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    Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 review

    The second-generation Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 headphones present a tool maturing – fixing a number of errors made prior to now whereas persevering with to supply sound high quality that holds up effectively to the competitors. The unique Plantronics BackBeat Professional earned loads of reward: they weren’t good however they have been function wealthy, sounded nice, and offering glorious lively noise cancellation (ANC). With the BackBeat Professional 2, Plantronics is preserving what’s good and fixing what was unhealthy (like bulk and weight) – and you’ll’t ask for far more. Whereas the Sony WH-1000XM2 (and certainly the newer mannequin) and Plantronic’s personal BackBeat Go 810 are effectively value weighing up too, for $200 (£230, AU$250), the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 stays among the best pairs of journey headphones for the worth.Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2: designBecause of its considerably simple nature, you are prone to both love or hate the design of the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2. The headphones function a darkish brown coloration palette, which is able to understandably be a bit polarizing. Then there’s the fake wooden accent that in all probability would look extra applicable inside a Buick than on a pair of noise canceling headphones – it seems quite low-cost and misplaced, however the accents do at the very least assist the headphones stand out from the even-more-generic-looking Bose QuietComfort 35.As for the earcups, glittery silver mesh rings function on every, housing the headphone’s noise-canceling mics. The glowing silver is an odd design alternative in opposition to the muted browns and blacks, and stick out like a sore thumb. A black mesh would have been extra applicable, however hey – this nonetheless works.Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 reviewOn the left ear cup are controls for playback, quantity and a toggle for lively noise cancellation. The fitting ear cup has an influence/pairing slider in addition to an enormous button for answering telephone calls. Quantity is managed by way of a textured ring that rocks backwards and forwards – you rotate counter clockwise to show up the quantity and clockwise to show it city. The quantity management ring is a bit more durable to grip than the primary technology, however that’s a minor quibble and never a very noteworthy concern.Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 reviewActive noise cancellation will be toggled on or off on the left earcup. Turning it off gives you a bit bit of additional juice between fees, and we must always level out that the headphones nonetheless work in wired mode if the battery dies. This toggle additionally options an open mic mode, which pauses your music and allows you to hear what’s going round you with out having to take off your headphones.We discovered the open mic function pointless as we might merely take off the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 headphones – which routinely pauses the music – however since you may have the identical possibility on a lot higher-end headphones (just like the Sony MDR-1000X), it is good to have it included right here too. The BackBeat Professional 2 headphones come lined with leather-based across the earcups in addition to on the scarf, making them extraordinarily comfy, and we had no points carrying them all through an eight-hour flight.Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 reviewCompared to the unique Plantronics BackBeat Professional headphones, the Professional 2 are a lot smaller and lighter (290 grams vs the unique’s 340 grams). That is nice information for vacationers who’ve restricted area and don’t need to be fatigued after lengthy listening classes. They’re additionally extra compact and lay flatter when folded down for transport, which is one other level of their favor.The headphones include a mushy zippered carrying pouch, which has an excellent mushy lining to guard the headphones from scratches, and a second compartment to retailer your microUSB charging and three.5mm headphone cables (a pleasant contact).A tough case would have been even higher, however once more, it is not likely a deal breaker. It must be famous, nevertheless, exhausting case is on the market within the dearer BackBeat Professional 2 Particular Version, which price $50 (about £40, AU$67) extra and are available in a grey coloration.Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2: performanceThe unique BackBeat Professional headphones provided a enjoyable, barely bass heavy sound signature. Plantronics carried over this sound signature to the BackBeat Professional 2, which most customers will in all probability discover pleasing to the ears. Audiophiles will quibble in regards to the overbearing bass however might be joyful to know that utilizing the BackBeat Professional 2 in wired mode tames the bass fairly a bit.We have been pleasantly stunned to seek out ANC nonetheless works when enjoying music in wired mode, which suggests it can save you a little bit of battery when you do not thoughts going wired for a interval. Somewhat added bass emphasis helps block out exterior noise so we will perceive why Plantronics determined to go for a bass-heavy sound signature.Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 reviewHighs are a bit rolled off, making them sound barely veiled, however that is really preferable for lengthy listening classes for the reason that highs will not be fatiguing. Equally, mids are good, however they are often muted by the heavy bass. Soundstage is common, so don’t anticipate an out-of-head listening expertise. With lively noise canceling enabled, we did discover a slight hiss when no music is enjoying. The Bose QC35 nonetheless supply the most effective noise cancellation within the trade however the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 can do an admirable job of blocking out noise. Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 reviewPutting them to the check, the BackBeat Professional 2 dulled the deafening roar of the 777 jet engines on a flight from San Francisco to New York, serving to us to maintain our sanity as we tried to get some sleep. The sound high quality of the headphones wasn’t impacted by the lively noise cancellation, which hasn’t at all times been the case with ANC headphones prior to now. As for battery life, we have been extraordinarily impressed by the longevity of the BackBeat Professional 2. The unique additionally provided unbelievable 24-hour battery life however the second technology sips even much less energy when idle, providing a claimed 6 months of DeepSleep (up from 180 hours).Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 reviewDespite common use, we struggled to utterly drain the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 headphones on a week-long trip in New York – they lasted via each flights, a few practice rides and random listening classes all through the week with ANC enabled always. For frequent vacationers, the BackBeat Professional 2’s spectacular battery life is its killer function. We likedFor $200 (£230, AU$250), it’s exhausting to fault something in regards to the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2. The seems won’t be for everybody, and the bass-heavy sound will not please audiophiles however the BackBeat Professional 2 does nearly every part proper for journey headphones. The headphones’ staggering 24-hour battery life delivers and is a killer function for vacationers who can’t be tethered to an outlet, and whereas the lively noise cancellation isn’t the most effective within the trade, it is nonetheless superb at muffling the sound of the noisy, sleep-depriving outdoors world. It is clear Plantronics was listening to consumer suggestions when redesigning the BackBeat Professional 2. Nearly each quibble we had in regards to the unique has been addressed – and, much more extremely, regardless of all these modifications Plantronics’ newest pair of cans launched at a less expensive value level than the unique headphones.We dislikedAudiophiles will not just like the bass-heavy sound signature, although bass will be tamed by utilizing them in wired mode for those who really feel it’s a necessity.Equally, you will both love or hate the styling of the BackBeat Professional 2 headphones: their brown coloration palette, faux zebrawood and out-of-place silver mesh give the headphones an eclectic design language.Closing verdictIf you don’t need to drop $350 (£290, AU$500) on the Bose QuietComfort 35 or $400 (£330 or AU$700) on Sony’s flagship MDR-1000X, the Plantronics BackBeat Professional 2 must be on the highest of your procuring listing. Positive, the Bose nonetheless presents higher noise cancellation and Sony presents a bit higher sound, however the Plantronics do nearly every part else proper. By way of worth, the BackBeat Professional 2 are principally a steal. With the BackBeat Professional 2, you’re getting journey headphones with unbelievable battery life, supreme consolation, the power to pair two gadget without delay and, most significantly, good sound high quality for the fee.

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