Backbeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016 Honest Review — Is the Hype Justified?

I've been using the BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless (2016) as my daily pair for several months, and I wanted to write an honest, hands-on review from the perspective of someone who bought this headphone with real expectations — long flights, commutes, home listening, and work calls. There was a lot of buzz when I picked mine up: promises of solid ANC, long battery life, and comfortable clamping. After living with them, what I found was a mix of very good practical design choices, some pleasant surprises, and a few annoyances that kept them from being my unequivocal favorite.

Introduction — Why I Bought the BackBeat Pro 2

I was looking for a comfortable, over-ear wireless headset that would do a little bit of everything well. I wanted decent active noise cancellation for airplane hum, a relaxed sound profile I could listen to for hours, reliable battery life, and simple controls. The BackBeat Pro 2 ticked most boxes on paper, and the real-world experience largely matched my expectations — but with caveats.

First Impressions and Build Quality

Out of the box, the BackBeat Pro 2 feels like a workhorse rather than a delicate audiophile piece. The headband and earcups are primarily plastic with metal-reinforced parts where it matters, and the clamshell hinges are solid. I appreciated the matte finish and the utilitarian look — no flashy chrome or overly glossy surfaces. In my experience, the finish collected a few micro-scratches after a couple of months in a backpack, but nothing structural failed. The ear cushions are plush initially, and they form a good seal, which helps both passive isolation and bass response.

One thing that bothered me early on was the slightly firm clamping force. It took a few days of wearing around the house for the headband to break in and loosen a bit; after that, they were comfortable for multi-hour sessions. I did notice that on hot days the leatherette pads get warm and a little sweaty, which is common for closed-back over-ear headphones but worth mentioning if you live in a warm climate.

Comfort and Long-Use Wear

I've worn these on several transatlantic flights and many multi-hour work sessions. The earcups are large enough to avoid squishing my ears, and the padding distributes pressure reasonably well across the head. For me, a typical 4–6 hour session is comfortable, though after a full day of travel I appreciated swapping to smaller on-ear models for a break.

Overall, for long-haul comfort they’re quite good, but not the absolute best I’ve tried. If you have an unusually large or small head shape, I recommend trying them on before buying if possible.

Sound Quality — What I Heard

In my listening sessions I went through a wide range of material: acoustic singer-songwriter tracks, hip-hop, electronica, orchestral pieces, and podcasts. The BackBeat Pro 2 leans toward a warm, slightly V-shaped sound signature. Bass is punchy and satisfying — I was impressed by the impact on bass lines in hip-hop and electronic music, and it translates well to action scenes in movies. However, at higher volumes the bass can bleed a bit into the midrange, which sources with dense mixes sometimes revealed.

The midrange is generally pleasant. Vocals sit comfortably in the mix but can feel slightly recessed with some recordings compared to more mid-centric headphones. Treble is mildly rolled off, which made long listening sessions easier on the ears and reduced fatigue, but it also meant I missed a little air and sparkle on acoustic cymbals and high-hat detail.

What I found was a set tuned for widespread appeal — enjoyable for casual listeners and commuters who want fun, fatigue-free playback rather than clinical neutrality.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Performance

ANC was one of the main reasons I bought these, and in daily use the performance is solid but not class-leading. The BackBeat Pro 2 does an excellent job of knocking down steady low-frequency rumble: airplane engines, bus and train droning, and HVAC hum are all noticeably reduced. That made watching movies on planes and reading on the subway much more pleasant.

What surprised me was that the ANC struggles more with sudden or mid/high-frequency sounds. Cabin announcements, nearby conversations, and sharp clanks poke through more than they do with some top-tier competitors. In practice, that meant I still needed to nudge the volume a bit during announcements or when someone nearby spoke loudly.

Put simply: ANC is practical and effective for steady noise, but if your priority is the absolute best cancellation of every kind of sound, other models edge ahead.

Connectivity, Controls, and App Support

Pairing was straightforward and stable in my experience. I regularly paired them with a laptop and a phone. They remember devices and switching between sources works fairly well, although seamless simultaneous streaming from two devices (true multipoint) wasn't perfectly reliable for me — sometimes I had to manually choose the output on the second device.

The physical controls on the earcup are tactile and easy to use without looking. There are buttons for play/pause, track skip, and volume, and I appreciated the…

Plantronics offered a companion app that allowed firmware updates and provided basic information. In my experience the app was useful primarily for updates; EQ customization was limited compared to other brands’ apps.

Battery Life — Real-World Results

Plantronics advertised long battery life for these, and in my real-world usage I saw very respectable endurance. I regularly got about 18–20 hours of mixed-use listening with ANC enabled at moderate volumes. On long trips I sometimes charged them every other day. The charging is via micro-USB — not the most modern standard today, but it worked fine.

One practical detail I noticed: when the battery runs completely out, wired listening is still possible (and it’s a lifesaver), but the ANC and voice prompts obviously require power. I like knowing I won’t be stranded completely quiet on a flight.

Microphone and Call Quality

Call quality was decent indoors — my voice sounded clear on work calls in a quiet room. Outside, wind and traffic noise reduced clarity noticeably; the external microphones for calls pick up environmental noise and the result can be muffled. If you routinely take calls on the go in noisy environments, you may find the BackBeat Pro 2 less flattering than some dedicated Bluetooth headsets or newer noise-cancelling headphones with improved call-processing algorithms.

Durability and Long-Term Use

After months of commuting and travel, I found no mechanical failures. Hinges stayed tight and ear pads only showed light compression. The finish accumulated minor scuffs, but nothing affecting function. If you treat them like a travel tool — not a luxury shelf piece — they hold up well.

Pros & Cons

• Pros:
  • Comfortable for most long sessions after a short break-in.
  • Warm, engaging sound with strong bass impact.
  • Effective ANC for low-frequency, steady noises (planes, trains, HVAC).
  • Long real-world battery life (roughly 18–20 hours with ANC in my use).
  • Practical build and reliable physical controls.
  • Wired fallback option for battery emergencies or low-latency needs.
• Cons:
  • ANC is not as effective on sudden or high-frequency noises compared to some competitors.
  • Treble is slightly recessed, so detail lovers may miss sparkle.
  • Call quality in noisy outdoor conditions is only average.
  • Micro-USB charging feels dated given current USB-C standards.
  • Multipoint switching can be inconsistent in my experience.

Comparison Table — How It Stacks Up

Buying Guide — Is It Right for You?

In my experience, the BackBeat Pro 2 is a strong choice if you want an all-around travel and commuting headset with a pleasing sound and dependable ANC without paying the highest premium. Below are considerations and practical tips based on what I learned from months of use.

Who should consider the BackBeat Pro 2?

• You want comfortable over-ear cans for long listening sessions and travel.
• You prefer a warm, engaging sound signature over analytical neutrality.
• You need ANC that tames engines and steady background hum rather than absolute isolation of every sound type.
• You value long battery life and physical controls that don’t require opening an app.

Who might want something else?

• If you demand the absolute best ANC across all noise types (especially sudden or high-frequency sounds), consider options that specifically lead in ANC benchmarking.
• If you make a lot of outdoor phone calls in windy environments and need top call clarity, look at headsets that advertise advanced call-optimizing mics and wind suppression.
• If you want modern connection conveniences like USB-C charging and highly customizable EQ in a companion app, newer releases will serve you better.

Checklist Before Buying

• Try the clamp force and cup size on your head if you can — comfort is personal.
• Test ANC in a busy environment if possible to see whether it blocks the noises that bother you most.
• Check your phone’s codec support (aptX, AAC) to get the best possible Bluetooth audio from your source device.
• Ask if a travel case is included or inspect the carrying solution — protection for travel matters.
• If you rely on calling outside, test a quick call to see how your voice is transmitted in your typical environment.

Real-World Use Cases — My Personal Notes

Here are a few specific scenarios I tested and what I learned from each:

• On a 10-hour flight: I used them for movies and naps. ANC significantly reduced the engine rumble and made conversation on the plane less intrusive. Battery lasted the flight with power to spare.
• Commuting on a crowded subway: They made music enjoyable and lowered background noise a lot, but announcements and sudden human noises still came through, which I actually appreciated when I needed to listen for stops.
• Daily work calls: In a quiet home office they sound clear enough, but for noisy café calls I found an external lavalier or a dedicated business headset superior.
• Gym and outdoor running: These are not ideal for sweaty workouts — the fit and pads get warm and they’re not designed to be sweatproof.

Final Verdict — Is the Hype Justified?

After using the BackBeat Pro 2 for several months, my verdict is that the hype is mostly justified for the right buyer. In my experience they deliver excellent day-to-day performance: punchy, enjoyable sound, effective ANC for steady noises, long battery life, and a comfortable, travel-ready design. They left me satisfied during long flights and everyday commutes.

That said, they are not flawless. If your main priorities are cutting-edge ANC for every situation, the clearest possible voice calls outdoors, or a fully modern feature set (USB-C, ultra-customizable EQ), there are better choices now. For me personally, the BackBeat Pro 2 hit the sweet spot between price, practicality, and sound for commuting and travel. I still reach for them often, but I also recognize contexts in which a different pair would be the right choice.

If you value comfort, a friendly sound, and solid real-world ANC without paying top-tier prices, the BackBeat Pro 2 deserves serious consideration. In my experience, they delivered dependable performance and a lot of listening enjoyment — with a few compromises I could live with.

Conclusion

I've used the BackBeat Pro 2 long enough to judge how they behave in everyday life, not just in a showroom. What I found was a practical, well-rounded headphone that nails many of the basics: solid ANC for steady hum, a fun and comfortable sound profile, long battery life, and robust build for travel. They're not the last word in noise cancellation or call processing, but they offer a lot of value where it counts. For my uses — flights, commuting, and long listening sessions at home — they were a reliable companion, and I still use them regularly.