#Plantronics backbeat pro 2 best buy drivers

The looks are out of place and rather cheap. The faux wood accent may be more appropriate for an automobile than a set of noise-canceling headphones. A color palette of dark brown is a bit polarizing. The headphones are not for those who like razzamatazz. The somewhat straightforward nature is a design that people tend to love or hate. Weight has been reduced by nearly 15 percent, and the headphones are more attractive. The new model has been slimmed down by about 35 percent. User feedback was taken into consideration when the BackBeat Pro was redesigned. Techie types who cared more about performance than look were staunch followers of the original. One reviewer compared the headphones to headphones handed out on flights rather than a premium item. Plantronics set a new low with the BackBeat Pro 2. They are an annoyance more than anything else.įinding an attractive set of noise-canceling headphones is rare. Instances, such as these, occur when music is played that most people avoid for fear of injuring their eardrums. A sibilance that creeps into some vocals is noticeable. Hi-hats and guitar parts take on a quality that is slightly acidic. As volume reaches upper levels, high-end capabilities start to break down. The maximum volumes of the BackBeat Pro 2 are impressive but begin to struggle if cranked past 80 percent. Lower-base is only a deal breaker for those into bassy genres or dance music. A low-end rumble is heard when listening to classic rock and bass-heavy metal. Jazzy piano tracks are smooth and articulate.

#Plantronics backbeat pro 2 best buy drivers

The 40mm dynamic drivers of the headphones handle mid-range and treble well at moderate volumes.Ī decent attack is displayed on heavy punk tracks. Sound offered by the BackBeat Pro 2 is not bad but doesn’t match some of the rivals. Sirens and cars can be heard when listening at low volumes. When ANC is engaged, the headphones do an acceptable job blocking out voices, but background noises creep in. Other manufacturers have set a benchmark of noise cancellation that Plantronics has not achieved with the BackBeat Pro 2. Active noise cancellation is not the industry’s best but still muffles the sound of a sleep-depriving, noisy world. Sound quality was not affected by active noise cancellation which is an improvement over past ANC headphones. When put to the test, the headphone dulled the roar of a 777 jet engine. There is no out-of-head listening experience provided by an average soundstage. The mids are of quality, but the heavy bass may mute them. For long listening sessions, the veiled sounds prevent highs from causing fatigue. Sound is somewhat veiled due to highs that are slightly rolled off. The reason Plantronics uses a bass-heavy sound signature is to aid in blocking out external noise. The ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) continuing to work when music is played in wire mode is a pleasant surprise. Those that see the bass overbearing can tame the bass a bit by using the wired mode. Most users find the sound signature pleasing to the ears. The sound signature of the original was slightly bass heavy. Its performance is much like that of more expensive competition. The sound of the BackBeat Pro 2 sounds better than its predecessor. Some headphones do a bit better at muting sound, but the difference is not overwhelming. It is not the most effective device for noise canceling but does an adequate job muffling ambient noise. The quality rivals its higher-priced competitors.

The BackBeat Pro 2 addresses the issue and improves upon the original. The original BackBeat Pro had an impressive level of technicality but fell a bit short in noise cancellation. The Plantronics BackBeat 2 combines a comfortable and stable noise cancellation at a price that is reasonable. The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 is among a growing number of over-ear wireless headphones that have active noise cancellation. Other than the aesthetic appeal that is not for everyone and a heavy-bass sound not pleasing to audiophiles, it is hard to find fault with the Plantronics BackBeat 2. The noise cancellation may not be the best on the market, but the headphone is an undeniable value for the price. The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 offers active noise cancellation, top sound quality, and excellent battery life.

A group of testers, using a scale from one to ten, rated the headphones as follows: Design (8), Features (9), Sound (8), and Value (9). It costs about half as much as similar models from Sennheiser, Sony, and Bose. The full-size BackBeat Pro 2 is an excellent noise-canceling headphone.