Review: Altec Lansing BackBeat Classic Mobile Headphones

Here we have a pair of headphones from the guys over at Altec Lansing. If you didn’t know, Altec Lansing have been creating high quality speakers for many years, and have also moved into the headphone market. If you’re on the look out for some decent headphones, but don’t want to spend a fortune, read on  after the break for the full review.

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Comfort is the first thing you will notice with any headphones. As I’ve been used to my V-Moda vibe duo’s for a long time, I was used to the great comfort they offered me. As these headphones are shaped a little different, it took me a little time to get used to how they sat in my ear. After a few days of average use, I am pleased to say these are really comfy. I Haven’t had a chance to test over a really long period, but on my train journey to Manchester, I felt no need to take them out for the full hour.

The sound is the next thing anyone will look for in a pair of headphones. This is where I believe Altec Lansing’s expertise comes into play. The sound on these is superb for headphones that retail at this price. I would easily say these match, if not surpass, the sound quality of more expensive models.

The actual appearance of them is one thing I personally believe lets them down. While the color of the headphones are ok (even though I would have preferred Black/White and Silver to match the iPhone), the layout of the mic and control button is just, well, wrong. When you see a pair of original apple headphones, or even the Vibe Duo’s I tested a while back, the design was simple. Place the button at the same point as the mic. This means, its easy to find, and that if you happen to run your headphones under your shirt, its still really accessible. Not with these however. As you can see (from this picture) from left to right it goes like this. Mic, Splitter, Button. This means that the button is way down from the mic. Oh, and another thing I found, is that because the splitter and button are about the same size, if your trying to change songs or answer a call with out looking, it can be real easy to start pressing the wrong button.

Overall, the actual headphones are a pretty great deal for only $39.99, which is a bargain if you ask me. The only thing that  lets these down to me is the design of the actual headphones. I mean, it cannot be that hard for them to move the button onto the mic, or even onto the splitter further down. Still, if your looking for pretty decent sound quality, but don’t want to go overboard on pricing, these are a sure winner for you.

These headphones are available to purchase from Altec Lansing here.