A heads-up on a new generation of wireless headsets Easy on the ears: Plantronics' BackBeat Go 2 buds Earbuds or headphones are an essential accessory for users of most portable music players, smartphones and tablets. Typically, that means they are tethered to their music source with a cable, but a new generation of bluetooth wireless headsets aims to to change that. Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 (rating: 4/5) Plantronics's first BackBeat Go wireless in-ear buds were a curiosity because they were wireless and yet delivered high-quality sound. Now the US company, known for stylish and reliable headsets, has tweaked the basic design - two earbuds connected by a short, flat cable. Among the changes in the BackBeat Go 2, the engineers have improved the volume, microphone and remote control built into the cable, making the buttons larger and easier to operate by feel alone. Holding the volume buttons down for a second advances or restarts a track; pressing the middle of the three buttons pauses music during playback, answers or ends a phone call and redials a number. Another improvement in the new earbuds is a brighter LED battery-level indicator and a deep-sleep hibernation mode so they stay charged for up to six months. They also support automatic pairing when the headset is linked with a device for the first time. This was a hit-and-miss process with early bluetooth devices but Plantronics has made it easy and reliable. I was impressed with the BackBeat Go 2"s sound quality when I used them to listen to MP3 tracks streamed on my Samsung Galaxy 4 smartphone, and to music streamed over the web. The earbuds are built around a pair of little 6mm speakers that deliver louder and richer sound than their predecessors. Phone-call quality was also top-notch. Of course, packing so much wireless technology into a pair of earbuds that are only slightly larger than their wired counterparts, comes at a cost. The Go 2s run for only 4.5 hours or so between charges. However, Plantronics plans a $20 charging pouch that will add 10 extra hours of listening time. At $80 (£83 in the UK), the Go 2s combine the benefits of being easy to carry around with the flexibility that going wireless delivers, all without compromising too much on audio quality. Jabra Revo (rating: 3/5) If you prefer the fit of on-ear headphones but want the flexibility of bluetooth technology, Jabra's Revo wireless headphones, launched last month, are a good choice. Like other Jabra products, they are well made and cleverly designed: they fold up for easy storage and the memory foam in the ear cups ensures they are extremely comfortable to wear, even though I usually prefer over the ear rather than on-ear headphones. The smooth touch controls built into the right earcup mean you can adjust the volume simply by stroking the grooved edge of the earcup with a finger, or pause to answer a call using a multifunction button in the middle of the earpiece. You can also wirelessly connect the Revo headsets to a smartphone or other music device that supports NFC (near field communication) technology, an alternative to bluetooth. I was intrigued that the headphones also came with a detachable cable and that the sound quality seemed slightly better than in wireless mode, although the difference was quite small. Overall, the Revo headphones performed well, but then they are relatively pricey at $200 (£180). Logitech UE 9000 (rating: 4/5) Logitech's UE 9000 wireless headphones are designed to deliver the best sound possible over a bluetooth wireless connection, achieved by using excellent software with a built-in amplifier and big 40mm speakers to enhance deep bass, as well as noise cancellation to block external sounds. All this in an over-the-ear headphone that is comfortable to wear for long periods and can also plug into a non-bluetooth source if required. But audiophiles may not like the effect of the amplification and active noise cancellation on the overall sound, so try before you buy - especially when, at $400 (£220), they are among the more expensive bluetooth headphones. Planet of the Apps Paul Taylor picks his favourite from the latest crop What it is: Rdio - subscription-based streaming music for iOS, Android and web ($9.99) Why you should try it: Like Spotify, Rhapsody and other streaming services, Rdio offers access to a huge catalogue of songs (18m or so). However, it also adds on social components that let you connect with friends to share and discover new music. Now, it has rolled out personalised music "stations" that learn from what you and your friends are listening to. Rdio is not cheap, but the recent changes make this app worth another look.