The word is on the street about Altec Lansing's BackBeat Bluetooth headphones

We all yearn for a life lived sans wires, yet many of us still find our media players dangling from the things. Mono Bluetooth headsets are already everywhere, but this could be the year that those of the stereo variety take off, and Altec Lansing's hoping its new BackBeat series will be a contender. They're made in partnership with earpiece-guru Plantronics, so callers will find integrated voice dialing, omnidirectional microphones, 7 hours of talk time, and AudioIQ to boost volume when you're in a noisy situation. For the music listener the sets include tune-channeling, canal-sealing buds, a behind-the-head band, and support for A2DP, AVRCP, HSP v1.1 and HFPv1.5. For those devices that list doesn't cover (we're looking at you, iPhone), the $130 BackBeat 906 includes a small transmitter. Everyone else can opt for the otherwise identical but transmitter-less BackBeat 903, which is $30 cheaper. We look forward to getting our ears on these at CES -- hopefully after they've had a thorough cleaning.

[Via iPodNN]

[kjb434 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:01AM]

The would be perfect for my HTC phone!

[Dave @ Jan 6th 2009 10:44AM]

I use the Motorolla S9 stereo bluetooth headphones on my HTC Touch Diamond. The S9's look way cooler than this copycat pair. Obviously Altec Lansing and Plantronics were admiring the S9's before going ahead and bring this one to market. The real downside is storing these stereo units when they're not on your head.

[Jonyah @ Jan 6th 2009 11:52AM]

i'm also an s9 fan and owner, and considering you can get them for as low as $40 now, altec lansing is going to have to do better than this.

[DssTrainer @ Jan 6th 2009 4:26PM]

Actually the S9's were big disappointments as far as audio quality... but the S9-HD made up for it with adding Bass back into music.

But one thing I've learned about these type of headsets... and I've tried them all, waiting for one to get it right....
"No Boom Mic... No good for calls."

I love my Moto S9-HD (much better than the original S9 which had no bass). But if they would only add a retractable 'antenna-like' boom mic, they would be the most perfect invention ever. People can't hear you on the other end when trying to talk on these unless you are screaming. a simple telescoping or retracting mic on the side would be perfect.

Think like the old motorola phones with the little plastic retractable antenna that people like to chew on.. that is what we need... ALL bluetooth headsets need that to avoid looking like retards.

[thegr8deprsion @ Jan 6th 2009 5:55PM]

Speaking of S9's Engadget should do a review of all these using a Cowon S9! Just saying ;).

[STINK @ Jan 6th 2009 10:02AM]

Designed by H.R. Giger

[Mycroft @ Jan 6th 2009 10:12AM]

I like Sony's better. Less alienesque.


http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/09/sony-sports-up-new-bluetooth-headphones/


Undoubtable, Sony's will be more expensive.

[Peter @ Jan 6th 2009 10:24AM]

Are you kidding me with these? Motorola's S9 has been out for almost 2 years I think and looks WAY better than either of these. Who needs those giant wings on the sides of their ears?

http://direct.motorola.com/ens/s9/Headset_Home.asp

[Flaystus @ Jan 6th 2009 10:07AM]

I bet the word is Bird. I just KNOW IT!

[Milamber_Cubed @ Jan 6th 2009 10:09AM]

Did Engadget just make an Oasis reference in the title of this post?

[EMoShunz @ Jan 6th 2009 10:11AM]

oasis wonderwall reference? damb, can't believe i caught that, must have gone to high school in the early 90's

these look pretty slick, i've got a storm on the way and heard it will support stereo bluetooth, so might be worth a look.

[Nick V @ Jan 6th 2009 1:10PM]

Yeah, I caught the Wonderwall ref too. Nice one Engadget.

[Brent @ Jan 6th 2009 1:40PM]

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now....

I too came to comments just for the reference. Us poor poor children of the 90s.

[Nelson @ Jan 6th 2009 10:12AM]

I'd like to see some late-generation Bluetooth earpieces with built-in Caller ID displays. It would be nice to keep the smartphone put away (especially since none of them are particularly comfortable to talk into).

What about a bluetooth handset? Sort of like the old LG i-Style, but less, oh, I don't know...

What about a flip-style bluetooth handset?

Let's see what's coming at CES.

/Rant

[captainpease @ Jan 6th 2009 10:23AM]

I got the Jaybird JB-200 bluetooth headset for my wife for Christmas so she could watch movies on our 24" iMac while I sleep. However, after getting them set up for her I was extremely dissatisfied with the A2DP audio quality.

There is constant hum and the audio is tinny. The headset also takes some time to pair with bluetooth on the iMac. I'm returning them tomorrow. I don't trust any of these bluetooth headsets for pairing with Mac for audio. Sounds like they work fine with mobile phones though.

[Takashi @ Jan 6th 2009 10:42AM]

This isn't tech support, but that sounds like the headset profile, not A2DP. A2DP sounds marginally better - I'm using a set of Jabra BT620s pair to hear Tindersticks right now using XP and a no-brand BT adapter and it's perfectly fine. However, last time I checked, OSX didn't support A2DP out of the box, so you might want to check on that.

[Takashi @ Jan 6th 2009 11:20AM]

...That isn't to say Bluetooth stereo audio is amazing. There are pitch problems and the audio quality is slightly below a 128kbps MP3 (closer to 64kbps AAC/WMA, but with better bass and less artifacts). Good enough for the workspace, never the less.

[Rick Urtel @ Jan 6th 2009 10:28AM]

Altec Lansing- as a marketing name only- is owned by Plantronics. So this is a new Bluetooth stereo headset by Plantronics.

Good acoustics, poor manufacturing and quality control. Just got a AL single speaker self powered for a iPod...sounds absolutely
great. It is perfect for casual spontaneous listening in a group...fills a large space. Built like crap. The spinning ring around the speaker
is the on off switch...will not move without a twist from Iron Man.

So Plantronics, find a new contract mfg dude!

[Esteban @ Jan 6th 2009 10:55AM]

the iPhone never supports the cool accessories...

[Dusty @ Jan 6th 2009 10:57AM]

@Peter and Dave
I agree with the Motorola S9 stereo BT headset, they look way better then these!

Question for ya... Would u recommend buying the Motorola S9 or Motorola S9-HD? I plan on purchasing a set of stereo BT headset here in the next couple weeks and if u could give some feedback, Id appreciate it.

Thx

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 6th 2009 10:58AM]

I use the Nokia BT stereo headphones (BH501 if I remember well) a leftover for my time with the N95, but they are so good and practical, (foldable, small &lightweight, hidden mic, etc) that I feel no need to change them now, besides they work perfectly with my HTC touch HD and my Samsung Omnia.
The sound they produce is unparalleled by any similar product in the price range and superior to many much more expensive headphones.

[Dusty @ Jan 6th 2009 11:01AM]

@Esteban
Hopefully soon we can see some A2DP stereo headset support for the iPhone, read here about the project...
http://www.theluiz.com/bluetooth/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=134

[Brian @ Jan 6th 2009 11:04AM]

Perfect for the Zune!

[-sun @ Jan 6th 2009 11:31AM]

The Motorola S9 are horrible for the gym. Hopefully these will stay on better during a run and work out .. plus the s9(s) were suppose to be water resistant and i ruined two with sweat .. perhaps i sweat too much .. anyway ... i've since given up on good BT headset for my workout .. hopefull i can get back into the game with theses Alien wares ...

-sun

[Jonyah @ Jan 6th 2009 11:54AM]

sorry to hear that sun. I've had no issues with my s9's in the gym. no problems with sweat and they stay firmly in place (maybe cause I have a big head).

[Richard Glitter @ Jan 6th 2009 12:14PM]

There is a new version of the S9 out called the S9-HD which fixes the issues with sweat killing the S9's - they put rubber flaps over everything. Also they did some other improvements too, like the buttons are easier to feel, and they added some audio hoo-hah called "WOW" or something. I have a pair and I quite like them, but I don't use them for working out so I can't comment on that.

[Peter @ Jan 6th 2009 3:05PM]

@sun
I use my S9's for working out all the time and have no problems when I run or otherwise (and I sweat a lot too). They're designed for that and work great for it (they certainly aren't falling off while jogging - I think you have to be mistaken about that!). Awesome sound.

[xValentine @ Jan 6th 2009 12:51PM]

Small Transmitter ?

That's not even smaller than an iPod Shuffle.

[TurboFool @ Jan 6th 2009 12:52PM]

I'd like to see one that can pair with both my phone and my Zune (using the included adapter, obviously), so I can listen to music wirelessly from the Zune without having to switch out to a different headset to take a call. Any clue if this could handle that task?

[Peter @ Jan 6th 2009 3:21PM]

Pairing with two devices isn't a problem, but being connected to two simultaneously on the same profile is. I don't believe the S9 will do that, or any other headset that I'm aware of, but I could be wrong. In any case, if you're finding yourself needing a MP3 player and phone at the same time a lot, you might just want to use a phone that has a decent music player and be done w/ it (who wants a zune and a phone in their pocket at the gym).

[shugg @ Jan 6th 2009 2:28PM]

$142 after tax.,.,ouch.,.,.

[Geonerd @ Jan 6th 2009 3:17PM]

It is really amazing that apple hasn't yet made the iphone or touch a2dp compatible. Amazing and irritating.
N97 is the wiiner for now.

[paul-engadget @ Jan 6th 2009 5:39PM]

I have a motorola S705 headset, which is really a bluetooth receive with stereo jack, AVR control and FM radio. The radio is excellent, bluetooth range is amazing (if I put the bluetooth transmitting device in centre of house I can walk to far corners), and I can use my Sennheiser headphones and haven't touched the Moto buds. Best of all, it was only US$18 on ebay including postage!

[paul-engadget @ Jan 6th 2009 5:40PM]

p.s. the S705 can be connect using A2DP to media player and at same time with HSP to a mobile phone; sadly.

[hyoomen @ Jan 7th 2009 1:01AM]

Anybody tried the gear from Jaybird? http://www.jaybirdgear.com/

That's what I'm saving up for. Can't wait for the G1 cupcake update to release. I might need to try these out against some of the other options, though.

[Dusty @ Jan 7th 2009 11:00AM]

@hyoomen
The Jaybird BT headset look really good! Has anyone tried them and can leave some feeback?
Im interested in them... http://www.jaybirdgear.com/bluetooth-stereo-headphones-buy.php

[markhedder @ Jan 8th 2009 6:18PM]

Wow so many comments comparing this with the Motorola S9.

They aren't even close to me, I can't see where anyone else is making the comparison. The biggest difference I see is that the Motorola S9 has a HUGE plastic back which looks ridiculous. It's also hard to store and doesn't allow you to lay down on.

This Altec Lansing Backbeat, according to many pictures, has a flimsy, flexible, rubberish back for easy storage and comfort.

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10132424-100.html?tag=mncol

CNet has a clearer picture, there are others on the net.

What I'm interested is in the sound quality. Will it have good sound quality for playing music?

[Clym Escudero @ Jan 20th 2009 6:46PM]

For all the S9 fans...hopefully, these won't fry themselves into oblivion if you sweat on them. I went through 3 pairs of S9s before finally calling it quits. The S9s looked & sounded pretty good...but the build quality when it came to the claim of being "water/sweat resistant" was totally wrong.

For the rest of the non-s9 users out there, do a google search for reviews of the S9s and see how many got returned because the buttons stopped working or controls started activating themselves after the unit was sweated upon. Meh...wanted to like them, but finally had to give up on the substandard build quality.