Need loud, lots of volume headroom BT headset?

[Guest dwallersv]

I've got your solution!

The Motorola Rokr S9 HD BT headset:

I was turned on to this headset in another thread. I already have a Plantronics Voyager 855, Jabra BT3030. I like both quite a bit, but they suffer from a ubiquitous problem I've had with all A2DP headsets that I've tried -- none have been powerful enough in terms of amplification for me. That's now solved.

By way of explanation, I suffer from some quite mild hearing loss in my left ear, and about 50% loss in my right ear, due to a condition call otosclerosis. I don't use hearing aids and function quite normally, with the one exception that stereo balance perception when using headphones -- any headphones -- is a real annoyance.

I was delighted to find out that Pocket Player has balance controls. So, I've been able to be "balanced" when listening to music for quite some time. However, this required attenuating the left channel to such a degree that at full volume, the BT headsets I have could not muster enough amplification to produce a satisfying experience.

After reading about the moto S9HD last week, I decided to get a set. You can get it for about $50 here, which is a very good deal.

I have to say that I am completely blown away by this headset! Here's my minireview:

• Large driver elements, producing fabulous bass and frequency response; spectral headroom is the best I've heard in a BT headset
  
• very lightweight, and unobtrusive, out of the way back of neck wearing design. This took a little getting used to, but I'm fully acclimated to it now
  
• Built-in, switchable SRS WOW HD enhancement; significant improvement in overall spatial perception, bass response, "richness", etc. Thought it would be overkill used together with the SRS WOWHD driver add-on (search the forum), but it turns out that together they're even better, after adjusting the settings right.
  
• Long battery life. I've gotten about 10-12 hours of listening out of my first charge
  
• Last but not least, very powerful amp!!! This headset is a dream for someone like me. With balance adjusted to deal with my bad right ear, there is still a lot of headroom on the upper end. So much so that at full volume, with no distortion, I can't listen -- it's painful. The loadest I'm comfortable with (and interested in) is about 3-4 volume "knotches" below full volume -- and remember, this is with the left channel already dialed down.
  

It includes, of course, full support for the A2DP and AVRCP profiles, as well as the Handsfree profile. There's a mic near the right (I think) earpiece, a "phone" button, and all the usual handsfree profile functionality to answer or make calls. Incuding activating voicedialing.

This is clearly intended as a music headset, so I wouldn't recommed it as a general purpose, handsfree profile device for telephony while driving, etc. Not that it's inferior in some way functionally for that -- it's just bulky, plugs both ears, and if your not actually listening to music, is overkill for that application.

However, for listening to music, watching videos, etc., it's the best -- and the LOUDEST -- I've ever seen. And the sound quality is fantastic.

Hihjly recommended by this demanding, special-audio-needs user. If you like your music thumpin', and like to crank it up now and then for something really rockin', this is the headset for you! Finally, it comes in black or white -- I got white... goes better with my blond head :D