This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to spend some time with representatives from Plantronics as they revealed their latest product — the Plantronics BackBeat GO. The Plantronics BackBeat GO offer “Great sound in a small package”. They speak the truth. The BackBeat GO are small, light and they sound great.
Plantronics isn’t new to the world of stereo Bluetooth headsets. They have long offered the $79.99 BackBeat 903+ headset. The 903+ headset is designed for workouts and other activities. It is sweat-proof, has a stable wrap-around the ear design and is a very nice product.
The company sent me home with a pair and I must admit, despite their size, they are remarkably comfortable. Still, as much as I like the 903+ headphones the BackBeat GO has won me over. Seriously.
From Plantronics:
Plantronics BackBeat® GO wireless earbuds – incredibly small, amazingly light. No wires, no hassle, no compromise. Easily slips into your pocket, but still packs full?on stereo sound. So you can listen to music, chat with friends, or watch movies on your tablet. Even play games on the go. And Bluetooth technology makes it a snap to connect wirelessly. Comfort? No problem. There are three sizes of cushioned eartips and two stabilizers for a secure, comfortable fit. Incoming call? Inline controls let you pause music to take a call, change volume, or skip tracks. Great sound in a small package. BackBeat GO. Get Going.
The BackBeat GO headset is small. In fact, they look just like a standard pair of earbud headphones; a pair of standard earbuds with an inline noise canceling microphone; a pair of earbuds with a no-tangle cord; a pair of earbuds that are small and unobtrusive but sound great. That’s because they are all that AND they are wireless. That means you can simple stick the earbuds into your ears, turn on the power and you are good to go. Your phone can stay in your pocket or bag as you walk along listening to your tunes.
And if a call comes in you can simple tap the in-line controller and take the call. Speaking of which, the noise canceling microphone is actually quite good despite being sitting next to your neck rather than having a boom that reaches you mouth. In fact, the cord on the BackBeat GO is at such a length that it positions the microphone at a rather optimal location considering the design restraints.
The control also lets you start and stop music, skip tracks and adjust the volume. And as for the sound… I was surprised to find something that is packing so much into such a small space sounding as good as they do. No, they aren’t the best sounding headphones I have ever tried but they sound damn good!
The BackBeat GO headset gets up to 4.5 hours of listening and talk time, come with three sizes of cushioned eartips and optional in-ear stabilizers that let you find the fit that is the most comfortable and secure as possible. (I have found the tips that came on them to be a good fit for me!) And so long as you find the right fit the earbuds will offer passive sound isolation.
For extra control/information the headset battery meter will automatically show onscreen when yu use the BackBeat GO headset with an iOS device. If you are using tablets running Android or tablets or phones running Android 4.0 you can use the Plantronics MyHeadset™ app.
I’m VERY impressed with the sound, comfort and quality of the BackBeat GO headset and expect I will be using these in place of my Jabra Sport headset for everything except running.
The BackBeat GO has an MSRP of $99.99. You can check them out here: Plantronics Headsets and Accessories.
MSRP: $99.99
What I Like: Small; Comfortable; Sound very very good; Under $100; In-line microphone and controls
What Needs Improvement: I understand the technical constraints but wish the headset got more than 4-4 1/2 hours of runtime; The should come with a carrying case or bag