The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 are decent wireless over-ears for most use cases. They have great audio reproduction and are suitable for a wide variety of music genres. They offer over 20 hours of continuous playback, which is great, and their control scheme is very responsive and easy to use. Unfortunately, their noise cancelling feature is disappointing and won’t perform as well as other ANC headphones in this price range. Some users have also reported that their unit's headband cracks or breaks over time, which is disappointing. On the upside, they have an amazing wireless range and also provide 3 hours of playback for only 10 minutes of charging, which is very useful.
Our Verdict
Great for neutral listening. Their audio reproduction is great. They have an excellent, extended, and consistent bass performance, a flat and virtually flawless mid-range, and a great treble. However, some may feel like they are a bit light on bass, and their treble is slightly uneven. Some S and T sounds may feel lacking in detail while some feel a bit sharp and piercing, but this shouldn’t be too audible. You also have a bright EQ setting if you want to boost higher frequencies.
- Good control scheme.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Great battery life.
- Disappointing ANC performance.
- Lackluster customization and companion app.
- Very high latency.
Decent for commuting. Their noise isolation is quite poor for ANC headphones, especially in the bass range. They don’t block low-frequency noises like engine rumbles well. However, you should be able to block more noise by playing audio. Also, since they don’t leak too much, you’ll be able to raise your volume without disturbing people surrounding you. They are easy to use but might be uncomfortable for people with wider heads, since you might feel too much pressure during long bus rides or flights.
- Good control scheme.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Great battery life.
- Disappointing ANC performance.
- Lackluster customization and companion app.
- Very high latency.
Decent for sports. The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 are fairly tight and have a secure fit on the head, which is great for jogging. However, they are still a bit on the bulkier side so that they might not be ideal for most physical activities. You can also expect to sweat more than usual if you wear these headphones during a workout.
- Good control scheme.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Great battery life.
- Disappointing ANC performance.
- Lackluster customization and companion app.
- Very high latency.
Decent for the office. The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 isolate against a decent amount of ambient chatter and block out A/C system noise well, which is good for the office. Also, their battery life is long enough for you to listen all day long. They can also be connected to 2 devices simultaneously, which is convenient if you want to switch from your work computer to your phone, and you can also walk around quite easily without your source thanks to their great wireless range.
- Good control scheme.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Great battery life.
- Disappointing ANC performance.
- Lackluster customization and companion app.
- Very high latency.
Poor for gaming. These headphones have too much latency to be used wirelessly for gaming. However, if you connect them via the audio cable, you won’t have a microphone for online games. They have great audio reproduction, so if you don’t need a microphone, these could be a decent option for gaming. However, they aren’t as customizable as most gaming headsets.
- Good control scheme.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Great battery life.
- Disappointing ANC performance.
- Lackluster customization and companion app.
- Very high latency.
- Good control scheme.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Great battery life.
- Disappointing ANC performance.
- Lackluster customization and companion app.
- Very high latency.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 22, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 13, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 are decent, mixed usage over-ear headphones that set themselves apart by their great neutral audio reproduction. However, their ANC feature is lackluster, especially when compared to other models in their price range. If you want more options for your daily commute, look at our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones. See also our recommendations for the best wireless headphones and the best over-ear headphones.
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 and Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 are very similarly-designed headphones, but each performs better in different categories. The Pro 2 are more versatile since they have a better noise cancelling feature. They are also slightly more comfortable and feel like more high-end headphones due to their build quality. On the other hand, the Go 810 have great audio reproduction, without the overemphasized bass that the Pro 2 has. However, the Pro 2 can be used when charging and supports aptX-LL for minimal latency if you have the appropriate dongle.
The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless are better headphones than the Anker SoundCore Space NC Wireless. While the Anker feels better-built and slightly more comfortable, the Plantronics have a great neutral audio reproduction that is versatile for a wide variety of music genres. The Plantronics bass is overdone and will be better suited for bass-heavy genres. The Anker have more than half the Plantronics' latency, and their ANC feature blocks out a great amount of ambient noise. The Anker also come with a nice hard case and an in-line microphone. Critical listeners should go towards the Plantronics, while fans of EDM, hip-hop, and rap who like to listen to music while commuting might feel like the Space NC is a better choice.
The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless are better-sounding headphones than the JBL E65BTNC Wireless. They also have better battery life and have a few customization options inside their companion app. However, they might feel a bit light on bass, which the JBLs aren't. Also, the E65BTNC have a better noise cancelling feature which makes them more versatile for commuting and at the office. They also feel slightly more comfortable and better-built, and they also have an in-line microphone that should perform better for calls.
The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 are better mixed-usage headphones than the Sony WH-CH700N. Both headphones sound great, but the Go 810 are a bit more neutral and sound less sibilant. They also perform more consistently between different humans and reseats. While their ANC feature isn’t the best, it still outperforms the near-useless one of the CH700N. On the other, the Sony app is more customizable than the Plantronics app, and their battery life is better but takes longer to charge. The Go 810 also have a nice quick charge feature that gives you 3 hours of playback in 10 minutes, and they can connect to two devices simultaneously, which the Sonys can’t do.
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