Stereo BT with Altec-Lansing Backbeat

[Nurhisham Hussein]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/the-word-is-on-the-street-about-altec-lansings-backbeat-bluetoo/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/...ckbeat-bluetoo/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Mono Bluetooth headsets are already everywhere, but this could be the year that those of the stereo variety take off, and Altec Lansing's hoping its new BackBeat series will be a contender. They're made in partnership with earpiece-guru Plantronics, so callers will find integrated voice dialing, omnidirectional microphones, 7 hours of talk time, and AudioIQ to boost volume when you're in a noisy situation."</em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1231302263.usr14226.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>After a 6-month study-related hiatus, I'm back! And this first post is on something I've been looking at for some time. Stereo BT headsets have largely been a niche area over the last few years, but the technology has certainly improved in the interim. What still bothers me though is the price, with most stereo headsets coming in at the US$100 dollar level (like the Backbeat). That's the price for a premium mono headset with noise-cancelling, and way, way over what typical mono headsets cost these days - not exactly a recipe for mass-market adoption. Granted, you've got a lot more technology and research dollars embedded in stereo headsets (and hopefully better quality sound), but is that worth the premium? Thoughts anyone?</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[martin_ayton]

Welcome back!

Why would I want two over-the-ear devices in at the same time (unless I felt the need to look like I was being controlled by the cybermen [http://www.drwho-online.co.uk/news/news-adeola.jpg])? Compared to earbuds or actual headphones, these seem to offer no upsides and several downsides. Altogether odd.

Martin.

[vovillamor]

For regular cell phone use and phone conversation, this headset is overkill. Who listens to their callers on the phone in stereo? That's the downside to using this headset as a regular headset. It's even more of a waste if you buy this headset for use on a non-stereo bluetooth device (like most cell phones).

But, for listening to music, wireless headsets are the way to go. The upside is that you can answer calls while you're listening to your favorite music on you stereo bluetooth cellphone.

As for the price, $100 sound like a good price for this Backbeat. If it includes the pictured Bluetooth transmitter, than it is an even better bargain.
The headset can be used alone with your bluetooth cellphone (and some MP3 players are now bluetooth capable), but the bluetooth transmitter can be used to listen to music on any other sound device that does not have Bluetooth (like the Apple Ipod Touch or most other MP3 player).

[Duncan]

Welcome back!

Why would I want two over-the-ear devices in at the same time (unless I felt the need to look like I was being controlled by the cybermen [http://www.drwho-online.co.uk/news/news-adeola.jpg])? Compared to earbuds or actual headphones, these seem to offer no upsides and several downsides. Altogether odd.

So you can listen to music in stereo without a cumbersome cable to get in the way, be caught on things etc. I've not used a wired stereo hedset/earphones in about five years.

[Bob Anderson]

Welcome back!

Why would I want two over-the-ear devices in at the same time (unless I felt the need to look like I was being controlled by the cybermen ? Compared to earbuds or actual headphones, these seem to offer no upsides and several downsides. Altogether odd.

Martin.

If you like to listen to music while you work out, wireless is simply awesome, you stick your phone in a pocket or near a machine you are using and away you go. I've been using my Motorola HT820's for a while now and while they are good - they are kind of bulky. Maybe it is time to upgrade!

[Pony99CA]

What still bothers me though is the price, with most stereo headsets coming in at the US$100 dollar level (like the Backbeat). That's the price for a premium mono headset with noise-cancelling, and way, way over what typical mono headsets cost these days - not exactly a recipe for mass-market adoption.
I bought a Kyocera Bluetooth stereo headset (earclip form factor) for somewhere between $15 and $25, I think. However, remember that Altec-Lansing and Plantronics are probably considered "premium" brands, so I'd expect to pay more for them.

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Why would I want two over-the-ear devices in at the same time (unless I felt the need to look like I was being controlled by the cybermen [http://www.drwho-online.co.uk/news/news-adeola.jpg])? Compared to earbuds or actual headphones, these seem to offer no upsides and several downsides.
Over-the-ear (or earclip) designs stay on better than earbuds, but allow more ambient sound in than actual "cans" headphones (which look worse than over-the-ear, I think). Which type works best for you depends on where and how you'll use them, of course.

Other than looks, what downsides are there?

Steve

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

I still think they suck. The compression really kills the sound. I'll stick to wired solutions for music-listening for now.

The price is reasonable. It's no more than what you'd pay for a decent wired headset from say, Shure or Ultimate Ears.

[Duncan]

I still think they suck. The compression really kills the sound. I'll stick to wired solutions for music-listening for now.

Eh? With a decent pair of BT 2.0 headphones you aren't going to get your MP3/WMA/AAC's etc. further compressed between device and 'phones. Certainly don't on mine.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

As for the price, $100 sound like a good price for this Backbeat. If it includes the pictured Bluetooth transmitter, than it is an even better bargain.

The transmitter adds another $30 on top.

I bought a Kyocera Bluetooth stereo headset (earclip form factor) for somewhere between $15 and $25, I think.

Darn, that's a pretty good deal. How's the sound?

Eh? With a decent pair of BT 2.0 headphones you aren't going to get your MP3/WMA/AAC's etc. further compressed between device and 'phones. Certainly don't on mine.

I was under the impression that A2DP compresses the sound further - could be wrong though.

[Duncan]

I was under the impression that A2DP compresses the sound further - could be wrong though.

I'm given to understand it depends largely on the bitrate of the music or the processor of the transmitting device. Some devices with less processing power have to lower the bitrate of the streaming in order to smoothly transmit, even more powerful devices will have trouble smoothly transmitting high bitrates (320k etc.). Though I suppose that cheaper or older headphones might have limitations on what they can cope with receiving. Which means I was, perhaps, slightly too bold in my previous comment.

Up until I got my Touch Pro I used the dedicated transmitter provided with my Plantronics headphones (still regularly considered to be the best BT headphones on the market), now I use the Touch Pro's own radio. My WMAs are all encoded at 160k or 192k. Frankly I can't tell the difference between the BT streaming, or the sound I get when I used the headphones with a wire, both are very good. That suggests to me that as long as the transmitting device doesn't (need to) compress the file, then you get the full quality.

The bandwidth/transmission speed of Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR is easily more than enough to cope with even high bitrate (320k) music, in theory. I'm pretty certain that the A2DP profile itself doesn't require extra compression, at least nothing I could find when I first looked into the idea of BT headphones said anything about it.

[Pony99CA]

Darn, that's a pretty good deal. How's the sound?
Hard to say. I only use them to listen to MP3s on my PDAs, and those are usually ripped at 128 kbps. I do notice some skips occasionally, but I suspect that would occur with any Bluetooth A2DP headset.

I got mine from Woot, but I've seen other sets on various deal sites, too.

Steve

[Menneisyys]

Read my quick review at http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f376/mwc-quick-review-altec-plantronics-903-906-a2dp-bluetooth-headphones-wowz-92672.html