Motorola sets ears on fire with S9-HD Bluetooth stereo headset

Motorola launched a slick headset today as a follow up to the original MOTOACTV S9 we saw this time last year. Form looks unchanged on this outing, but Moto has opted to add high-definition sound with SRS WOW HD and fixed the issue we had with background noise by improving the earbuds. Battery life is touted as 6 hours of play time on a single charge -- but of course your mileage will vary -- and weighs in at a measly one ounce. If you've been looking to upgrade your current sweat damaged S9 set, this may well be a worthy upgrade for you.

[paragraph @ Jan 7th 2008 1:35PM]

And the cost is?

Thats a pretty big factor in me going wireless. I've been rocking the same pair of ratty headphones for a good 7 years now. Why should i drop a fortune on something because it's wireless?

Oh, and i also don't have anything that supports stereo blutooth.

[Taylor @ Jan 7th 2008 1:37PM]

The regular S9 is $100 or so, and i must say, they're brilliant, but like i said, i want vista drivers... :(
-Taylor

[Anthony @ Jan 7th 2008 1:46PM]

I really like my S9's as well. I wear them about 1 - 1 1/2 hrs per day while out riding my bike (low volume, ultra low traffic).

Stop being a cheap-skate. Buy them if they look like they'll work.

[Taylor @ Jan 7th 2008 1:37PM]

Now if we could only get vista drivers for the original S9's...
-Taylor

[duckworth @ Jan 8th 2008 4:00PM]

It is bluetooth, what do the headphones have to do with your bluetooth drivers on Vista. Mine S9's work fine on my Vista laptop.

[Taylor @ Jan 8th 2008 4:10PM]

Because vista doesn't support A2DP out of the box... I think some PC manufacturers might be building in a different bluetooth stack so their machines don't suck, which is why some people report that it works. I built my pc and installed vista myself (legally purchased vista ultimate), and the headphones didn't work till i did the broadcom bluetooth stack replacement someone linked to in these comments.
-Taylor

[euclid @ Jan 7th 2008 1:42PM]

I had the regular S9s for a while... PAINFUL as hell after about 20 mins of use.... and doesn't seem like they have altered the materials or design one bit.

[Jonyah @ Jan 7th 2008 1:59PM]

I have the S9 and love them. I don't go to the gym without them, and the sweat hasn't effected them.

@Taylor, they do work with vista. I'm rocking them now. You just hvae to "fix" windows. Download the following update to fix windows crippled bluetooth stack:

http://www.broadcom.com/products/bluetooth_update.php
More info here: http://www.djkaty.com/drupal/vista/bluetootha2dp

Oh and these headphones only $75 at amazon. Definitely a great price for what you get.

@euclid, maybe you have a small head. When I wear the s9, they grip to the side of my head above the ear and after a few minutes I can't feel them at all. I was worried they'd be painful because they look like it, but I've been happily suprised how comfortable they are. I guess it's different with everyone though. I did try them before buying, so I knew what I was getting.

[euclid @ Jan 7th 2008 2:21PM]

Actually I have a big head and thats probably why it didn't fit.

either way they need to make it adjustable.

[YourBoss @ Jan 7th 2008 1:58PM]

A worthy upgrade if your head is the size of navel orange. Did Motorola even try the old ones on before they decided what to improve.

[Andre2you @ Jan 7th 2008 7:44PM]

I hope they fix the issues I've had with two S9's where the volume controls stop working.

[Taylor @ Jan 7th 2008 6:03PM]

I have a fat head and they fit me...
-Taylor

[trancer @ Jan 7th 2008 2:36PM]

I've been waiting for a s9 upgrade... i guess this is it?
Hope the Bass improved.

[Mark @ Jan 7th 2008 2:37PM]

Wow, I'm running Vista Ultimate 64 and my S9 works perfectly...

[Ed @ Jan 7th 2008 4:18PM]

I'm glad I didn't buy the pair of S9s I was looking at last night (but I'm probably buying a pair soon)

[Jeebus @ Jan 8th 2008 1:44PM]

Is the bluetooth transmission lossless, or how does this work?

[krs1 @ Jan 23rd 2008 1:36AM]

I just bought the original S9, and have had some issues with Vista, I went through 2 broadcom updates, the first from belkin's website since I'm using their dongle, and then from the source. I also then had to update Vista, as recommended by my error message. Now they seem to pair well, and control media player and itunes, but the audio is wicked choppy, and goes to nonexistent at times. Plus, pairing it with my cell around causes subsequent playback choppiness from my cell as well, unless I reset the connection. Overall, I am stoked about the head set, but I'm sick of the bugs.