Listening to music, isn’t that something we all do? Some prefer in-ear, others prefer on/over ear headphones… There probably is a difference in which case you’d use which type of headphones; the Plantronics BackBeat 305 are in-ear Bluetooth headphones made for the running peeps, like me, cough. During the six-week timeframe I’ve been testing the headphones I started to like them, but whether that’s enough to win my attention, you’ll need to read right on.
Plantronics BackBeat 305 review
Today I’ll write down my final verdict about the Plantronics BackBeat 305 in-ear headphones – Plantronics latest range of reasonably priced in-ear Bluetooth headphones. They look pretty good if you were to ask me, but is it worth its price tag?
Specifications
Bluetooth Version: 4.1
Speaker Driver size: 6mm
Weight: 14 grams
Water protection (IP): IPx5 rating
Useable range: 10m/33ft.
Design
Honestly, this is a difficult part to discuss. There’s not a whole lot I can compare this one with, so let’s just start by saying: pick the color that’s right for you. My first pair with a lime green color had some issues (which weren’t there on my second pair, so that was great), and my second pair was a color combo with black and white. That’s the most business-like color, and I’d say that’s exactly what I needed.
The BackBeat 305’s are meant to be used while running or other sporty activities, which is simply something you can see when looking at the design. The headphones come with (really rather effective) ear hooks, which also add to that look. At last, there’s the reflective fabric that’s woven into the neckband of the headphones. They say that should make it safer to sport at night, but honestly, it doesn’t really have such big of an effect.
What you could say about the BackBeat 305’s is that Plantronics kept the design minimal, adding in some ‘special’ colors, and that’s that. This makes the headphones also really usable for indoor use, or whenever you’d like some in-ear Bluetooth headphones.
Oh, before I forget it… The big and chunky control bar, I don’t know what to think about it. What I do know is that all the battery capacity is in there, so it isn’t exactly surprising. But saying that it looks good goes a bit too far.
Performance
I didn’t know what to expect to begin with as there were close to none reviews available online about the Plantronics BackBeat 305’s when I started with the review. Going in blank does make the reviewing a little more fun, especially as you need to search for all features. But honestly, after a few weeks of using them, it felt like I had used them for years.
Let’s start with the fit, which is AMAZING if I’d need to say it in one word. The ear hooks do a great job of keeping the headphones in your ear while staying comfortable, even after using them for hours at a time. Then there are the newly designed earplugs, which are designed to fit in your ear a lot better… Because, since when are your ears 100% round? Exactly, they aren’t, and these headphones solve the issue of irritation and headphones falling out while running. Usually, I don’t even feel that I have the headphones plugged in, which is a big thumbs up for Plantronics. Something I want to add here, though it might not totally fit in with this category, it is water resistant up to an IPX5 rating. I’ve used these in the rains, and they’ve survived just fine… do make sure to close the flap in front of the charging port.
Next up is the battery life, which was a little issue with my first unit. My second unit is performing more than fine, though, and getting more than 6 hours of use out of these headphones shouldn’t be an issue at all. Do note that my testing is done with the volume set at 50% on both the 300’s and my Galaxy S8. If you’re cranking up the volume, or the Bluetooth signal is really bad the battery life may end up being way worse. It should be more than plenty for the occasional workout, or daily commute.
Probably the most important aspect of this review is coming right now, because how good or bad does it sound? Well, I’m not going to answer that question, because that’s always something directly related to personal audio taste. Let’s start by saying how I’ve been using the headphones, which is by listening to a pre-set list of songs which are divided in between a lot of music genres. The music preset on my Galaxy S8 is set to standard, so there haven’t been any enhancements done to change the sound. Usually while listening to music, I’ve either used YouTube, TuneIn or just regular MP3 files.
The sound of the headphones is pretty clear, at least, if you don’t touch 90/100% of the music volume. What I should say, though, is that it isn’t safe to use the headphones at those volume levels. The soundstage is really rather wide as well, and it isn’t overly bass-boosted either (while still having plenty of bass). I’m missing a bit of punch though with the mids. The voices do sound clear, but they’re limited from what they can actually sound like. Overall, I’d say that Plantronics did an amazing job for its target audience, those who aren’t looking for the best possible audio, but just need something to listen to while running.
Final verdict
The Plantronics BackBeat 305’s are being sold to you for about $80, so let’s try to answer the question if it’s worth it? Well, first answer the question what you’re going to use it for. If you’re not going to at least use it outside (while running), or during a commute, you may want to take a look at the BackBeat 500 (Fit) on-ear headphones which are being sold for a similar price.
The headphones are truly amazing for what they’re made for, running. The sound is more than great if you’re going to run and the battery life should suffice as well. On top of that, these headphones have the best fit I’ve ever had with a pair of headphones. At last, the Bluetooth range is more than fine and they’re water resistant with an IPX5 rating. All in all, I’d say that they’re more than worth their $80 price tag. Get it if you like running or sporting overall, you’ll be glad that you did.
