You may know Plantronics for its wireless office headsets and product support for unified communications. But you may not know that they have amassed a number of consumer products as well, including those they recently launched in the country.
Let us break down for you some of the products they’ve highlighted at the event held at the new Conrad Hotel in Manila.
BackBeat GO 3
For those constantly on-the-go music lovers, the BackBeat GO 3 is something to consider. This wireless Bluetooth earbuds won’t have you wrestling with wires for too long as it just hangs around your neck. It promises high-resolution sound and a cozy fit with its comfort-fit eartips.
You don’t have to worry about sweating on it as you squeeze yourself into the MRT for your commutes as it has a nano-coating made by P2i to protect the earbuds from such things. It has inline controls to let you adjust volume, switch tracks, and even take calls.
Plantronics promises six and a half hours of listening with the earbuds and if you have the portable charging case, you get a total of 13 hours of power. Standby time is rated at up to 14 days. Of course, these conditions are all still dependent on your use. iOS users will be able to see the headset battery meter right from their devices.
If you want to get technical, the BackBeat GO 3 has an HQ custom SBC codec, 6mm custom dynamic drivers, 20-20,000Hz frequency response, 20db passive noise reduction, <3% total harmonic distortion, 102dBSPL/mW @ 1kHz of sensitivity. Charging time takes around two and a half hours. The Bluetooth 3.0 profiles on the BackBEAT GO 3 include Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) 1.2, Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) 1.5, wideband hands-free (HFP) 1.7, and headset (HSP) 1.1. It has an operating distance of up to 33ft or 10m from your mobile device. The BackBeat GO 3 retails for P4,699 and if you want it with the charging case, it retails for P6,099.
BackBeat SENSE
If you’re more into using headphones or are looking for a pair to use in the office, the BackBeat SENSE might be more your speed. This wireless headset can last you through the work day and more as it promises up to 18 hours of non-stop use and it allows you to connect two devices at once. Walking to the far end of the office won’t be an issue either has the BackBeat SENSE promises streaming distance of up to 330ft or 100m. It has controls by the side of the earcups so you no longer need to pick up your mobile device to switch tracks.
Comfort is key as well as the BackBeat SENSE has memory-foam cushions to accompany a self-adjusting headband. We tried the pair on and we can feel that it’s the type to withstand hours upon hours of use. The BackBeat SENSE also offers voice alerts in 14 languages including US and UK English, Cantonese, Danish, EU-French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Russian, EU-Spanish, and Swedish.
Charging time for the Lithium-Ion battery is up to two and a half hours. If you use it less frequently, regular standby time is at 21 days, while DeepSleep mode is at 180 days. The Bluetooth 4.0 technology included in the BackBeat SENSE include Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), A2DP, AVRCP, HFP 1.6 wideband, and HSP 1.2. You can buy a pair in either black or white for P8,895.
BackBeat PRO
For those times you need complete concentration and you just want your perfectly-made playlists to get you to the end of your deadline, the BackBeat PRO has your, well, back. This wireless noise-canceling headphones promises up to 24 hours of continuous wireless use, in Plantronics’s words, “you’re going to need a longer playlists.”
Just like the SENSE, the PRO promises up to 330ft or 100m courtesy of Bluetooth 4.0 Class 1 technology. This is equipped with controllable Active Noise Canceling (ANC) technology with Digital Signal Processing (DSP). It also comes with spoken alerts available in the previously mentioned languages.
The Bluetooth profiles for the PRO include EDR – A2DP for audio streaming, AVRCP for music controls, HFP 1.6 for wideband, and HSP 1.2. The BackBeat PRO costs P11,990.
BackBeat FIT
Some of us need music for when we step out for a run. Enter the BackBeat FIT. It’s built with the same rugged, sweatproof design with P2i coating and promises to stay in your ears as you move around. It has an IP57 rating so it’s designed to withstand fresh water up to one meter for 30 minutes. The BackBeat FIT’s eartip design directs audio to your ear while letting you hear a bit of your surroundings to keep you safe.
It also comes with on-ear controls so it’ll be easy for you to take calls or change tracks. It comes with a neoprene armband to secure your smartphone and serve as a case for the earphones when you’re done with it. The BackBeat FIT promises heart-thumping bass and crisp highs to keep you pumped and inspired as you go through your workout.
You are promised up to eight hours of listening time, six hours of talk time, and 14 days on standby. It comes with a DeepSleep mode to put the buds into hibernation when it’s away from the phone so you can extend the battery life further. It’s built with Bluetooth 3.0 that as an eight-device memory and promises a wireless range of up to 33ft or 10m. The BackBeat FIT retails for P5,895.
Voyager 5200
The Voyager 5200 is representative of the line of devices you probably know Plantronics for. This Bluetooth headset makes it easy to take calls wherever you are. A demo video shown at the event had various people talking clearly into the Voyager 5200’s mic no matter if they’re inside a noisy bar or office or outside in the busy streets on a rainy day. This headset comes with WindSmart technology to ensure your voice comes through clearly, even outdoors. It also has four-mic active digital signal processing to cancel out any disruptive background noise you might hear.
This Bluetooth headset is designed for all-day comfort and also comes with a sweatproof nano-coating made by P2i so it can take a bit of water. You get a dedicated voice control button and can connect to two phones at once and answer calls from either one. The Voyager 5200 will let you stream music, driving directions, podcasts and many more. The Bluetooth 4.1 profiles you have to thank for that include A2DP, Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP), AVRCP, HFP 1.6, and HSP 1.2. Bluetooth range is up to 98ft or 30m.
Promised talk and standby times for the Voyager 5200 is at seven hours and nine days, respectively. It comes with an optional charging case that can provide up to 14 hours recharging. It takes up to 90 minutes to fully charge this headset. You can see the status of your battery on your Android device via the Plantronics Hub app and on the status bar for iPhone users. The Voyager 5200 costs P5,599.
RIG 500HD
The gaming headset made by Plantronics that we spotted at the event was the RIG 500HD, a 7.1 surround sound PC headset. It’s ready to meet the demands of both casual players and serious e-sports competitors. What’s more is the headset and this line of headphones is endorsed by one of the world’s biggest e-sports companies, ESL. As mentioned, it comes with Dolby 7.1 surround sound for directional 24-bit audio for that high-quality sound you need. It has a USB Dolby adapter option and a noise-canceling boom mic you can flip up to mute.
The RIG 500HD is customizable and will let you swap out components to match your needs, including swapping out isolating cups for a more immersive experience or using open, vented cups for the longer sessions. You can even swap out the flexible headset frame with either translucent or camo color options.
Getting technical, the RIG 500HD has a dynamic 40mm drivers, its frequency response is 20Hz-20kHz, its impedance is at 32Ω, has a 110BSPL/V sensitivity, and has a 40mW maximum input power. Its mic’s frequency response is at 100Hz-10kHz with a -45dBV/Pa sensitivity, uni-directional pickup pattern, and >42dB signal-to-noise ratio. It retails for P3,695. The higher-end RIG 500E has roughly the same specs but comes with both vented and isolating earcup sets and costs P6,995.
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