For a recommended retail price of around $99AUD (July 2012), Plantronics have just released the BackBeat Go, a stereo Bluetooth Headset that also has the ability to answer telephone calls on your iPhone. Best of all, there are no fiddle some cables leading from the headset to the iPhone as the Bluetooth technology wirelessly transmits music and audio. If you have used the official Apple ear buds with your iPhone, the BackBeat Go is a similar premise, however it is wireless thanks to Bluetooth. This means you can take calls with the BackBeat Go and if someone calls, the music will pause.

The headset is also extremely light and although it does look a little different when you first put it on (e.g. it's like you're wearing a necklace connected to your ears), the wireless streaming of the audio is perfect. In terms of comfort, the BackBeat Go comes with three sets of rubber tips which are placed over the ear buds of the headset. These rubber tips or ear cushions are of different sizes, ensuring that the product caters for a variety of different people. The tips are actually quite comfortable and depending on how tight you want them, there is a sense of noise cancelling. If you have any issues in keeping the ear buds in your ears, you can attach the stabiliser to your ear which assists in keeping them in place. Fortunately, we did not need this.

In terms of installation, our iPhone 4S automatically picked up the BackBeat Go without the need to type in a four digit code. To pair your iPhone to the BackBeat Go, all you need to do is go to settings, general and Bluetooth on your phone. Once there, you enable Bluetooth and then pair the device. Installation is completed. To charge the Bluetooth headset, you simply connect the product to your USB port. The charging port on the BackBeat Go is located on the right ear bud which features a micro USB connection that is covered by a small cover. With normal usage, you should get a couple of days out of the earphones and charging took just over a couple of hours.

To turn on the device, you simple hold the power button down on the device which in turn disables the earphones. Navigating music tracks is possible via the device as well which allows you adjust the volume or skip music tracks, just like the Apple earphones. This is done by pushing the + or - for about two seconds to move forward or backward. Turning the earphones up and down is also done through the + and - buttons. In terms of charging, Plantronics have released an app for both Apple and Android devices called MyHeadset which informs you of how much charge is left in the BackBeat Go. It's a handy little app to have.

Whether you're walking down the street or sitting in your chair listening to music or taking phone calls, the BackBeat go worked quite well. One thing that I did notice is that if you have the earphone cable around your neck like a normal necklace, there is some backlash with the cables that interferes slightly, especially when you're walking. If you put them behind your head, this improves the interference but unfortunately it is still noticeable. In relation to audio quality, the BackBeat boasts good audio quality but don't expect for any audio miracles as there is a lack of bass. I would probably say they a little better in terms of quality to the official Apple earphones. The microphone on the device works equally as well and it allows you to be around 6metres away from your iPhone without any interference to the Bluetooth.

Final Thoughts?

Plantronics should be commended on an overall well made product that offers good sound quality and good voice call capabilities. Just be wary that as these are earphones, you need to find the perfect tip in order to make them fit comfortably in your ear. The only drawback is the backlash of interference from the cables when you walk or run. This is a shame as the audio quality is quite decent on BackBeat Go, so unfortunately we had to score the earphones according. Nonetheless, if you own an iPhone, Android Smartphone or even a tablet, the BackBeat Go truly transcends wireless earphones thanks to its Bluetooth technology.

Check it out!

Specifications