by DwightLinden on July 28, 2009
Pros: IF they worked, they would be very convenient for using with an active lifestyle (gym, bicycle, jogging, etc) ... too bad you can't do those things with these headphones
Cons: You can't sweat at all in them!! Any mild sweating causes the buttons to not work.
ear buds are not very comfortable
Customer support is poor!Summary: After the first use my headset went bad - sound/button problem. I used them when working out and like so many complaints I found after doing a google search, ...
Summary: After the first use my headset went bad - sound/button problem. I used them when working out and like so many complaints I found after doing a google search, only the volume down button worked. Plus, my charge was only lasting 1 hour. I tried using the headphones a few more times but it is pretty pointless to use them when the sounds is so low that you need complete silence all around you to hear anything.
I tried using mine in the gym and when bicycling.
Evidently, you can't let any sweat get on the headphones, or the buttons go bad. Do a google search to see how many complaints there are about these headphones. Plus, see the YouTube video which shows one recommended work-around by spraying the headphones with hairspray before using, in order to creat a type of protective sealant against any form of perspiration.
Additionally, Motorola support is pretty useless. After making it through the voice-activated call-screening system I received "help" from a tech who really didn't seem very keen in helping me. My problem is that I bought my headsets when back home in the US, but I live and work overseas. Motorola, for being an international company, does not provide INTERNATIONAL support!!!! When I repeatedly asked to speak with his supervisor, he refused and said they have no supervisors available. After the 5th request to speak with a supervisor I gave up on that idea. He finally relented from my insistence and told me that they will ship me a replacement product to a relative's address in the US (great... now I have to wait until December to have my second pair break within a few days!!).
I will repeat the refrain of so many others. DON'T BUY THIS PRODUCT and avoid the hassles of dealing with poor product quality and poor support.
By the way, in my google search I came across so many complaints of people replacing these headphones between 3 and 13(!!!!) times!!!!3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Hurt Like Hell!!"
by djs621 on July 17, 2009
Pros: Sound great look great
Cons: Pinch your ears
Summary: These headphones sound great in both calling and listening to music.. On the other hand they pinch your ears horribly... At first u notice it's a bit snug then ...
Summary: These headphones sound great in both calling and listening to music.. On the other hand they pinch your ears horribly... At first u notice it's a bit snug then a half hour later you have to get them off your head! I really wanted to like these headphones because they sounded great and looked great but i just couldn't stand how uncomfortable they were.. I wish CNET wouldn't be so diplomatic in their reviews by saying "may be unwieldy for an active lifestyle." Just say they hurt like hell when worn for a long time is that too much to ask.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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could have been great
by jpc5166 on January 2, 2010
Pros: Good sound quality, comfortable to wear for 2 hours
Cons: smallest earbud is too large, no adjustment for ear canal angle
Summary: Bottom line is these might be great for some people but for my ears the angle is wrong and there is no adjustment. For my ear canal they need to ...
Summary: Bottom line is these might be great for some people but for my ears the angle is wrong and there is no adjustment. For my ear canal they need to face forward more. Also, the headband applies pressure to your head but not to the ear buds to keep them firmly seated. I tried the smallest ear buds that come with it and they don't fit into my ear even if I push them. Way too big.
If you press and hold them in place the sound is great, but they won't stay put. I'm going to try Plantronics Backbeat 903 next.
My unit seems to have a defect also. The first day these worked fine, but the second day and after there are frequent drop outs while music is playing back.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Improved reliability over S9. Stereo phone calls.
by stridentbeliever on June 29, 2009
Pros: Stereo audio for phone calls and richer, deeper bass as compared to S9. I have used these for the past month and they already have outlasted my S9's - double the lifespan!
Cons: Same as before and noted elsewhere; comfort could be an issue especially if you have long hair.
Summary: Stereo audio for phone calls and richer, deeper bass as compared to S9. I have used these for the past month and they already have outlasted my S9's - ...
Summary: Stereo audio for phone calls and richer, deeper bass as compared to S9. I have used these for the past month and they already have outlasted my S9's - double the life. I had 3 S9's prior to this and each failed and was returned to Motorola - the controls stopped working twice and audio output failed on one unit. So far this unit continues to rock and roll - fingers crossed. All control buttons are now raised which is easier to depress but slightly more difficult to distinguish the controls. You have to remember where you fingers are in order to hit the right button. Since my experience with 3 of the previous models of S9's, I avoid sweaty situations, which is ironic since it is these environments which the S9 series was supposedly able to perform in. The S9 I owned, all three of them, started to malfunction when exposed to sweat, loss of audio and controls. So with this one, I avoid sweat. I pair it with my AT&T Tilt - pairing issues I can say are related to this phone; such as failure to pair, requiring re-bonding. These issues are not experienced when paired to my HP iPaq 6515. Battery life is about 5 hours of continuous play. If you have been burned by the Motorola S9 and have doubts about upgrading to this S9 HD, I would ask you to keep an open mind because so far, the reliability of this model surpasses that of the S9 - hell, phone calls are in stereo now!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Over quality and longevity is just pathetic.
by govici on April 9, 2012
Pros: The sound is great, it has full bottom end and loudness is good.It is really only good for listening to music. As a bluetooth head set in the communication sense, it is useless. People just cant hear you well enough.
Cons: I have had to return this product twice.
I called tech support to authorize a return and met great resistance until i asked to speak with a supervisor. I never got to speak with that supervisor but they did offer to send me an new s10.Summary: Overall i would not purchase this product again and i don't really expect to be impressed with the new s10. I will read reviews and decide weather or not ...
Summary: Overall i would not purchase this product again and i don't really expect to be impressed with the new s10. I will read reviews and decide weather or not i will just get something else. There is a lot of competition from other capable manufacturers now.
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Nice basic design with poor details and quality.
by Popeye_Kahn on March 20, 2012
Pros: Nice basic design.
Cons: The charger cable male-end cannot make a positive connection with the female-port on the headset. I have wasted hours jiggling them to try to make a charging connection. Earbud bumpers will not stay on.
Summary: These headsets are poorly manufactured junk. The design is excellent, it is the manufactured quality that is poor. "These" because I have had to order two replacements for my original. ...
Summary: These headsets are poorly manufactured junk. The design is excellent, it is the manufactured quality that is poor. "These" because I have had to order two replacements for my original. I have wasted hours jiggling the charging connection in the back of the headset, trying to make a connection that will allow the unit to charge. The earbud rubber bumpers will not stay on, and once they have popped off, they are difficult to reattach: then they pop right off again. I ended up abandoning them: the struggle was not worth it. This product shows good initial design but no attention to detail. Apparently it was never tested or subjected to pre-release use and abuse to shake down potential problems and design flaws. Customer service is non-existent: Motorola just pumps these products out on the market and then cast them, and the customer adrift, with the customer at a loss and the product on its eventual path to a landfill. A very expensive price for what is apparently manufactured as a cheap, throw away item. An earlier, larger model of stereo Bluetooth headset manufactured by Motorola was better quality. I used it until the battery would no longer charge, then was impelled to purchase one (then two more) of these. Why are good products that work replaced with bad products that do not work? THIS is NOT "progress", it is devolution and looks like planned obsolescence. My next Bluetooth Stereo headset will certainly NOT be a Motorola product.
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awful.........
by afernandez427 on February 23, 2012
Pros: good sound when it works
Cons: I had to replace these head phones like if they were batteries, in less than one year i had to have Motorola send me over 4 replacement and my headphones never took a beating cosmetically they look new every time i had them replaced. the volume is not hig
Summary: DO NOT BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: DO NOT BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Best Bluetooth Headset EVER !!!
by opusp777 on October 5, 2011
Pros: Great Battery life (6 hours), Great functionality (Control Music, Answer phone, Volume, etc). Can sync with multiple units (Up to 6 units)
Cons: Wish for longer Battery life (8-10 hours)
Summary: Regardless, I highly recommend Motorola S9-HD. Users will have the best experience so far using bluetooth, with phone, iPad, other devices. Best Bluetooth Headset Ever !!!
Summary: Regardless, I highly recommend Motorola S9-HD. Users will have the best experience so far using bluetooth, with phone, iPad, other devices. Best Bluetooth Headset Ever !!!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Motorola
- Part number: 89274N
- Description: The wireless music experience has been enhanced with an upgraded version of the award-winning MOTOROKR S9, the Motorola S9-HD. Freedom to exercise, move around and commute without wires to tangle or hold you back, is now enhanced with high-definition audio and ear buds that reduce background noise and improve comfort. The S9-HD is the benchmark of wireless music powered by Bluetooth wireless technology. The unique behind-the-head design creates a secure and stable fit - even in active conditions - plus easy to use controls for track selection, volume, play/pause and send/end that allow you to manage music and calls from the headphones.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.0
- Recommended Use Digital player,
PC multimedia,
Cellular phone - Additional Features SRS WOW HD,
Noise isolating,
Echo cancellation Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Behind-the-neck
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.0
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 30 ft
Power
- Run Time (Up To) 6 hour(s)
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Motorola products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Motorola
- Address:
600 N. Highway 45, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847/576-5000
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