Bluetooth Stereo Headsets

Stereo Bluetooth headsets for calls and music

Bluetooth headsets that support Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) allow for music in stereo to be streamed over a Bluetooth connection. This is great for smartphones and cell phones that are A2DP-compatible. Newer headsets and smartphones, such as the iPhone 4, have Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), which enables you to use the controls on the headset to play and pause tracks on your smartphone. It's difficult to find a stereo Bluetooth headsets that excels at both voice and music; most are best for taking quick calls while listening to music and aren't ideal for extended conversations.

The Samsung Modus HM3500 (*Est. $30) is convertible between mono and stereo modes, and streams music and podcasts in both modes. The headset comes with two sets of earbuds, one for mono listening and the other for the stereo experience. The Modus HM3500 unit is 1.9 inches by 0.4 inches and weighs 0.4 ounces, with a glossy black plastic case which you hang around your neck like a pendant when you're in stereo-listening mode.

This headset is one of PCMag.com's top 10 choices of Bluetooth headsets, and editors say it's "the best balance of price and performance." Reviewers like the warm sound quality during calls, though they say that the noise suppression is not as good as that of the Jawbone Icon. While music in stereo is sometimes muffled and indistinct, the quality is good enough for casual or background listening. Nicole Lee of CNET awards the Modus HM3500 a "very good" rating of 3.5 stars out of a possible 5. She identifies two drawbacks: the earpiece is uncomfortable and can feel awkward, and you can't control music from the headset. She recommends that users wear the mono earbuds to answer calls and switch to the stereo ones for listening to A2DP-streamed music.

The Motorola MotoRokr S9-HD (*Est. $35) is one of PCMag's top 10 Bluetooth headset picks, with an impressive rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, and is their top stereo Bluetooth headset. The headset is lightweight and comfortable to wear, though it may be awkward for someone with long hair. Nicole Lee of CNET says that the S9-HD has great overall sound quality, with "spectacular" music quality and a surprisingly good, though not great, call quality. The editors at MobileTechReview.com award it 4 out of 5 stars, and say that this model has very good audio quality with all the phones that they tested. A plus point identified by all the reviewers is the inclusion of an iPod adapter with this headset.

The MotoRokr S9-HD comes with two SRS-WOW HD settings, one for a fuller sound with more clarity and the other setting with balanced audio and an enhanced bass level. The reviewers at PCMag state that this headset is best for music with a soft treble and not a heavy bass sound. The control buttons are on the headset and are easy to find and operate, although the CNET review identifies that the power button feels stiff and the charger jack cover isn't secured properly. As the microphone is not positioned near the user's mouth, callers could tell that a headset was being used. User reviews of the MotoRokr S9 HD on CNET are mixed. Most users comment on the good sound quality and lightweight design of the headset. However, a common critique is that the headset doesn't stand up to exercise and running or workouts in the gym, when the buttons come into contact with sweat. Nicole Lee echoes this in her review at CNET, stating that the headset can feel unwieldy when the wearer is moving around.

The older Jabra BT3030 (*Est. $40) , a previous Best Reviewed pick, is still available online. The Jabra BT3030 is made up of a dog tag-shaped Bluetooth transmitter that you wear around your neck and bundled earbuds. The dog tag features a built-in mic for phone calls and the headset responds to voice commands. As is common with Bluetooth stereo headsets, reviews are mixed when it comes to call quality, especially incoming call quality. CNET's Nicole Lee says simply that the BT3030's call quality could be improved overall. Users at Amazon.com report good call quality for the most part. Still, several reviewers note that you'll need to position the dog tag's microphone close to your mouth.

Critics consistently praise the Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth headset for its music quality, which Lee says is as good as some MP3 players. It has a 3.5 mm headphone jack so you can use your own headphones or earbuds, or you can use the included earbuds, which reviewers praise for sound quality and noise blocking.