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

Just received these headphones in the mail yesterday and they are GARBAGE! They have none, in fact less than zero, bass response. It amazes me how cheap and tinny they sound and how ANYBODY could post a positive review on these. I had a pair of BOSE earbuds, and after about 1 1/2 years, the left earbud gave out. I contacted BOSE, told me if I sent my earbuds back along with $50 they would send me a new pair. Didn't think that was fair so I purchased these. WHAT A MISTAKE THAT WAS !! Compared to the soud of the BOSE , and also to a pair of KOSS PortAPro I own (which I swear are the greatest headphones money could buy, especiallu for $30) the Altec Lansings are HORRIBLE!! Do not waste your money on these like I did!

I am very satisfied with these headphones. Not the best bass ever but above average. For the price I would say they are best in class...

I bought these headphones and immediately loved them. The sound is clean and clear and they work across just about any kind of music.

However, within 2 weeks of purchase one of the earbuds mysteriously stopped working. I called Altec Lansing and they are sending me a free replacement, but I'm having my doubts about quality. Fingers crossed the replacement works better than the first pair.

Let me start by saying that I'm not one of those "audio geeks," that can notice tiny differences between different types of headphones. That being said, these headphones DO produce noticeably better sound quality than the ones bundled with most MP3 players (including the iPod headphones, Zune headphones, and Zune Premium headphones). As far as I can tell, these are similar quality to the more expensive Apple in ear headphones.

Unlike most headphones, the "wire" connection the audio source to the headphone is cloth rather than a plastic coated wire. It's like a very thin shoelace, and does actually seem to be easier to untangle (therefore the "tangle free" advertisement). I should note that these headphones get noticeably louder than any other's I've ever used before, but this is probably not a good thing. Use caution when using them so you don't damage your ear. I can't see any reason why you would need to turn the volume on your MP3 player to over 50%, except maybe for a quiet podcast.

Overall, these headphones provide the best bang for the buck of any headphones I've ever seen, and I would say that I highly recommend them if you're looking to upgrade from the standard headphones that came with your Zune or iPod without breaking the bank.

The Altec Lansing 326s (alternately known as the Backbeat Pro or Backbeat Titanium) are a new and worthwhile set of low-priced inner ear monitors (IEMs). These will work very well as a pair of earphones for on-the-go use.

When testing these IEMs I compared them to an older pair of low-priced Sennheiser CX300-B Earbuds and also to premium offerings like the Denon AHC751K In-ear Headphones and Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones. When appropriate below I will compare the 326s to these popular IEMs.

Build quality - fine for the price. The phones are made of plastic, mainly black except for gold-colored tips. They don't approach premium IEMs in build quality, but they are adequate for the price. The cord is covered in a sturdy fabric, which I appreciate because it is not "sticky" like many current rubbery headphone cords. The cords for the left and right ears are the same length, with a total cord length of about 45".

Sound - If fitted properly (this is *essential* for any IEM), the bass is deep; there is a bit of an emphasis on mid-bass, but not enough to be objectionable. The midrange and treble are nicely balanced. These IEMs don't go quite as low as the Denons or have highs as detailed as the UEs, but again they do great for the price.

Fit - The Altec Lansing 326s come with four sets of neoprene tips (S, M, L, dual flange). I was able to use the medium or large tips without problem. Altec Lansing states that the dual flange tips can be used for extra noise reduction, but unfortunately I couldn't get these to fit my ears properly.

Other stuff - The 326s come with a small zippered case to store your IEMs and extra tips. Microphonics are present as others have noted - but you can reduce the effect dramatically by looping the cord over your ear (see attached photo) or by using a clip to tie down the cord somewhere high on your shirt. As for noise isolation, the 326s seems to reduce outside noise about as well as other IEMs with rubber / neoprene tips.

Conclusion - highly recommended, and a superb value in noise isolating IEMs.