Find Whirlpool Deals at Lowe’sMotorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones (red)
Manufacturer: Motorola Part number: 98801N
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- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones offer a worthy choice for wireless cell phone sound.
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CNET editors' review
Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones (red) price range: $37.99 - $44.99
- Reviewed by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 03/15/2007
The good: The Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones feature an attractive design, user-friendly controls, and solid sound quality.
The bad: The Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones' earbuds have a tendency to pinch if not set correctly.
The bottom line: The Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones offer a worthy choice for wireless cell phone sound.
One of the better cell phone developments in the past year has been the proliferation of stereo Bluetooth. While previously it seemed that handset manufacturers were consciously avoiding the feature, a simultaneous push for music phones has, thankfully, made stereo Bluetooth a reality. And as the number of supported phones increases, manufacturers have started to introduce stereo Bluetooth headphones as well. One of Moto's latest entries in the space is the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones. Made with the sports enthusiast in mind, these headphones feature a sleek, space-age design that wraps behind your head. For both calls and music, the sound quality was decent--and the fit was relatively comfortable. Priced in the $100 range, they're not exactly cheap, but they won't break the bank either.
Motorola emphasizes the word "active" when mentioning the S9, and by looking at the S9's design, it's clear why. Sleek and aerodynamic, the S9 weighs less then an ounce, which makes it one of the lightest stereo headphones we've seen. It also employs a simple, behind-the-head design that isn't clunky and doesn't look too conspicuous when worn. The rearmost portion of the headset, which holds the power button and charger jack, is the largest part of the S9 at almost an inch wide, but the ends connecting the earbuds taper to a slim diameter of .25 inch. We tested the red-and-blue version, but it also comes in a more subtle gray-and-black model as well. The S9 is water- and sweat-resistant, so you won't have to worry about wearing it during a hard workout.
Thanks to the practical design, we had no trouble slipping the headset on and off. Though the area with the power control and the charger jack is made of hard plastic, the ends are made of a rubberized material that bends easily. The ear hooks slipped easily on and off for us, but users with larger noggins may want to try the S9 before buying. On the whole, the fit is comfortable and the light weight made it barely noticeable, even for longer-wearing periods. The fit was quite secure as well. But the 0.5-inch earbuds did have a tendency to pinch if not positioned just-so. Indeed, it took us a few minutes of fiddling with the earbuds until they slipped comfortably into the ear. On the upside, the ear tips are made a flexible rubber and you get a choice of three sizes.
The controls on the headset were easy to understand and to use. As we mentioned previously, the power control is located on the bottom of the rear end of the headset, just next to the mini-USB charger port. It can be hard to locate when you're wearing the headset, but we can't imagine you'd be turning it on and off excessively. The charger jack is protected by a rubber flap, although the fit wasn't very secure. A small indicator LED sits between the power button and the charger port.
Moto smartly separated the phone and music controls on the S9. A Talk button and the volume control sits just near the left earbud. The former is easy to find and has a soft, tactile feel; the volume control is touch-sensitive and barely needs to be pressed. We haven't seen touch controls in very many headsets, but it's a feature we love on the S9. At times, they could be a bit too sensitive, but overall it was a very user-friendly experience. A music Play button sits near the right earbud and is also touch-sensitive.
We tested the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones with the Motorola Razr V3xx. The pairing process took only a few seconds and the connection remained strong. Also, we were able to reconnect instantly after turning both devices off for a short period. Overall sound quality was quite good for all kinds of audio. We could hear callers plainly and there was plenty of volume, even in windy or noisy environments. Callers reported few problems on their ends and we had no trouble being understood by voice-automated calling systems. Our only complaint was that voices on our side sounded harsh and almost robotic at times. However, the effect wasn't constant, so we don't consider it a deal-breaker. Other calling features include voice dialing, call reject, and last-number redial.
Sound from the music player was better than the call sound. We loved the stereo experience and we were impressed by the volume range. Keep in mind that the sound wasn't the sharpest we've heard, but it's more than adequate for most uses. Conveniently, the music automatically pauses when you receive a call, and then resumes after you hang up. We also tested the headphones with streaming video clips and enjoyed solid audio quality. The S9 has a promised battery life of six hours on a single charge.
User reviews
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Wow! best bluetooth stereo headphones on the market by far!
by cabel417 on July 11, 2007
Pros: looks great around your head, sound is excellent, very loud, comfort, easy to use buttons
Cons: your voice is recognized through a small speakerphone, will pick up background noise.
Summary: Let me start off by saying I have done a lot of research on these bluetooth stereo headphones. I have a LG chocolate and I have been looking for these ...
Summary: Let me start off by saying I have done a lot of research on these bluetooth stereo headphones. I have a LG chocolate and I have been looking for these to replace my mp3 player and to use something more convenient when working out.
After doing a lot of research, I decided to buy these b/c i thought they looked the most subtle and seemed to look very cool when ur wearing them. Most of the other stereo bluetooth headphones are gigantic and make you look like a nerd. Research told me that most the of the stereo bluetooth headphones are still poor quality when listening to music but I wanted one anyway.
I bought the s9 for $74.99. I wasnt expecting much, but I found out that this thing is great! Everytime I use it, I can't stop smiling b/c its so cool!
Some people were complaining about the comfort. I have a normal size head and it fits perfectly! I can't feelany of the wraparound piece, it just feels like I'm wearing regular earbuds.
The sound is fantastic! I can't hear any difference between these and my best pair of headphones...seriously! tremendous bass sound, everything is crystal clear.
a problem with most bluetooth stereo headphones is the loudness factor, they don't get loud enough. You won't have a problem with that when using these. I have these set to volume 4/10 and its perfect loudness. When set to 10/10, you can listen to the song clearly w/out even having it in ur ears.
The buttons are great. They are very easy to use. Don't listen to the other guy that said the volume control is screwed up. It does make a very subtle beep but the music doesnt pause. The beep is actually good b/c you know when u lowered or raised the volume.
the only con I can come up with is when your talking to someone with these, you are talking through a small speakerphone b/c there aren't any pieces close to your mouth (if there was, it would look pretty lame). It will pick up background noise that the other person you are talking to can hear. I normally bought these for listening to music though, not calling people. Other than that I can't think of any other cons.
I really don't know why this isn't scored higher. Maybe it just works well w/ the LG chocolate or something...it's great b/c the color matches perfectly with it too. This is one of the best decisions I've ever made in buying electronics. I'm so happy with it. Buy it! you won't regret it.18 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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sounds good but not 100% sweatproof
by mimsIII on June 21, 2007
Pros: comfy device, good sound
Cons: little bulky, salt from sweat will kill it
Summary: I bought this stereo bluetooth headset for my new Moto Razr V3xx to take on a fishing trip. Also had to buy a MicroSD card to store music on my ...
Summary: I bought this stereo bluetooth headset for my new Moto Razr V3xx to take on a fishing trip. Also had to buy a MicroSD card to store music on my phone.
I did no research to know what other headphones were out there, so I was kind of going at it blind. This model just happened to be newly released (bought in Apr 07), but I had no idea.
This was my first Bluetooth device, so I didn't know what to expect. I was pleased at first at how well it worked. Sounded clear and plenty loud.
After the trip, I began using the headset while cycling and inline skating. I tend to do many hours at a time on the bike or skates. But one day recently it was in the 90s and I was sweating like crazy. The next day the buttons were not working and I noticed that there was quite a bit of salt caked up around the speakers. Don't have to be Sherlock to know what happened. So I simply took the S9s back to Best Buy and traded them in on a new set. But this time I started using the large, soft earcups. Sounded even better! But now it might be more dangerous to bike or skate since the fat earcups tend to block out more ambient sound.
I love them, but they aren't as sweat resistant as they are claimed to be.13 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not such a good fit...
by guyfromseattle on July 10, 2007
Pros: Audio quality, range, style, controls
Cons: Astonishingly uncomfortable
Summary: I bought my S9's without doing my homework -- my bad. But I got lucky -- I have to say that the S9 is one of the neatest toys ...
Summary: I bought my S9's without doing my homework -- my bad. But I got lucky -- I have to say that the S9 is one of the neatest toys I've played with in recent memory.
The ear mounted controls make listening to and controlling music, as well and making and receiving calls a breeze ? plus you get to feel a little like Lieutenant O?Hura. For best hands-free calling performance you?ll want to use the S9?s with a phone that has good speech recognition.
In addition to the great controls, the audio quality of the S9 is very good as well. Clear highs, nice midrange, and warm bass -- all well balanced at both high and low volumes.
Be forewarned, however, that while the headphones are capable of great audio your device may not be. For instance, my Vista Tablet PC rocked with the S9, while audio from my phone was "fuzzy." Listening to the same music on my phone with wired headphones produced beautiful audio. Clearly some phones could use better A2DP profile support (I?m talking to you HTC.)
The styling of the S9 is nice as well. And they are light-weight. But the real issue isn?t always weight. In the case of the S9, a product that I would otherwise rate as a 10, there is a major problem that makes it loose 5 points: the S9 is the most uncomfortable device I have ever worn over my ears. The CNET review hints at, but largely sidesteps, this very serious issue.
Because of the hard plastic used in the construction of the arms, the S9 squeezes against your head just above the ears. After just 30 minutes it this can become extremely uncomfortable. And don?t even think about wearing sunglasses or a hat with the S9 as both compound the problem significantly. A lesser issue is discomfort in the ear opening where the drivers rest, although this could probably compensated for with a different size earpiece, of which several are included with the S9.
To summarize, the S9 is excellent technology that works well, but it?s industrial design is severely flawed if Motorola intended to target consumers that would wear the S9?s for hours at a time. I suppose I could just have a big head, but I wear a medium in a baseball cap. Go figure.10 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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with good phone, you will be blown away
by pablito2525 on May 12, 2007
Pros: lightweight, sound quality
Cons: controls take time to get used to
Summary: I have them with my Nokia 5300 and I'm absolutely amazed by the ease of use, sound quality and weight (what weight?). You will easily forget that you wear ...
Summary: I have them with my Nokia 5300 and I'm absolutely amazed by the ease of use, sound quality and weight (what weight?). You will easily forget that you wear them, listening to the music. Incomming call ?, music pauses, changes to a ringtone, you tap just above your left speaker and start to talk. Everybody I talked to thru them, could not believe the sound quality, and you even cannot find the microphone on the damn thing! I played soccer with them today with no problem at all. Good job Motorola. I see in many reviews people strugling. Advice? Get the phone with Bluetooth 2.0.
7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Here's a more accurate review
by MarkToronto on February 15, 2008
Pros: Cool looking, Low front facing profile, touch controls are really intuitive
Cons: Music cuts out outdoors, Bulky in the back
Summary: I am a gadget freak, so these were at the top of my list as soon as they came out.
Before I start I will state how I am using ...Summary: I am a gadget freak, so these were at the top of my list as soon as they came out.
Before I start I will state how I am using them: I have paired mine with my Motorola Razr V3, and my iPod Touch (which has the Motorola iPod Bluetooth Connector attached to it)
While I agree with some of the article. I disagree with how glowing a review the article seems to give. (Makes me think somebody got a free pair of headphones out of it).
Don't get my wrong, these headphones are cool. They are sleek looking.
Before I praise them, let me bash them for their major flaws:
1) The bulk in the back: since these are a behind-the-head model, you get a nice low profile if somebody is looking at you from the face or side. But lurking right behind your head is the battery, and presumably the electronics that run the thing. To give you an example of how big the back part is: The length of the bulk is roughly 3" around the back of your head, which doesn't really matter. It's behind your head. The height of the bulky bit is almost 1 inch. So it's bandaid shaped. The problem is, it is also 1/2 and inch thick, and sticks out another 1/2 inch from the back of your neck.
So what? What this means is that if you are a traveller - these headphones ARE NOT FOR YOU. You cannot rest your head against a plane, train, bus, or car-with-headrest seat without it being uncomfortable and pushing the headphones off your head.
This is the one major flaw with this design. OK ... so now you may be thinking - I just want them for working out, and walking around the house.
No problem, as long as you don't run into the second (documented by Motorola) flaw with these headphones.
They DO NOT WORK OUTDOORS. If you are walking, these headphones cut out constantly. Motorola knows this, and even documents the fact that if you are outdoors they "may" cut out on you - well they will...constantly. Especially if you live in a city I suspect. I noticed my blackberry when it goes off cuts out the music as well.
Motorola recommends you keep the unit in a top shirt pocket while outdoors. While this does minimize the cut outs, it does not eliminate them.
So. No jogging, biking, etc. with these puppies on your head, or you will be listening to 45% silence 55% music the whole way.
If you are sitting at your desk with the ipod or whatever sitting stable, then you're fine. No cut outs at all. And walking around a room is ok if you don't go too far away from the transmission source.
You must keep these in mind if you want to use these headphones and be 100% happy with them.
Me? I'm about 80% happy, but ranked them a 6 out of 10 for grossly missing their mark.
GREAT idea, sucky implementation.
And having said all that, I still love them. It's nice to just reach up and tap the side of them to get to the next song or adjust the volume. I can even sometimes do it through my gloves in the winter.
Sound quality is good. The phone microphone isn't very good though. People will have a hard time hearing you if there is ANY kind of background noise. It's not terrible though...kind of like being on a junky speaker phone.
If you have an iPod Touch, you will notice that the iPod connector doesn't really go with the actual iPod. It's white, it's a weird shape: 1.5" x 1" but just as thick as the Touch. This means it kind of hangs to one side. There is nothing holding the connector TO the iPod other than the actual interface port. Which means I am worried it may end up getting lose, or worse, I'm worried about snapping it off of the iPod. There is no way you can put this in a jeans pocket with the connector on it without being fearful of it snapping in two.
So Motorola has a good idea...and they are almost comfortable, and they almost work. But are they worth it?
For the cool factor? Yes. Everyone in the office was saying: "Oh my god are those bluetooth/wireless?" And seemed genuinely impressed with how they looked.
For the comfort and functionality... Motorola should be slapped in the face.Updated
In addition to my other post where I give a more accurate review of the design flaws, I just wanted to add this. It's in response to some of the morons that expected these headphones to support "stereo" phone calls.
These are stereo headphones. They work on the A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile).
THE DEVICE YOU PAIR WITH must support this to get stereo music. HOWEVER - Your phone calls will still be mono. um. Duh???
That's not the headphone's problem. That's the phone. It isn't transmitting the phone call using A2DP protocols.
I don't know of ANY phone that does transmit "stereo" phone calls. Besides I don't want to hear somebody inside my head. That's just creapy. :o)
So read the damn specifications before whining about your phone calls being mono.
Read my other review to find out the real flaws with these headphones.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great inside but not out doors
by slak423 on July 17, 2007
Pros: Lightweight with decent sound. Easy set-up
Cons: Control buttons are small and hard to use
Summary: I paired theses headphones with the Razar V3xx. At first I was amazed with the clarity when using them in the car or indoors. The problem came when using them ...
Summary: I paired theses headphones with the Razar V3xx. At first I was amazed with the clarity when using them in the car or indoors. The problem came when using them outdoors. The sound was choppy and listening to MP3s was next to impossible. The instructions said to move the phone closer to the headset but even holding the phone at the back of my head didn't help.
7 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Constant Interruptions-Can't Use While Moving
by parkaboy79 on May 12, 2008
Pros: Very good sound quality
Cons: interruptions every time you move--you cannot use these headphones while walking (at any speed, indoors or out) or jogging
Summary: You'll only be able to use these "active" headphones while sitting still or maybe on the treadmill. If the device moves at all, these headphones will lose the signal, ...
Summary: You'll only be able to use these "active" headphones while sitting still or maybe on the treadmill. If the device moves at all, these headphones will lose the signal, causing an interruption that lasts from one to ten seconds, making it impossible to listen while walking. I tried putting the device in my backpocket and doing other things to better align the S9's Bluetooth receiver and the unit, without success. I had these headphones around my neck once when I entered a doctor's office, and a complete stranger stopped me to ask whether I was having the interruption problem with them and whether I'd found a solution. Read other user reviews of this product on other sites and you will find the exact same issue.
Also, the unit does not fold or twist, making it impossible to use while lying down or leaning your head back against a chair back or headrest. Battery life is OK but not great.
It really seems as though CNET's "excellent" reviewers did not use the headset in authentic situations before reviewing it.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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eBay buyer beware I own both OEM and fake
by cdesignspr on January 19, 2008
Pros: Good sound,
Cons: Pinch a little if set it wrong
Summary: First of all I whant to say the OEM S9 is very good I have a OEM and a fake one wich both are exactly the same for except of ...
Summary: First of all I whant to say the OEM S9 is very good I have a OEM and a fake one wich both are exactly the same for except of the control buttons wich on the fake one you have to press hard. the boxes are the same they open the same way, the fake one didn't came with the pouch. I'm telling this because they're the same on the outside so far, sound is also the same and battery life the same, but when connecting to my HELIO OCEAN phone the fake one lost connection quickly the OEM motorola holds conecction at longer distance. you will be surprise on how identical the OEM and fake one are. So before you review this S9 make sure yours came with a hologram label wrap on one of the headphone sides itself. Just in case I don't work for motorola or anything like that, I buy a lot of things reading the reviews of other people and there a lot of S9's out there fakes on ebay and on big online retailers, even motorola doesn't have the updated images of the counterfeit S9's. if you buy the OEM you will love it. If yours didn't came with the pouch and buttons aare hard to press, also if is missing the hologram sticker, you have the fake one. They work good but they're fake
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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way to go moto
by Shags007 on April 29, 2007
Pros: lightweight ; excellent sound quality; easy to use
Cons: earbuds hurt a bit
Summary: Just got these headphones. Very easy to pair and the sound is very good. I'm very pleased with this headset and works well for listening to music and is ...
Summary: Just got these headphones. Very easy to pair and the sound is very good. I'm very pleased with this headset and works well for listening to music and is decent when making calls. The calls were loud and clear on both ends. Now I just have to fiddle with the earbuds to make a nice fit. Overall I'm very happy with this purchase. I paired it with a Samsung phone.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Has abysmal durability for a sports product. Mine broke
by dephyance on December 7, 2008
Pros: Good stereo sound and blue tooth wireless connectivity. But these things are to be expected and that's why I bought it.
Cons: The fit is limited in that it will not fit a broad range of head sizes. Additionally, the volume button broke after 3-4 uses. I returned the product and bought another. It suffered the same defect. The balance is poor for runners.
Summary: The S-9 is a poor quality headset. Although, the sound was good - the good sound alone is not enough to overcome the poor fit and the abysmal reliability of ...
Summary: The S-9 is a poor quality headset. Although, the sound was good - the good sound alone is not enough to overcome the poor fit and the abysmal reliability of the buttons. I originally purchased the S-9 as a headset for running to use with the music feature on my mobile phone. I found that the headset bounced too much on my head and that the earbuds never would sit well in my ears. The Motorola S-9 does not have any adjustment capability and thus I could not re-size it too fit. While the weight of the S-9 is light most of the weight is concentrated in the portion of the headband that rests behind the head, low on the neck; it was this part that bounces while running. The durability was also very poor because mine broke after 3 or 4 uses. The volume button was the first part to break. The most frustrating part was that it was the volume increase button that broke - but the volume decrease button did not... hence I turned it down and could not turn it back up - bottom line DO NOT BUY
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Motorola
- Part number: 98801N
- Description: Stylish, comfortable and engineered with cutting-edge Bluetooth wireless technology¹, the Motorola S9 helps provide wireless access to music and voice calls - while on the go. Compatible with Bluetooth-enabled stereo music phones and with iPod players equipped with the TEN Technology naviPlay Bluetooth Stereo Adapter for iPod (sold separately)¹, the Motorola S9 is perfect for delivering favorite tunes and connecting you to calls wirelessly with lightweight design.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth
- Width 5 in
- Depth 5.1 in
- Height 1.9 in
- Weight 1.1 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone, Portable audio system
- Additional Features Mute button, Volume control, Sweat resistant, Water resistant, Track select buttons
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Behind-the-neck
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth
- Bluetooth Profiles Headset Profile (HSP), Hands Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Diaphragm 0.5 in
Microphone
- Type Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Bluetooth
Power
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion
- Capacity 180 mAh
- Run Time (Up To) 6 hour(s)
Product series
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Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones (red)
Manufacturer: Motorola
Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Behind-the-neck, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mute button, Volume control, Sweat resistant, Water resistant, Track select buttons
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Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones (black)
Manufacturer: Motorola
Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Behind-the-neck, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mute button, Volume control, Sweat resistant, Water resistant, Track select buttons
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Motorola S9 Headphones w/ D650 Bluetooth Adapter for iPod
Manufacturer: Motorola
Specs: Microphone Built-in, Headset, Behind-the-neck, Stereo, Mute button, Volume control, Sweat resistant, Water resistant, Track select buttons
Manufacturer info
- Motorola
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Motorola products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer
- Address:
600 N. Highway 45, Suite AS342, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847/576-5000
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