The BackBeat Go 810 is a budget-friendly replacement for the firm’s famous BackBeat Pro 2 SE. Been a couple of seasons, but in comparison to its rivals, such as the B&W PX7 and Sony WH-1000XM4, the price has dropped to the stage where this could be the most affordable set of noise-canceling headsets in the industry.
Although a high-quality pair, such as the latest PX7 and Sony WH-1000XM4, is still worthwhile, this effort should not be overlooked.
The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 headsets are among our favorites because they provide great sound, great build, and capabilities for the price.
Price
With all-new Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 is a good alternative if you don’t desire to pay $200 (£230, AU$250) on a pair of wireless headsets but still want effective noise cancellation (ANC).
Such $150 (£140) headsets are constructed similarly to the BackBeat Pro 2, except with fewer high-end materials. Similarly, the sound is about on par, but a few elements are missing. (However, the BackBeat Pro 2 can’t compete with the market when it comes to ANC performance, and the BackBeat Go 810 doesn’t improve anything.)
Design
Plantronics chose a sleek, simple style that is close to but not as high-end as PX7 and Sony’s. Aside from fashion, the BackBeat Go 810 is a well-made frame that combines comfortable and durable materials.
The majority of its components are constructed of polymer, metal, and silicone. When placed on your ears, the ear pads are made of fake leather and provide a nice touch. On top, there’s a cloth-padded flexible plastic headband — a novel feature that operates just as well as filled cushioning. The shiny extenders, which become strong and give the headgear some pop, are the most noticeable elements. Physical switches all have a distinct sense to them, making them more likely to recognize.
The earpads twist to the side for easy placing around the head, but they don’t fold inside like the QC35 II and WH-1000XM3, giving these containers less portable. You’ll like to be careful while keeping them around because the plastic case is susceptible to imperfections like dirt and scratches.
An auxiliary connection, micro-USB cord, nylon travel bag, and QuickStart instructional manual are included with the headsets. The three hues they come in, Black Graphite, Bone White, and Navy Blue, are likely to catch your eye. The latter is the most appealing option, as it mimics the QC35 II’s sleek appearance.
Comfort
The ear cups were nice on the ears, and the headgear provided enough funding to keep them steady without putting additional strain on my skull. Each cup’s oval form was roomy, protected my ears, and prevented chafing. The extenders are also long enough to hold bigger heads, however, you’ll need to adjust the notch level correctly to minimize slipping. In relative comfort, I used the headsets for 5 to 6 hours each day.
Control
All action is allocated to physical keys in the motion controller, which is as conventional as it gets. However, there is no touchscreen panel or the firm’s clever sensor technology to automatically silence music when you remove the headphones. It’s unclear why Plantronics’ distinctive feature wasn’t integrated, especially when B&W and Sony are also incorporating comparable features into their headphones.
The control panel on the left earpad has three function keys: forward, skip, and a multipurpose button that handles calls and playback. Whenever kept together for two seconds, the volume knobs on the side spin through the noise-cancellation settings as well. An audio jack and a charging connector are located at the bottom of the device. The Bluetooth/power button, LED light, and EQ key on the right earpad select between hearing modes and silences the microphone during calls. All of the keys, notably the elevated ones on the side, provide a precise tactile reaction.
ANC
Low and high noise cancellation levels are available. The first is better in quiet places like workplaces or when you’re accompanied by a lot of people talking, whilst the second is better in noisy conditions like airlines and buses.
When I was outdoors, High Mode came in handy, despite the fact that the mics took up a lot of background noise. It was, however, more difficult to drown out the jackhammer sounds from a neighboring building site. In conclusion, when I enabled both ANC modes, I heard a crackling noise, but it didn’t distract me from the music.
Battery Life
These edition batteries last a long time. Plantronics claims ANC mode would last 22 hours and regular mode will last 28 hours. With noise cancellation enabled, the headsets lasted about 20 hours, so that’s quite true.
I was able to use the device for several hours each day before needing to charge it, which took around 90 minutes. Even better, the headset is charged up straight out of the box as well as assists save battery life if you’re using the Plantronics app to turn off ANC.
- Outstanding design quality
- Tone that is both warm and balanced.
- Wireless connection that is dependable
- ANC lower than rivals
Performance
In terms of sound performance, these are capable of delivering powerful, warm sound, however, for the optimum listening experience, you’ll want to maintain ANC at its highest setting. The BackBeat Go 810 excelled at tracks with powerful bass. Even hard rock albums by AC/DC were well-represented.
It was amazing to hear Bon Jovi’s vocal range soar above the song’s massive guitar chords. The instrumental version really brought out the midrange of the headsets, portraying the singer’s emotional mood throughout the live act.
One gripe I had was the frequency equality, which prioritized lows over mids and highs, robbing certain records of their detail. The bass and loudness have been turned up a notch – perhaps a tad too loud for my tastes. When I used the cable, I ran into a glitch that rendered the headset useless until I turned it off: after listening to seconds of music, a voice prompt would repeatedly reiterate the power, battery, and ANC status.
The BackBeat Go 810 puts you on a rough journey when you use Siri or Google Assistant. Both voice-activated AI systems can carry out a variety of hands-free orders. Both sides of the dialogue sounded sharp and loud. The headsets offered great audio even when it was cold outside.
If you don’t switch off ANC, the mics will enhance any background noises around you. Bluetooth 5.0, which links to many devices at the same time, increases range, and consumes less energy, is another benefit these capsules have over the competition. I enjoyed being able to swap seamlessly across my laptop and phone.
