At Mobile World Congress, I managed to get my mitts on some stereo Bluetooth headphones from Altec Lansing/Plantronics: the BackBeat 903s. They work via stereo Bluetooth, but if your phone doesn’t have it, fret not – the 906 model comes with a 3.5mm adapter. It was actually convenient timing to get some new headphones – my corded Bose In-Ears had died on the way to Barcelona, which made for a lengthy, tuneless transatlantic journey, made especially sucky with that group of yappy high school kids in the back. Ugh.
Cardo’s S-2s were my first shot at Stereo Bluetooth headphones, and I was looking forward to comparing them with some a little lighter. Dusan had already had some playtime with the infamous Motorokr S9s, and the super-light form factor really appealed to me – not necessarily because I’m the sporty, move-y type (far from it), but rather because I wear headphones for the majority of the work day, and the bigger ones tend to get uncomfortable over the long haul.
BackBeat 903
By Altec Lansing ($99.95)
Custom Fit: Personalize your fit with telescoping and swivel adjustments
Noise Isolation: Contoured, non-occluding eartips
Input Sensitivity: 91 dB SPL/V @ 1 kHz
Impedance: 17 Ohms
Cable Length: Wireless
Weight: 1.2 oz
Speaker: 14 mm with enhanced bass
Input Connector: Stereo Bluetooth
Frequency Response: 80 Hz – 12 kHz (-10 dB)
Pros
Extremely portable
Highly adjustable earbuds
Subtle and classy style
Cons
Poor range
Mediocre battery life
Stiff earbuds
