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the best A2DP bluetooth stereo headsets for Iphone

What is the brand and model?
- Sony DRC-BT15

Do the skip forward/back buttons work with the iPhone?
- It does support AVRCP but not in iPhone OS3.0

What about the play/pause button?
-It does have play/pause button but iPhone OS 3.0 has bugs and may not work until you reset the iPhone 3GS

What about the volume controls?
- Of course! It is part of A2DP standard

Rate the sound quality on a scale of 1-10
- It varies as this model allows you to use any type of 3.5mm headsets. There are occation hickups especially when you just started the music. It's apple's fault though. I would rate 9 given that you use a good quality headphone.

Rate the bass on a scale of 1-10
- again that depends on your headphone. If you have a good quality headphone the bass is good and pretty strong.

Does it have a microphone? If so, how's the sound quality for the other person?
- this question is kind of stupid in 2009. A2DP devices nowadays all have mic. I tell u the voice quality is good but no noise cancellation.

Is there anything particularly annoying about it? (Bad battery life, bad range, difficult to pair, ugly, uses a dongle, cheap feeling, etc.)
It uses a dongle but this is the trade off to have your own custom headphones. Battery life is more than 6 hrs of continuous music and phone call. Depend on the headphone, Occationally you might hear EM noise from your cell phone when accessing the cell network.
The range depends on both your receiver and iPhone. iPhone does have 2.1+EDR so it is one of the best Bluetooth range cell phone I've used so far even compare to HTC, Nokia, and sonyericsson phones. Fortunately the DRC-BT15 is 2.0+EDR. I can use it like a cordless phone in my home across another room with walls for more than 24 feet and still have almost no choppiness. I can even walk to another floor and still able to listen to music.

How much does it generally cost?
MSRP now is $99 but you can get it a lot cheaper now. Maybe $80

If possible, please provide a link to a good place to buy them.
Sony style, Fry's electronics, Amazon,eBay.
 
What is the brand and model?
Altec Lansing Backbeat 903
Do the skip forward/back buttons work with the iPhone?
Yes
What about the play/pause button?
Yes
What about the volume controls?
Yes
Rate the sound quality on a scale of 1-10
9+
Rate the bass on a scale of 1-10
9+
Does it have a microphone? If so, how's the sound quality for the other person?
Yes so far no complaints
Is there anything particularly annoying about it? (Bad battery life, bad range, difficult to pair, ugly, uses a dongle, cheap feeling, etc.)
Kinda pushes ears out in a dumbo fashion (maybe I am too vain)
How much does it generally cost?
Igot mine from shopcell.com under $70

I have tried iMuffs hated em
Sony is800 i think fell out of my ears constantly unless I was laying still useless in gym
I wear Altec in gym everyday,they sound incredible, never fell out of my ears, brought pair for wife and she is a pain in butt with electronics she loves em, 3 guys in gym brought em after I showed them mine
EXCELLENT product I gonna buy a backup pair just to have them you will not be disappointed


http://store.apple.com/us/product/TW661LL/A

http://www.shopcell.com/searchresults.asp?keyword=T335235
 
S9 skip problem

iphone 3g ver 3.0

have a pair of motorola S9's that sound great. i can walk around and even go to the gym no problem, but...

when i ride a bike with the phone in my pocket wearing the S9,s it starts to skip (pauses) every 10-30 seconds without fail, and it wont stop until I'm stopped----has anyone else came across this problem-

-and is there a fix for this---

thanks
 
steveohb said:
iphone 3g ver 3.0

have a pair of motorola S9's that sound great. i can walk around and even go to the gym no problem, but...

when i ride a bike with the phone in my pocket wearing the S9,s it starts to skip (pauses) every 10-30 seconds without fail, and it wont stop until I'm stopped----has anyone else came across this problem-

-and is there a fix for this---

thanks
Click to expand...

Turn off the shake to shuffle feature?
 
steveohb said:
iphone 3g ver 3.0

have a pair of motorola S9's that sound great. i can walk around and even go to the gym no problem, but...

when i ride a bike with the phone in my pocket wearing the S9,s it starts to skip (pauses) every 10-30 seconds without fail, and it wont stop until I'm stopped----has anyone else came across this problem-

-and is there a fix for this---

thanks
Click to expand...

this is exactly why I returned the s9 HDs. I even tried to reposition the phone to somewhere on my bike instead of my pocket to no avail.
 
Why can't I play music through a "regular" bluetooth headset (Plantronics Discovery 925 - which is probably the most comfortable headset I have ever tried)? It's not a stereo headset but why doesn't it work?

The strange part is the VOICE MEMO app works fine through the regular BT headset but none of the iPod app music or podcasts play through a regular headset. All music & sounds worked fine on my Blackberry Bold with the same headet.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by steveohb View Post
iphone 3g ver 3.0

have a pair of motorola S9's that sound great. i can walk around and even go to the gym no problem, but...

when i ride a bike with the phone in my pocket wearing the S9,s it starts to skip (pauses) every 10-30 seconds without fail, and it wont stop until I'm stopped----has anyone else came across this problem-

-and is there a fix for this---

thanks
Turn off the shake to shuffle feature?
__________________
- Kirk
Click to expand...

that did'nt work --I'm telling you it works perfect just walking around, but as soon as I'm on the bike it will continually skip (pause)--

any suggestions??
 
Come on, guys. Stop going OT and hijacking.
Start new threads, or search for existing ones with similar topics.

This thread is about the BT headsets you've tried and your reviews, not a troubleshooting/help thread.
 
What about the Jaybirds? Some indicate this is the best A2DP headset, especially if you're going to use it for exercise. Anyone have this headset and can comment?
 
Expect one from Apple ...

slapppy said:
None will work with skip tracks control. Apple support page states that the BT profile they use for the iPhone 3.0 doesn't support it. So no matter what device we buy it will never work with forward/back track skip control. It's up to Apple to provide the function.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing this out. Skip doesn't work with my Jabra BT8010 either.
I bet Apple will release a headset that will work with it, and it will be $$$.
 
Motorola HT820

The Motorola HT820 is great, if you don't mind looking like Princess Leia. :eek:

1. Motorola HT820.
2. It has the capability of FF, Rew, Skip and Back, but not until Apple fully implements AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile) on the iPhone. This limitation is the same for all BT headsets that have those controls and is in the hands of Apple development.
3. Yes. Play/Pause works.
4. On headset volume control, with more than adequate volume to hear both stereo music and phone calls (in pseudo-stereo) over high ambient noise.
5. Sound Quality = 7 (good attached ear-pads help make the sound better).
6. Bass = 5 (It's much better bass than the Motorola S9, due to the larger speakers).
7. The mic is in the right headphone, facing down and forward. I find that unless I have a lot of ambient noise, I never have to talk above a normal level. (Note that on the S9, the mic is so close to one of the speakers that it turns off that speaker on phone calls, so you only get phone call audio in only one speaker. The HT820 provides all sound in both speakers all the time.) Note that if the noise level around me is high, cupping my right hand over my right cheek and headphone is usually more than enough to make it easy for the other party to hear me.
8. The only irritating thing about the HT820 is that you look like Princess Leia, when wearing them. The battery life is awesome. They pair easily. To make sure that they are paired, I always press Play, immediately after pairing them, even if I don't plan to listen to music right away. Only once have I had to re-pair immediately after turning them on. Once in a while, after lots of use and going between music and phone calls, the music will start to skip. A 10 second power off and on of the HT820 resolves that. The Apple Genius told me that it is an Apple issue, so I suspect that issue to go away with a future iPhone software release. The range is better than average. No dongle required. The HT820 feels more sturdy than most others that I have felt. You can toss them on the dining table, without worrying that they will break. You will probably want to turn off the annoying blue light on day one, but that's easy.
9. $42-$50 is common. This is an older unit than the S9, but people keep buying this one, because of the above listed limits on the S9. Since it is older the price is significantly lower than the S9.
10. Just Google "Motorola HT820". They are all over the place.

There is another very neat feature about the HT820. It has a sub-mini headphone jack on the back of the right headphone. That means that you can use it as a wired headphone (no mic), with the headphone power turned off. So, when you get on a plane and they tell you to turn off your Bluetooth devices, you can set you iPhone to Airplane Safe mode, turn off your HT820, plug in the included mini headphone to sub-mini headphone cable between your iPhone and HT820 and continue listening to music. Since it becomes just another wired headphone, you can also use the cable to listen to movies on the plane or on your Mac. If you fly a lot, then this is invaluable.

I am on my second HT820 headset. That should tell you how happy I am with them. I used my first set with my old cell phone and my old iPod, using the iMuffs dongle on the iPod, for 2 years. All of the HT820 controls worked with that setup. Therefore, I am sure that when Apple finally implements AVRCP, all of the controls will again become available. The reason for buying the second set is that the first set sat unused for a year, after I bought my iPhone and the battery will no longer hold a charge (it was not lasting as long as new, before that - 8 hrs of music vs 12 when new). A new unit was so cheap that I didn't even think about replacing the batteries. Besides, after two years of daily wear, the ear pads were beginning to show some wear, as well.

I rate them an 8. They lose a point for not having better bass and a point for making me look like Princess Leia. :D
 
davidwsica said:
What about the Jaybirds? Some indicate this is the best A2DP headset, especially if you're going to use it for exercise. Anyone have this headset and can comment?
Click to expand...

I have them. They fit great and are very comfortable, but the only thing that works is volume. Play/pause doesn't work. The buttons are hard to press and in an awkward location. The sound is about a 7 .. I get some noise while listening to music. To be honest, I really haven't used them enough to give a decent review. I always end up going back to wired headphones + remote.
 
1. What is the brand and model? Motoroka S9-HD
2. Do the skip forward/back buttons work with the iPhone? Not yet will do with 3.1 update, i've heard....
3. What about the play/pause button? Yes
4. What about the volume controls? Yes
5. Rate the sound quality on a scale of 1-10, 8 using SRS WOW for High Definition Surround Sound.
6. Rate the bass on a scale of 1-10, 8 using SRS WOW for High Definition Surround Sound.
7. Does it have a microphone? If so, how's the sound quality for the other person?according to my GF its better than my bluetooth speaker in my merc and better than the iPhone wired headphones, i can't comment as i am the one using it!
8. Is there anything particularly annoying about it? (Bad battery life, bad range, difficult to pair, ugly, uses a dongle, cheap feeling, etc.)occaisionally judders when first listening to them, then is fine but loses connection when in front pocket when running, however works fine when using a sports armband and in back pocket, volume could be louder.
9. How much does it generally cost? $60 on eBay
10. If possible, please provide a link to a good place to buy them. look on ebay

First bluetooth headphones i've used and am very impressed with them, have used them with a pc whilst on my turbo trainer and worked fine, thinking that maybe they judder to begin with on the iPhone as the bluetooth isnt that great. hoping for improvements in 3.1, ie ability to do voice control and skip to next track etc.... would recommend but have nothing to compare against!
 
Great thread!

I am looking for bluetooth headphones that I can go through a pretty strenuous workout in (lifting, running, sweating in the Texas heat, etc.). I prefer over the ear headphones like these http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-G57G-Sports-Headphones-Reflective/dp/B000066CCU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1248689354&sr=8-9 Only I want them in bluetooth :cool:

Here's the catch. I want to use them with my iPod Classic 120GB, not my iPhone :p So obviously a microphone is not important

I know Sony makes a bluetooth adapter for the iPod Classic. Could I buy any bluetooth headset and the Sony adapter and make it work?

I know this thread is oriented towards the iPhone so sorry if this is considered off topic :eek: Thanks for any suggestions!
 
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Boxer757 said:
Great thread!

I am looking for bluetooth headphones that I can go through a pretty strenuous workout in (lifting, running, sweating in the Texas heat, etc.). I prefer over the ear headphones like these http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-G57G-Sports-Headphones-Reflective/dp/B000066CCU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1248689354&sr=8-9 Only I want them in bluetooth :cool:

Here's the catch. I want to use them with my iPod Classic 120GB, not my iPhone :p So obviously a microphone is not important
.......!
Click to expand...

not sure about those Sony's but the motorola s9-hd comes with a ipod adaptor. http://original-cell.amazonwebstore...src=GB&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=GB&id=uk
 
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What is the brand and model? Nokia BH-504 Bluetooth Stereo Headset Headphones.
Do the skip forward/back buttons work with the iPhone? Not yet, although they do have dedicated skip forward/back buttons.
What about the play/pause button? Play/Pause button works well.
What about the volume controls? Volume controls work well.
Rate the sound quality on a scale of 1-10: I rate them an 8 (comparing to my bose around-ear headphones, which I would also rate an 8)
Rate the bass on a scale of 1-10: I rate them an 8 (comparing to my bose around-ear headphones, which I would also rate an 8)
Does it have a microphone? If so, how's the sound quality for the other person? It does have a microphone. The other person can notice I'm not actually using the handset.
Is there anything particularly annoying about it? (Bad battery life, bad range, difficult to pair, ugly, uses a dongle, cheap feeling, etc.) So far, everything is great. Although I don't like how you can't charge it with USB.
How much does it generally cost? I found it on amazon for 80 dollars.
If possible, please provide a link to a good place to buy them. http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-BH-504-...YF6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248692278&sr=8-1

I've attached a small photo of the product. They're actually pretty small and can fold up. You can answer calls with a dedicated button and it will dim the music when the call comes in and resume playing once you hang up. It comes with a carrying case (pouch).
 

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Boxer757 said:
Is the s9-hd the same size as the regular motorola s9? I've tried on the s9's (the red/black colored model) awhile back at the AT&T store and unfortunately they are a bit too small for my head. I wear just about a size 8 :eek: They were very uncomfortable for my oversized noggin...
Click to expand...

Sorry i wouldn't know as i have only ever had the HD's version, but would imagine that the are the same size, but i would be guessing. review here http://www.wmexperts.com/featured/review_motorola_motorokr_s9hd.html
 
Dongles

Boxer757 said:
I am looking for bluetooth headphones that I can go through a pretty strenuous workout in (lifting, running, sweating in the Texas heat, etc.).

Here's the catch. I want to use them with my iPod Classic 120GB, not my iPhone :p So obviously a microphone is not important

I know Sony makes a bluetooth adapter for the iPod Classic. Could I buy any bluetooth headset and the Sony adapter and make it work?
Click to expand...

I can't speak for the Sony dongle, as I have not had any experience with it. But, before I got my iPhone, I used the iMuffs MA110 dongle, from Wi-Gear, with my iPod, cell phone and Motorola HT820 Bluetooth headset and I can strongly recommend the MA110.

As others have said here, the Motorola S9 comes with an iPod/iPhone dongle. But, the S9 has several limitations. It does not have FF/REW capability (only SKIP/BACK). As others have pointed out, it is quite uncomfortable, unless you have a small head. I know that you won't be using whatever you get with an iPhone. But for those who do, the S9 phone-call audio comes only from one earphone (The HT820 gives you mono phone-call audio from both speakers). This, combined with the low volume issues that others have mentioned about the S9, can make phone calls in noisy environments, difficult to hear. But most of all, the S9 has very poor battery life - 6 hrs. By contrast, the HT820 has a 15 hour battery life. Others come in at 8 to 10 hrs. The 6 hr battery life is pathetic.

My suggestion is to choose your headset, without consideration of the dongle and then buy the iMuffs MA110 dongle, from Wi-Gear. The MA110 is a little pricey, but it accepts all controls from the headset (Play, Skip, FF, etc.), has a good range, syncs to just about any Bluetooth headset (turn on the headphones first - then plug in the dongle) and draws power from the host device, without too much effect on battery life of the host device.

You might consider buying the original S9 (non-HD) headset, just to get the dongle that comes with it, since the price of the S9 is close to the price of the MA110. But I don't know if the Motorola dongle works with any other brand of headset, so I would strongly advise that you check on that, if you decide to go that route.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the Wi-Gear headset, for which the MA110 was originally designed. Among other things, they feel just a little bit flimsy, when compared to either the HT820 or the S9 and the ear pads are not as efficient at keeping out the outside noise (though some people may like that - I don't - I don't use them when I drive). The only thing that I really like about the iMuffs headset is that, like both the S9 and HT820, they are behind-the-neck :), rather than over-the-head, so you don't get "headphone hair." :(

Also, I should add that despite what I have said above, about the S9, I do like the S9-HD headphones, in general. The sound quality of the S9-HD, including bass, is now on a par with the larger HT820 (the original S9 was not as good). I am a stickler for good audio and I rate both the S9-HD and HT820 among the best of all of the Bluetooth headphones that I have tried (which is not to say that either is great - just among the best of the Bluetooth offerings). The S9 is a little uncomfortable for me, but I think that I could get used to it. I could even live with the phone-call audio coming from only one headphone. I just can't deal with the lower volume level and very poor battery life of either of the S9 models.

If Motorola would pump the max volume level up just 2db and make the battery compartment large enough for a decent sized battery, the S9-HD would be my first choice, since the missing FF/REW control on both S9s, is offset by the HT820's added size and Princess Leia look. :)

Oh, yes. I almost forgot. When using a dongle, you might want to turn the volume on your iPod all the way down. I don't know if it is a problem on the newer iPods, but on my older one, I could extend my battery life by an additional (approx.) 30 minutes, when using the dongle, by turning the iPod volume all the way down. I suppose that with the volume turned up, the iPod was still drawing a minimal amount of juice to try and power the wired headset that was not present. The difference was slight, but 30 minutes is 30 minutes.
 
Randman said:
I have the Voyager 855s and they work well. Comfortable and it's nice to be able to use it just as a voice ear piece when you want. It also cost less than $40.

Note: BT pairing doesn't work great with Nike+ for jogging. Tends to skip but I think it's the Nike app that is causing the conflict.
Click to expand...

I think the Nike+ frequency is close to (but not quite) the Bluetooth frequency, which could be causing the skipping.

EDIT: Both are apparently 2.4GHz frequencies:
ANT (Nike+ protocol)
Bluetooth
 
Best Headset for Hearing Impaired & Earbud Challenged

Use my iPhone for business calls. My hearing is poor, particularly with ambient noise, even with volume set highest. To add to problem, earbuds don't seem to stay in. Ideally, I would like an in-ear BT headset with good sound quality and high volume setting. Given importance, price is not the issue. Any recommendations? Thank you.
 
bigidea said:
Use my iPhone for business calls. My hearing is poor, particularly with ambient noise, even with volume set highest. To add to problem, earbuds don't seem to stay in. Ideally, I would like an in-ear BT headset with good sound quality and high volume setting. Given importance, price is not the issue. Any recommendations? Thank you.
Click to expand...

I recommend the Plantronics 925, or 855
 
bigidea said:
Use my iPhone for business calls. My hearing is poor, particularly with ambient noise, even with volume set highest. To add to problem, earbuds don't seem to stay in. Ideally, I would like an in-ear BT headset with good sound quality and high volume setting. Given importance, price is not the issue. Any recommendations? Thank you.
Click to expand...

Jawbone is also a good option because it has 5 level of volume and the highest hurts my ear! It's LOUD!
 
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