The Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 could be a very popular wireless headphone due to a variety of factors. And not least due to the right price-quality ratio. Let's see what's interesting about the third generation BackBeat GO.
Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 (Blue) Headphones, headsets on
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Thanks to the Portable store for providing Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 headphones for testing
Appearance and equipment
The delivery package may include a battery case (you can purchase the headset without it). Charging is carried out using a special cable, which is connected on one side through a connector to the case, and on the other - to the microUSB connector in the headset itself, because it's wireless.
That is, in fact, it is two headphones connected to each other by wiring and connecting to the device via Bluetooth. Right next to the connector there is a light indicator that notifies you that the headset is powered and the case is charging.
On the wire there is also a control panel with convex plastic keys for volume control, playback control and a microphone. The sound quality is typical for a headset.
Plantronics BackBeat Go 3 is available in two colors: black with blue and light gray with copper. We came across the second option, it looks very nice.
The headset has a rainproof coating, but that doesn't mean you can submerge the headphones in water.
Review and testing of Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 and BackBeat Go 3 Bluetooth headsets
Table of contents
- Introduction
- Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 review
- Specifications
- Packaging and equipment
- Appearance and design
- Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 in action
- Specifications
- Packaging and equipment
- Appearance and design
- Plantronics BackBeat Go 3 in action
Introduction
Alas, reviews of headsets and headphones are not published on our website as often as we would like.
The situation is approximately the same with audio cards. However, sometimes pleasant exceptions happen and we can please our readers with reviews of these devices. Today is just such a day. Not long ago, several gaming headsets from the HyperX brand visited our laboratory, for example, the HyperX Cloud Stinger. But since smartphones have long been listed on our website, it would be strange not to mention wireless headsets for them. Moreover, there are not as many tests of these gadgets as there are of “audiophile” models of the high and middle segments.
We have two headsets from the famous American manufacturer Plantronics, which is famous for its achievements in this area. Let us recall that it was Plantronics headsets that were used in the Apollo 11 and Soyuz-Apollo space missions (pictured).
But in our review we will have two completely everyday wireless headsets of different classes and purposes. The first is called Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 and is positioned by the manufacturer as full-size wireless headphones with effective noise insulation.
And in the second part we will look at the Plantronics BackBeat Go 3 wireless sports headset, which is a continuation of the BackBeat Go line. But let's start with the “large caliber”.
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Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 review
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Specifications
| Model | Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 |
| Device type | Wireless headphones |
| Type | Closed |
| Ear pad material | Leather |
| Emitter diameter | 40 mm |
| Detachable wire | Yes, 3.5 mm input |
| Frequency range | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB |
| Resistance | 32 Ohm |
| Microphone | Eat |
| Wireless type | Bluetooth 4.0 + EDR, HSP 1.2, HFP 1.6 |
| Level of autonomy | 24 hours (listening), 6 months. (dream) |
| A2DP/AptX/AVRCP support | Yes/Is/Is |
| Noise insulation | Active + passive |
| NFC | Eat |
| Weight, g | 289 |
| price, rub. | ~17 000 |
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 have an impressive list of supported technologies and level of autonomy, and also promise to provide good noise insulation thanks to the presence of both passive and active noise insulation. The price tag may not seem the most humane, but almost all well-known manufacturers are in this range with this kind of gadgets.
Packaging and equipment Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 comes in a large cardboard box with nice graphics.
On the reverse side there is a huge amount of text in different languages and brief technical specifications.
Another box made of thicker cardboard awaits us inside. It has a convenient flip-up lid and is perfect for storing your headset.
The following set of supplies awaits us inside:
- Fabric cover;
- Documentation;
- AUX cord (3.5 mm <-> 3.5 mm);
- MicroUSB cable.
As you might have guessed, the manufacturer did not include a power supply, but this is not surprising, because with such a modest battery of ~680 mAh, the current from the USB port will be sufficient for charging.
By the way, the cable with a 3.5 mm connector has a narrow body and an L-shaped design at one end. Please note that voice transmission is not possible through it.
Working with a smartphone
When connected to an iPhone, the smartphone prompts you to install a program to work with the headset. The program monitors software updates, connection status, has the ability to change the language (but there is no Russian language), as well as instructions for use, HD Voice and a link to the support site. That, in general, is all.
When you turn on HD Voice, the music starts to lag, so we recommend using it only for calls. There is no way to configure notifications about charging, switching tracks and other notifications and cannot turn them off completely - the annoying “Next track” will be played at every skip through the buttons on the headset.
Design and ergonomics
These headphones are not a shame to give as a gift - they are packed in a tight box, inside they are folded into a separate fabric case with a soft lining, and even come with a branded black bag.
It is worth mentioning separately the case for the headphones. Not a compact tube or pencil case, but a full-fledged bag with two zippered compartments. The larger compartment holds headphones, the smaller one holds a 3.5 mm cable for connecting to transmitting devices and a USB cable.
The headband is made of plastic on the outside and covered with breathable mesh fabric on the inside. Therefore, the headphones do not rub your head. The height adjustment of the cups is standard - using retractable fasteners with protrusions.
Unlike budget models, the fasteners are metal. Therefore, the cups stay at the required height, do not slip, and the teeth do not wear out even after many years of use.
The ear pads are made of eco-leather and they are the ones that receive the most complaints. After a few months, the seams on the ear pads may come apart, and some users report that the ear pads deteriorate after a couple of years.
The problem can be easily solved by replacing the ear pads; they are removable; you just need to turn the fabric tabs counterclockwise. True, the repair will not be budgetary; the cost of ear pads ranges from 700-1000 rubles.
Owners of headphones note the special ergonomics of the cups. The ear pads are large and completely cover your ears without pinching them. Eco-leather does not allow extraneous sounds to pass through, and the fabric insert on the speakers prevents a significant increase in temperature in a closed space. Of course, your ears may sweat, but only in extreme heat when using the device for a long time.
Music track playback controls are located on the left earcup:
- large play/pause button;
- side “dot” buttons for switching tracks;
- Along the perimeter of the cup there is a scroll to adjust the volume.
On the left cup there is a lever that activates the suppression of external noise or increases the perception of surrounding sounds. These functions will be described in more detail below.
There are also functional blocks on the right cup:
- a lever that turns on the headphones and initiates a Bluetooth connection;
- charger connection port;
- 3.5 mm wire connector;
- at the end of the cup there is a large button to accept/reject calls;
- At the bottom there is a battery charge level indicator, 5 LEDs.
The wire for connecting to the phone is thin, it is fixed on the right earphone and, according to the owners of the headset, is required only when the charger is low. Walking around with a cord is not entirely convenient, especially considering that the microphone is turned off when the cord is connected. But thanks to the wired connection with these headphones, you can listen to music even on an airplane.
Sound
Typical sound for a headset and regular headphones. That is, there is no incredible sound here that will send shivers down the back of even a mediocre listener. Good sound, wide volume range.
Sound quality
I really liked the sound of the BackBeat Go 600. For me personally, there is one main criterion for the quality of headphones: if after listening to some track in them, you want to listen to your entire collection in them, then these are cool ears!
I can characterize the sound of this model as rich, balanced, suitable for almost all types of music. Here you will find a detailed midrange, excellent highs, and impressive bass. I would like to dwell on it in more detail.
The BackBeat Go 600 headphones have a button to switch between
two preset equalizer modes : Balance and Bass Boost. In Balance mode (default), the bass is very well expressed, there is no rubbery elasticity that hits the eardrums. The bass here is rather soft, enveloping, and depth is felt.
The activation of Bass Boost, to be honest, did not impress me at all when listening to music. Yes, the lower boundary of the bass is slightly enhanced, but this happens due to the cutoff of the upper frequencies. I personally didn’t like listening to musical compositions in this mode - the overall elaboration of the sound disappears.
But for watching movies, listening to audiobooks and talking, Bass Boost is what you need! The high frequencies, which are often hissing and literally drilling into the brain, are cut off and more low frequencies are added. In films and audiobooks, a detailed sound range is not needed - there, just for a comfortable perception, more bass is required.
Let's sum it up
Plantronics BackBeat Go 3 surprises with its form factor and ease of use. Of course, these are not Apple headphones with magnets in the case and you will have to tinker with getting them in there, sometimes you will not have enough battery life. But it’s still convenient - switching from a wired headset to a wireless one turned out to be very pleasant and painless, in most situations you “stumble” over phantom problems with the wire and then you’re glad that it’s not there - you need to try it to understand. The headphones fit well and do not fall out even from my non-standard ears for Apple headphones.
The cost of the device is 6,990 rubles for the version without a battery case, the package with it will cost 8,490.
Final rating: 8 out of 10.
Communication and sound
Plantronics BackBeat FIT is not new. This headset was first demonstrated at MWC 2014. Audio equipment becomes obsolete more slowly than smartphones, and connoisseurs look for vintage headphones many years after production, but in the case of wireless headsets, everything is different, because data transfer protocols are constantly being improved.
BackBeat FIT communicates with a smartphone via Bluetooth version 3.0. This protocol has quite objective shortcomings. We are talking about relatively high power consumption and short communication range. The characteristics of the headset indicate a working radius of up to 10 m. In fact, pairing is stable at a distance of 7 meters. The signal can overcome a reinforced concrete wall, but a second such obstacle is guaranteed to cause interference. In general, in the case of BackBeat FIT, they are not rare; sometimes, to hear them, it is enough to unluckily pick up the phone in your hand.
Thus, if you use BackBeat FIT according to the scenario that the manufacturer encourages by offering a handbag along with the headset, then there will be no problems, but if you walk around the gym, leaving the phone on a bench nearby, be prepared for drops in connection quality.
The Apt-X codec is not supported by the headset, so there is no point in listening to uncompressed formats with it - the nuances of the sound will still be lost on the way from the smartphone to the ear. MP3, when there is no interference, plays decently. In this aspect, the headset is not inferior to many models with Bluetooth 4.0 and higher. The sound stage is a little cramped, without pronounced bass, but the mids are detailed and the highs are not lost. Vocals are played clearly, although slightly muffled. The sound is balanced and lends itself well to software adjustments. Using the equalizer of any music player, you can noticeably change it to suit your taste.
The large neodymium speakers have a volume reserve, but the lack of noise insulation and the loose fit of the earbud reduce it to nothing. The Handsfree function works correctly. The conversational microphone is equipped with noise reduction.
