Motorola S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headset Offers Right Features at Right Price

When it comes to Bluetooth stereo headsets (the kind you use for wireless music, not just phone conversations) it's tough to find a good balance between price and quality. Almost all the headsets I looked at in my research were either too expensive for what they offer (the convenience of wireless music) or generally very poorly reviewed. Selling for about $35 on Amazon, I think the s305 Bluetooth Stereo Headset set by Motorola has hit the sweet spot between workmanship and cost.

In terms of features and controls, you get the standard Play/Pause button, Back/Forward buttons, Power button, and a handy call switch. Something I really like about this headset is that it has a built-in microphone, so it works great for regular phone calls as well as music listening. I was disappointed that the headset can only be charged via a wall charger (as opposed to a standard USB cable) but I did find the s305 good for the advertised 6 hour battery life.

I liked how the Motorola s305 Stereo Bluetooth headset felt for short listening stints of about an hour or less, but after a while they do begin to hurt right where they rest on my ears. The one-size-fits-all fit seems to work well, as I run regularly with this headset and the fit is still snuggly--the s305 headset has never fallen off during a workout.

Although not the most stylish headphones around, the s305 headset compares favorably to other Bluetooth headsets in the same price range. The rather standard behind-the-ear design isn't exactly striking, but it's certainly not ugly. The simple controls on the right earphone blend into the headset nicely, adding practically no bulk at all. The simple color scheme is a rather standard black with gray and silver accents, keeping the appearance low key. This headset is neither fashion statement nor faux-pas, and that's a good thing in my book.

Sound quality on the Motorola s305 Stereo Bluetooth headset is surprisingly good. You won't be chucking your Sure or Bose headphones anytime soon, but for the price the high and middle ranges are very clear and the bass has a decent punch. The problem with this and many other Bluetooth headsets is that the Bluetooth radio is fairly susceptible to interruption due to wi-fi signals and other radio waves in the area. This means that the sound might drop out occasionally if you have wi-fi enabled on your device, or if you're listening to music near a microwave. I keep the wi-fi turned off on my smart phone when using this headset, and the sound interruptions occur only once or twice an hour...acceptable, but not ideal.

Overall, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a better stereo Bluetooth headset for $35. The design is perfectly adequate, the sound quality is good, and having a built in microphone is nice. Having wireless convenience for working out and other activities is fantastic. Nevertheless, the occasional interruptions in the sound stream are annoying enough to me that I pretty much just use this headset for exercise. For serious music listening, I still break out my nice wired headphones.