Nearly every smartphone and tablet currently sold in the United States has a 3.5mm audio jack for outputting stereo sound via wired headphones, earbuds and speakers – we all know that. What goes unnoticed by a surprisingly large number of users, however, is that many of these devices also support wireless stereo audio, courtesy of a Bluetooth profile called A2DP. But in order to enjoy this feature, you’ll need a pair of compatible Bluetooth headphones or earbuds to pull the whole thing off.
And there are plenty to choose from – but perhaps the most widely-used Stereo Bluetooth headphones are the Motorola MotoROKR S9. These have been around for years and are generally well received – though like all of its competitors, has some quirks.
But there’s another model in the family: the MotoROKR S9-HD, an updated variant of the original, featuring better sound, easier controls, improved earpieces, and SRS Labs WOW HD.
The MotoROKR S9-HD is also a Bluetooth headset, meaning you can use the headphones for voice calls. This feature, while included, probably won’t satisfy most for frequent use, but that’s okay. The S9-HD is really for enjoying audio.
You’ll find A2DP Stereo Bluetooth support on many devices running Android (v2.1 and above), iOS 3 and 4, Windows Mobile 5+ and Windows Phone 7. Check your product literature for details.
MSRP: $119