It's got a backbeat, you can't lose it, any old time you use it

BackBeat Fit  is a durable, sweat proof, wireless sports headphones – rather it fits around the ear and behind the neck - that are designed for exercise junkies to extreme sports. It retails for A$179.99.

BackBeat Pro 2  is the third-generation BackBeat Pro, and it is 35% smaller, 15% lighter and provides up to 24 hours Bluetooth and ANC, 40 hours wired and ANC, or 60 hours Wireless no ANC. It retails for A$299 which puts it at the value end of the Bluetooth ANC headphones spectrum.

It also announced an updated version of the Bluetooth in-ear/around the neck buds – a BackBeat 105 – at A$99.95 for those who prefer in ear buds to over the headphones.

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My first exposure to Plantronics was well over a decade ago in the Unified Communication field – its office and call centre wired, and wireless headsets were/are considered best of class. I still have a fully functional Voyager Bluetooth earpiece that is going strong ten years later.

The company was started “in a garage” in Santa Cruz. California in 1961 and it epitomises the good old US dream of design, engineer and builds in-house (although its factories are now in other countries). Astronaut Neil Armstrong used a Plantronics headset when uttering “That’s one small step for man, one great leap forward for mankind.”

Plantronics is gradually changing its branding to PLT and beefing up the visibility of its PLT Labs, apps, and open API and SDK that will eventually enable modern fitness and wearables to integrate with it. PLT has a vision for audio wearables to incorporate voice controls, motion sensors, and security.

iTWire will review both soon using the same paradigm it has developed for headsets and speakers from Bose, Sennheiser, Parrot, Teac, Klipsch, Phillips, Sony, Samsung and many more.

BackBeat Fit Base specifications

• Bluetooth V3.0 A2DP connect to iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as Windows and Mac computers – range 10 metres
• Up to 8 hours’ listen - 15-minute micro-USB charge for one hour use – two hours’ full charge
• Eight devices multi-point memory (use with different devices)
• Microphone and smartphone answer handsfree
• IP57 dust and water resistant (1 metre for 30 minutes) and sweat proof (corrosion resistance). Due to the audio conductivity of water and Bluetooth issues caused by immersion, it is not a “swimmers
• Companion PLT Hub app for iOS and Android

BackBeat Pro 2

iTWire reviewed the predecessor BackBeat Pro+ in February and said, “The sound from this headset via its 40mm drivers is clean, crisp, and natural across the whole audio spectrum. The BackBeat Pro+ is a worthy competitor to other premium headphones equalling them in the important areas and should be strongly considered.”

The Pro 2 is an evolution, mainly regarding style and wearability. Where the Pro+ had an industrial design, the Pro 2 focuses on aesthetics and finishes.

Base specifications include

• Controllable and on-demand Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and open-listening mode
• Whispered audio queues
• Sensor activated to turn on/off
• Play/pause, skip forward/back buttons (also for handsfree calls) and volume ring
• Dual DSP microphones for hands-free calls
• Bluetooth 4.0 Class 1 for up to 100 metres range, aptX, and two devices multi-point connect
• 24 hours talk and listen with Bluetooth and ANC, 40 with cable and ANC and 60 with Bluetooth
• 3.5mm audio in
• 680mAh battery, micro-USB charge – 3 hours (note cable does not transmit audio)
• Companion PLT Hub app for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows
• 545g weight plus travel sleeve

What you are not getting – but you are not paying up to twice the price!

You could buy a Bose Quiet Comfort 35, a Sennheiser PXC-500, or a Parrot Zik 3, but these are going to set you back up to twice the price. For that you might get better ANC, capacitive touch controls, real leather, USB hi-def (charge and listen over USB), NFC pairing, a better equaliser app, and a better carry case and accessories.

Then there is the sound signature of your choice. Although not reviewed yet initial looks seem to indicate a “Bright Vocal” signature (bass recessed, mids/treble boosted) but that is academic when you can use equalisers on many content devices.

Next year there will be a special edition model with NFC and a hard carry case for about A$50 more.

Opinion

It is hard to argue with the BackBeat Pro 2 price. At A$299, these are highly competitive and offer solid value for the money, so if you’re looking for good ANC headphones for the long haul on a tighter budget, you will not regret what you get for the money.

From

JB Hi-Fi, Office Works, Harvey Norman, Tech2Go, and most mass market retailers.