Headset Microphone

Plantronics BackBeat Go Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headset for Mobile, Music and Media – US Warranty – Black – $99.99

After reading fawning reviews for the BackBeat 906 and 903+, i determined to make the leap and get the BB GOs. These would as a matter of fact be my 4th or 5th Bluetooth headset purchase this year, all of which aside from the Arriva Leo headset were returned. My primary use of Bluetooth headphones is operating out, so frankly, i may careless how they appear on me in an office setting or anything like that. I actually have quite simple needs for my headsets:

* Decent fit
* Decent sound
* Passable battery life

These BackBeat GOs do possess all three of these qualities however, it is the fit that just annoys me to no end. See, inside the last year, manufacturers have gravitated towards the dog tag/hanging style à la Jaybird JF3 Freedom/Outdoor Technologies DogTags. While that is great for some, i locate it to be god awful annoying. At the BackBeat GO, the neck cable connecting the 2 earpieces is set 2 feet long. i do not know WHY it’s that long, however is. So which means that besides the rather large earpieces (because of the bigger drivers inside), you’ve gotten a huge cable dangling around your neck and protruding out of your head. In case you use these during a commute or in an office, which may be fine. However, when you are racking a barbell for your back, it’s annoying because not just do you run the chance of crushing the wire with the bar, the wire being physically stuck under the bar naturally limits your head movement. Gee, that seems like the very same problem people have with WIRED headsets and is one reason they give the impression of being to Bluetooth for an answer. Plantronics have indeed cut the wires between your head and the telephone but not between the earbuds themselves. Once I hit the gym, i would like to workout, not worry about my headphones getting caught up within the equipment. If you need a good length neck cable, study either the Arriva Leo or Jabra SPORT.

In addition to the truth that the overly long wire is a step back for Bluetooth, it also includes just really annoying. When you are running, typical wired headsets rub against your clothing and might cause uncomfortable or undesirable cable feedback. No person desires to address that for any length of time, so that they choose Bluetooth. Well, due to Plantronics’ unnecessarily long neck cable, you can too enjoy all of that annoying cable feedback over again.

I desired to like this headset, i truly did. i love the straightforward aesthetics and simple operation but Plantronics followed the remainder of the pack by plying to everyone wanting dangling headsets. If i’ll shorten the cable, I probably would have kept these ‘phones, but alas, i will not do this.

PROS:
* Simple, minimal aesthetics
* Inline controls are simple and easy to use
* Moderate choice of ear the best way to get a respectable fit

CONS:
* Obnoxiously long neck cable
* Included ear stabilizers/ear wings look unable to maintain the earbuds in each ear during actual vigorous exercise
* Plantronics MyHeadset Android app is marketed — by Plantronics, at the BackBeat GO package! — to support this headset yet, it does not

EDIT: I forgot to previously mention their stated 4.5 hour battery life is pretty spot on. Once I bought these, I got 2+ hours out of the box without charging them in addition. Also, Plantronics’ marketing materials (and photos) clearly state this comes with a bit case to place the buds in, my box came without such case and the box mine came in explicitly didn’t mention a case. i ponder why there’s one of these discrepancy?

And here’s my BIGGEST problem with headset makers: proprietary chargers. Most companies just provides you with a proprietary USB cable with their very own connector hacked on, but not Plantronics. They were so forward-thinking, so progressive, they decided that these should only be charged with an AC adapter…that has a non-detachable USB!!!!!! cable. Seriously? Who designed this? You are going to make me use a wall charger and just a wall charger? No thanks, Plantronics. Luckily, these buds have a traditional size micro USB connection that you just use can *any* cable directly to charge. i myself _didn’t_ notice the AC charger snafu until i used to be packing these earbuds back as much as return them.

More Details

• Unleash your music. Talk tangle free.
• Deep, rich stereo sound for music, calls and media. Digital noise reduction for call clarity
• Take calls, skip tracks and adjust volume with in-line controls
• Ultralight, comfortable, easy-to-wear
• Compatible with most Bluetooth smartphones, tablets and MP3 players

BackBeat Go is an ultralight stereo Bluetooth headset with comfortable, discreet earbuds, and is compatible with most Bluetooth phones, tablets and MP3 players. It includes an AC charger and S,M,L eartips and clip-on stabilizers.