Genius HS-905 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset

Everyone hates wires, especially headphones wires. The solution: Bluetooth technology has the ability to stream audio from your device at relatively low power consumption. Whether on the run or at home, having the ability to put your phone or MP3 device down and only carry this small device is a major plus.

Genius’ new HS-905BT wireless stereo headset capitalizes on Bluetooth technology to provide a untethered listening experience.  What you get is a Bluetooth module for pairing with mobile devices and any outputting device that connects into a 3.5mm jack – all for $50.86  at Amazon.com.

The great thing about this product is that the Genius Bluetooth module can turn many products into a Bluetooth Device.

In the package you receive the Bluetooth module that includes a clip for clothing, a mini-USB charging cable, extra ear bud replacements, a carrying pouch, cable length extender, and the headphones. Here are some specs:

-Bluetooth stereo headset for music and calls

-Compatible with all Bluetooth enabled mobile phones and handsets

-10 meters Bluetooth range

-Stereo mini jack is available for connecting to your own favorite headphone

-Music Playing Time: Up to six hours

-Standby time: Up to 165 hours20Hz~20 KHz

-Sensitivity:        105dB +/- 3dB

-Impedance:      16ohm

-Driver unit: 10mm

-3.5mm/USB

The Genius Bluetooth module paired with our Windows 7 laptop after some difficulty.  Although Windows had a hard time finding the device, our Evo 3D and iPhone 4 both paired quickly and easily to the Genius Bluetooth module.  The module transmitted up to ten meters which gives plenty of freedom to move around.  It’s especially useful for times when your device is in your pocket and when you are on the move. The best thing about the Genius Bluetooth module is its ability to interchange headphones; especially because the included ones aren’t completely user-friendly. This is unfortunate because they sound great.

The included pair of headphones have really good sound to compliment a nice blue design. Unfortunately, Genius picked a design with one really long headphone cord and one short one. Basically the earphone’s usage is limited by the uneven length of the cord which hinders the user experience.  Genius needs to make the short cable a couple of inches longer and it would be perfect. Genius did include a cable extender to somewhat remedy the short distance from the module to your ears. Here’s the difference in lengths:

Thankfully, iPhones and some Android devices come with their own headphones and we can still use the module.  If you don’t like the included pair, you can use different headphones.

The Bluetooth module is charged by using a mini-USB cable just like most Android phones. Charging is quick and we get around five and one-half hours of use from each charge.

The Bluetooth module includes typical controls and we love using it.  It makes streaming audio and answering calls a breeze. The user experience was both elegant and fun.  The headphones sound as good as or better than the OEM ear buds included with many devices. If you can get around the cable length awkwardness without the adapter then this is a perfect product.

We still recommend it because the Genius Bluetooth module alone is worth the price. Streaming had no hiccups and the quality is top notch.

The only complaint that we have regarding the module’s controls is the answer/end call button. It is a little too easy to click and sometimes when grabbing on to the device to use another control, the button can get pressed accidentally. This only happened when we were not paying attention when trying to reach its side controls.

This Genius product deserves the ABT Innovation Award for its Bluetooth module. The HS-905BT is cheaper than other competitve offerings and it works fantastic. In the next iteration, we hope that Genius goes a more traditional route with the headphones or sells the module by itself.

Consider the HS-905BT if you’re looking for a quick way to stream audio without being directly attached to a device and have a Bluetooth enabled mobile device or devices with a 3.5mm jack at home like your laptop or speakers.

Pros:

-High quality streaming, 10 meter range

-Design looks good, easy controls,  and long lasting battery

-The ability to exchange headphones for your own or any device with a 3.5mm jack

Cons:

-Included headphones suffer from uneven cable lengths

-Answer/End call button is sometimes easily clicked by mistake

 Score: 4 out of 5

–Mario Vasquez, ABT Contributing Editor

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