Plantronics BackBeat 903+ Headset
Manufacturer: Plantronics, Inc. Part number: 8250008
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Plantronics BackBeat 903+ certainly has more features than its predecessor, but the rest of the design suffers from the same problems.
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CNET editors' review
Plantronics BackBeat 903+ Headset price range: $39.95 - $74.99
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 02/16/2011
The good: The Plantronics BackBeat 903+ offers decent music playback quality and a design that is best suited for workouts. Improved features include voice alerts and a battery meter on the iPhone.
The bad: The Plantronics BackBeat 903+ has a behind-the-neck design that may not suit everyone. We also experienced subpar call quality.
The bottom line: The Plantronics BackBeat 903+ certainly has more features than its predecessor, but the rest of the design suffers from the same problems.
Even though stereo Bluetooth headsets have been around for a while, they haven't always been of the highest caliber. Thankfully, a few companies stepped up to change that, as Altec Lansing did in 2009 with the BackBeat 903. It was one of the best stereo Bluetooth headsets we'd ever tested, thanks to the music-grade stereo sound. We were a little disappointed by the overall fit of the headset, however.
Since then, Plantronics has sold Altec Lansing and released the product as the BackBeat 903+. The company also upgraded the 903+ to Bluetooth version 2.1, with new features that include voice alerts, a visual battery indicator when paired with an iPhone, and slightly redesigned earbuds. Overall sound quality continues to be top-notch, but we wouldn't say the same for the call quality. The BackBeat 903+ retails for $99.99.
Design
The BackBeat 903+ is really not that much different from the BackBeat 903 in terms of design, so forgive us if a lot of this sounds like déjà vu. The headset consists of two earpieces connected by an 8-inch soft rubber cable that runs behind the neck. Each of the earpieces wraps up and over the back of the ear. The ear tips on the BackBeat 903+ are the same as on the BackBeat 903. The silicone ear tips are asymmetrically shaped with a bit of a spout that is meant to be fitted at the opening of the ear canal.
Ideally, it should fit snugly and tightly to prevent the headset from falling off in the middle of a run. The earpieces can even rotate and extend up and down for a better fit. Unfortunately, this didn't quite work out for us--perhaps due to our small ears, the earpiece just felt loose no matter what we tried. However, our colleagues had a different experience, so your mileage may vary here. The ear tips are also deliberately designed to allow ambient sound, so that the headset is safer to use outdoors while you're running around.
With the BackBeat 903+, Plantronics redesigned the earbuds slightly. The plastics that hold the earbud in place are now melded on the outer piece of the headset, while the older 903 mesh seams were flush against the head. According to Plantronics, the older model allowed more sweat to seep into the seams, which isn't good. The newer 903+ model should be more durable as a result.
Features
The controls of the BackBeat 903+ are identical to those of its predecessor, so we'll point you to our review of the Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 for more details. Like the BackBeat 903, the 903+ supports the AVRCP Bluetooth profile that lets the headset act as a remote control when paired with an AVRCP-compatible device. Thankfully, the iPhone and iPod Touch have since received a firmware update that permits these functions, so you can now easily use these devices with the BackBeat 903+.
Aside from the basic player functions, the BackBeat 903+ can of course also answer, end, and reject calls. It performs other Bluetooth headset features like last-number redial and voice command support. Additional features of the BackBeat 903+ include voice alerts that will inform you of the time, volume level, connection status, and more. It also has an OpenMic button that lets you hear the outside world. Like the Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus, it will display a visual headset battery meter when paired with an iPhone.
Performance
We paired the Plantronics BackBeat 903+ with the Apple iPhone 4. Music quality was pretty decent--sound was clean and clear, and the bass effect did add some oomph to most songs. It's not quite as good as more sound-isolating earphones, but it's good enough for everyday use.
We didn't experience great call quality. While incoming sound was loud and clear, outgoing sound did not fare so well. Callers said we sounded much softer than usual, and static seemed more pronounced. When we stopped using the headset and switched back to the phone, callers said quality improved quite dramatically. The call quality wasn't terrible per se, but it was definitely not as good as we expected.
The Plantronics BackBeat 903+ has up to 7 hours of continuous music playback or talk time, and 7 days of standby time. It comes with an AC adapter plus a mesh storage pouch.
User reviews
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Excellent for music playback, works great with iphone 4
by GinRummys on September 17, 2011
Pros: Having tried multiple bt headsets of all styles this is the absolute best so far. It is very comfortable to wear and stays in even my goofy shaped ears. The sound quality is easily as good as my Sennheiser HD435 muff type headphones. I have had no trouble
Cons: I paid $99.99 in Edmonton, Alberta. Our dolllar has been on par with the American for over a year now, why are we still paying double for everything? Free trade my ass.
This is my only con. All the others I have seen here are simply either not true or theSummary: In closing, this is a near perfect unit. I used to view Plantronics products as mid to lower range in quality and price but this has obliterated that in my ...
Summary: In closing, this is a near perfect unit. I used to view Plantronics products as mid to lower range in quality and price but this has obliterated that in my mind. They have gone way beyond the quality and usability of all other competitors. They don't block out ambient sounds as they advertise, which is a huge plus as far as I'm concerned. I wear them while driving and at work and need to be able to hear my surroundings for safety reasons and this product is perfect for that. If you want to block out the outside world buy some painful ear buds and deafen yourself.
My text in the cons has been mysteriously chopped. What I had fully written was; This is my only con. All the others I have seen here are simply either not true or the limitations of Bluetooth technology or the phone you have paired with. They work just fine while you are moving around within the 30' range of BT. If your voice sounds tinny blame your phone or the receiving one, the headset mic works great.
Updated on Sep 17, 2011
I am unhappy with the price differences within North America and yet I believe I paid a fair price for what I got. I paid the same for a motorola single ear clip-on style that absolutely sucked as well as a motorola sun visor clip-on that was garbage as well. Bravo Plantronics.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent headset!
by NearlyMad on December 29, 2011
Pros: Very good sound (not excellent). Easy and convenient controls. The voice messages for remaining listening time and battery are great. Very comfortable and not heavy. Love the earpiece. Works flawlessly with iPhone. Really like the long battery life.
Cons: The music occasionally has 'skips'.
Summary: Definitely worth the price. Love the headset.
Summary: Definitely worth the price. Love the headset.
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Great quality and value for money
by padmchugh on December 26, 2011
Pros: Works perfectly with my iPad, iPhone 4s and Laptop, great sound quality
Cons: Would prefer ear buds but that just my preference
Summary: Best accessory I have bought for my apple devices, would recommend to anyone
Summary: Best accessory I have bought for my apple devices, would recommend to anyone
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Great BT Headset
by jaymal1 on July 15, 2011
Pros: Good sound quality for BT, amazing battery life.
Cons: Can drop out if phone not in your left pocket.
Summary: Worked amazing for me at ISU and thats a fairly wide open campus.
Summary: Worked amazing for me at ISU and thats a fairly wide open campus.
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Great sound quality, very discrete & comfortable.
by Willie Snyder on June 3, 2011
Pros: Sound quality
Comfort
Doesn't make you look like a dweeb
Improved talk capabilities (over the 903)Cons: Battery life could be better
These are a little heavier than the old 903
Controls not quite as intuitive as the old 903Summary: All in all, these are the best bluetooth headphones on the market for listening to music or books. I have these plugged into my head at least 5 hours a ...
Summary: All in all, these are the best bluetooth headphones on the market for listening to music or books. I have these plugged into my head at least 5 hours a day listening to music or books through my Droid while I'm at work. The sound is clear as a bell, the battery lasts about 7 hours (of constant playback...days and days on standby).
I have an old pair of 903s as a backup, and this version is a step forward from those (especially if you want to actually talk to people using the microphone...the 903+ is much improved in those regards). These seem better constructed, but weigh a bit more as a tradeoff (my old pair made it through a washing and drying cycle though, and still works like a charm).
I've had other headsets that hang off your ears like something you'd use to contact aliens, and the 903s are barely visible if you have longer hair like mine.
Highly recommended, and I'll be purchasing another set as soon as I wear these out. -
Awsome stereo bluetooth
by efromks on May 28, 2011
Pros: I can answer calls, I can listen to music and I can talk with my friends, just awsome
Cons: I can lose the conection easy if I go to the streets sometimes even with my cellphone neart but it connects fast though, I have to fix them to fit my ears everytime
Summary: If you love to listen to music and talk on the phone, this is a perfect bluetooth
Summary: If you love to listen to music and talk on the phone, this is a perfect bluetooth
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excellent sound, easy to use controls
by medicrob1 on May 22, 2011
Pros: I like the size and weight of the device. They are easy to pair and once you have the ear buds fitted right they give superb sound with easy to use playback controls and volume. I especially like the pause control with the open mike.
Cons: The only issue I've had was getting the ear buds to fit right. It takes a few times to get them to fit just right but once that is done they have great sound and stay on even when sweaty.
Summary: Overall I have really enjoyed the wireless function ability of bluetooth headsets and have tried a few different kinds, but I always come back to the backbeat. I believe that ...
Summary: Overall I have really enjoyed the wireless function ability of bluetooth headsets and have tried a few different kinds, but I always come back to the backbeat. I believe that it gives the best fit,sound and function ability of many of the other types of headsets. I also really like the new voice over commands that you have included this time. I would highly recommended this product to anyone.
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Great Headphones. I Love them.
by vivek_vicky on May 3, 2011
Pros: Crisp and clear sound with Bass boost feature, Lovely controls and a great battery backup.
Cons: Might be uncomfortable for the first timers, but they would get used to wearing them in a while. Plantronics could have included the USB cable with the standard package.
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GREAT product. Works well for me.
by newliberty26 on March 29, 2011
Pros: Sounds GREAT. I needed something wireless for work because the wires of my earbuds were always getting caught on things.
Cons: I had to re-pair it with my iPhone 4 3 days later because the connection became poor and it would skip. However, afterwards it was fine.
Summary: It's perfect for what I need it for.
Summary: It's perfect for what I need it for.
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Very comfortable headset. Good sound quality.
by mchagaris on February 26, 2011
Pros: unobtrusive design and good battery life. It was very easy to hook up to iPhone.
Cons: I really wish the maximum volume could be louder. I listen to music when I cut my grass and I don't think this can put out enough sound to overpower the volume of the lawn mower
Summary: It's still too soon to tell.
Summary: It's still too soon to tell.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Plantronics, Inc.
- Part number: 8250008
- Description: The Plantronics Backbeat 903+ is great for workouts, commutes, or just chilling out at home. Immerse yourself in rich audio streamed from your iPhone, smartphone or Bluetooth-enabled MP3 player. There's even an iPhone battery meter. Wherever you enjoy listening to your music, never miss a beat or a call with easy-touch button controls. The voice alerts also let you know the status on battery, music track forward and back, mute, out of range and more. With three levels of size adjustment you can find a perfect comfortable fit for whatever you're doing, and the ruggedized, flexible design lets you toss it in a gym bag or stow it in the handy carry pouch.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- Weight 1.2 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone,
Portable audio system - Additional Features AudioIQ,
Dual microphones,
Built-in DSP,
Noise canceling circuit,
Bass Boost Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear ear-bud (with behind-the-neck mount)
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- Bluetooth Profiles Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP),
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP),
Secure Simple Pairing (SSP),
Hands Free Profile (HFP),
Headset Profile (HSP) - Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 80 - 12000 Hz
- Sensitivity 91 dB
- Impedance 17 Ohm
- Diaphragm 0.6 in
Microphone
- Type Built-in
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type Bluetooth
Power
- Power Device None
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
- Run Time (Up To) 7 hour(s)
- Standby Time 168 hour(s)
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Plantronics, Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Plantronics, Inc.
- Address:
345 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060 - Phone: 1-831-426-5858
- Fax: 831-426-6098
