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Plantronics is back, but lacks the beat
Until recently, I thought I owned good headphones that rendered loud, clear music with the latest noise-cancellation feature. But then, I was asked to review the Plantronics Backbeat FIT. This small, wireless, blue-coloured gadget was new to me. In fact, it took me a while to get used to the no-wire aspect. But once that was settled, the Backbeat FIT quickly became a part of my attire.
Design
There is little chance for the headset to fall since it wraps tightly around your ears, and the earbuds lock themselves in place on the earlobe with the help of a flexible extension on the rubber tips. It is also light enough to be worn for hours.
On the left earphone, you will find a large play/pause button, and a tiny volume control key. The configuration is replicated on the right - a circular key for answering calls, and a smaller power key.
The neoprene armband included in the set is a major letdown, especially since the strap is not elastic. If you own a phablet, chances are that your device would not fit into the armband.
Functionality and audio quality
Pairing the BackBeat FIT with your smartphone via Bluetooth for the first time is a straightforward process - the headphones enter a pairing mode automatically as soon as you power on the headset. The BackBeat FIT's tiny battery is rated good for up to 6 hours of talk time, 8 hours of music streaming, and 14 days of stand-by.
I was mostly happy with sound fidelity - music quality is pleasant and loud enough. As for the bass, it's a tentative pass.
Conclusion
At Rs 7,490, the price is a bit too steep. But the FIT has its users in fitness freaks. The sweat-proof material comes in handy while working out. That said, I was a tad disappointed by audio reproduction, at least as far as bass is concerned. But go for it if you are just looking to own a cool pair of headphones and have enough cash to splurge.
Puma has also ventured into the accessories space like many of its sportswear peers. What however makes one sit up and take notice is the name of the line - Puma Bulldog.
The Sport-Lite earphones from the Bulldog range are solidly built and are comfortable to wear over long hours. They come in funky colours (the review unit was in blue) with the Puma logo embossed prominently. So you can match the earphones to your sneakers.
The pair has a fuss-free flat cable with an inline mic/remote and plugs into any 3.5mm stereo jack. Since the cable is more than a metre in length, it is easy to use it with a phone, tablet or PC.
First, I hooked up the earphones with a PC and played Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung'. The sound was bright with the sound stage being wide. The lows were rendered well and the highs were balanced (not ear-piercingly sharp) and the mids were clear as well.
Next, I connected the earphones to a Moto E. Led Zeppelin's 'Kashmir' was my track of choice. The Sport-Lite pair excelled in the bass department and the best bit was the immersive sound. I was out on the noisy roads of New Delhi and despite this pair not featuring noise cancellation, most of the ambient noise was cut out. But if you cranked up the volume, the mids were drowned by the base. Calls made over the earphones were audible and the microphone didn't pick up too much noise. However, the inline controls might not work with all phones. A caveat: It is difficult to run or exercise vigorously with this pair - it keeps falling off from the ears. A gentle jog is all the exercise you can get with this pair.
At Rs 3,199 the Puma Bulldog Sport-Lite is priced steeper than its peers but offers good performance at lower volumes.
