Review: Plantronics Backbeat 500 Series Headphone

Plantronics, a company that specialized in producing audio communication devices, has recently launched the Backbeat 500 Series headphone. Available in three different colors, the wireless headphone features an attractively design, good battery life at an affordable price range. Let’s take a quick look at the features before diving into the review.

Features:-

• Memory foam
• 18 hours of listening and talk time
• 40 mm drivers with Plantronics signature audio
• Wideband-enabled mic
• On-ear controls
• Connect multiple devices
• Stay charged with DeepSleep mode

Review

Design & Build Quality

The Backbeat 500 features an all plastic body, with the exception of the metal extension. It comes in three different colors; White, Gray or Dark gray, all inspired to target the younger audience.

On the left side of the headphone, users will find the playback control located on the outside of the earcup, while the volume control, micro-USB port and a 3.5mm jack are located at the side.

On the side of the right earcup, users will find the power button/pairing mode alongside the answer/decline button.

The build quality of the Backbeat 500 seems sturdy even though it is constructed mainly with plastic, which contributes to the light weight of the headphone at 5.4 oz. The memory foam material on the earcups definitely helps reduce the pressure while having it on.

Plantronics has also included necessary accessories; a regular 3.5mm audio cable and a micro-USB cable. It also comes with a carrying pouch to help protect the headphone from scratches.

Overall, we felt that the build quality of the headphone is quite sturdy and we love the design of the headphone.

Battery Life

Plantronics claims that the battery life on the Backbeat 500 will last up to 18 hours. During our test, we found that the headphones lasted 17.5 hours on average before needing a recharge.

An charging indicator is located at the right side of the earcups; a red glow indicates the headphone is charging while the LED goes off to indicate that it is fully charged.

The Backbeat 500 takes about 2.5 hours to be fully recharged.

Audio Quality

The Backbeat 500 features 40mm drivers with Plantronics signature audio which helps to “deliver the right audio balance and a deep, rich sound”.

The first song tested was Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean. The overall audio seems pleasant to ears with no distortion while listening to the track at a higher volume. However, we felt that the bass is a little lacking to our enjoyment.

As for mids, we played the track Hallelujah by Pentatonix. The overall vocal was heard clearly and definitely felt satisfying to our ear.

Lastly, for the highs, we played Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me. The overall vocals and instruments are quite well balanced.

Overall, the headphone definitely performed well when it comes to the mids and highs. However, we felt that the bass could still be improve to provide a better kick while listening to music with heavy bass.

Final Thoughts

The Plantronics BackBeat 500 Series headphone offers a solid listening experience at the price of just $79.99. It also features a multipoint connection where it allows users to automatically connect up to two separate devices simultaneously. However, the lack of a stronger bass might be a turn down some audiences.