Home > Consumer Reviews > Altec Lansing UHP326 Backbeat Series In Ear Headphone with Ultimate Ears technology

I have a set of UHP336s and I'll have to say while these 226s sound amazing and better than 336 they have a major flaw!

What makes them flawed:
Their cloth-braided cords - With the lack of over the ear malleability in the cords. This is a feature of the 336 model and the plastic wrapped cords on the 336 seem to transmit less "rubbing" noise to the ear when the user is moving around. The amount of noise transferred through the cords on the 326 compared to other models is just excessive.

Sound production:
The quality of sound that comes through these ear buds is just amazingly good. IF you can stand to sit still and not move at all you will get an unbelievable experience with the music you play. Only downfall of this is that if you download low quality music you will be able to tell how bad anything less than 192K bit rate really is.....

All in all the sound is amazing but the interference is just ridiculous, even when compared to like style headphones. It's nearly off-putting to even use the set with the level of this problem.

The quality of sound coming from these headphones is superb, but like other reviewers said, the cloth-esq cover on the cords transmits an extreme amount of interference and noise while listening to music due to the cords brushing against your face, clothes, and other objects in your environment. Even the slightest brushing is transmitted up the cord and into your ear.

The only one one can enjoy the nice sound coming from these headphones is if one is sitting perfectly still with the cords suspended in mid air away from your body. The texturing on the cords is just too disruptive, and ruin what otherwise would probably be an amazing pair of headphones.

I owned the Altec Lansing Upgrader Series UHP306 headphone and I can tell you the sound is comparable. I replace them with this new backbeat series after my UHP306 broke when they get stuck with my car door (don't know how it happened). I wanted to buy again the UHP306 (which I already reviewed it) but when I looked at them, their price was higher (I paid at Amazon.com $49 for them and now they are at $59). Don't get me wrong, they're still worth the money; I just can't allow me to pay more for the same item. So I get this Backbeat 326 series and I'm happy again. They sound, as I said before, is comparable with the Upgrader Series UHP306. The difference is that this one has more Treble (they sound crispier) and produce a little more of bass (almost unnoticeable). UHP306 has less treble which seems to produce more bass, but Backbeat 326 has level up bass to match up the treble and produce a very balanced sound. Actually, ju can even let off the EQ settings in the iPhone and still you'll get balance highs, mids, and lows, with crisp sound. The UHP306 is less crispier and can make you feel that produces more bass. Backbeat 326 has much more bass than the Sony MDR-EX71SLA Fontopia (which bass is non existence and treble is overwhelming for sure) using LATIN EQ in an iPhone 3G sound very similar (just more crisp) with UHP306. The construction is very similar as the UHP306 (cloth cable - very resistant) but I feel backbeat a little bit lighter and more flexibility in the cable, which I prefer. Also, it comes with TWO (2) years limited warranty in the US which is a huge plus. For sound quality it has a 4.5/5 (Imagine a BOSE triport quality audio with enhanced - really enhanced - bass for about half the price and double the warranty). If you don't like much high frequencies, probably is more a 4/5 (or even 3.5/5 for those BASS FREAKS), but sound is very balanced. For money value it has a pretty solid 5/5. I recommend it without doubts. Hope this helps!

To start, yes there is some interference with the cable rubbing which occurs with all in-ear headphones. This one is just much more audible. However, the other side is the fact that these cables feel like they won't have any issues with shorts making them more durable. I found that throwing your MP3 player under your shirt and leaving enough cable for the movement of your head will stop any interference, plus a mic clip would solve the issue. Also they have the adjustable length at the split so be sure to set that right.

As for the rest of my review, the sound is great out of the box using the stock tips although slightly uncomfortable to me. Nevertheless, adding some Comply T-400 Foam Tips - 3 Pair Pack opened these right up and made them sound like a pair that should cost around $300 not $20. Highs are crisp, bass is almost brain rattling at times, and that's only half way on my volume setting.
Whichever way I look at it, you cannot go wrong at this price.

For $29 + $15 tips, you CANNOT get better sound than this.

Every positive review on here is correct. These are some of the best in-ear heaphones, if not the best pair of on in-ear headphones, you will find at this price point.

Songs just sound crisp. Altec Lansing makes no mention of this on their packaging but even the cord to these in-ear headphones is a welcome surprise. Every pair of headphones I have owned have been made of a black plastic cover. The UHP326's cord is constructed of something completely different that seems so much more durable (as the plastic has been known to come apart in cold weather or simply wear off with plenty of use).

I am 100% satisfied with this purchase. No regrets.