Review of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 headphones, quality at a good price

The second generation of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro comes with a fresh design, better size and weight specifications, and with sound quality and performance that are on par with much higher priced headsets. Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation, physical controls, hands-free function, excellent autonomy and the possibility of linking to several devices to be able to switch between them quickly are just some of the peculiarities of these Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 that will make many fall in love.

Excellent range and autonomy

They are two of the most important features when it comes to wireless headphones, and the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 here not only pass, but also get license plates. An autonomy of up to 24 hours of continuous use, and the brand ensures that it can be in Standby mode for up to 6 months. I have not been able to verify either one or the other data, but I have been able to verify that throughout the week I have used them as a single headset, to listen to podcasts, music, watch movies with Apple TV and I have not managed to completely eliminate the battery, something difficult to match. By the way, every time we connect them, the remaining battery will be indicated by a voiceover (in English) that we will hear through the headphones.

If we talk about the range of these headphones, the note achieved is also the maximum possible. The connection is very stable, without cuts, even in a different room than the device that emits the sound. If the BackBeat Pro 2 are connected to another compatible device they can have a range of up to 100 meters. In my particular case, connected to the iPhone 7 Plus, I can move around my house without connection problems, even to the room furthest from the smartphone.

Discreet but very comfortable design

It is clear that these BackBeat Pro 2 are not going to win an award for the best design of the year. If you are used to flashier headphones, these from Plantronics will seem poor in this regard. They may not seem like premium headphones at first glance, but as soon as you have them in your hand you will forget that there are no metallic finishes or other superfluous embellishments that sometimes only serve to justify too high prices or to hide poor performance.

The padding of the cups and the headband is very comfortable and pleasant to the touch. The weight is pretty tight, and They are not heavy at all after several hours of use, as is the case with the adjustment, which is just enough so that you can move without moving from the right place, but they do not press like other models that end up being uncomfortable. Of course, they are not at all suitable for sports or to use in hot environments, because you will end up with your ears drenched with sweat and they also lack certification to resist humidity or sweat.

Physical controls for everything

The controls are well spread across the two cups of these headphones, with physical buttons for everything. The on and off button also acts as a switch to link new devices, and together with the button used to mute the microphone they are located on the right helmet. There we also find the LEDs that indicate the remaining battery, the microUSB connector for charging the headset and the jack connector for using it with a cable, regardless of Bluetooth connectivity.. A large button in the center of the headset to invoke Siri when we connect it to iOS devices or a Mac complete all the elements that we can find in this headset.

If we now look at the left earphone we will see that we have playback controls to pause or resume, to move between songs, the rotary volume control and the switch to activate active noise cancellation or the "open mic" mode that allows you to listen to what is there. Around you. There is only one function that does not have any physical control, and that is that when you take off the headphones, playback pauses and when you put them back on, it resumes, which is done automatically without the possibility of activating or deactivating.

A sound that does not disappoint

Everything we have said so far is in the background in headphones if the sound does not meet expectations. These Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 do not disappoint, and the sound quality is frankly good. If you compare them with Apple's AirPods, the current reference for many for being fashionable headphones although they play in another category, the quality difference is very large. Compared to the Beats Solo2, the clarity of the sound offered by the Plantronics is much higher, with good bass but not as intense as the Beats, allowing you to perceive other details of the music that the Solo2 cover with such intense bass. Of course, this will depend on everyone's taste and the music they listen to.

The Active Noise Cancellation of the Backbeat Pro 2 helps a lot to enjoy music without distraction. Thanks to the switch that allows you to activate it or not, you can isolate yourself from your surroundings only when you want. Inside a room it will isolate you quite well from ambient noise, but on the street do not expect total isolation, because you will continue to hear some noise if there is a lot of traffic, and of course if there are sirens or a horn that sounds. Even so, I, who had not used any headphones on the street with this type of cancellation, has been surprising how well it works.

They're not Apple, but there's magic inside

It has been one of the things that has stood out the most about the AirPods: the magic that Apple has included in them. Well, Plantronics has known how to use its weapons very well to achieve a very similar experience with its BackBeat Pro 2. By being able to connect to two devices at the same time you can easily use them with your iPhone and iPad, for example, or your iPhone and your Mac, and toggle between one and the other easily. You may be listening to your favorite movie on your Mac that if you call your iPhone, it will automatically stop playback on your computer and skip the call on your headphones.

Another novelty of these BackBeat Pro 2 is that removing them from your ears will automatically pause current playback on the Bluetooth-connected device. When you put them back in place, playback will resume without the need for you to press any buttons. This function makes the "open mic" option they also include quite useless, which when activated pauses the playback and allows you to listen to whoever is speaking without having to remove the headphones using the built-in microphone.

Two models with the same features

Plantronics offers you these BackBeat Pro 2 in two different versions. The "normal" model includes a normal carrying bag, along with the microUSB charging cable and the jack cable to be able to use them "wired" if you wish. The "SE" model costs approximately € 30 more and although the performance of the headphones is the same (except for the latter's NFC), it does include a practical semi-rigid transport bag perfect to carry them protected on your trips, a surcharge that in my opinion is worth it if you plan to transport them often.