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Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500 headphones: music that runs with you

Music and fitness connected us… Almost every businessman can say this, and also many students, bright representatives of modeling agencies and even active pensioners. Some go out for a jog, some do some serious rocking, and some walk every track in the neighboring park with ski poles. Add to this audience of fans of skiing and biking, and you get quite a respectable audience, which very helpful will be these headphones, working without any wires. Today we are testing sports headphones with microphone Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500, they are wireless, fairly long battery life, waterproof and themselves look pretty. All that remains is to find out how easy they are to use and, most importantly, how well they sound? Well, let’s get started?

Audio equipment

Package and appearance

The BackBeat FIT 500 comes in a stylish turquoise package, complete with “sweaty” earbuds and a poodle weight behind the ajar background. There is no doubt: with such music any weight is up to!

Audio equipment

Plantronics

Inside we found another package, a simpler design, all black cardboard. We saw the whole set: neatly packaged headphones, charging cable and a mini Jack cable, which will be useful for using the headset in wired mode. In our version was attached and a roomy bag, made of non-woven material.

Plantronics makes this model in two colors – Teal see our photos and Black. The main and only difference is the color of the outer part of the arc connecting the speakers. In our version it is a very elegant turquoise gradient. Ah, where are my 17 years!

Audio equipment

Headphones

Plantronics

Plantronics

Headphones themselves are made of high quality plastic – you can feel it as soon as you take them in your hands. The headrest is made of soft leatherette with “poppies” – tiny holes that should increase ventilation and comfort when using a sports headset.

The outer cover on the speakers has a special treatment, similar to the soft touch – it also feels so rubbery and rough, very nice. It is clear, rubber-like surface protects the headphones from moisture.

By the way, P2i waterproofing is one of the main features in the Plantronics Fit Series sports headset. So the BackBeat FIT 500 is not afraid of short-term contact with water. But even this standard does not mean that you can splash around in the pool, stand in the shower for a long time or use these headphones instead of an umbrella. As they say, listen to music, but without fanaticism…

Headphones

Audio equipment

Once assembled BackBeat FIT 500 is very compact, the speakers can be easily rotated into a single plane, and the arcs are extended under the big head, and quickly sliding inside – the only thing left is to put headphones in a sports bag – not much space will not take.

All the main controls: stop play, rewind, on off, volume control, call answer button and ports – are placed on the body speaker. By the way, I found no port plugs in the kit, which, I think, would not be superfluous since the headphones are waterproof! “walled up” for the time of training. Though connectors for USB and mini Jack are located at the bottom, but water will find a hole – it’s not water, it’s drops of sweat… I had to attach a self-made plug from polypropylene.

But that’s just the little things in life. The BackBeat FIT 500 isn’t just a wireless headset, it’s a digital gadget with tons of features.

Plantronics

Audio equipment

Autonomy: a lady in years will not get tangled in wires

Battery lasts for 18 hours on a single charge, according to the manufacturer. But this is a rough estimate, as the actual battery life depends on the strength of the Bluetooth signal and the volume at which you listen to music. In our test, the BackBeat FIT 500 lasted 15.5 hours at maximum volume.

A reasonable question arises: how do you know how much charge is left in the battery if there is no display? Turns out to be very simple: every time you turn it on, a pleasant female voice, albeit in English, informs you about the state of the battery. If the battery runs out completely – no problem, you can switch to wired mode.

Battery, by the way, the headphones in polymer, which guarantees her long life and no memory effect. Full charge takes about an hour and a half. So if you happen to forget to turn them off, don’t fret, they’re not an iron and after a while they go to sleep, which can last up to 6 months. This parameter, though, we have not yet had time to test, but believe me, the process began!J

Plantronics

Bluetooth helps to “pair” The visibility area of the device reaches 10 meters. Too thick walls – like monastery walls of several bricks, the signal will almost certainly drown out quite a bit, but through my paneled 18 cm walls the signal passes through with flying colors, remaining strong and persistent.

This prowess, I think, can be explained by the fact that the BackBeat FIT 500 uses an advanced format – Bluetooth 4.1, HSP 1.2, 1.6, as well as A2DP 1.2, 1.4. It’s the latest wireless technology, including HD Voice. They provide decent sound and no echo when you use them as a headset.

The BackBeat FIT 500 can connect to two devices at once. I, for example, plugged the headphones to my smartphone and laptop and that very evening I saw how convenient this function is: while the mobile is silent, you can listen to music directly from the computer, nodding your head in time, but when your smartphone gets a call, the headphones immediately become a mobile headset – talk as much as you want, without taking your eyes off the screen..

And that’s not all! Headphones can also “pair” with up to eight other devices. What does this mean? Won’t the smaller gadgets come out as a result? They won’t, but after a one-time “pairing” procedure, your smartphone, tablet or computer will automatically find the headphones via Bluetooth – right after you turn them on. Cool service, though!

And it sits well!

There is an opinion that the main thing for sports headphones is how they fit on your head. Well sat, well played and well sung! Rest assured, the BackBeat FIT 500 is up to snuff with this one. Although they’re pretty compact, they fit my short haircut snugly and tenaciously. Of course, I would not have thought to perform any of the break dance, but to shake his head, bend and jump – you can easily. By the way, the headphones have good noise isolation, even at minimum volume the surrounding world is almost not heard. So, be vigilant, do not imitate Anna Karenina, do not wear headphones in high-risk places!

Headphones

Sound quality: the main thing is not to go into the “red zone

I want to outline the “circle of light” right away: in this review we will not talk about the sound at the level of Hi End – not that case. But in a more budget niche devices are in their own way worthy, very comfortable in everyday life.

For sound quality in fitness headphones are responsible 40 mm drivers and a special acoustic system. We tried the Xiomi Redmi 3S, Apple IPhone 5 and Asus Zenbook Prime laptop as sources. After a long listening I can make the following conclusion: in wireless mode all sources sounded almost identical, I didn’t catch a fundamental difference. However, I assume that the music from the laptop may vary slightly, depending on the audio player and its settings sliders.

When selecting songs to listen to, I tried to cover all musical genres – from heavy rock to classical music. Let’s start with the bass. Sound pressure is good, at high volume the speakers did not “babble” – not even a hint. Nice and tight bass, though it lacks a distinct sharpness. I think fans of clean, balanced sound will probably like the BackBeat FIT 500.

In the midrange the hero of the review sounds eminently smooth. The music is transmitted massively, with detailed transmission of the smallest nuances. Sometimes you get the impression that the subtle sounds are everywhere and everywhere, like penetrating radiation, and you float somewhere, enveloped either by music or fog…

But the high frequencies to my taste are somewhat inferior to the other ranges. Until you turn the volume up to full, the overall musical picture still caresses the ear, displacing the vital sensations of mundane vanity. But as soon as you play it from the heart, the musical harmony begins to fall apart. It seemed to me that at the power limit high notes begin to “overheat” and become somewhat obtrusive. Getting into “red zone” I immediately turned down the volume, the upper frequencies became airy again and with it the wonderful coherence of the whole composition.

Speaking of which, the microphone in the BackBeat FIT 500 is decent – you’ll hear almost studio-quality speech on the other end of the line. What the microphone lacks is probably only protection from the wind. Outdoors I have to cover it with my hand to the phone does not hum, whistling and crackling…

Audio equipment

Conclusions

What’s in the bottom line? We have a stylish trendy accessory, in a distinctly youthful style. The price of BackBeat FIT 500 may not be the most liberal, but you get the moisture protection and long battery life, which is enough for the longest and most grueling workout and still on the way home. You can even fall asleep on the same recharge, without tearing yourself away from your favorite music..

Sound quality for its price niche – very decent, and the digital features of headphones would envy other gadgets. So, in my opinion, the price of this model is well weighed. By and large, serious shortcomings in the headset BackBeat FIT 500 could not be found. Not the best high notes at full volume, given the budget price niche, I do not take into account ..

Pros

– Long working time

– Moisture protection

– Good sound quality

– Comfortable and stable seating

Cons

– At maximum volume crumbles high frequencies

– The package includes no waterproof plugs for USB and mini jack

– Price

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John Techno

Greetings, everyone! I am John Techno, and my expedition in the realm of household appliances has been a thrilling adventure spanning over 30 years. What began as a curiosity about the mechanics of these everyday marvels transformed into a fulfilling career journey.

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Comments: 3
  1. Giselle

    These Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500 headphones seem promising for active individuals. However, I’m wondering if they offer a secure fit during intense workouts and if the sound quality is up to par with other headphones in the same price range?

    Reply
    1. Tatum

      The Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500 headphones are indeed a promising choice for active individuals. They offer a secure fit during intense workouts due to their flexible headband and comfortable ear cups that stay in place. The sweat-resistant design further ensures durability during vigorous activities. In terms of sound quality, these headphones deliver impressive performance, comparable to other headphones in the same price range. The 40mm drivers produce clear and well-balanced sound with good bass response. Additionally, the on-ear controls allow easy access to music and call management while exercising. Overall, if you’re looking for headphones that offer a secure fit and decent sound quality for your workouts, the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500 headphones are definitely worth considering.

      Reply
  2. Grace Kelley

    Are Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500 headphones suitable for intense workouts? Can they withstand sweat and movement without compromising sound quality?

    Reply
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