The Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless are above-average sports headphones but mediocre for more casual everyday uses. They have a sturdy and flexible build quality and stable ear-hooks that will prevent them from falling, even during more strenuous exercises. Unfortunately, their sound quality is sub-par and very inconsistent. They also have a semi-open design that won't block a lot of noise, but on the upside, it does make them a decent choice for outdoor runners since you can monitor your environment for traffic.
Our Verdict
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are mediocre at best for mixed usage. They're decent and stable for sports with sturdy, sweat-resistant build quality and decently compact form factor that fits into your pockets despite being slightly larger than typical in-ears. Unfortunately, since they have a one-size-for-all semi-open earbud design, they won't be the most comfortable headphones for everyone, and they don't isolate enough in loud noisy environments to be a good option for commuting.
- Stable enough for sports.
- Lightweight and flexible.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Poor sound quality consistency.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are sub-par for neutral listening. These headphones have a poorly balanced sound quality that could sound decently balanced or boomy and dark depending on their tightness on the ear. Unfortunately, since they have a semi-open design, their bass does not have a lot of thump and rumble and sounds more boomy and cluttered. Their poor consistency could create a large mismatch between the left and right channels, which means that you may have to adjust the position of the headphones quite often to get the earbuds to sound the same.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are mediocre for commuting or traveling. They have poor isolation that can't remove the rumble of an engine. They're decently comfortable for longer trips but have a strange shape that some people might find uncomfortable. They have a decent battery life, but they won't last longer flights without recharging and can't be used wired.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are decent for sports and fitness. They have excellent breathability and very good stability, so they aren't likely to fall out during brisk movements. They're a bit bigger than some other in-ear headphones, but they fold nicely and can easily be kept in your pocket.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are mediocre for office use. They have decent comfort and can be worn for longer periods without any problems, but they won't last a typical work day and have poor noise isolation and poor sound quality. They don't leak very much so the volume can always be increased to drown out any surrounding noise.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit have high latency, so they aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jun 21, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Jun 20, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are good sports headphones with a unique design. They're heavily rubberized, which gives a strong and water-resistant build quality but also makes them a bit larger than typical wireless in-ears. On the upside, their ear-hook design makes them stable enough for most activities. Unfortunately, they don't have the longest battery life, and their one size fits all earbud does not come with any additional tips or fins, which is a little disappointing.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are slightly better sports headphones than the Sony WI-SP500 Wireless, but they both have seal issues that negatively affect their sound quality. The Plantronics have a much better build quality and a more durable and sweat-proof design. They're also a lot more stable for the gym and will stay on your ears no matter the physical activity, thanks to the ear-hooks. On the upside, the Sony have a better control scheme that's a little easier to use than that of the Plantronics, although not by much. They also have a slightly longer battery life and are a little bit more comfortable to wear for some people.
If you compare the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless to the AfterShokz Trekz Air Bone Conduction, the Plantronics are better typical headphones, especially sound-wise. This is due to the Plantronics being in-ear and not bone-conducting like the AfterShokz. The Plantronics are more stable, more portable, thanks to the flexible band, and isolate more sound. If you’re looking for openness and want to stay aware of your surroundings while training with background music, the AfterShokz might be the better choice. The AfterShokz are also more comfortable and use a more recent version of Bluetooth.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless are better headphones than the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless. Their control scheme is better and easier to use, and they are more portable. While both headphones have poor audio quality and barely isolate, the Jabra have the edge over the Plantronics thanks to their app that offers a good 5-band EQ. The Jabra also have better wireless range.
While the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless and the AfterShokz Aeropex Bone Conduction look similar, the Plantronics have a more traditional earbud design that goes inside of your ear. The AfterShokz, however, are more comfortable, have better controls, and a better battery life. On the other hand, the Plantronics block more ambient noise and have a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer. Some may also prefer that they have a more conventional earbud design, as opposed to the Aeropex, which deliver sound via bone conduction and sit outside your ears.
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