Bluetooth headsets are an enticing option for the tech-obsessed, particularly as Micro SD cards have become cheaper and more spacious. After all, why carry a media player, headphones, phone, and Bluetooth headset when your phone and a pair of headphones can give you the same functionality without a single wire? For a long time, though, Bluetooth headphones have been expensive and bulky, and tended to deliver distorted sound.

Cardo, the company responsible for that all-too-viral cell phone popcorn video, has taken a few important steps in the right direction with its S-2 stereo Bluetooth headset. But connectivity issues and poor battery life detract from what are otherwise great-sounding, comfortable, and easy-to-carry headphones.

Comfort is an important consideration whenever you buy headphones, but for a set that you're also using as a phone headset, it's absolutely key. Cardo did a great job here by using a soft, supple pair of wings to hold the speakers to your ears. Even after hours of use, my ears didn't feel pinched or otherwise sore, which is more than I can say for my previous pair of Bluetooth headphones, the Motorola HT820. The S-2's also fold up to a manageable size, which is a big plus for those times when you aren't wearing them.

Pairing was standard and simple, and thanks to the S-2's intuitive, tactile controls, I was putting the cans through their paces in no time. All buttons are on the right side; track changes are handled by placing your finger in an indented area on the side of the earpiece, and pushing backward or forward. Power and play/pause are each handed by a button in the center; volume is adjusted with a small but easy-to-locate rocker switch on the top of the earpiece.

The headphones and the microphone are loud and powerful enough to be heard in all but the most noisy of urban situations, which is another area where the S-2's trounce the too-quiet Motorola HT820 headphones. And stereo sound quality through the headphones is on a par with the best I've ever heard over Bluetooth.

The Cardo S-2's disappoint, however, in two areas that are important for commuters: battery life and the ability to hold a signal while walking. With my phone in my pants pocket, the audio signal held strong whenever I was sitting or standing, but frequently dropped out for short periods while walking. At first I thought this might be an issue with my phone, but a quick Web search revealed that this is a a common complaint among S-2 owners. Placing my phone in in my bag usually improved the connection, but if you're ever out and about without a bag, you might have to resort to holding the phone in your hand, which can be frustrating.

Battery life with mixed calls and music averaged about 4 to 5 hours, meaning you'll be charging the headphones about every other day. Thankfully, the S-2's feature a standard mini-USB port, so if you have access to a computer at work, battery charging will be less of a bother.

If you can overlook the signal problems and are OK with carrying your phone in a bag, the Cardo S-2 Bluetooth headphones are a great choice. They are available now, direct from Cardo for $99.99, or for just over half that price if you shop around.