Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 SE Review | 93 Data compared

The Hardware-Inside review of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 SE wireless headphones highlights them as an excellent mid-range option, awarding them a high rating of 8.9 out of 10 points with a clear purchase recommendation. The reviewer praises the premium unboxing experience and first-class build quality, noting that the included hard-shell travel case with a soft velour lining sets it apart visually and functionally. Performance-wise, the headphones excel with an impressive battery life that easily surpasses its official 24-hour rating, a highly responsive smart wear sensor that pauses music when removed, and high-quality audio transmission powered by 40mm drivers supporting AAC and aptX codecs. Additionally, users can download the Plantronics Hub software to configure settings, such as changing the voice guidance prompts to German.

The Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2Go review by kopfhoerer.de highlights the headphones as a highly successful, feature-packed update that transitions from its predecessor's dated look into a sleek, elegant design featuring brown imitation leather. It is praised for its immense functionality, including intuitive earcup playback controls, a volume jog-wheel, a dedicated smartphone call button, and integrated smart sensors that automatically pause music when taken off the ears. On the performance side, the review commends its excellent 24-hour battery life, the ability to play passively via a 145cm audio cable when dead, and a modern, versatile audio tuning that delivers transparent mid-tones alongside an impressive sub-bass punch below 100 Hz. However, the headphones suffer from notable flaws in specific frequency ranges and supplementary features. A major acoustic con is a distinct tendency to hiss or sibilate in the lower treble frequencies around 3 to 4 kHz, making clap sounds and cymbals exhausting to listen to during electronic music tracks. Additionally, the active noise cancellation (ANC) is only average; while it reliably dampens uniform, droning background noises, it struggles significantly with handling unpredictable...

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 is a versatile, over-ear wireless headphone designed primarily for frequent travelers and casual listeners who prefer contemporary music genres like Hip Hop, Electro, and EDM. The reviewer praises the device for its exceptional 24-hour battery life, intuitive onboard button layout, and highly reliable Bluetooth connection range of up to 100 meters. Additionally, it features excellent smart sensors that automatically pause or play audio when the headset is taken off or put back on. While the headset's physical weight (289g) keeps it stable during sitting tasks, its slick faux-leather ear padding traps moisture, making it entirely unsuitable for workouts or jogging. The core limitation of the BackBeat Pro 2 lies in its mediocre Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which manages consistent background hums reasonably well but fails against unpredictable environments like public train rides. Sonically, its performance varies drastically by connection type: over Bluetooth, the sound profile is heavily dominated by an unbalanced, boomy bass response with muddy impulse fidelity that distorts classical or jazz arrangements. However, when switching to the included 3.5mm analog cable, the bass...

The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 is a versatile, over-ear Bluetooth headphone that delivers a solid all-around performance for its €250 price point, offering unique features like automatic music pausing when taken off and smart call-answering when put on. Its active noise cancelling (ANC) effectively filters out low-frequency background noises like train hums or plane engines. It also features a useful Open Listening mode to hear surroundings without removing the headset, alongside an impressive 24-hour battery life and an extensive Bluetooth range of up to 100 metres. Additionally, it supports aptX for high-quality audio and allows users to continue listening via an included 3.5mm audio cable even if the battery dies. However, the headphone comes with a few notable drawbacks, starting with an artificial, bass-heavy sound profile that lacks dryness and transparency compared to higher-end reference models. The build quality is heavily reliant on plastic rather than premium materials, resulting in unrefined, spongy control switches that feel somewhat cheap and finicky to operate. Weighing 293 grams, it is significantly heavier than its direct competitors from Bose or Sennheiser. Furthermore, the headphone...

In his review for Macwelt, Peter Müller concludes that the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 is an excellent, well-balanced wireless over-ear headphone tailored for business travellers and music enthusiasts alike. Retailing at €250, the device stands out for its exceptional 24-hour battery life (with up to 6 months of standby time), a massive 680 mAh capacity, and a highly practical dual-device Bluetooth coupling feature that allows users to seamlessly switch audio output from a Mac to an incoming iPhone call. Additionally, it features integrated motion sensors that automatically pause and resume playback when the headphones are taken off or put on, alongside a dedicated "Open Mic" mode that feeds ambient noise through the microphones so users can converse without removing the headset. Despite these high-utility functions, the review highlights several distinct compromises. On the downside, the active noise cancellation (ANC) is only moderately effective; while its maximum and middle settings adequately block train and plane noise, they fail to completely isolate the user, making them unsafe for street traffic. At 289 grams, the headphones are quite heavy, and the asymmetrically hung...