BackBeat Proby Plantronics

Looking purely at sound quality, the BackBeat Pros fall a bit short of their competitors in the $200+ range...Like many noise-canceling head…

Looking purely at sound quality, the BackBeat Pros fall a bit short of their competitors in the $200+ range...Like many noise-canceling headphones, the Pros suffer from having a metallic sound with some types of music.

The leatherette-and-foam combo immediately cozied up to my ears, surrounding them in pillowy softness. The only uncomfortable moments I expe…

The leatherette-and-foam combo immediately cozied up to my ears, surrounding them in pillowy softness. The only uncomfortable moments I experienced were on particularly hot days, when the cups would trap heat around my ears, and sweat would pool along the edges.

They don’t look it, but the BackBeat PROs are fairly heavy, especially considering the plastic build. This wasn’t too the point that they we…

They don’t look it, but the BackBeat PROs are fairly heavy, especially considering the plastic build. This wasn’t too the point that they were especially uncomfortable, but the weight is a constant reminder that you’ve got a pair of headphones strapped to your head.

Unfortunately, the noise canceling doesn't treat lows and low-mids nearly as gently as it treats sub-bass. Miles Davis and Monster Magnet de…

Unfortunately, the noise canceling doesn't treat lows and low-mids nearly as gently as it treats sub-bass. Miles Davis and Monster Magnet demonstrated that the active noise-canceling feature really shouldn't be used if you want the best musical experience.

A lack of padding on the earcups and a slightly odd fit mean they trail many over-ear alternatives, though they’re still more comfortable th…

A lack of padding on the earcups and a slightly odd fit mean they trail many over-ear alternatives, though they’re still more comfortable than on-ear competitors.

We’re happy to report that the BackBeat Pro deliver on Plantronics’ promise [24 hours of battery life], and then some. We used the headphone…

We’re happy to report that the BackBeat Pro deliver on Plantronics’ promise [24 hours of battery life], and then some. We used the headphones (with noise canceling and Bluetooth on at all times) for nearly 26 hours while on a flight...before we had to charge them up.

The BackBeat Pro delivers strong bass and has a little treble push that amps up the detail. It's a fairly aggressive headphone, which means …

The BackBeat Pro delivers strong bass and has a little treble push that amps up the detail. It's a fairly aggressive headphone, which means it's a little short on warmth, but it's the type of sound profile that's in vogue with mainstream users these days.

When it comes to design the BackBeat Pro could be called a little basic. At worst it could be called corporate.

When it comes to design the BackBeat Pro could be called a little basic. At worst it could be called corporate.

Peggy Lee’s “Fever,” recorded in 1958 on two-track analog tape, had a crystalline purity and a live-in-the-studio-like clarity, something I …

Peggy Lee’s “Fever,” recorded in 1958 on two-track analog tape, had a crystalline purity and a live-in-the-studio-like clarity, something I didn’t expect from a 60-plus-year-old recording. Deep bass was equally clean and bright with Lady Gaga’s percussion-heavy “Born This Way.”

Noise cancellation, when turned on, will degrade the sound of the BackBeat Pros, and it will not fully mute the conversations around you, bu…

Noise cancellation, when turned on, will degrade the sound of the BackBeat Pros, and it will not fully mute the conversations around you, but it will almost completely remove the hum of a bus or a plane...This is pretty much the standard for all noise-canceling cans.