4 out of 5 stars (Editor’s Choice)
PROS
Affordable. Crisp high-mids and highs with full low-mids. Comfortable. Includes carrying pouch and 3.5mm cable for passive listening.
CONS
Sub-bass response could be stronger.
BOTTOM LINE
The Plantronics BackBeat 500 offer surprisingly good audio quality for sub-$100 Bluetooth headphones.
The price for very good wireless headphone performance usually falls around $150 to $200. If you can spend that much, there are several excellent choices, like the Marshall Mid Bluetooth. The pickings are much slimmer below the $100 line, and that makes the Plantronics BackBeat 500 so surprising. These $79.99 headphones are comfortable to wear, friendly on the wallet, and deliver audio performance comparable with options that cost twice as much. They don't offer the slick style or powerful sub-bass as our pricier picks, but what you get is still impressive enough to earn Editor's Choice for under-$100 Bluetooth on-ear headphones.
Design
While not quite as stylish as the BackBeat Sense, the BackBeat 500 headphones (available in gray, dark gray, and white versions) look and feel surprisingly well-constructed for the price. The earcups and headband are covered in a smooth, matte plastic on the outside, with faux-leather-wrapped memory foam for the earpads and the underside of the headband. The arms connecting the earcups to the headband are metal, with distinct click stops for adjusting fit.
The left and right earcups are clearly labeled with large, distinct letters printed on the fabric under each earpad. The left earcup features rubber-covered membrane buttons for play/pause and track navigation on the back panel, and a volume rocker on the back edge. A micro USB port for charging, along with a 3.5mm port for wired use (cables are included for both, along with a fabric carrying bag), sit on the bottom edge of the left earcup. The right earcup holds the power switch, which also activates Bluetooth pairing mode, and a voice assistant button that works with your connected smartphone or tablet, along the back and bottom edge.
Fit and Features
The headphones weigh just 5.6 ounces, and thanks to the memory foam on the earcups, feel very comfortable on the head. You won't experience any fatigue from weight or pinching over long listening sessions, though as on-ear headphones they don't block out as much noise as over-ear pairs like the BackBeat PRO 2 (which also feature active noise cancellation).
Plantronics says the BackBeat 500 can play music or handle phone calls for up to 18 hours on a charge, though that will vary depending on your volume levels. The headphones also have a Deep Sleep hibernation mode that will preserve the battery for up to six months if they're left out of range of a paired device. They can also be used in passive, wired mode with the included cable without any battery power at all.
Audio Performance
The headphones handle deep bass quite wel. On our bass test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," neither the bass synth notes or kick drum hits distort even at maximum volume. There's have an appreciable amount of force behind them, but it isn't so powerful as to be dangerous at the highest volume levels. They don't reach as deep into the sub-bass realm as the pricier JBL E55BT, which limits the impact of the beat somewhat. However, just playing this track without even a hint of crackle is an impressive feat in this price range.
The acoustic guitar notes in the opening to Yes' "Roundabout" show the BackBeat 500's capable high frequency response. The texture of the string plucks come through clearly, though not quite as cleanly as the more expensive Marshall Mid Bluetooth. The electric bassline sounds poppy and punchy, and the vocals retain their prominence in the mix. On less capable headphones, the texture of the acoustic strings can get lost or the electric bass can sound anemic, but neither is the case with the BackBeat 500.
Mick Gordon's arrangement of "The Instinct," (the theme to Killer Instinct), sounds energetic and powerful. While the steady, driving drums don't reach quite as deep into the lower frequencies as we've heard elsewhere, they're still very punchy and full of force, and the signature guitar riff cuts through the hammering beats to stay at the front of the mix. When the drums drop out in the middle of the track for an atmospheric interlude, the ethereal guitar notes are crisp and not remotely muddy. The sound is comparable with the excellent, though aging, Jabra Move Wireless$99.99 at Amazon, which is slightly more expensive and doesn't include a carrying pouch.
Powerwolf's "Sanctified With Dynamite" also sounds excellent through the BackBeat 500. The power metal track is dense with guitar, drums, and shouted vocals, which all combine for an epic, operatic sound. When the guitars drop out for the lead-in to the chorus, the vocal chanting and steady kick drum hits are forceful and clear.
Conclusions
The Plantronics BackBeat 500 headphones are impressive for $80. They don't boast the style of the BackBeat Sense or the noise cancellation of the BackBeat PRO 2, but they're less than half the price of either pair and deliver clean, full sound with a light, comfortable fit. You should prepare to spend significantly more if you want greater sub-bass performance, though the JBL Reflect Mini BT is an excellent in-ear Bluteooth alternative. For budget on-ear wireless, however, the BackBeat 500 headphones won't disappoint, and earn our Editors' Choice.