#BACKBEAT PRO ANDROID#

AptX is supported by a handful of Android devices, PCs and Bluetooth accessories, though it's still missing on the iPhone and iPad.

#BACKBEAT PRO TV#

And yes, they sound great for film and TV watching, too.ДЇor the quality hounds out there, Plantronics also included support for the AptX Bluetooth codec, which delivers even better sound wirelessly than the typical BT profile.

#BACKBEAT PRO PRO#

The BackBeat Pro 2 also automatically paused what I was watching when connected to the Apple TV, which was a lifesaver during recent binge-watching sessions. That's particularly useful for things like podcasts and audiobooks where you don't want to miss out on anything. That feature gives you an easy way to connect them to PCs without going through the whole Bluetooth pairing dance.ДЄs before, the BackBeat Pro 2 features sensors that automatically pauses your media when you take them off. Unfortunately, they don't work as USB headphones, which is a nice feature I've seen on other wireless cans (including cheaper non-noise-canceling options from Jabra).

#BACKBEAT PRO PC#

They're best used when connected to a headphone amp (not just straight into a PC or phone), but with the proper power driving them they sound almost as good as headphones twice the price. When wired, the BackBeat Pro 2 sounds even better. For situational awareness, you can also flip on the 'open listening' mode, which pipes external sound into the headphones. Without ANC turned on, the BackBeat Pro 2 still sounded solid, while letting in a bit of background noise. It's not a feature I'd use all the time - in quiet environments, ANC can make things sound too quiet - to the point of being eerie - but it works well when you need it. Plantronics' active noise-canceling (ANC) also did a good job of reducing subway and street noise during my commute between Brooklyn and Manhattan. They also sounded good while taking calls I had no trouble making out what other people were saying, and the microphone did a good job of picking up my voice while ignoring background noise. When it comes to orchestral music, especially film scores, they convey a surprising amount of nuance for wireless headphones. Most important, they sounded great across several genres of music, no matter if I was listening to David Bowie, Janelle Monae or Radiohead. They have more of a bass kick than the previous versions, but it's not overdone to the point of distraction. When it comes to wireless sound quality, though, the BackBeat Pro 2 are stellar. While it seems confusing at first, I didn't have any problem differentiating between the buttons while wearing the the Pro 2. Turning the outer ring changes the volume, hitting the center circle plays and pauses the music, and hitting the inner ring lets you change tracks. Instead of having track and volume controls spread across rotating dials on the left and right earpieces, the Pro 2 simply pushes them all to the left can. Next time, I hope Plantronics puts more thought into aesthetics (though I'm glad they were able to de-bulk the headphones, at least).Д¬ontrolling the BackBeat Pro 2 is simpler than with previous models. I'm particularly turned off by the huge 'L' and 'R' on the inside of the earpieces. And in certain angles, they simply look ugly. I wasn't expecting much from the company designwise, especially since it was aiming for a lower price, but what we've got in the BackBeat Pro 2 is mostly dull. There's a pseudo-carbon fiber material around the outside of the ear pads, and the inner circle has a wood-grain plastic finish. The headset is still mostly made of plastic, but Plantronics added a few flourishes to spice up its previously minimalist design. You'll also notice some design changes this time around.

As for that earpiece design change, Plantronics says it'll allow the Pro 2 to fit more comfortably for more people. Not surprisingly, the BackBeat Pro 2 feels a lot more comfortable when you're wearing them, and they're also less comically large when they're actually on your head. You can certainly feel the weight difference just by picking them up. The company claims it's 15 percent lighter than before, and the overall volume has been reduced 35 percent. While Plantronics' previous headphones were large with circular earpieces, the BackBeat Pro 2 is a bit less bulky with oblong ear-pad designs. With this new model, Plantronics had to right a few wrongs. Last year's BackBeat Pro+ refresh aimed to simplify pairing with the addition of a Bluetooth dongle, but that didn't justify its higher $300 price. They were cheaper than the competition - which typically ranges from $300 to $400 - and they sounded pretty great, to boot. I was a big fan of the original BackBeat Pro, Plantronics' first foray into premium noise-canceling headphones in 2013.

Backbeat pro