When comparing Plantronics BackBeat Sense Special Edition vs Bose QuietComfort 25, the Slant community recommends Bose QuietComfort 25 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones around $200? ” Bose QuietComfort 25 is ranked 6th while Plantronics BackBeat Sense Special Edition is ranked 7th. The most important reason people chose Bose QuietComfort 25 is:
The traveling case is small and provides room for spare batteries and other components. This makes it pretty portable, for those that can't or don't want to leave their headphones at work.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Balanced sound signature with good clarity
The highs, mids and lows are all fairly balanced, and there are no frequencies that stand out from the rest. Audio is clear and with minimal distortion. These are versatile sounding cans that will work with a wide range of music genres.
Pro Solid battery life
These can play music continuously for 18 hours from a full charge before the battery is depleted.
Pro Splash resistance
The main difference of the Special Edition over the standard Sense is that it has a special nano-coating applied, making these headphones splash-proof. Splashes of sweat and other liquids should not pose a problem for these headphones.
Pro Sensors in headphones automatically play/pause music
There are built-in sensors inside the BackBeat Sense which detects if you are taking off or putting on the headphones. Music is paused/resumed depending on the detected motion.
Pro Won't put a lot of weight on the head
The BackBeat Sense features a slim and lightweight design, making these very easy to wear even for extended periods. The headband also features a hammock-style mechanism which feels quite soft and comfortable.
Pro Good portability
The traveling case is small and provides room for spare batteries and other components. This makes it pretty portable, for those that can't or don't want to leave their headphones at work.
Pro Battery is easily replaceable
These headphones use a triple-A battery to power noise canceling. Should it run out of charge, it can easily be replaced.
Pro Active noise canceling is very good
With the feature switched on, you can really zone in on the music. Noise canceling is very effective at blocking out ambient noise, especially the lower frequencies. On a flight for example, engine noise is drastically reduced, as well as most of the sound from the conversations in your vicinity.
Pro Plenty of comfort features
The QC25 feels comfortable even after wearing it for several hours. The pads go over the ear and feel soft, as the ample cushioning is covered with supple and high quality synthetic leather. Aside from the usual headband padding, it also has an inner Alcantara lining that feels really nice on the skin.
Pro Noise canceling levels can be adjusted
You have a number of options as to how you want to use these headphones' active noise canceling feature. You can either have the feature on or off while you are listening to music, or have noise canceling on without audio. This is a nifty feature if you just want to enjoy some peace and quiet when in a noisy place.
Pro Light and easy to wear
These headphones will not tire your head or neck out, even if you wear them for quite some time. These are pretty light at around 196 grams.
Pro Fun sound with boosted highs
Sub-bass is a bit laid back, but the overall low-end production is punchy and with good extension. Mids are clear and forward so vocals, guitars and keys sound good with these. The upper treble is boosted, which results in good detail, but can also give harshness to the sound.
Overall, this is a really fun set of cans to listen to, especially if you just want to have a fun music listening experience.
Cons
Con Feels flimsy and unreliable
These are mostly made from plastic which results in the light weight. However, the materials and build quality, along with the slim design make these headphones feel flimsy.
Con Audio has not enough power on some phones
Takes a lot of power for volume. Not all phones have enough audio output to reach high volume.
Con High frequency noise may still mix with audio
While low frequency sounds are effectively blocked, high frequency ones can still be heard. Female voices and high pitched noises may still get in the way of your music.
Con No noise canceling auto shut-off
The feature continues to drain battery even if the headphones are not used. Turn this off before storing.
Con Noise canceling is uncomfortable for some users
A number of users complain about the headphones' noise canceling having a feeling of pressure in the ears, which they find to be quite uncomfortable.