When comparing Philips SHB9850NC vs Plantronics BackBeat Fit, the Slant community recommends Plantronics BackBeat Fit for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Plantronics BackBeat Fit is ranked 22nd while Philips SHB9850NC is ranked 66th. The most important reason people chose Plantronics BackBeat Fit is:
Connectivity with source devices is via Bluetooth, so in place of a full headphone cable is a flexible, soft and short cord made of rubber material that keeps the earpieces connected. You won't have to deal with a long and dangling cable.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Noise cancellation
These headphones include a noise cancellation technology that's called "Active Shield Pro". It cancels out noises from around you effectively enough to, for instance, make background noise very silent even on an airplane or when mowing the lawn. On the other hand, the headphones also have a 'Talk mode', so you can hear any sounds around you better without having to take off your headphones, for instance when someone tries to talk to you.
Pro Touch controls are easy to use without looking
When you're in virtual reality, you can just swipe up and down to change the volume. This is a lot easier to do than to find a physical button without looking, and differentiate it from the mute/next/prev buttons.
Pro Comfortable to wear even for extended periods
The Philips SHB9850NC are 'over-ear' headphones, which means that they won't squish your ears when you wear them. They're lighter than other wireless headphones too, and have ergonomic ear cushions that don't put a lot of pressure on your head so they're very comfortable to wear.
Pro Wireless
These headphones have no wire, which is ideal for VR as it can't get tangled or caught on anything if you are spinning around or walking.
Pro Bluetooth connectivity minimizes the hassle of wires
Connectivity with source devices is via Bluetooth, so in place of a full headphone cable is a flexible, soft and short cord made of rubber material that keeps the earpieces connected. You won't have to deal with a long and dangling cable.
Pro Full mids, punchy bass, and smooth highs
The highs are not the most detailed, but they are clear and do give an airy feel to the music. The mids are full and forward so vocals will definitely sound great.
Bass is hit or miss though, depending on how well these headphones seal in your ear. If there is a good seal then bass is punchy and tight though not very powerful. Otherwise, it is likely that the bass will sound a bit on the thin side.
Pro The included case doubles as an armband
The case can be converted into an armband by reversing it inside out. This is very useful as you can use the arm band to store your smartphone while on a run, along with some essentials like your keys or some cash.
Pro Fits nice and snug in the ears
The ear tips are made out of a soft and flexible material that is comfortable and supports the weight of the earpieces quite well. This is enhanced by the wing tips that further help to keep the headphones in place.
Pro Earbud design allows ambient sound in
The design does not create a thorough seal in your ears, which can be a good thing as this will allow you to maintain awareness of what's around you.
Pro Good battery life
The BackBeat Fit can last up to 8 hours of playback from a full charge.
Pro Sweat resistant
A sweat resistant coating is applied to the interior parts, so splashes of liquid aren't likely to cause damage.
Pro On-earpiece buttons allow basic smartphone/music player function control
Each of the earpieces have a single button. Different combinations of presses will allow you to pause/play tracks, answer/end calls, adjust volume and do other functions which can be convenient.
Pro Built in microphone has a decent sound
The audio from the microphone is not amazing, but it is quite clear with no distortion so it should be good for most conversations.
Cons
Con Constant sound even when paused
Some headphones (these included) suffer from static when no audio is playing. Whenever audio is playing, it covers up this static but anytime you should have silence there is going to be some electrical whine.
Con Middle range and voices can be a bit muddy
The balance is pretty good - the bass isn't emphasized too much. The mids get muddied though, and this also effects most voices, especially in podcasts. That loss of voice quality can affect gameplay too - if you can't understand instructions you'll be left more frustrated than you would be otherwise.
Con Flopping earpiece cord can be annoying
When you start moving, it is likely that the short but fairly chunky cord connecting both earpieces will flop up and down. This can come into contact with your skin which can be distracting, and can even cause skin irritation.
Con Noise leakage can be distracting
While these headphones allow you stay aware of your surroundings, this also means that a lot of environmental sound will get in the way of your music. If you want to zone-in on your audio while running or working out then these may not be the best ones for you.