Go to Windows 7 Insider GuideAltec Lansing BackBeat 903
Manufacturer: Altec Lansing Part number: 903
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 is a ruggedly constructed, thoughtfully conceived, and sonically impressive stereo Bluetooth headset, but the one-size-fits-all design may disappoint some users.
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CNET editors' review
Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 price range: $64.99 - $99.95
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on: 07/06/2009
- Released on: 07/01/2009
The good: The Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 stereo Bluetooth headphones provide an open, detailed sound, excellent call quality, and a flexible, lightweight fit.
The bad: The thick behind-the-neck cable and ear-hugging design may be uncomfortable to some users and the open nature of the earpiece sacrifices some sonic range compared with a sealed design.
The bottom line: The Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 is a ruggedly constructed, thoughtfully conceived, and sonically impressive stereo Bluetooth headset, but the one-size-fits-all design may disappoint some users.
Bluetooth headphones can be a confusing product to shop for. Some Bluetooth products come as single-ear headsets meant strictly for mobile phone calls, while others are only for music playback. The Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 ($99) offers the best of both worlds, combining music-grade stereo sound with the call quality and features you'd expect from a high-end mobile phone headset. For an extra $30, a BackBeat 906 model is available with a Bluetooth 2.0 transmitter for adapting any audio source with a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack.
As a company, Altec Lansing is uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between Bluetooth headphones and voice-only headsets, drawing on over 70 years of audio experience and the Bluetooth expertise of the Plantronics Corporation, which acquired Altec Lansing in 2005.
Design
The BackBeat 903 is composed of two earpieces connected by an 8-inch, soft rubber cable that runs behind the neck. Just like competing headsets from Motorola and Jaybird, each earpiece wraps up and over the back of the ear and is held in place with a slight pinching tension. The headphone fit is also helped by asymmetrically shaped silicone ear tips that hug the opening of the ear canal. All that pinching and hugging may sound uncomfortable, but the BackBeat 903 is actually one of the most lightweight and unobtrusive stereo headsets we've ever tested. They're not quite as invisible as the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800, but at half the price, the difference is negligible. Also, unlike the Sony Ericsson headset, the ear tips on the BackBeat are deliberately designed to allow ambient sound to filter in, making them safer to use outdoors and eliminating the low-frequency rumble that can be heard while walking or jogging with in-ear headphones that seal the ear canal.
Just because the BackBeats aren't designed to seal your ears off from external sounds doesn't mean Altec Lansing spent any less time designing them for a snug fit. In fact, the BackBeat 903 is the first stereo headset we've seen that has earpieces that can both rotate and extend up and down for improved comfort.
As much as we appreciate all the design nuances of the BackBeat 903, there are a few elements that some people won't be thrilled with. For example, those with sensitive ears may dislike the way the BackBeat's earpieces wrap over the top of the ear and place two 0.25-inch thick slabs of rubber-coated plastic against their heads. Also, with no way to adjust the length of the cable running behind your neck, we were occasionally annoyed with the way it caught our shirt collar.
Features
Altec Lansing conveniently packs all the controls for the BackBeat 903's call answering and music features onto the left and right earpieces. On the outside of the left earpiece, you'll find a single, relatively large call answer button placed parallel with the ear. A single press of the call answer button picks up incoming calls, while a longer press sends the call to voice mail.
Controls for playing and pausing music are placed similarly on the right earpiece, with an additional switch on the bottom edge of the earpiece for controlling volume and track skip. Holding down the BackBeat's play button for a few seconds engages a bass boost feature that emphasizes lower frequencies, but has a tendency to sound overdriven.
The BackBeat's music controls conform to the AVRCP Bluetooth standard, allowing the headset to communicate remotely with other AVRCP-compatible devices. Popular Bluetooth music devices such as the iPhone and iPod Touch, unfortunately, recognize only the play and pause features of AVRCP and are unresponsive to track-skip controls using Bluetooth.
Performance
The Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 isn't the best sounding, best fitting, or best looking stereo Bluetooth headset we've tested, but it strikes an impressive all-around balance. Calls sound natural and the microphone was sensitive and nuanced enough to prevent us from shouting like a lunatic. Music quality is about what you'd expect from a decent pair of $50 on-ear headphones: an open sound with good clarity, but lacking the dramatic lows offered by over-ear cans and sound-isolating in-ear headphones. But while the sealed-ear design of a headset such as the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 offers a more dramatic and private sound, the BackBeat 903 is a better choice for active users who prefer not to be shut off from the outside world.
As the closest competitor to the BackBeat 903 in terms of design, price, sound, and features, the Jaybird JB-200i distinguishes itself with a tapered earpiece design and a thinner cable connection that some may find more comfortable than the Altec Lansing design. When push comes to shove, however, we'll give the advantage to Altec Lansing for its more intuitive on-ear controls.
Altec Lansing rates the battery life of the BackBeat 903 at 7 hours of continuous music playback or talk time. A charging adapter with a lengthy cable and interchangeable prongs for foreign sockets is included.
User reviews
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Do the job but not designed to fliter ambient noise
by Techie_Jr on May 29, 2009
Pros: Durable design
Designed to look like a regular pair of headphones instead of ones to be uses w/ a phone
Stay put on your ears, even when active
Sound is very clear & can go very loud
Call quality is goodCons: Would be nice if they came w/ a case
Hard to get used to putting them on
Can be a bit uncomfortable if not adjusted properly
Do not block outside noiseSummary: Been using these headphones for a couple weeks now. I like them but wanted to make sure the world knows they AREN'T designed to block out ambient noise.
Design: ...Summary: Been using these headphones for a couple weeks now. I like them but wanted to make sure the world knows they AREN'T designed to block out ambient noise.
Design: Very durable construction. The way they hook over your ears means they will definitely stay in place while running or working out. I used them while jogging and had no problems. The telescoping design of the ear buds can be hard to get used to. They pretty much lock in place after you set them but if you adjust them too close to your ears they'll make them sore. They also can be a bit ackward to put on... especially when first using them. Controls are easy to get used to w/ a rocker that allows you to adjust volume/skip tracks, one button dedicated to play/pause and another for answering calls. If you press the button to pause the music the mic turns on to enhance ambient noise. A feature I kinda like but kinda don't because if you forget you did it and take the headphones off, it drains the battery.
Sound: Sound quality is very clear, both when listening to music and receiving calls. Though there is no boom for a mic, I have received no complaints regarding being able to hear me or that the wind is loud in the speaker on a breezy day. There are approximately 12 steps for the volume, with the headset making a chime that matches the level you're on: higher pitched chimes for louder volume, lower pitched for softer. As I mentioned before, these headphones don't filter out ambient noise so they are best used for people who appreciate that feature: People who jog on the streets or do things where they need an idea of what's going on around them (i.e. if you're at work). The only real way to filter out ambient noise is by increasing the volume really high, which isn't good for your ears. The range for the headsets is average.
Overall: I'd recommend the headphones as the sound is very clear and you hear calls through both ears. As long as you don't expect them to block outside noise, you'll be please with the product.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Do NOT sweat on these headphones!
by KMcLachlan1 on September 10, 2009
Pros: Form
Features (except for iPod track skip - Apple's fault not Altec)
Weight
Ease of set-upCons: Will basically stop working if you sweat on them
Any music with bass will result in major distortionSummary: I would not recommend buying these headphones if you plan to use them running or biking. Mine worked fine for about 3 sessions and then just stopped altogether. I returned ...
Summary: I would not recommend buying these headphones if you plan to use them running or biking. Mine worked fine for about 3 sessions and then just stopped altogether. I returned them to Altec (who was very accomodating) and received a replacement. The same exact thing happened with the replacement set.
If not for this issue I would give them very high marks - especially considering the limited competition in this space.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Lousy controls
by rsawoseyin on November 21, 2009
Pros: Light to carry, nice-fitting, durable and non-irritating ear buds.
Cons: Poor controls design. Overpriced.
Summary: Controls are not intuitive. Best designs of BT headsets I've seen have all controls on one side. When some are on the right and some on the left you ...
Summary: Controls are not intuitive. Best designs of BT headsets I've seen have all controls on one side. When some are on the right and some on the left you sometimes forget where the one you want is!
The slider volume control on mine does not work. In any case it looks and feels really fragile. -
Terrible Call Quality
by uberjer on November 9, 2009
Pros: Comfortable fit. Decent looks. What I hear in the headphones sounds good.
Cons: I have it paired with an iPhone 3GS. I sound terrible to the people I call. They describe it as garbled and muffled.
Summary: I'm not sure if it's the headset or the pairing with the iPhone that makes it sound so terrible. You may have better luck.
Summary: I'm not sure if it's the headset or the pairing with the iPhone that makes it sound so terrible. You may have better luck.
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BackBeat 903 is a good bluetooth that need adjusting.
by PIMG on October 27, 2009
Pros: Overall the backBeat 903 sound is very good for listening to music Inside or outside. Also voice calls are very good in a quiet room, or outside. I like the design of the head set, the way it fits around that ear, the adjustment of volume control.
Cons: The BackBeat 903 needs to have an option to plug in a mike. When in a room with loud conversation it's hard for the person on the receiving end of the call to hear you. Also the wire behind the ear needs to be adjustable.
Summary: The BackBeat 903 is a good bluetooth, but need some ajustments. The option to have a clip on mike would improve the transmission of your voice when in a loud ...
Summary: The BackBeat 903 is a good bluetooth, but need some ajustments. The option to have a clip on mike would improve the transmission of your voice when in a loud area.The side mikes are good in quiet or opened areas not in loud closed end areas. The bluetooth signal gets weaker when having to go through several walls, so the signal of 300 feet turns into 100 feet ,But reconnecting to your phone is very easy.Talk time is excellent.The Battery recharge is rapid.
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Nice concept bt my 2nd replacement pr jst stpped wking
by lyric35 on September 11, 2009
Pros: nice design, clear sound and easy controls when it works
Cons: with no warning both pairs just stopped working for no reason. The red light is solid before trying a reset so plugging in and performing a reset kept the red light on but with no other result.
Summary: wait until they design a better model....
Summary: wait until they design a better model....
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I like them, and don't know why people complain
by JMKleinBBK on August 16, 2009
Pros: Fit nice (once you get them adjusted to you)
Not bulky
Easy to use
Controls on the device
Good sound quality
Good call quality (both ends)Cons: Skipped on me a few times, but not like the S9
Summary: I like these a lot. I spent many hours a day, many days a week, and many weeks a month trying to find the best stereo bluetooth headset. I looked ...
Summary: I like these a lot. I spent many hours a day, many days a week, and many weeks a month trying to find the best stereo bluetooth headset. I looked at so many my head was spinning. Meanwhile, I have used the S9 from Motorola, and I was not impressed. I mainly use BTHS for my PS3 and iPhone's iPod. I don't use them for calls often, but have been told they sound great on the other end. I actually bought these off my neighbor, he bought them for $100+ and I got them for $40. He isn't the BT kind of guy, and I needed them to play CODWAW on PS3. So he let me borrow them and I have had them for two months. I finally asked him if he would sell them to me because I needed my own pair, and didn't want to shell out the money for brand new ones (whey when these are in perfect condition). I don't know why everyone has complained about them, I find them to be darn good. The volume isn't "shatter your ear drums" loud, but I have used them while running, shopping, and many other things and hear them find. I actually have to turn them down to hear people talking to me. I would definitely recommend this product to a friend. Hope this review is helpful. Good luck in your BT search.
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Poor sound and crackle, cool features that didn't work.
by ravenquest on August 11, 2009
Pros: Very comfortable with intuitive controls
Cons: Poor sound quality, crackle in the background, stopped working after 15 min, doesnt work as headphones for iphone 2G.
Summary: I was very excited about this product and read the good reviews on it. I got it paired to my computer quicker than my iphone and had it working in ...
Summary: I was very excited about this product and read the good reviews on it. I got it paired to my computer quicker than my iphone and had it working in itunes almost immediately. The sound quality shocked me to how bad it was. I am not a sound snob by any means, I even think the stock headphones that came with my iphone were fine despite everyone else hating them. The sound was hollow and flat and there was a crackle that persisted the entire time I used them.
I'd like to retract most of the negative things in the previous review I wrote. I was so dismayed that after such amazing reviews on this headset that I could have had such a poor experience with it so I kept reading more reviews and info about it. Before i returned it for good I pulled it out one more time and plugged it in to see if it would charge or turn on. Low and behold it worked.
The controls were nice and very intuitive. I was forwarding through tracks and adjusting volume easily and even the pairing wasn't that bad. Unfortunately i found out little too late that the Iphone 2G doesn't support bluetooth audio and I bought this one rather than the one with the adapter.
After spending a frustrating 15 min restarting and re-pairing them to try to get better sound quality I turned to using them for Skype. Again they disappointed as they were not reliable. Seconds into the test calls the headset dropped connection and errors popped up.
I would have love to test it out more but then it ceased working all together and would not shut off or turn back on and even the charger failed to get the status light back on.
According to other reviews I found the crackle and this failing to power on again are not isolated incidents with my set. I am returning them tomorrow.
Updated on Aug 22, 2009
I read a review by someone else that said s a bug happens where it freezes up and you just have to plug it in and hard reset it as it says in the manual. It worked.
I have been playing with it for about a week and I LOVE it. The sound quality issues I was having was due to my computer playing music through Headset mode, not headphones mode. I bought a Sony bluetooth transmitter (TMR-BT8iP) for my iphone 2G and it works amazing. Great sound quality and easy to use.
I still get a bit of crackle when playing from my mac but otherwise this is the best BT headset/headphones out there. -
Perfect for the mover and shaker to stay connected!
by Magamus on July 17, 2009
Pros: Comfortable fit, non-obtrusive cord around neck, easy and intuitive controls, sound quality is great, can be active and not have them fall out, battery life!
Cons: Small so can be easily lost, takes a little bit to get a comfortable fit, does not recognize track skip with iphone.
Summary: I've had this headset for about a week, and have been loving everything about them! Whether I am driving or walking down the street, I have been able to ...
Summary: I've had this headset for about a week, and have been loving everything about them! Whether I am driving or walking down the street, I have been able to hear everything around me or get lost in my music without having outside sounds barge in and ruin it. When I make calls, everyone sounds very clear to me and as long as I keep my voice at conversational levels people do not seem to have a problem hearing me. In the car, however, a couple people have told me that it sounds like there is an echo or someone else in the car with me. I have not tried this headset in a truly noisy environment such as near construction, but I assume most headsets would have a problem with such an environment.
I am a little disappointed that the headset will not recognize track skipping for my iphone, but that is more of an iphone problem than the headset itself so I don't find that too big of a problem. One other complaint is the charger cover (the little rubber grommet that covers the charge port) - that broke off the very first time I tried to unplug the headset from the charger. I can put it back in but it snapped off easily. I figure dust isn't so bad, but that is the one part that felt somewhat cheap.
I find that I can wear this headset for about 4 hours before my ears start to hurt but I'm sure others' mileage will vary. All button controls are responsive and easily placed. The only thing I would have changed is to switch the sides each button set is on (it is set up that the call button is on the left and music on the right) but that is also not a deal killer. The fact that Altec Lansing is a great name for speakers, and the Plantronics microphone teamed up was the selling point in my eyes (and ears!). The fit is nice and does not catch on my shirts (collared and non-collared) as the editor review said - I can barely feel the cord at all! I can whip my head around and nothing will move out of place
All in all, I am very happy with this headset. I also looked into the Jaybird but found that these were cheaper and a better overall fit for my use. These feel more rugged like I can man-handle them without breaking anything important. I highly recommend for those who do not want to stuff their ears closed, want a comfortable fit and ease of use! -
My voice sounds "tinny" over headset
by boilerman7 on July 11, 2009
Pros: It is comfortable, and when listening to phone calls or to music it has great sound. It also has long battery life.
Cons: My voice sounds like I am talking from a tin can
Summary: Due to a complaint from a friend of mine about the sound of my voice over the headset, I put the Altec Lansing 903 headset "through the paces".
I listened ...Summary: Due to a complaint from a friend of mine about the sound of my voice over the headset, I put the Altec Lansing 903 headset "through the paces".
I did one more test with the headset, I established a link between the 903, and my computer, so that I would be using my bluetooth headset for chat. As it turns out, the headset is just FINE. The problem is that the Blackberry 8330 has "issues" with the headset.
I listened to music from my Blackberry 8330 over the headset. While the music was not loud, the sounds was pretty good. I did notice about a half to 1 second delay from the time that I hit the pause button on the headset, and the time that it took for the music to actually start or stop.
I also placed calls out over the headset. I noticed that even though the bluetooth link was established between the 903 and the Blackberry, if I pressed the button on the phone to place a call, the call was not directed to the headset, but kept at the phone. Only when I pressed the button on the headset did the calls go to/from the headset. I never ran into this issue with a Jawbone.
The most disconcerting thing about the headset is the sound of my voice over the headset. To determine the true sound quality out of the headset, I called my answering service and sent an extended voice mail to myself while driving my car with the air conditioner at full blast. I drove at speeds from 0-60+ MPH. My voice was distorted and "tinny".
While I love the long talk / music time on the headset, I am bothered by how I sound to others since I need to be able to "present" myself well to others as a part of my business.
Updated on Jul 11, 2009
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Altec Lansing
- Part number: 903
- Description: The BackBeat series of stereo headphones with mic provide a superior on-the-go listening experience, delivering outstanding sound quality and clear, convenient communications. Hear your outside world with a quick tap of the OpenMic button or enhance your music using bass-boost feature. The wireless and truly comfortable BackBeat 903 headphones deliver rich, full-spectrum stereo music and Plantronics dual-mic AudioIQ voice technology for exceptional call clarity.
General
- Product Type Headphones - Bluetooth
- Weight 12 oz
- Additional Features Bass Boost
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Behind-the-neck
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth
- Bluetooth Profiles Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 80 - 12000 KHz
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio 10 dB
- Sensitivity 91 dB/Watt
- Impedance 17 Ohm
- Diaphragm 0.6 in
Microphone
- Type Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type Bluetooth
Power
- Power Device None
Product series
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Manufacturer: Altec Lansing
Specs: Headphones, Behind-the-neck, 12 oz, Stereo, Bass Boost
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Manufacturer: Altec Lansing
Specs: Headphones, Behind-the-neck, 12 oz, Stereo, Bass Boost
Manufacturer info
- Altec Lansing
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Altec Lansing products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.alteclansing.com/
- Address:
535 Route 6 & 209, Milford, PA 18337-0277 - Phone: 1-866-570-5702
- Fax: 1-570-296-6887
