Category: Headphones

You have a Polycom IP phone 301, 335, 430, 450, 500, 501, 550, 560, 600, 601, 650, 670, CX300, CX500, CX600, CX700, VVX 101, VVX 201 VVX 300, VVX 310, VVX 400, VVX 410, VVX 500, VVX 600, VVX 1500. Now available on HeadsetPlus.com Polycom headset page are Polycom certified plug and play compatible corded headsets.

 

In first place, if you’re on a tight budget, there is the Jabra Biz 1500 Mono Direct Connect Headset for only $119.96, which is also a Polycom certified headset with 2 year warranty, noise canceling microphone and customizable earcups as it come with foam ear cushions, but you can upgrade them to leatherette one.

Personally, I like the Plantronics HW540-POLY Polycom Compatible Headset.  It’s the middle of the line.  Comes with 3 wearing styles, so you’re never stuck with any one style. Can be worn over the head, over the ear or behind the neck and with Noise canceling microphone from Plantronics that block up to 60% of the unwanted background noise. Thanks to the Quick Disconnect (QD) the user can wore the headset all day and if need to step out of the desk they can release the headset from the special cable plugged into the Polycom desk phone and reattaching without the plugin or unplugging from the back of the phone or putting on and off.

On third place for corded headset for your Polycom desk phone we have the Plantronics HW720-POLY Polycom Phone Compatible Headset, this is the best quality headset in the EncorePro corded headset family. This headset comes with leatherette ear cushions, covering both ears and in a true binaural sound quality. The microphone boom arm is retractable as it helps to place the microphone in the best position closer to the mouth and offering ultralightweight design for a daily use. With 2 year warranty offering one of the most elegant and practical corded headset.

We discussed corded solutions for your Polycom desk phone, and now we will discuss some wireless offerings. In addition, there are also wireless headsets from both Plantronics and Jabra with EHS remote answering capabilities (as long as you purchase with the Plantronics APP-51  or Jabra Link 17 Polycom IP Phone EHS Cable  along with the wireless headset you purchase.

First wireless headset in our list is the Plantronics CS540+EHS Remote Answer Bundle for Polycom IP Phones. This wireless headset from Plantronics can be worn over the head or over the ear as it comes with both wearing styles and switch at will. With a range of up to 350 feet on line of sight, which means the user can be in the middle of a call and go thru walls without affecting the connectivity or sound quality. This being one of the most discrete and lightweight headset on the market and with an easy to use and easy installation to be used only with your desk phone.

One of the favorite here at headquarters is the Jabra Engage 65 Mono+EHS Polycom Phone Wireless Headset Bundle. This headset from Jabra offers a range of up to 490 feet as it has a higher encryption chipset, allowing it to support the double of density of the same headset in 1 location. The Engage 65 allows the user to answer their desk phone, and to use the headset with your computer as it comes with a micro USB cable that allows to plug in any USB-A port. The design of the headset is elegant and comfortable at the same time, offering built in busy lights are really useful specially if the person wearing it is in a front desk position or an open office environment. Easy call controls can be found and the mute key would be located in the tip of the microphone boom arm.

One of the newest headsets from Poly (Plantronics) would be the Poly Voyager Focus 2 Office + EHS Remote Answer Polycom Phones. This is a Bluetooth Class 1 headset with a  range of up to 300 feet, with a discrete microphone boom arm. The Focus2 Office allows to be used with the desk phone, and the computer, but besides that you can pair your cellphone and take the headset out of the office with you! Digital Hybrid Active Noise Canceling (ANC) is found on the headset with different levels of graduation, really useful in loud environments. Smart Sensor can be found on the headset, that can detect when the headset is worn and allows to either mute or play/pause streaming. The microphone boom arm comes with  Acoustic Fence Technology that is the best noise cancelation microphone on the market.

The Jabra On-Line Busy Light is an offer compatible with the Jabra Link 860 and any of the corded Jabra headsets. Simply plug in the jack of the On-Line busy light to the Busy light port on the top of the Link 860. The port is located between the USB port and the telephone port and the Link 860 will activate the light on when on a call. Simply put the light on a proper place and using the included 3M adhesive tape. The Busy light can either rest on the desk or can be taped to the edge of your monitor as it has a 180 degree turntable foot.

For Poly (Plantronics) corded headsets you will need to use the MDA524 or MDA526 external amplifiers as they have a 3.5mm jack where you can plug in the Plantronics Savi/CS500 Series In-Use Busy light (OLI) or the Plantronics In-Use Busy light CS540 CS530 CS510 Savi 700. These busy lights are Poly wireless headsets compatible as well. Making them really useful in a open office environment allowing user to know when on a call and if the built in busy light to the Poly wireless headset is not really noticeable.

Sometimes the length on the Plantronics busy lights is not long enough, if this is the case, you will need the Plantronics In Use Busy Light Extension Cable. This cable will work as an extension and will give you 6 feet more on length.

Poly Busy lights are not compatible with the M22 Vista amplifier, however they are compatible with Poly wireless headsets such as the CS540, Savi Office wireless headsets and Voyager Office wireless headsets.

Needing a busy light for just your office phone, this will work too!  Just plug the included adapter into the handset/receiver jack of your telephone, then the handset into the adapter, now have a busy light for your office phone!

For EPOS wireless headsets, you will need the EPOS Busy Light for SDW Wireless Headsets 2.5mm Jack. The busy light is compatible only with SDW wireless headsets and plugs into the base of the SDW wireless headset base, the jack will be located on the back of the base and towards the left side, labeled with a blue label and the legend “Busy”.

This busy light is useful as it has 3 different colors, green meaning that you are available or streaming, yellow that refers as away or headset out of range and red that means busy on a call.

For your computer and in need of a busy light, you can get the Plantronics Status Indicator USB Light for UC Softphones, fully compatible with PC or MAC and compatible with all the Major UC platforms such as Teams and Skype. A nice and useful cube that can be let to rest on the desk and turns on when on a meeting call.

In order to stay on top of what’s going on it is sometimes important to be connected to multiple devices. Today it is nearly impossible to find a business out there that does not utilize both computers and desk phones.

For some people its important that they be able to use both at different times throughout the day. That’s why Jabra and Poly have come out with PC/Phone switches that enable a user to connect their corded headsets to both devices.

For Jabra the first option and most affordable is Link 180:

 

The way you use this adapter is straight forward:

1. Plug the Link 180 to your computer first as this is the power source.
2. Using the included telephone cable, plug the Link 180 to your desk phone headset port, if no headset port on the phone, you will need to unplug the handset from the phone and leave it unplugged, then plug in the Link 180 into the handset port and the Link 860 will work now as your handset. To answer calls you will need to pick up the handset from the hook switch and the sound will come to the Link 860.
3.  Plug in your Jabra QD headset and then check the best audio quality on the desk phone by selection one of the 3 switch positions located on the button of the Link 180 (A, B, C). A will be the one for most common desk phones.

This is the most basic adapter and doesn’t have volume controls as the user will need to modulate the volume from the desk phone and from the computer directly.

On second place we have the Link 860 for Jabra corded headsets.

The Link 860 is a more advanced adapter for Jabra QD headsets and offers digital amplification meaning a better sound quality as it works as an external amplifier for your desk phone, especially if it doesn’t have a dedicated headset port. The way to plug the link 860 is:

1.  Plug in the Link 860 to the computer using the included micro USB cable as this is the main power source.
2.  Plug in the Link 860 to your desk phone, you can use the headset port on your phone, if no headset port you can unplug your handset from the phone, then plug to the Link 860 and the Link 860 to the handset port with the included telephone cable.
3.  Plug in your Jabra QD headset to the Link 860 and you are set and good to go.
4.  If sound quality coming from the desk phone is not clear, move the tone switch, located in the back of the Link 860 to a different position (A-G), A is the most common one for all desk phones.
5.  Adjust the microphone volume if your callers say that is too loud or too low, the perfect setting would on 2 by default. Dial found on the back as well on the left side of the tone switch.

By default all the settings on the Link 860 are already setup for the end user, so you don’t have to worry about microphone volume or settings unless you notice those issues.

On third place we have the Link 950, this adapter is for Jabra USB headsets, corded or wireless.

The Link 950 allows to USB Jabra headsets to use their headsets with their computer and desk phone. The way you plug in is as follows:

1.  Plug in the Link 950 to your computer using the included micro USB cable as this is the main power source.
2.  Plug in your desk phone using the included telephone cable to your headset port, if no headset port in the desk phone, if no headset port you can unplug your handset from the phone, then plug to the Link 950 and the Link 950 to the handset port.
3.  Using the USB port located at the front of the Link 950, plug in your Corded USB Jabra headset or your USB Bluetooth Dongle such as the Link 360, Link 370 or Link 380, and you are all set and good to go.

The Link 950 supports EHS support for remote answer of the desk phone, depending on the phone you will need the proper EHS cable, if the phone doesn’t support this feature, you can still make it work with the GN-1000 lifter.

Now we will discuss Poly (Plantronics) adapters.

First we do have the MDA100 from Poly, this being the most affordable switch for QD corded headsets from Poly.

The MDA100 is a straight plug and play solution, the way you plug it in is as follows:

1. Plug in the MDA100 to your computer as this is the primary power source.
2. Plug in the MDA100 to your desk phone using the included telephone cable to your headset port, if no headset port available, you will need to unplug your handset from the phone, and leave it unplugged, then plug in the MDA100 to the handset port of the phone and whenever answering a call on your desk phone simply pick up the handset off from the hook switch and that will open the channel to the MDA100 as this will work now as a handset.
3.  Plug in your Poly QD headset to the MDA100 and adjust the sound coming to the headset with the volume adjust located in the back of the MDA 100.

By default the MDA100 comes with all settings pre adjusted to work right away out of the box.

Second we have the MDA524 Switcher from Poly. This option offers more adjustments than the previous MDA adapter.

The MDA524 is a solution for Poly QD headsets wanting to take advantage of further adjustments from the amplifier by itself. You can modulate the volume independently from the desk phone or the computer. The way how to plug it comes as:

1.  Plug in the MDA524 to the computer as this is the power source of the switcher.
2.  Plug in the MDA524 to the desk phone using the included telephone interface cable to the headset port, if no headset port available on the phone, then unplug the handset from the phone, then plug in the handset in the telephone interface cable, and then the latter gets plugged back into the handset port. The MDA524 allows to answer calls by picking up the handset and the user can still take the call on the headset or the handset.
3.  Plug in the Poly QD headset to the included QD cable to the MDA524 and you would be good to go.

The MDA524 allows merging calls from both devices by pressing the PC and Desk phone buttons for 2 seconds while on an active call and it supports the use of EHS cables or HL10 lifter for remote answer of the desk phone, for the mechanical lifter you will need to get the power adapter as the computer will not power enough the MDA and lifter.

Third we have the MDA526 from Poly, this is a solution only for 6-pin QD headsets that require a special software for mayor deployments and inventory management.

With similar features like the previously mentioned MDA adapter, this includes the feature that supports mayor call center deployments, including inventory management, use, and call quality to mention a few. Follow these steps to plug the MDA526:

1. Plug in the MDA526 to the computer as this is the power source of the switcher.
2.  Plug in the MDA526 to the desk phone using the included telephone interface cable to the headset port, if no headset port available on the phone, then unplug the handset from the phone, then plug in the handset in the telephone interface cable, and then the latter gets plugged back into the handset port. The MDA524 allows to answer calls by picking up the handset and the user can still take the call on the headset or the handset.
3.  Plug in the Poly QD headset 6-pin only to the included QD cable to the MDA524 and you would be good to go.

The MDA526 offers call merging on both devices, mute of microphone from the adapter and placing active call on hold by pressing and holding the call button for 2 seconds. This adapter supports EHS adapters and lifter for remote answer of the desk phone, for the mechanical lifter you will need to get the power adapter as the computer will not power enough the MDA and lifter.

On third place we have the MDA220 USB switch from Poly, that supports USB headsets or adapters from Poly.

Poly offers the MDA220 for people wanting to use their USB corded or wireless headsets with their desk phone and computer. The way to plug the MDA220 is as follows:

1.  Plug in the MDA220 to the computer as this is the power source. The power cable is attached to the MDA220 so be careful to pulling too hard and avoid damaging.
2.  Using the included telephone interface cable plug in the MDA220 to the desk phone on the headset port, if no headset port available on the phone, then unplug the handset from the phone, then plug in the handset in the telephone interface cable, and then the latter gets plugged back into the handset port. The MDA220 allows to answer calls by picking up the handset and the user can still take the call on the headset or the handset.
3.  Plug in your USB corded headset or Bluetooth Dongle from Poly like the BT600 and you are all set and good to go.
4.  If you don’t hear a dial tone you will need to change the Configuration switch to a different position (A-G), if need to adjust the master volume and master microphone you can do it on the dials located on the right side of the Configuration switch.

By default the MDA220 comes with all the settings to work right away from the box including the master and microphone volume.  The best performance for both dials will be positioned on 3. The MDA220 supports EHS adapters and mechanical lifter from Poly, for the mechanical lifter you will need to get the power adapter as the computer will not power enough the MDA and lifter. The MDA220 supports the SSP2714-01 Dongle for the Hearing Impaired.

 

For further assistance either call us 1 877 999 3838

Office cordless phones have been around for a long time. They provide a way for a secretary or other staff to answer a phone then proceed to locations around an office in order to get information or to prepare files for usage. As a means of communication, the cordless office phone simply cannot be beaten. Choosing an office phone that suits the need of your office isn’t as complicated as you would think. Most offices today rely on cordless phones and office conference phones with the best quality as a means of transferring calls to other departments and conducting meetings. It gives workers the freedom to continue working while still on the phone with a client. When choosing a cordless office phone system you have to consider which wireless office phone and wireless office headset is best for you. In order to narrow down the available options, you have to figure out what you need your phone to do for you.

What Features Do I Need?

In an office environment, it’s essential to have the best quality wireless headset and phone system that works to allow for freedom of movement throughout the office. Depending on the amount of departments you have, you are going to need more handsets to accommodate your staff. Generally speaking, you don’t want multiple departments sharing a single phone, even if they work in close proximity. This can lead to uncomfortable situations and tensions may run high if one department monopolizes the available handset and the other department is left wanting. To maximize productivity by minimizing cost, you should look at options that allows for multiple handsets or for handsets that can be added on the available ones. Another important point to note is the battery talk time. If your staff spends a lot of time making and receiving calls, then it is very likely that a phone with a short battery life will be of little use. Recently, cordless phones have come equipped with Bluetooth connectivity which is perfect to use with the best Bluetooth wireless headset for the office. This is a very useful features and further frees up your staff to operate by allowing them use of their hands while on the phone. All of these factors contribute towards choosing the best cordless phones for your office use.

The following constitute the best office phones currently available for offices:

EnGenius DuraFon PSL Pro Single Line Long Range Cordless Phone

EnGenius has been a leader in the phone industry for quite some time and this phone shows that they have to offer to the commercial and office market. Providing a whopping twelve-floor range within buildings, up to three thousand acres on farmland and as much as two hundred and fifty thousand square feet coverage within a warehouse, the powerful antenna makes for a very useful system that can cover enough area to help you answer calls almost anywhere. This system comes with two DuraFon Handsets, which also can function as two-way radios and be registered with multiple bases. With six hours of talk time and as much as fifty hours on standby, this phone system demonstrates the things that great office phone systems are made of. The PSL system supports up to 90 handsets versus the old version of only 10. DuraFon PSL handsets have a distinctive green faceplate and are compatible with the DuraFon and Freestyl systems.

EnGenius FreeStyl2 Cordless Phone

EnGenius is a name that cordless phone operators have known and loved for years for it’s super long range. This is an entry level model and very affordable for the home office or small office market. It can cover 25,000 sq. feet or 10 acres of land or 6 floors of office building.  It also has all the features of a desk phone like speaker phone, caller ID, call on hold, mute, etc.  The EnGenius Freestyl2 is the perfect phone if you have a large ground to cover such as a large home or business.  In addition it’s affordable at the price of only $399 for the base and one handset. The Freestyl2 base is compatible with the DuraFon handsets and it supports up to 9 handsets paired to one base. Easy to use as its just a plug and play solution for your analog phone line.

EnGenius DuraFon Pro Industrial Cordless Phone System

Poly, formerly known as Plantronics offers a solution for people with home offices in need of a cordless phone, with the integration of the wireless headset CS540 and the TR-11 adapter, allows the user to use their wireless headset in their office with their existing analog phone. The CS540 will allow to answer calls by tapping the headset thanks to the joint work of the TR-11 adapter as this adapter works as an Electronic Hook Switch on your analog phone line! You will need to get a splitter and then if you have your cordless phone you would be able to walk around with the cordless phone and the wireless headset and answer, end calls and even make outgoing calls. The range of the CS540 headet is of 350 feet on line of sight so you can go thru walls without compromising sound quality.

All the previous offers will work with analog phone lines only, if you have VoIP and want a long range cordless solution here are the ones we recommend:

The Freestyl SIP is a long range solution for people with VoIP lines, this system comes with 2 handsets and supports up to 10 handsets. With a range of up to 25,000 sq. feet and offering customizable handsets with ring or vibrate options for incoming calls. The well known walkie talkie feature can be found on the handsets and the base is wall mountable so can take less space on the desk. The handsets offer hot battery swappable when the call is on hold, 6 hours of talk time and up to 50 hours of standby time. Fast charging is a nice feature found on the handsets and each handset comes with its charger. The handsets offers Push-to-Talk feature for a more secure conversation while on a call.  The handsets come with belt clip, making it easy to carry around and the handsets are easily recognizable by the dark gray color on their casing, this handsets are not compatible with Analog Freestyl or DurFon systems.

Corded phone systems are quickly becoming a thing of the past as cordless phones slowly replace them. The added freedom of a cordless phone combined with its ease of use and ability to show up caller ID and display previously saved numbers makes them very handy as they serve as both a phone and an address book at the same time. Multiple tasks being performed by the same piece of hardware along with affordable quality wireless headsets is what birthed the modern smartphone revolution. We can only imagine what incorporating this mindset into the realm of office phones will produce in the near future.

Poly Savi wireless headsets

Did you ever wish you can conference phone calls with desk phone and a cell phone at the same time?  You can If you have a Poly Savi 8200 series wireless headset.  All you have to do is press two buttons on the Savi wireless headset base until the LEDs become solid green to combine the audio from any 2 devices selected using the keys, you now have a 3-way conference call.  You can also do the same if you have a computer VOIP call (like Teams).  You can pick any of the 2 sources (computer, cell phone, or desk phone) and have a party-line or 3-way conference call. This process is called mini conference call with 2 devices only.  It doesn’t work with all three.

Jabra wireless headsets

With your Engage 65 or Engage 75 wireless headset, you can have 2 active calls on the same headset at the same time, this process is called Merge calls. The process is simple and with the headset on in a current call, hold the Call button for 2 seconds on the headset or tap the on the base to accept the incoming call. This will put the current call on the headset on hold. If you have your Engage 65 headset, press the and hold it for 2 seconds on the base and this will merge the calls. On the Engage 75 case, you will need to tap on the base and then on the touch screen select Yes and this will merge both calls at the same time.

EPOS wireless headsets

EPOS call this process merging a held call into an active call/Mini conference, this process is only possible with the EPOS SDW 50XX series wireless headsets as they support multi devices while on an active call and if a second call comes in, you need to put the active call on hold by double tapping the headset answer/end call button or you can tap one time on the base, pressing the LED of the incoming call, this LED will be flashing depending on which device the incoming new call is coming from. After this touch the icon of the call that was put on hold for 1 second. Once both calls had been merged you will see that the both LED now are solid blue and you will hear on the headset the prompt “Call merged”. To unmerge calls you need to reverse these steps starting with the call you want to unmerge first. Once the call had been unmerged, you will hear the prompt “Call unmerged”

Music has long been known to have a positive effect on child development. From soothing lullabies to upbeat nursery rhymes, music can calm, inspire, and engage young minds. But not all types of music are created equal when it comes to child development. In this article, we will explore the best types of music for child development and how they can benefit children of all ages.

 

Classical Music

Classical music is often considered the gold standard when it comes to music and child development. It has been shown to have a calming effect on infants and young children, helping them to relax and fall asleep. Studies have also found that listening to classical music can improve cognitive skills, such as spatial reasoning and memory, in children of all ages.

One study conducted by the University of Helsinki found that children who participated in music lessons that included classical music performed better on cognitive tests than those who did not. Another study conducted by the University of California found that children who listened to classical music for just 20 minutes a day scored higher on tests of spatial reasoning than those who did not listen to music.

 

Children’s Music

Children’s music, including nursery rhymes, songs, and stories, is another great type of music for child development. Children’s music is designed to be fun and engaging, with catchy melodies and simple lyrics that are easy for young children to learn and remember. This type of music can help young children develop language skills, including vocabulary and grammar, as well as social skills, such as taking turns and sharing.

In addition to its educational benefits, children’s music can also help young children develop a love of music and an appreciation for the arts. Many children’s musicians incorporate instruments, dance, and other forms of performance into their shows, exposing children to a wide range of music and creative expression.

Nature Sounds

Nature sounds, such as birdsong, ocean waves, and rainstorms, can also be beneficial for child development. These sounds have a calming effect on children, helping them to relax and fall asleep. They can also help children develop a connection to nature and an appreciation for the environment.

Some studies have also found that exposure to Nature sounds can improve cognitive function in children. For example, a study conducted by the University of Chicago found that children who spent time in natural environments performed better on tests of attention and memory than those who spent time in urban environments.

 

World Music

Exposing children to a variety of musical styles and cultures can also be beneficial for their development. World music, which encompasses a wide range of musical styles from different cultures and countries, can help children develop an appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism. It can also help children develop a sense of empathy and understanding for people from different backgrounds.

In addition to its social and emotional benefits, world music can also help children develop their musical abilities. Many world music styles incorporate complex rhythms and melodies, which can help children develop their sense of rhythm and pitch. Some studies have also found that exposure to world music can improve cognitive function in children, including memory and attention.

To sum it all up, the best types of music for child development include classical music, children’s music, nature sounds, and world music. These types of music have been shown to have a wide range of benefits for children of all ages, including improved cognitive skills, language development, social skills, and emotional well-being. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or teacher, incorporating music into children’s lives can help them develop into happy, healthy, and well-rounded individuals. Moreover, picking a well-fitting and durable set of earphones such as the BonoBeats Lite and C450S model from Phiaton can go a long way to ensure that kids grow up listening and paying attention to music lessons. Both headphones and earphones come in multiple colors and can fit a wide range of ears ensuring the greatest possible chance of finding an affordable and durable set for most kids.

 

For many companies its important to have an experienced employee able to guide and train new employees on procedures and customer support. In order to do this a company needs to utilize three main items. The first is a headset and the second is a training cable and the third is either a bottom cable or an amplifier.

There are three different companies that have training cables for use with corded headsets.

Jabra:

1) Jabra Y-Training Supervisor Cable with Mute Button:

 

This cable allows to plug in 2 Jabra corded headsets for training purposes, allowing to mute one of the microphones (trainee) and splitting to outgoing sound to 2 people at the same time, this cable is fully compatible with the Jabra link 860 Digital amplifier and with all the button cable from Jabra for desk phones.

2) Jabra Link 850 Training/Supervisory Cord with mute:

 

For people who have the Jabra Link 850 amplifier there is a training cable specifically designed to work with it and has its own jack on the side of the amplifier. This cable allows a second headset to be plugged into the Link 850 and has capability of being muted by changing the setting on the cable.

 

3) Jabra Link 265 USB y-training cable:

 

The last Jabra/GN Netcom training cable is designed specifically for soft phones and has a USB connector that plugs directly into the computer. This cable works specifically with corded quick disconnects such as these headsets. This training cable is unique in that it has a volume/mute button built directly into the cable in case the trainer needs to mute themselves or adjust the volume.

(Side note: There is no training cable on the market that allows two USB headsets to be connected to it for training purposes.)

Plantronics (poly):

1) Plantronics Y-training/Supervisor cord/ cable splitter with mute:

 

Plantronics only has one training cable which has a mute toggle switch allowing only one person to talk at a time depending on which side of the switch is down/up.

 

 

This cable works with all Plantronics QD h-series headsets and can also connect to a computer with a QD to USB training cable such as the Poly DA 75:

 

 

By connecting this cable to the bottom of the training cord you can plug in corded headsets to the computer in case your company switches to soft phones in the future.

2) Plantronics M22 Vista amplifier + Plantronics Y-Training/Supervisor Cord:

 

+

This is an amplifier is fully compatible with any desk phone in the market, no matter if its analog line or VoIP as long as you have a corded handset (receiver). The Y-Training cable mutes one of the microphones for training purposes while the M22 offers a rich sound quality for both parties at the same time. Fully compatible with with all Plantronics H-series headsets.

Zoomswitch:

1) Zoomswitch Wireless Headset Training Adapter (no return):

The Zoomswitch adapter is designed to work with any wireless headset no matter the brand with your desk phone. The switch will split the incoming sound into both wireless headset and allows to mute one or both microphones of the wireless headsets. This adapter is recommended for wireless headsets and is not EHS compatible, for the same reason even if your VoIP has the EHS capability you will need to get a mechanical lifter for remote answer.

All of the training cables mentioned above work with their corresponding manufacturers headsets and only those headsets. For example: Only Plantronics training cables work with Plantronics H-series headsets.

If you have any questions or need any further assistance please call Jeremy at 1877 999 3838 or email at jeremy@headsetplus.com.

If you want your Plantronics C540 or your Savi 7210/7220 wireless headset to be compatible with your computer in an easier way possible you can get the APU-76 adapter, pictured below.

This adapter is an easy plug and play solution for your CS or Savi desk phone wireless headset. One of the ends gets plugged into the base of the wireless headset, the other into any of your USB-A ports and the computer will recognize the headset as an incoming and outgoing sound device. If you need to make basic adjustments you will need to go to the Sound settings on your computer, but if you need to make advanced adjustments like side tone or notifications you will need the Poly Lens software on your computer and up and running. The Poly Lens can adjust not only volume and call controls or notifications, but can let you know battery talk time in real time on the screen of your computer.

For all in wireless headset solutions, See our blog on Headsets that can be used with both desk phone and computer

Jabra Wireless Headsets

For Jabra users the transition would not be as easy as with Poly/ Plantronics users as the Jabra Pro 920 wireless headset was designed exclusively to be used with desk phones only. If this is your case and you love Jabra quality, perhaps would be a good time to upgrade your wireless headset to the Engage 65 or Engage 75 wireless headsets. These headsets offer a really comfortable wearing style, in either Mono light weight headband, rich stereo sound quality or ultra light over the ear ear hook with a really discrete microphone boom arm. Offering a higher encryption chipset, making it more secure than regular DECT headsets and fully compatible with desk phones and computers at the same time with no need of additional adapters as they come with all the cable needed for this interaction. Built in busy lights are found and more noticeable for piece of mind when on a call and having to let people that you are busy without the need of doing gestures or shutting doors. The Engage family will be recognized by the computer as a incoming and outgoing sound device and basic setup can be controlled from Sound settings of the computer. Advanced customization can be found using the Jabra direct software, letting to increase the wireless range, adjust the side tone, customize the turn on or off of the busy light among others. The Engage 65 and 75 are designed to be used with desk phones and computers, however if you only need a wireless headset for your computer the Engage 55 would be your way to go, thanks to its Link 400 dongle allows you to have a similar range as the 65 or 75 without all the base and with a more discrete interface that is accident tolerable as its bendable, allowing to leave the dongle plugged in when traveling.

Let’s look at how to adapt older Plantronics or Jabra wireless headset to work with a computer via the USB plug. Many of the models of headsets (Plantronics CS500 series, Jabra Pro 920, etc.) are created to work with an office phone and not a computer. Today, we will be looking at how to adapt a standard wireless headset to be used with a computer and office phone simultaneously!

The simplest solution to this problem is purchasing a Zoomswitch designed for this purpose. The cheaper method involves purchasing the Zoomswitch ZMS10 (pictured below).

 

This Zoomswitch is an add-on device that can enable your headset to work with a computer. It also has a button conveniently placed to make switching between your phone and your computer a breeze! When you purchase this unit, it comes with everything you will need in order to hook up a standard wireless headset to your computer!

The other Zoomswitch that can be used for this purpose is the ZMS20 (pictured below)

 

This model (ZMS20) has all of the same functionality and features as the ZMS10, with a few bonus features included. This model enables you greater control over the audio of your device. This model includes a built in amplifier for the USB side of the device. This enables greater control of the audio when speaking through the computer. Another feature it offers is a mute switch for both the phone and computer applications. This means it is really easy to switch between devices, adjust the volume, or mute your headset with the simple press of a button!

 

– Which Plantronics headset QD  (quick disconnect) cable will work with my phone?

A question that we are asked daily is, “Which connection cable do I need for THIS headset to work with my phone?”

Well first off, almost all headsets & parts are proprietary into their own brands. So, while there may be a few oddball cables out there that claims to work with the big name-brand’s equipment (ie. Plantronics, Jabra, etc.), let’s keep this simple & stay within the same brand as your headset. For now, let’s assume that you have a Plantronics headset (Called an H-Series Headset).

All corded headsets for Professional Office phones require 2 parts; the headset itself, and then the connection cable. This cable will vary depending upon your phone’s brand & sometimes even the model number. While most of these phone’s will use an RJ9 modular plug, that doesn’t mean that “Any old headset will work just because it has an RJ9 plug.” On the contrary!  Each phone manufacturer wires their headset ports different from one another. So remember, just because it fits…doesn’t mean it’ll work.

There are simply far too many phone brands to mention them all in this blog, so for sake of space (And your attention span) I will just list the most commonly used brands & which cables will work with them…in conjunction with a Plantronics H-Series Headset.

• CISCO  Phones – For most of the Cisco phones (Generally those with a model number in the 7900, 8900, or 9900’s with a dedicated headset port) you will use the Plantronics Cisco/M22 Cable.  However, if you have a Cisco/LinkSys “SPA” model phone, then you would use a special cable, simply called the Plantronics SPA Cable.
• POLYCOM  Phones – For Polycom phone’s it can be a bit tricky. For most of the Polycom IP phones you can ONLY use the following model headsets from Plantronics (HW710, HW720, HW510, HW520, HW540, H31, H81N), in addition to a cable called the Polaris Cable. However, if you have the following Polycom SoundPoint models (IP320, IP321, IP330, IP331, Pro SE220, or Pro SE225) then you can use ANY of the Plantronics H-Series headsets in conjunction with the 2.5mm to QD Adapter Cable.
• NORTEL, NEC  Phones – This is the single most commonly used cable in the industry…called the A10 Cable. This comes in 2 flavors; the standard A10, or an A10-12 High Output Cable (Which is exclusively designed for use with the Nortel phones due to its low level onboard amplifier). Essentially, if you have an NEC or a Nortel phone with a dedicated headset port…you are almost certainly going to be using an A10 Cable, along with ANY Plantronics H-Series Headset.
• SHORETEL  Phones – Shoretel’s also use the A10 standard cable, along with ANY Plantronics H-Series Headset.
• AVAYA  Phones – Once again, Avaya phones have 2 different cables depending upon your phone model.  For the most part, if you have an Avaya 9600 or 1600 series phone (With a dedicated headset port) you will use the HIS Cable. However, if you use any other Avaya phone model and it has a dedicated headset port, you will almost certainly use the HIC Cable instead….again, with an H-Series Headset.  Call us if you are unsure.
• YEALINK  Phones – For Yealink basic desk phones with a headset port on the back you are required to use the Plantronics Polaris U10P-S Reversed Cable, you need to be careful when ordering your cable as there are different models of Plantronics bottom cable with similar names and can get confusing, this plus any of the H-Series Headset.  For newer desk phones with a USB port on the top or side like the Yealink T54W or T57W if want a corded headset you can get a USB-A headset from Poly, the recommended here would be the Blackwire 5210 USB-A as this will work as plug and play as long the USB port on the Yealink is enabled. For Yealink cordless phones like the W52P you will need the Plantronics 2.5mm Quick Disconnect cable 18 inch and any of the H-Series Headsets, for W56P/W56H/W53P/W53H you are going to need the Plantronics 3.5mm Headset Smartphone Cable Apple iPhone, 18″ and any H-Series Headset or if want to make it simpler you can get the Blackwire 5210 USB-A and simply plug in the 3.5mm jack headset into your cordless Yealink phone.
  
• PANASONIC  Phones –This one is simple…if you have a Panasonic phone with a headset port (Small round hole, called a 2.5mm port) then you can use ANY of the Plantronics H-Series headsets in conjunction with the 2.5mm to QD Adapter Cable.
• My Phone Has No Headset Port – If your phone has no dedicated headset port, then you will have to use an “External amplifier” such as the M22 Vista along with the H-Series Headset. Almost all handset/receiver ports (Even though they are RJ9) don’t have enough power to amplify any headset.

* Important note: Most of these cables look incredibly similar to each other. There are very tiny subtleties that can help to identify them, since they are not always listed on the cable itself.  My next Blog will go into how you can tell these cables apart from one another.

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

We talked about corded solution for these desk phones, that doesn’t mean that you are limited to only being at the desk all day and next to the phone. Next we will show some options on wireless headsets for your desk phone.

• CISCO  Phones – For most of the Cisco phones models 6900/7900/8900 the phone has the built in EHS capability which means that you can get a wireless headset and a special cable for the remote answer and no longer a mechanical lifter needed. The one we will recommend here will the bundle of the Plantronics CS540+EHS Remote Answer Bundle for Cisco Phones, this bundle is a easy to install and plug and play as long as your Cisco desk phone allows you to enable the remote answer capability on the menu of the phone. If your Cisco is a SPA desk phone even being a little outdated, you can still get a wireless headset with remote answer, for this case the Plantronics CS540+HL10 Wireless Headset Bundle will be your way to go and will work properly with your SPA desk phone.

 

• POLYCOM  Phones – Similar as on the case of Cisco desk phones, some Polycom phones will have the built in EHS capability. For Polycom Soundpoint IP320/IP321/IP330/IP331 you are going to need the Plantronics CS540+HL10 Wireless Headset Bundle as these models of phones don’t have the EHS capability but will make a good job for you. For any other Soundpoint desk phones, VVX and CCX you will be fine with the Poly Savi 7210+EHS Remote Answer Polycom IP Phone Package as this is one of the newest headsets from Poly compatible with your VVX desk phone covering one ear with a further range. Same as with the Cisco desk phone case, you will need to enable the EHS capability on your desk phone before plug in the headset/adapters as the phone will need to restart.

 

• NORTEL, NEC  Phones – Nortel is another brand that can be a little tricky to find out which wireless headset would be compatible. Most of the Nortel models are going to be your basic VoIP desk phone and for the same reason your best shot to get a wireless headset would using the Poly Savi 7220+HL10 Wireless Headset Bundle Package for a stereo sound headset with remote answer for your basic Nortel. If your Nortel is on the family series of 11XXs that are branded as Avaya-Nortel, the phone has the EHS capability and for same reason you need the  APU-72 hookswitch cable instead of the HL10 lifter to work with your Poly Savi 7310 Office Wireless Headset Mono, deskphone and PC

 

• AVAYA  Phones – The majority of the Avaya desk phones in the market will have the EHS capability depending on the model you can go with the Plantronics Savi 8240 Office+ EHS Avaya J100 1400 1600 9400 9600 if want to use your headset with your Avaya J139 for example and with your computer and your cell phone at the office. Depending on the model of Avaya you will need a different EHS for the remote answer and this can become a little confusing and frustrating, if in doubt give us a call and we can make sure to order you the proper EHS for your phone. If your Avaya desk phone is one of those joint brand phones with Nortel for example, most likely it will not have the EHS capability and for same reason you will have to go with the Plantronics CS540+HL10 Wireless Headset Bundle in order to get a nice quality headset compatible with this kind of phone and the remote answer when away from the desk.

 

• YEALINK  Phones – Newer models from Yealink will have the built in capability for remote answer. The best way to find this is by turning over the phone, you will see the desk phone ports and you should have 1 port for your handset (receiver), 1 port for a headset, your Ethernet port, your power port and 1 more port with the legend EXT. If that is the case you will need the Plantronics CS540+EHS Yealink Certified Wireless Remote Answer. The latest models from Yealink will have a USB port on the top, if this is the case instead of ordering the EHS36 of the mentioned bundle, you will need to get the EHS40 instead as these newest models replaced the EXT port by the USB. If your Yealink doesn’t have either port on it, this means that the phone is a basic model and the best alternative for this scenario will be getting the Poly Savi 7210+HL10 Wireless Headset Combo Package as these models doesn’t have the EHS capability. 

 

• Cordless phones – For this kind of phones depends on the service you get if is an analog phone line such as fax for example the best way to get you with a wireless headset will be with the Plantronics CS540 Wireless Headset, Convertible (C054, CO54) and get the Plantronics TR-11 Analog Adapter Cable CS540, Savi Wireless Head using these 2 items together with a splitter will let you use your cordless phone with a wireless headset and get remote answer with it. If your service is VoIP unfortunately the best alternative would be replacing the cordless phone with a regular desk phone as wireless headsets are not cordless VoIP phone compatible.

For more information, contact Sales & Product Specialist at:  1-877-999-3838