Plantronics Backbeat Pro Review | 93 Data compared

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro is a feature-rich, business-like set of wireless, noise-cancelling headphones that prioritises functionality over aesthetics. Despite their exceptionally heavy weight of approximately 340 grams, they remain comfortable for extended wear due to generous padding on the earcups and headband bridge. The headphones excel in user convenience, offering easy-to-use dial controls on the earcups for volume and track skipping, dual-device Bluetooth pairing, and an automated smart-pause feature that stops music when they are removed. Furthermore, they support an extensive 330-foot wireless range via Android NFC technology and deliver an outstanding 24 hours of continuous wireless playback, which stretches to 60–80 hours in wired mode. However, the headphones have a bulky, plain, and uninspired design that completely lacks visual style. In terms of performance, the sound quality slightly falls short of competitors in the $200+ price bracket, occasionally producing an annoying metallic sound with certain music genres. The active noise cancellation, while generally strong, is less effective at blocking out certain frequencies compared to the Bose QuietComfort series, and it can induce headaches during prolonged use. Lastly, the device...

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro is a feature-packed, over-the-ear wireless headphone that serves as a budget-friendly alternative to premium models from Bose and Beats. A major strength of the device is its exceptional battery life, delivering up to 24 hours of juice with Bluetooth 4.0 and active noise-cancellation (ANC) fully engaged, or up to 60 hours in corded mode. It also boasts clever, intuitive functionality, such as intuitive earcup control rings for seamless volume and tracking adjustments, NFC tap-to-pair technology, and an automatic smart pause feature that stops the music when the headphones are rested around the neck. Additionally, it offers a robust built-in microphone for phone calls and an "OpenMic" mode that amplifies ambient sounds so you can chat without removing the headset. However, the headphones come with notable aesthetic and physical drawbacks, including a somewhat ungainly, heavy-duty design weighing 340 grams that carries an overt "office vibe". The sound profile delivers strong bass but carries a boosted treble that can sound overly aggressive or harsh on lower-quality MP3 files. While the passive seal can make ears warm during mobile...

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro headphones offer an excellent, budget-friendly alternative to the Bose QuietComfort 25 by integrating robust wireless features without sacrificing audio quality. Priced at $250, these headphones feature highly effective active noise-canceling (ANC) capabilities that rival Bose, alongside a standout 24-hour rechargeable battery life and multi-device Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Sound performance is impressive across genres, delivering clean, bright deep bass for modern tracks and a crystalline clarity for vintage analog recordings. Additional pros include smart design elements like an "OpenMic" button to hear surroundings, rapid NFC pairing, helpful multilingual spoken status alerts, and smart sensors that automatically pause music when the headphones are removed. However, the headphones do come with a few notable drawbacks. The placement of the controls is a source of confusion, as the power switch on the right ear cup and the ANC switch on the left ear cup are located in identical spots, making them difficult to differentiate by touch alone. Furthermore, because the smart sensors automatically pause audio playback when the headphones are taken off, users can easily forget to flip the actual...

The PCMag review highlights the Plantronics BackBeat Pro as a feature-rich, high-value wireless headset with a very good native audio signature. While praised for its robust feature set, the review notes the major drawback that active noise cancellation (ANC) significantly degrades the audio quality. Despite this flaw, the headphones are recommended for their overall versatility and performance.

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro wireless headphones offer a feature-packed, over-the-ear design that provides excellent value for money. Backed by a company with deep roots in aerospace and commercial audio, these headphones deliver reliable Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC connectivity, allowing seamless pairing with up to two devices simultaneously. The audio profile remains balanced and neutral without artificial bass boosting, making them highly versatile for varied music playlists. Users benefit from highly intuitive, ergonomic physical controls—such as rotary dials on the earcups for volume and track skipping—alongside smart automation features like OpenMic ambient awareness and automatic playback pausing when the headset is removed.

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro wireless, over-ear Bluetooth headphones deliver excellent sound quality and an impressive array of advanced features despite an uninspired, bulky industrial design. On the positive side, these comfortable headphones feature a powerful, deep bass profile, highly detailed highs, intuitive ear-cup controls, and an exceptional 24-hour continuous battery life. They also stand out for high-end additions like active noise cancellation, a "smart" headband that automatically pauses audio when removed, and a dedicated ambient-noise boost button to hear your surroundings. Furthermore, they are priced very competitively compared to other noise-cancelling models. However, the headphones suffer from several noticeable drawbacks. On the downside, their plain, black plastic-and-metal frame weighs just under 12 ounces, making them significantly heavier than competitors like the Sennheiser Urbanite XL and less convenient to travel with. From an audio standpoint, enabling the active noise cancellation creates an unbalanced soundstage by boosting the bass while weakening the mid-range and high notes. Finally, the highly publicised Class 1 Bluetooth feature—intended to provide an extended 100-metre wireless range—is practically useless for most consumers because it requires a paired Class...

The Medium review of the Plantronics BackBeat ProGo highlights its excellent battery life, lasting two weeks on a single charge, alongside features like aptX Low Latency and the useful OpenMic mode for environmental awareness. It is deemed a high-value, durable option for office settings, though it is described as having a bulky aesthetic. Medium· Conversely, the review notes significant comfort issues, stating the headphones cause physical discomfort during long-term wear. The author suggests looking toward the lighter BackBeat Pro 2 to address these design flaws.

The Plantronics Backbeat Pro Wireless 2014 are versatile, closed-back headphones suited for mixed, everyday use, featuring an intuitive, tactile control scheme on the ear cups and outstanding battery life. They offer an excited sound profile with powerful bass and an above-average wireless Bluetooth range for ease of movement. However, the bulky and heavy build makes them unstable for sports, and the active noise cancellation (ANC) is only decent, failing to fully isolate loud, low-frequency noises like airplane engines. Furthermore, the sound profile is somewhat uneven and lacks the accuracy required for critical listening.

The Plantronics BackBeat ProGo is lauded for its energetic sound, boasting powerful bass, crisp detail, and an exceptional battery life alongside convenient on-ear controls and a useful OpenMic mode. These headphones also feature robust dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and smart sensors that automatically pause playback, providing a versatile, feature-packed listening experience. However, the design is notably bulky and heavy, which may lead to discomfort and ear fatigue over extended use. While functional, the active noise cancellation does not match the class-leading performance of competitors, and the audio profile's heavily boosted bass and treble might be too aggressive for listeners preferring a neutral sound.