Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have to admit that my initial expectations weren’t very high before these Plantronics BackBeat PRO 5100 earbuds arrived. My perception of the company was as a second-tier hardware mfg of cheap imported accessories. I was pleasantly surprised opening the packaging to reveal very nice, stylish high-quality aesthetics. I did a double take of this Plantronics company that I recall from years past, since purchased by PolyCom and now renamed Poly. The packaging is top notch, neatly organized, and includes some documentation. The charger case has a push-button that pops the top open to a pair of surprisingly attractive buds. Pulling them from their magnetic grip and examining the buds I was happy to find solid, firm click buttons, and thought out control scheme. Attention to detail, check. Initial pairing is easy; open the case, and there they are. Playing music on iPhone in seconds. App usage and firmware update, … umm, … not so much, let me explain below. NOTE : It is VERY important to get a good fit. I originally reviewed these with the default medium cups, and they felt like they would fall out on the treadmill. Larger ear cups not only made the seal better but greatly increased richness, depth and bass. PROS + premium high-quality feel + fit and finish is exquisite + the sound is deeper and richer with proper fitting cups + pleasant female voice indicating power on, battery level, connected + strong magnetic click holding buds in case + 5.8mm drivers + 4-noise cancelling mics + bluetooth 5.0 + charge status lights on buds _and_ case + simple setup, fast initial pairing + extra pairs of small and large inserts + respectable alternative to Apple’s AirPods CONS -they feel designed for Android, though pair and work fine with iPhone -painful firmware update process -sound quality is thin, light on mid-bass, lacking deep bass -mids and highs are fairly decent -low max sound volume, cranked to 10 = about 7 on AirPods -adjusting bud deeper into ear canal often accidentally actives a response -super short mini-USB charging cable -mini-USB instead of USB-C connectors -price justified by hardware quality, sound quality justification more difficult -working out with these I had fear they’d falling out (fixable by larger cups) [ TL;DR - the BackBeat APP is atrocious, just skip it completely ] </APP DIATRIBE begins here — skip for ear buds review > The mfg strongly suggests downloading their BackBeats app, for registration, personalization, and new firmware for these review samples. The app states the version on these samples is Firmware 13, most current is FW 15. Ear bud batteries fully charged, let’s knock this out real quick. Well, after more than an hour of various configurations I could not get the firmware update process to being. It remained stuck at 0% regardless of what I tried — sometimes the right would disconnect from the phone, other times the left bud would disconnect from the headset (right primary bud). Ok, maybe it’s this iPhone, try another, nope, same results, try iPad Pro, also nope. This is a disaster. Trying to keep frustration at bay, and avoid writing a negative review based on emotion, I submissed and clicked the app’s email support button. 20 minutes pass before I receive a failed delivery notification for [email protected] I visit their website and learn of the Company name change to Poly. Ok, no problem, I’ll call Poly support, …nope, told to visit another web page for Plantronics support. Call that # and finally speak with a live person. Cesar was very nice and as helpful as he could be, and didn’t hesitate to escalate the issue. A short while later he calls back and explains this is a known issue with iPhone 11, X, and 7 models. Ok cool, I’ll try my wife’s iPhone 8. Nope, not that either. Cesar suggests Android, so I dig out a Galaxy 8, start charging it and pair the buds. The app requires more than 30% battery life to begin , … a few hours later … finally ready to continue. Fiddle with two different Bluetooth screens, one android settings, other inside the app, seemingly unaware of each other, I finally get back and launch setup. It fails a few times and I realize the app is needing to download each attempt. It’s now well past 2am, and I’m on my 5th attempt, prev 4 reached near 50% before left earbud disconnects from headset, and update fails again and again, I got one to 99%, yes, and FAILED !! After failures App report false msg it’s been updated, yet relaunch and read the FW and it’s still 13. Poor lazy programming, why not download the file up front, then push it to the earbuds, or update one bud at a time to avoid pair mismatches, or download to computer for install over micro-USB? < / END APP DIATRIBE > CLICK BUTTON USAGE LEFT = Volume Tap left bud once to increase + VOL Click-Hold left bud to decrease - VOL RIGHT = Play Controls / Phone Tap 1x for play / pause Tap 2x for track advance Tap 3x for track previous Press 1x to pause music and answer a call Press 2 seconds for voice assistant (my attempts to summon Siri resulted in turning them off with 4-second press) CASE = On / Off Flip the lid is Auto ON Close the lid is Auto OFF Button press 2 seconds for Manual ON Button press 4 seconds for Manual OFF CONCLUSION I was ready to write my review after my first night of usage, but just wasn’t feeling it, couldn’t get engaged and lost in the music like I so often do with AirPods (moreso AirPod Pros). Once outfitted with the included properly sized ear tips, I’m very glad I gave them an additional audition. They proved their worth and are a respectable set of buds. Just keep in mind, updating firmware on iOS is a total buzzkill, don’t even bother with the BackBeats App, which is a one-time use anyhow, and enjoy this respectable alternative. My rating is based on the hardware, since it is my hope that the software gets scrapped and rewritten from scratch. I was tempted to hold it against this fine product, but choose the high-road, they deserve it.

These have a really small profile and are very lightweight. Good both for exercising and for working. You barely notice that you have them on. Paired with my phone quickly and easily. Note though that there’s a firmware update that I wasn’t able to load – tech support said it’s an issue with the latest iOS version and they expect an update soon. Pros: Decent sound (note that it sounds differently with the various ear bud sizes so try them all in your ears to see which size gives you the best fit and best sound) I liked the sound better sitting at my desk vs. when running. They aren’t noise canceling and do let in some outside sound so you are aware of your surroundings which is helpful when running. Good distance Bluetooth connectivity (never cut out during a run with the phone in a waist belt) Easy to use buttons (gentle touch/taps and doesn't put too much pressure on your ear) Comfortable (I ran for 45 mins and ears felt fine / weren’t sore at all) Sound in both ears on phone calls (many ear buds only play phone call audio in the right ear alone) They come on automatically when you remove them from the case and put in your ears. Decent run time (6.5 hours) + 13 extra hours of "charge" in their battery case and a 10 min quick charge if you let them go dead just charge for 10 mins and your back in action for a run. Cons: Not as good deep base as higher end $300 ear buds, but these are half that price Phone call audio quality was a little tinny (however people on the other end said I was clear) Volume could be louder. Not sure if they keep it lower for a safety thing so you can hear some surrounding noise, but these are quieter than other buds I’ve used. No EQ. I prefer a bit more bass and couldn’t change the settings.

Excellent sound and fit... but an app that needs updating on iOS 13! First the good, they have sound as good or better than any wireless earbuds I’ve used. No matter the genre you’re listening to, be it country ,rap, rock or edm, they sound awesome. When using them for calls (both phones XS Max on iOS 13) I had no problem hearing the person I was talking to and they said I sounded clear. Though it’s subjective, they fit perfect right out of the box and stay put in my ears. I also like that the case has a button that you have to push to open it and not just a magnetic one. This along with the strong magnets that hold the earbuds in place make it less likely that you’ll lose them. Now on to the App. The app has the potential to be great, but as it stands right now, it’s not! I tried numerous times to do the update it showed but never could get it to do it. So, I unpaired them from my phone and tried to reconnect them, but after numerous tries I was never able to get them to connect to the app again! Though the app is recommended, you don’t need the app to use them, they will connect like any other Bluetooth device. I have them connected but just not to the app, which is unfortunate because the app does give you a lot of different things you can control. Hopefully Plantronics can work the bugs out of the app soon. The wireless earbuds market is on fire and the BackBeat Pro 5100 is a solid entry into the market. But, the one missing feature that disappoints me, is the absence of USB-C. At this price point and being almost 2020, it’s kinda inexcusable to me. Save for this, the BackBeat Pro 5100 have excellent sound, Bluetooth 5.0, and very good battery life.

I checked out a few previews of these before I got my hands on them and I really anticipated these. Unfortunately, these are simply an average pair of true wireless earbuds. I think the actual removable ear pieces on the drivers, is pretty cool and give that feeling of a truly premium product. But the truth is, the earbuds don't keep a constant connection while working out and the sound is average, at best. They are sweat and dust resistant. The listening time is 6 and a half hours.....almost. Plus the two extra charges from the case is kind of a joke. Don't get me started on the the lack of type-C connectivity on the 2 inch charging cable. At least there's a 10 minute quick charge up that will give close to an hour of playback. They are comfy to wear though. I like them , but just as emergency earbuds. And at $169.99, there are just far too many other options out there. The app isn't even very good. These are a going to have to be a pass. The Backbeat Pro are a no go.

>> Summary Overall, the PLT BB PRO 5100 wireless in-ear headphones are very comfortable to wear providing a crisp and clear sound for listening to music on your cellphone or Bluetooth enabled laptop/device, as well as for making/answering cellphone calls. Favorable: The way the earbuds fit and attach to your ear is wonderful, they are very comfortable. You can play music at comfortable volume levels for a long time while having enough outside noise cancellation. Their long-lasting battery and their ease of recharging come very handy, just don’t lose the charging case/device. Not-so favorable: Be very careful when adjusting the volume. To lower down the volume, it is stated to touch the left earbud and hold, but make sure you do not hold too long otherwise you’ll turn it off. Learning to control the device needs one to go the quick start guide a few times, so it gives the impression to not being very intuitive. >> Setup It is a good idea to skim through the Quick Start booklet and not waste time trying to figure out how to connect, up/down volume, answer the phone, etc. You’ll learn that the right earbud is the “primary” one, and this is important for some of the operations. I decided to charge the case before using the earbuds for the first time, though. Just take the PLT BB PRO 5100 earbuds out of the case, and they are ready to be paired and connected. I’ve had no issues connecting to my laptop. On my phone, a couple of times, I had issues connecting to the, where it would connect and rapidly disconnect, but it might have been due to my old phone, since upon restarting it would connect just fine (I would need more days of use to figure out what the real problem may be). >> Fit This is perhaps the biggest selling point. The ear-tips are of conical shape (like a cone cut at the tip), other ear-tips I’ve had start as a conical shape but then go to a cylindrical/round shape midway. At first, I was not convinced that the full conical shape was a good configuration for the earbuds, I thought that they would easily fall or not adjust firmly to your ear, making using them more or less uncomfortable. But was I mistaken, you can actually feel the piece sucking and attaching itself softly to your ear, blocking the outside noise and allowing to maintain a very comfortable volume level for a great sound experience! I own another wireless set of earbuds, and these are way better overall. I also have another Plantronics over-the-ear headset and these ones feel more comfortable than those ones! Definitely the Plantronics team did an excellent job here. >> Battery/charge The charging case is handy thing to have, you can charge the device anywhere as long as the case has enough battery. I am not sure though what to do if I lose the case how to charge the earbuds. >> Sound So far, the default sound configuration doesn’t disappoint, although perhaps a little more of bass effect would have helped without having to recourse to more advance configurations. I wished there was a way to change sound levels (i.e. more, less bass, etc.) by some tap configuration on the earbuds themselves, or perhaps I haven’t found a way to do so or configure so. Nevertheless, the way the earbuds attach to your ears, allows for a pleasant sound experience, you can set it to just the enough volume level to have an almost perfect noise cancellation. >> Phone So far, I haven’t had any mayor issues with people hearing me during phone calls, I would talk just as I would talk to anyone in front of me. A couple of times, when people were hearing me too low, after adjusting the earbuds pressing and rotating them, the phone interlocutors were able to hear me properly. Answering phones is very easy, just a click on the right-earbud. One particular aspect of the phone experience caught my attention, the fact that the earbud is muted when it is released from your ear looks like a potential security issue, what happens if you drop them and you are in some “unfavorable” situation. Note: I haven’t used it really too much outdoors or at noisy places to determine if the background is an issue for this device during calls.

I received my Plantronics (now branded as..."Poly"...) Backbeat Pro 5100 headphones yesterday. I have Airpods Pro already and I love them, but really didn't want to get heavy wear and tear with exercising and going to the gym. So, I've been looking for some dedicated "exercise" buds. Done a lot of research between these Backbeat 5100's (currently the flagship model), the Jabra Elite Actives and several other similar types of Bluetooth earbuds. Since these are Poly's flagship model and just released, I thought I'd go with them. Man, mistakes were made. The packaging is really nice and from the Quick Start guide, I honestly thought the setup would be great too! Alas, their completely unusable and total garbage. Out of the case, which was in a deep-sleep mode to preserve battery (you hold the button on the front of the case for 2 seconds to power everything up), the battery on the buds were low, to the point I couldn't even use them until charged (so much for the purpose of deep sleep?). So, I put them on charge before bed and started playing around with them today. Followed all instructions, everything paired and connected to my phone correctly. Went into the Backbeat app on my iPhone 11 Pro Max and followed the steps. It connected and found the buds, then prompted for a firmware update. It was initially on version 13 and the update was to version 15. I had the buds in my ear during the update, but it was taking soooooo long. There was no transparency mode or anything, so after about 15 min and the update at only 35-40% done, I had to take them out because you know, I needed my ear for something (and I was getting tired of the silence in my ears for that length of a time). The app states to keep them within 1 meter of your phone. So, I laid them down, literally, right beside the phone. I left and came back 5 min later to an "update failed" notice and a "retry" option. From there, I've wasted over 2 hours of my life trying to get these paired correctly, not drop connection and fracking UPDATED. These are the absolute worst Bluetooth headphones/buds I've ever seen in my life. I've done everything. I've put them in and out of the case a gazillion times, at least; I've manually powered them off and back on; I've went into Bluetooth settings on my phone and done "forget this device" at least 6 times and repaired them; I've deleted the headphones in the app and added them back as new; I've deleted the actual app and re-installed it. I've also looked through the online manual and was unable to find any info to reset them back to factory defaults. Every time I get them connected to my phone and verified that BOTH are working, I go into the app, start the update and after about 15 seconds, It'll voice over that they've been disconnected from the phone. About 2-3 minutes after that, the update fails and the app says they've been disconnected and fully greys out. I have to force close the app each time and go back into it to start over. The steps I've done in the above paragraph have all been in between each update fail. They will NOT update. When I go into my Bluetooth settings, they are disconnected. I even started over, went into my music app, started playing music (which at that time I realized how low the overall volume was, even at max and how "tinny" the sound was...the bass was pretty bad, too), THEN went into the app so I KNOW they are connected. Music playing, both buds firing away....started the update and boom, connection drops, update fails. I gave up and thought, well, let's give support a call. I called and explained to the guy in full detail what was going on. He did some "research" and said they don't have any information for support on this model right now and that they were not aware of any known issues surrounding this. He sounded like he didn't really want to help, but he took some of my info and basically said "do they work otherwise"? I was like, well, yeah, as far as I can tell in the 5 minutes I played music on them...but the app prompts for an update when you go in, so until the update, it basically makes the app worthless - outside of that, the app won't stay connected, either. He said he didn't really know what else to tell me but to just use them without the update and he would "forward it over to IT" for further review...yeah, I bet you will. The whole call was very general and generic. So, I'm extremely unhappy with these. The setup experience is awful and so is the support...I honestly don't know at this point, which of the two is the worst. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for beta testing (which I shouldn't be, given the retail price of these buds)...but if you are going to have consumers test a fully released product, at least have the Support to back it up... 1 star. Abysmal. Avoid like the plague.

These are a good pair of bluetooth, no wire earbuds. They fit comfortably in the ear with no movement. The charging case that comes with them is well designed and overall they feel like a premium product. There is a USB charging cable included along with 2 extra sets of silicone eartips in Large and Small. Medium is installed on the buds when they arrive. Setup took me a while. I downloaded the app and after several attempts over 10 minutes, I finally got the app to connect to the earbuds. Success! At least I thought. It quickly told me there was an update needed. So I clicked Start, and it told me they weren't connected. I restarted everything, got them connected, and said Start Update. It got to 4%, "update failed". I tried again, got to 10% "update failed". I tried again, wouldn't connect, wouldn't connect, wouldn't connect. Restarted everything, connected, update made it to 19%.......and update failed. Finally I decided to try wearing the earbuds, while playing music from my phone, while running the update. It took about 15-20min for the update to run, but it finally completed when I did it this way. So the app and setup being a bit wonky cost about a half a star because I shouldn't have to go through it again now that it's setup. The other half a star is for sound. The quality is good, decent bass considering the compact size, but the volume limit is pretty low. I was in a quiet room and had them at Max volume and it was fine. I was hoping these would replace my Bose Soundsport's for lawn-mowing but based on what I've found, I doubt they will be loud enough for anything like that. I'm sure they were designed to not blow out your eardrums and for max battery life considering their tiny size, but I wish they could go a couple notches louder or have noise cancelling to compensate for the lower volume. With all that being said, these are all around a good set of earbuds for most activities. I walked and ran with them on, shook my head all over the place trying to get them to fall out and they stayed put. The controls and tapping are intuitive and I like the feature where music will pause if you pull one of them out of your ear. I can't count the number of times I've been out walking and a neighbor wants to chat for a minute and I have to get my phone, pause it, take out the earbuds. This is a great solution to that. The USB charging cable could be a little longer but that's a minor issue. Setup and volume were the reasons I took off a star. I would recommend them, as long as you're not getting them to wear when doing something loud, like mowing the lawn. They're also rated to withstand sweat and rain, but these are not for swimming. Overall, they're comfortable with quality sound and intuitive features.

These are my first true wireless earbuds, having had great experiences with Plantronics devices I gave these a shot. I wasn’t sure what to expect performance wise, given the size the earbuds in comparison to some of the more well-known competition but overall I was pleased with the sound and noise cancellation capability with voice calls. Unpacking the earbuds was easy and streamlined, I think in order to really compete in this field that is a part of a consumers overall satisfaction with the product. Once I had the carry/charging case in my hands I thought Plantronics did a great job of making these appealing, with a jet black case with rounded edges, push to open button and LED indicator visibility while the case is closed (although somewhat faint). At this point I am thinking we are on the right track so far, but once I moved to power these and install the app I started having some problems. I did expect these to come charged but again, given the size I may have been too hopeful that a charge would last from the manufacturer to the store to me. Once charged I tried pairing these, note that each one pairs individually to your device – an iPhone XS in my case, and initially was not successful. It took a few attempts of discovering them and then deleting them to get the app to connect to the earbuds. Surprising for me since Bluetooth pairing is an obvious critical operation here. Once I finally had a stable connection I was able to use the app and give these a listen. Right off the bat the earbuds needed a firmware update, not out of the ordinary but still delaying my ability to get these fired up and working. The update took some time and locked up my first go around but was successful on the second attempt. OK let’s try these out! Finally, after a few hours of getting these ready I am placing them in my ears for go time. The earbuds themselves fit VERY comfortably in my ears without any adjustment, big plus for me, and I actually don’t even notice them in my ear as much as I thought I would. Other in-ear wired earbuds have given some significant discomfort in the past, so I am really happy about this. I put on some heavy bass type music for the first attempt to understand the performance and I am not impressed but I am not disappointed either. I think for the size of the earbuds the bass level is on par with what I can expect. On the down side, when I maxed out the volume I was hoping for more power and it seems this is another caveat to the style of earbuds. My next test is a voice call both in my office environment and outside on a relatively windy day. During the indoor call I had no issues hearing my friend nor did he have any issues hearing me. Outside I had a good experience as well (although volume had to be maxed) and my friend again said he could hear me with good quality. Another huge win for me is these do not give me the sensation that they might fall out of my ear, during regular movement and also working out, which again, I have had issues with other wired earbuds in the past. Overall, I am digging these earbuds and happy to have them for everyday use! What I like: - EXTREMELY comfortable in my ear fits well does not fall out - Decent highs and lows listening to various types of music - Great call quality with noise cancelling technology - Charges quickly - Case charges earbuds - Customizable “TAP” functions via the app (Siri, tell time, stop watch, Apple music playlist and more) - Auto-sense pauses music if either earbud is removed form ear What I don’t like: - Max volume is lower than expected - App connectivity was difficult at first - USB mini instead of USB-C connector - Doesn’t use PLT Hub app so you have to download the Backbeat app - A bit on the higher end of the price range given the performance - No Equalizer settings

I was a little hesitant about buying these but I’m really glad I did. They just look like they would fall out of your ears very easily but no! What made me buy them was the look! They don’t protrude when wearing and are very comfortable. The earbuds sound better than average. Phone calls are very clear and you can use them separately....nice! I had these for awhile now and are one of my favorite buds. I only have about 10 different earbuds. Lol

I have a lot of wireless earbuds.  I've always loved not having a cord to worry about and get in my way.  These days, with more and more manufacturers ditching the 1/8" headphone jack, earbuds like these make a lot of sense. The Fit: There's a lot to like about the Backbeat Pro's.  To start with, they're very small.  Some might say too small, but I really like the size.  They come with three different sized neoprene tips, so you should have no trouble getting them to fit correctly.  When they sit in my ears, they pretty much block out all external noise.  This is a nice feature especially when you're in a noisy environment, or you just want to slip into your own world for a bit.  They feel very secure, and I've never felt as if they were going to slip out.  They also have an IP54 rating, so they won't be bothered by sweat or rain. The Case: The charging case is pretty small as well and I can easily stash them in my pocket in the case.  The charging port is on the bottom and there's a simple push button to open the case.  Popping the top reveals a charging led at the back side.  It's all really self contained and travels very well.  You can charge them with the included short cable from your computer. Pairing: Pairing them was very easy once I loaded the app.  I tried to connect them first without it, but didn't have any luck.  The app is very basic and is best used to either connect the buds or find them if you misplace them.  Other than that, I really haven't opened it since I first paired them. Controls and Sound: You can control the transport functions, volume and answer calls directly from the easy to find buttons on both buds.  This saves you time and frustration while you root around for your phone.  The sound quality is very good.  It's very clean without sounding thin.  Actually, there is a lot of clean low end.  Sound pressure levels are quite good and I really enjoyed the overall balance of sound.  They just had a good clean sound.  I listen to a wide range of music and I had no complaints with any of the music I chose. Conclusion: Battery life seems good although after a week of using any ear buds, I stick them on the charger to top them off.  The batteries in these are adequate, and I never saw that as an issue.  I like the very small size, and they are easy to travel with.  Very good all around sound with noise cancelling microphones, and noise blocking fit.  I really like them.

Call and so on are really good, I live that is can use any hearbud independently but the sound volume is just too low

Great product to buy. I was looking for a noise cancelling earphones and these did the job.

My review of the Plantronics Back Beat Pro 5100 series wireless headphone. At the time of my review the price of the item is $169.99 on BestBuy site. Now I have had a few of these types of in-ear headphones and right off the bat I loved the comfort and feel of these devices. I use the small size but it comes with a larger size as well. I know this is subjective but I was really impressed with the comfort of these ear plugs. Now I tested these for approx. 1.5 weeks prior to writing this review. And I can say without a doubt the connectivity is a breeze. The app helps but if you don’t want more apps on your phone it will connect without it. The battery power is also very nice. I can go all day without even thinking about charging them. The charging case also charges the unit one and a half times without being plugged in. Nice if you at the gym or just out and about. The units are a bit touchy, as you don’t have to push hardly at all to control the settings, and this can be problematic if you’re moving and you don’t want to stop to adjust it in your ear and you end up turning up or down the volume. This was one of my pet peeves about the unit. Was just too touchy for my taste. The quality of the sound is outstanding and even better when hooked up to the app to take advantage of the built equalizer. I have a droid so when I downloaded the app it had a update waiting for me that also update the earbuds. I read the some that have IPhone may need to manually update, but I can’t attest to that. All in all I give it 4 stars for fit and sound just wish it wasn’t so darn touchy with the volume settings.

I'm impressed with these BackBeat Pro 5100 True Wireless Earbuds. Following are what I found to be the pros and cons: Pros: - I love that they are true wireless and have nothing that has to go over your ear. This is super convenient. I found they stay in my ears quite well. Even while moving or jumping up and down, I had no movement and didn't feel concerned that they would fall out of my ears. They come with three different size tips so you can find the ones that fit your ears the best. - They are very light weight and I have worn them for up to four hours without causing any irritation or soreness in my ears. - I like the design. They fit well in your ears and don't protrude too much. Some true wireless earbuds stick significantly out of your ears or have a little piece that hangs down, these fit more in your ear with very little protruding and no pieces hanging down out of your ear. They look nice. - The battery specs say it will play for 6.5 hours on a full charge. I've only used mine for a max of four hours straight, but based on remaining battery life, I'd say 6.5 sounds about right. In addition, when the case is fully charged it provides two more charges of the earbuds, so that's a total of 19.5 hours you can use them without plugging them in. This will make them great for travelling and I can also get a full day of work on one charge since I have breaks and meetings throughout the day. - The charging case is small and easily fits in my pocket. It protects the earbuds well. It also has a battery life indicator to show how much charge is left on the case. - Most importantly with earbuds is the sound. I think they sound very good for earbuds. Obviously, you will never get the type of sound out of earbuds that you can get with some nice over the ear headphones, as they just aren't big enough to provide significant bass. However, as earbuds of this size go, I think they sound very good. I listened to a variety of genre's and tried them both loud and soft, with male and female singers, acoustic and instrumental. I thought they sounded good with everything I listened to. - There is a small instruction book that comes with them, but you are also instructed to download the BackBeat App, which provides very detailed instructions on all features, along with pictures. - I had no problems pairing them with my iPhone and walked around my house within 10 - 15 feet of my phone without losing connection. - There are a variety of controls you can execute by a series of clicks on the right or left earbuds, such as volume, play/pause, skip tracks, answering calls, mute, and accessing Siri or Google Now. I tend to do a lot of these things right on my iPhone, but this will come in handy if my phone is in my pocket, etc. - There is a Find My Headset feature in the App, in case you misplace or lose one of the earbuds. Cons: - I tend to like a little more bass in my music than I can get out of these. However, as I said in the pros, you should not expect any earbuds to give the kind of bass you can get in over-the-ear headphones. I think the bass levels are pretty typical to what I've hear with other earbuds. If you've never tried earbuds though, just be prepared for less bass than you might be used to. - It would be nice if the app had an equalizer function. There are a lot of other headphones with equalizers on the associated Apps. As it stands, I don't see myself using the app much, other than the instructions or if I needed to use the Find My Headset feature or if I need to download an update, which you do through the app. - I didn't feel like they kept out a lot of outside noise. I can hear my music fine, but I think it would be difficult to hear spoken parts of a movie if you were trying to use them on an airplane. Music on a plane should work fine though. Overall, I really like these earbuds and their features and would recommend them.

Had the Backbeat 5100 for over a week and used it on a 6 hr flight journey and walked around the city taking calls. Plantronics backbeat 5100 lives up to its name when it comes to call quality. I can relate the call quality to the Plantronics bluetooth headset I use at work. Used it for 6 straight hrs without having to charge the headset at all. Had to update the software right out of the box, took about 20 mins. Paring was easy and the app has several customization options (settings icon on the top right) to configure the functions on the buttons, primary earbud, etc. Features 1) Compact design and very comfortable (find the right ear tip!) to wear it for long hours. I like the fact that it has buttons and touch sensors instead of just the touch sensors on the earbuds which can be annoying sometimes when handling the earbuds. The case has enough charge to get the earbuds going for 19 hrs. The app showed an hour listen time left after using it for approximately 6 hr. The app shows listen time left for on the left ear bud and the right. The backbeat 5100 supports the use of only one earbud (primary earbud - configurable to left or right) for calls, which I like when answering calls at work. Turning on for the first time was a little tricky, had to power on both left the right earbuds. The app has the user guide and video's on how to use it. 2) Call Quality - The call quality is amazing and didn’t have any issues using it in the noisy environments (airports, city streets, etc.). The call quality is on par compared to the 10 different earbuds that I currently own ($200- $300 price range) 3) Sound Quality (for music lovers) - I wasn't completely impressed by the sound quality and being an audiophile I would have to rate this as medium compared to the ones ($200 price range) I currently own. I rate it high on base, average on the mid tones, and average on the clarity/crispness. The earbuds need some breaking in before you can actual rate it on the sound quality - will have to use it for at least 25+ hrs to judge the real sound quality. I used these on my morning runs and didn't have any issues with sweat accumulating on the earbuds - rated IP54 Something that is different on these earbuds compared to the 10 other earbuds I own is the Smart Sensor function - this lets your route the calls from your phone to one or two earbuds as soon as you pick up and automatically pauses the music when you take any of the earbud off of your ear. Overall I rate it exceptional for call quality and good for sound quality (for heavy music listeners) and can definitely be compared with earbuds on the market that are in ~150+ price range. My only complaint is that the app doesn't let you configure the earbud's buttons to mute/unmute your calls, which I feel is important for people who spent long hours in meetings.

The Plantronics Backbeat PRO 5100 earbuds are a quality set of wireless earbuds that many will find useful for their audio needs. This review will be done in 3 parts – features, usage impressions, and pros/cons: Features: The features of these wireless earbuds are excellent. They provide for up to 6.5 hours of wireless listening, which can be expanded by up to an additional 13 hours when the chagrining case is used. The earbuds come with, the charging case, a short USB to micro-USB cable for the case, and 3 sets of eartips (small, medium, and large). The wireless has a range of 10m and has an array of eight microphones – six used for noise canceling, two of which combine with the remaining two microphones for voice pickup performance. Since these wireless earbuds are designed for long usage periods their small size and lightweight materials add to their comfort. For the sake of transparency, it should be known that I have gone on record stating that I abhor earbuds and prefer either an on-ear or over the ear headsets. For the Plantronics Backbeat PRO 5100 wireless earbuds, I could see myself using them should I need to as these have been some of the most comfortable earbuds I have worn, although still not as good as an over or on-ear solution, for my personal tastes. The earbuds have a series of touch-controlled features available on both earbuds – the left side controls volume and the right side – which by default is the primary unit, contains the other controls. With one click on the right earbud you can play or pause music or answer or hang-up a call; two clicks will skip forward a track and 3 clicks will go backward a track. Pressing and holding the right earbud for 2 seconds will activate your phones, audio assistant. These are easy and intuitive after a few tries. The earbuds also come with some fancy sensor capabilities. If you remove one earbud while listing to audio or video, the track will pause. While on a call removing both earbuds to mute the call. When the earbuds are out; putting them both in will answer the call. Plantronics also provide the Backbeat app that is designed to allow you to control and update the earbuds as needed. The app also allows one to reverse the primary and secondary earbud, should one desire that. Other abilities of the app are to rename the headset, Update the headset, set the headset language, and manage connections. Updating the device’s firmware proved to be a challenge for me but with some help from support, I was able to successfully do it. The key is paying attention during the paring operation as BOTH Pods need to be paired to your devices to be fully operational. The right bud pairs first and then you get a second popup asking to pair the left pod. Usage Impressions: The audio quality of these wireless earbuds is excellent and the eartips aid in noise reduction and the 4 - microphone based noise cancellation features do their job. I tested the headset using multiple tracks that are recommended for testing audio systems. These tracks test audio systems across the sound spectrum form deep base to soaring highs. The tracks allow testing spatial separation of sounds and the dynamic ranges of the piece being played. From all of these tracks, the sounds were excellent, despite the spatial audio being a bit reduced from other headsets I have tested. I also tested with several other tracks that I have listed too including the 1812 Overture with real cannons and Space shuttle ascent imagery – these also sounded excellent. The comfort and noise-canceling features of this headset are nice and really make these useful for situations where noise-canceling is important. For calls, this headset works great and had no issues with hearing the other person or them hearing me even with background noise. Pros: Audio quality, Batty life, portability, performance Cons: still not as comfortable as on or over the ear solutions.

I never understood how these types of headphones work with the microphone being on the ear piece and I was timid ever trying them. However, I was tired of wires and of the speaker phone both on the handset and in the car when using bluetooth being unreliable at times. I could hear people fine but they sometimes couldn't hear me and I always felt like I had to shout. Fortunately these quickly put my mind at ease, at least for the most part. They're easy to use, comfortable for long periods (eventually, more on that below) and with the included three different size earpieces they ensure a secure fit for anyone. Pairing is fast and the controls are simple as was the initial set-up. Overall the sound is really good but this is where you'll find the majority of the hiccups. For calling, everyone seems to hear me just fine but on my side I would often get interference or the other person's voice would sound a bit synthesized. I mean things are clear enough but it could be better and more reliable considering the price. However, good thing these earbuds are not just for calls. Music and podcasts sound great and super clear. Especially the voice quality, ironically enough. I will agree with what others have said about the bass though, it's indeed not the strongest but it's only a marginal issue. If your main use is music, podcasts or listening to movies then you should feel satisfied. Now for some things worth noting. It took some getting used to wearing them but eventually you get used to them to the point you will forget they are there. The best way to explain it is there is a feeling of pressure in your ears. It also takes some getting used to aligning and putting into your ears correctly. Pairing to another phone didn't go all that smoothly. It wasn't self explanatory and I needed to refer to an online guidebook to get it working. In the end I'd recommend however with caution. PROS: * Music/podcasts/movies sound great. * Great noise canceling. * Comfortable even in prolong use. * Easy to use, fits securely. * Great battery life, case gives an extended charge. CONS: * Call sound quality is inconsistent. * Lack of bass. * Price.

Don't waste your money on this they last 6 month's only so expensive product for little time use I could return them because the extra insurance but I just trash my money for only 6 months.

I really can't say enough good things about the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 5100 True Wireless In-Ear Headphones. This is the first set of truly wireless earbuds I've owned. For years I have either made due with wires running from my ears to my pockets or with wireless headsets that wrap around the back of my head and have terrible Bluetooth reception and crackle/cut out all the time when I run. Enter the Pro 5100's. I didn't quite know what to expect, but I couldn't be happier. The packaging was excellent and protected the product well. It comes with 3 sets of ear fittings. That was important to me since one of my ear canals is slightly larger than the other. I ended up wearing the mid size on one ear and large on the other. They fit perfectly. Setup was very easy. As soon as I fired up the buds, my phone saw them and paired with no trouble. The 5100's worked perfectly even with my phone connected to both the buds and my truck at the same time. I highly recommend following the direction. They will instruct you to download their app and update the firmware of the headphones. This process took about 10-15 minutes. With this type of equipment, firmware updates are generally pretty important. The app itself is pretty basic. you can customize taps and clicks on the buds, but I don't really see myself needing to mess with the default settings. I suspect the real value of the app is in processing firmware updates from time to time. The headphones themselves have an amazing sound. I didn't realize that something so small could produce such a rich full range experience. I've never heard bass like this in earbuds. I listen to some pretty heavy rock while I work out and I can hear every instrument for the first time in a set of earbuds. My main concern was that they would slip out when running or weight lighting. I am thrilled to report that after 5 workouts, these things have never budged. I'm sure there are some activities that could jar them loose, but a normal run and weight routine was no match for these little guys. Even while sweating they stayed right where I put them. I was also somewhat concerned about them creating that plugged feeling in my ears and amplifies the pounding sound of my feet hitting the pavement. I really don't have that issue with these. At first I jammed them so deep into my ears that it was uncomfortable and very boomy when I ran simply because I was afraid they would fall out. But after playing with them a bit, I found that I didn't have to shove them in so far that they totally seal off my ear. Leaving them a little more out actually improved the sound quality and eliminated the booming steps. They felt like they might slip, but they don't. Now that I'm used to the feel, I don't think I could go back to jamming buds way down in my ears again. The mic works very well. I haven't tried them outside in the wind since it's too cold for outdoor runs right now, but they performed well indoors in a large gym. The people on the other end were able to hear me just find with minimal background noise making it through the noise cancelling mics. I haven't had a single drop in connection or glitch since I took them out of the box. Battery life seems to be very good. It says I'll get about 6.5 hours out of them, but I never wear them that long. They charging case ensures I'm always ready to go. I charge them in the case every few days just to make sure they are always ready to go. I would most definitely recommend these. They aren't cheap, and the app isn't anythings special, but they do what they should do very well.

Swapping between ear buds is a must! These don't allow you to do this. Consider the new Apple Airpods Pro. Stay away!!!