Category: Headphones

Headsets are becoming more and more popular everyday for any business office. When you think of business headsets, the first thing that usually comes to mind are Bluetooth/corded headphones for cell phones (depending on when you were born). If you were like me, you didn’t know there are literally hundreds of different types of headphones available for desk phones. Whether you’re using a $500+ multi line or a $50 single line desk phone, there are countless options for you. If you work in a job or business that requires significant talk time on a phone, I suggest you do your research. Not only will a headset free your hands up, but you’ll reduce damage to your posture and your neck. Here you will find some suggestions on which headphone will be best suited for your needs. Here are some options in the market:

Corded solutions:

Poly (Plantronics) options:

Plantronics HW540 EncorePro Headset: This is the best alternative coming from Plantronics on a corded solution in a convertible style, which translates in being able to worn over the ear, over the head or behind the neck. The noise canceling microphone can block up to 60% of the unwanted background noise of the environment. The HW540 headset requires its respectful cable adapter to be plugged into a dedicated headset port on your desk phone or if no built in amplifier would need the well known M22 Vista amplifier.

Plantronics HW720 EncorePro Noise-canceling Headset: For an upscale built in quality the HW720 is a binaural headset in a rich stereo sound quality, strongly advise for loud work environments as it helps the user to stay on focus of the call when engaged. The microphone boom arm is now retractable with a nice finish touch. Leatherette ear cushions welcome the user instead of foam ones as it helps to keep coolness on the ears and more comfortable when in use.  For those wanting to be able to use their HW720 headset with the desk phone and the computer I will recommend to go with the Poly MDA524 Corded Switcher, as this works as well as the M22 amplifier but on top of that allows you to use your headset with your computer at the same time that with your desk phone. For the same reason that is a mixer, allows a better sound quality coming into the speakers and with individual volume controls for the desk phone and the computer.

Jabra options:

Jabra Biz 2400 II QD Mono Ultra-Noise Canceling UNC 3-in-1:   If you work at a job that doesn’t require stepping away from your desk, you can get away with a corded headphone. This is one of top of the line headphones on the market. Not only is this headphone superbly comfortable, but to ensure that, it comes with 3 different wearing styles. It comes with a traditional style headband, ear hook, and neck band. Not only is this unit elegantly crafted, and comfortable (larger soft leatherette ear cushions and increased headband cushion), but it’s also comes with a Kevlar reinforced cable. These headphones are built to last. This unit has exceptional HD quality sound and one of the best noise canceling mic on the market. Even with all of these features, it still weighs 40% lighter than similar headphones. Keep in mind, all headphones require a cable or an amplifier to work with your desk phone. Check for compatibility, comes with a manufacturer’s 3 year warranty. As mentioned before, you will need the special adapter to be able to plug in your Jabra headset to your desk phone.

Jabra Biz 2400 II Duo Ultra-Noise Canceling UNC QD Headphone: If you work in a louder environment, the background noise can be cumbersome for both you and your customer. You don’t want to have to keep asking “what, can you repeat that?” Similarly, you want your customer to be able to hear you clearly. If you work in close quarters, or have loud coworkers, I’d recommend using a binaural (2 ears) headphone. The earphones don’t have active noise cancelling like some others, but it definitely helps block out some of that unwanted noise. The 2400 II Duo and Mono 3 in 1 offer the best in class noise cancelling microphone on the market. This is as close as you can get to a complete noise cancelling microphone. Sometimes customers will ask if there is a noise cancelling microphone that will block out 100% of background noise. The answer is no. If it blocked 100%, you wouldn’t be heard, but it will block up to 60-70% of the background noise.  Like the above, it has great HD sound, 360˚ rotating microphone, and Kevlar reinforced cables. Check for compatibility, comes with a manufacturer’s 3 year warranty. And same as the previous Jabra headset you will need the proper adapter to be able to plug it in your phone.

For both of Jabra cases, if you want to get the best sound quality to your desk phone, I will recommend to get the Jabra Link 860 Digital Audio Processor. This item works as amplifier for Jabra headsets and as a computer switch, allowing to use the same headset on both devices at the same time. One benefit of this amplifier is that it allows the integration of a guest headset in a call, and this can be turned into a training setup as long as you get the mute/training connector for the guest headset so will mute that microphone at 100%

We discussed the corded solutions now going for wireless:

Wireless solutions:

Poly (Plantronics) options:

Plantronics CS540 Wireless Headset, Convertible (C054, CO54): Plantronics well known and top seller around the world. This headset offers a convertible style so can be worn over the head or over the ear. With a range of up to 350 feet on line of sight, with one of the lightest models on the market with a weight of just .74 ounces and with a talk time of up to 7 hours in one single charge. Hot pairing capable, making it easy for multi shift headsets in one location or if you need to replace your busted CS540 headset only. Easy to install and to use with your desk phone. Comes with a manufacturer’s 1 year warranty.  Staff favorite

Poly Savi 7220 Office Wireless Headset Stereo: Poly offers the Savi 7220 as a Stereo sound headset for your desk phone, with a little further range up to 400 feet on line of sight, a bendable microphone boom arm with Acoustic Fence Technology and with a talk time of up to 12 hours. This headset is a Telecoil Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC). The Savi 7220 bigger earcups helps the user to stay on focus of the call and offers SoundGuar protection against sound levels above 118dBA making an ally for people on the phone all. Thanks to the new redesign of the headset, the mute and volume controls are more easy to find even in the middle of a call. Comes with a manufacturer’s 2 year warranty. staff favorite

Poly Savi 8245 Office Wireless Headset Unlimited Talk: We find the Savi 8245 in a convertible form style, including the neckband as well. The base is fully compatible with desk phones, computers via USB and a Bluetooth enable device such as a cell phone while in the office. The Savi 8245 is considered a hot swappable battery headset, the reason why comes with an additional battery that stays inside the base charging and that allows the user to interchange batteries even in the middle of a call without hanging up or dropping the call. One of the favorite headsets of a lot of people that want to use one single headset with multiple devices in the office without a compromise on the weight or wearing style. Comes with a manufacturer’s 2 year warranty.

For last 3 wireless options from Poly you will need the remote answer that allows you to answer calls from the distance. Depending on your phone additional adapters are recommended for the remote answer as it goes from case to case, if not sure about your model give us a call and we will double check that and order the proper adapter/remote answer for your desk phone.

Jabra options:

The Jabra Pro 920: This headphone is an industry standard. It has up to 350ft wireless range, 8 hours of talk time, and noise cancelling microphone. You don’t have to worry about others listening in on your conversation because it comes equipped with security encryption. It runs on DECT 6.0 technology, similar to a cordless phone that you would use at home. The battery will charge rapidly (full charge 3 hours). You have the option to convert this headphone into another wearing style if you choose to get the ear hook or neck band. This is a very versatile lightweight unit that is also remote answering capable, see below. Comes with a manufacturer’s 1 year warranty.  

Jabra Engage 65 Stereo Wireless Headset System: On a upscale model we have the Engage 65 unit, with a higher encryption chipset, allowing to get a further range of up to 490 feet and for the same reason offering 3 times of wireless density in one location meaning that more of this kind of headsets can be in a closer range without interruptions. A really comfortable wearing style in a stereo sound quality with leatherette ear cushions  Jabra’s advanced noise-canceling microphone is found in the boom arm which we can find a very noticeable busy light, which becomes useful when engaging in calls. The Engage 65 is fully compatible with your desk phone and your computer at the same time. Comes with a manufacturer’s 1 year warranty.

Jabra Engage 75 Convertible Wireless Headset System: On the top of the chain in Jabra wireless headsets, we encounter the Engage 75 with a convertible style that can be worn over the head, over the head or behind the neck. With a higher encryption chipset as well on the secure DECT level C, making it an important ally for user concerned about wireless security. The Engage 75 allows to be use with desk phones, two computer by the USB ports and two Bluetooth enable devices as well, all at the same time, making it the only offer in the market with this feature. The touchscreen pad located in the base is a useful tool to customize the headset and keeping track on real time of device engage, timer on call, battery remaining and mute notification. Built in busy light is found as well and lights up when on a call, just as the younger sibling. Comes with a manufacturer’s 1 year warranty.

Similar as discussed before, for any of the Jabra offers is advised to get the remote answer adapters, so the user can answer the call from the distance, walk around and not miss a call. Depending on your desk phone will need the special adapter, and if not sure of which one give a call so we can order you the proper one and make sure you get the proper one.

A special mention comes to :

Poly Voyager 5200 Office Bluetooth Headset 2-Way Base

This particular model from Poly catches my attention at the most, the 5200 Office 2-Way is a Bluetooth Class 1 headset, with a decent range of up to 250 feet on line and allows the user to have calls on the desk phone, use it with one computer via USB and a Bluetooth enable device such as a cell phone, but with the 5200 Office you can take the headset out of the office and keep using it with your cell phone. One of the most comfortable and discrete wearing styles and is almost unnoticeable comparable speaking with other models. Fully customizable either on the computer or by your smart phone using the Poly lens that lets you even have voice notifications as volume, battery lifetime or mute reminder. The 5200 headset offers quick charge as well and offers up to 9 days of standby with a single charge, easy pairing can be found on the base and headset without the need of complicated steps.

Every one of these headsets would be fantastic options for your business phones. Some of the above headsets require additional parts / configuration to work with desk phones. Please feel free to contact us at:

 

Toll Free: 1-877-999-3838 

Or 650-306-9768

 

Headsets from Poly, formerly known as Plantronics is special equipment for those who work in a constant phone mode environment. If the pain in the neck hampers to work ability then it is time that you invest in a headset.

 

Preface: Does your work require you to be highly engaged on the phone, maintaining the hand receiver between the shoulder & chin can prove painful. Not only does it hamper other task & movement while attending the phone, but there will certainly be an ache in the neck creeping up if you hold if all the time. Irrespective of your sporadic use, shoddy placement too can lead to pain.

Yet not many acquire benefit of a really not that expensive & easy remedy: Plantronics headsets. With headsets both the hands are free and you are still talking, allowing you to be multitude with all other works that you are surrounded with.

Design & Use: Plantronics Headsets could be applicable in all most all home or office phone environments. Attaching a 1 or 2 plug make them operational. Models for such headsets are aplenty, thus the onus is on you that you search right headset that meets you requirements.

Plantronics Headsets have various styles, be it in diminutive small molds that fit your ear size to big, case broadcaster-resembling units. Office where there is a lot of hustle & bustle such as BPO unit, a binaural headset that has 2 ends is ideally suited so that noise from behind isn’t a factor. But if you are sporadically using the phone, a monaural (1 earpiece end) headset is recommended as you keeping while and yet know that’s happening around you.

Sound Quality: Sound superiority is what you need to look for in a headset. Supposing you or others cannot listen to you, that’s a worthless headset. A few people tend to speak loudly; in that case you need volume controls. Each of the models give an option to control incoming volume, but there are just some that give an option to control outgoing volume. For great sound quality is the noise canceling headset that aids subsiding noise from the background so incoming voice is heard well. (The feature though comes at an extra cost.)

Convenient Features: Headset/Handset Swap. Through this feature a user can swap between handset and headset when making or attending calls. Such a feature should be clearly marked & reachable quickly; when you hear the phone ringing, scurrying to find the option and making a mistake is not what you want.

Fast Disconnect: Plantronics Quick disconnect give you the option to cut the equipment completely from the headset, thus headset need not be displaced upon moving away from your desk. (Huge protection, too, you won’t be pulled back to the chair through the connecting cord.) When you set out to purchase a model claiming to have this feature, see to that it is the same. Quick Disconnect can be easily find in corded headsets such the HW510 EncorePro or the upscale HW720 EncorePro corded headset.

Pricing: H-Top corded headsets from Plantronics can be anywhere near 90-200 dollars for a creditable headset, there is a headset plus its amplifier. Even though you can find fifty-dollar pieces, being cost-conscious will get you something similar, soon than later you could keep it tucked away. The best examples from Poly would be such as the HW510V EncorePro. On top of the chain we will have the specialized headsets like the well known SHR2083-01 Rugged Noise-Canceling headset.

 

Headsets that are Cordless: Plantronics wireless headsets are suited for those people who walk while speaking. The disadvantage being that you have to come back to the instrument to make or receive calls, and, similar to cordless phones, these cordless headsets would go out over a particular distance. The top seller headset from Poly (Plantronics) will be the Plantronics CS540 Wireless headset.

Wireless vs. Cordless: Cell Phone is a widely used communication means are headset too happen to be available for use. Cell phone headsets are great when driving and speaking on the phone. Just plug them into your cell phone jack, if your phone has it built in (if not there then use adapters), and get them to stick on the ear opening to have the voice come in. Wireless cellular headsets could be priced in the range of twenty-five to eighty dollars, based upon the features & style.

Headset Choice: Looking for a Plantronics headset, the key is comfort. Those high-end models won’t be any good if you needs do not match its offerings. For instance, you love you hair do and do not like it being out of shape then go for ear gear model. Do you like a stick shaped cushion-free that comes all the way to the center of your mouth so that in any situation your voice is clearly audible.

Multi-Connectivity function: Poly offers alternatives for people in need of a headset, either corded or wireless that allows them to use a single headset with their computer and desk phone at the same time when on the office. On top of that there is the wireless offer that allows to use a single headset with the computer, the desk phone and a Bluetooth enable device and even take the headset out of the office and keep using it down the road. for corded solution you can go with the Poly MDA524 Corded Switcher and the Plantronics HW540 EncorePro corded headset. For a wireless setup will be the Poly Voyager 4310 UC and the Poly Voyager Office Base, with this 2 items it allows a single headset to be used with multiple devices and you can take the headset out of the office and keep using it with your smart phone.

Digital Hybrid Active Noise Canceling (ANC): Poly offers this feature on its Bluetooth headsets that allows the user to block unwanted external noises while on a call and with different levels of graduation, which is a nice improvement over the old only “ON/OFF” function. The new and improved battery talk time with this feature is improved with a talk time of up to 24 hours with the feature on versus the old one that it was of up to 10 hours. The latest addition from Poly with this nice feature would be the Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC or can be found on the Poly Voyager Focus2 Office headset.

 

Further Range on Bluetooth Headsets: Thanks to the new and improved Bluetooth technology v5.1 offering a further range that before. This is considered a Class 1 range and using the included BT700 Bluetooth dongle now the range pumps to up to 164 feet on line of sight, which is a mayor improvement of the old range of just up to 70 feet. And offering the BT700 adapter in both variants USB-A and USB-C.

Improved microphones thru Acoustic Fence Technology: The new and improved microphone boom arms now include a minimum of 2 dedicated microphones facing the user and at least 1 towards the outdoors, the purpose of this one is to suppress most of the noises on the background noise such as lousy fans, barking or lawnmowers. This technology was adopted from Polycom conference desk phones and now applied to headsets and the new Poly desk phones with built in speakers, creating the best sound quality as it only follows the user’s voice when engaged on a call. The latest headset with the newest Acoustic Fence microphones is the Voyager 4320 UC Stereo USB-A.

True Push-To-Talk corded and wireless offers: Poly offers the push-to-talk feature on corded version of cables that work with its Plantronics corded headsets and consoles and the wireless alternative that works extremely well with radio dispatchers, air controllers that require to engage on calls over radio consoles and are in need with muting the microphone in order to help both parties to focus the full attention on the call. On the wireless solution now offering a higher encryption wireless DECT chipset taking to level highest-level DECT security Step C requirements. The best example for PTT function on corded setup would be the SHS1890-15 well known by ground dispatchers, as they can use their headset by simply plugging in them by the Quick Disconnect. For the wireless alternative we have the new CA22CD-SC that will be well known by dispatchers that need to walk around the cubicle in order to access into a different computer or monitor.

Smaller and more comfortable earbud wearing style: Poly offers its newest and most compact design of earbuds compatible with any UC platform in the market and with virtually any mobile device via Bluetooth, these being now v5.3 ad even on a small size, they count with hybrid and adaptive Active Noise Canceling, which blocks annoying noises of environment and offering gesture control for volume control, mute, resume and ANC feature. The latest addition with this features coming from Poly would be the Poly Voyager Free 60+ allowing the user to take conversations and comfort wearing style to the next level.

To know what is best for you, try out a few models practically in daytime conditions so you know their results. Adjusting the microphone should be easy. It is not important that only you hear your callers with clarity but your callers too must be able to have voice clarity when listening to you on the other side. Volume control arrangement is different in different models; so you would like to test that feature prior to actually purchasing it.

You Should Know: When assessing Plantronics headsets, do this –

– Is there a movement that disturbs you?
– Once you wear the headset is it comfortable over long duration?
– Can it be easily adjusted while being unobtrusive?
– The Headset should be lengthy enough to allow easy movement?
– Is quick disconnection easy to disconnect & reconnect?
– Is the mode easy to recognize be it in handset or headset mode?
– Is it simple to control the volume? Is the control range sufficient?
– Are you happy with the quality of sound at both ends?

How can I find the date code and serial number on Plantronics Headsets?

The Plantronics/Poly date code of your headset designates its date of manufacture, and it’s used to establish your warranty period. The date code is generally listed with your product’s model and part number, although this is not always the case.  The date code consist of one letter and one number (i.e J7). The serial number starts with the letter S/N: (i.e. S/N: AB0-000)

There are various locations where you can find the S/N and date code: It can vary greatly from model to model and the age of the headset. Here are some example locations.  You may have to look on all these locations to find it.

On the speaker (look on the inner part of the ear cup after removing the ear cushions):

On the Headband (on the inner part)

On the Microphone Boom Arm (inner part of the microphone)

On USB headsets, you can also find it on the in-line control unit

On the Wireless Adapters (USB dongle), the serial number is on the back of the adapter

Wireless Headsets, the serial number is located on the bottom of the base

On an amplifier base, the serial# is located on the back or bottom of the base.

On a cable (if it’s there, not all cables with s/n), you can see in on a tag on the cable.

See older Plantronics models and photo examples where to locate date code and serial number:

Supra ~ Plantronics H51, H61, H51N and H61NPolaris Models ~ Plantronics P51, P61, P51N and P61N StarSet ~ Models Plantronics H31 and H31N Polaris Models ~ Plantronics P31 and P31N Mirage ~ Models Plantronics H41 & H41N Polaris Models ~ Plantronics P41 Tristar ~ On headset or QD ~ Models Plantronics H81 & H81N Polaris Models ~ Plantronics P81 and P81N DuoSet ~ Models Plantronics H141 & H141N Polaris Models ~ Plantronics P141 and P141N Freehand ~ Models Plantronics H131N & H132N DuoPro ~ Models Plantronics H151, H151N, H161, H161N, H171, H171N, H181 & H181N Polaris Models ~ Plantronics P151, P151N, P161, P161N, P171, P171N, P181 & P181N Encore ~ Models Plantronics H91, H91N, H101 & H101N Polaris Models ~Plantronics P91, P91N, P101 & P101N SupraPlus ~ Models Plantronics H251, H251N, H261 & H261N Polaris Models ~Plantronics P251, P251N, P261 & P261N SupraPlus SL ~ Models Plantronics H351, H351N, H361 & H361N Polaris Models ~ Plantronics P351, P351N, P361 & P361N

We all had been on that situation that we have to be on a phone call and it takes some time and is very important and have to rest the phone against our shoulder making it really uncomfortable and inconvenient as well, and for this reason, today we will discuss on how to install a headset to your office desk phone, your home phone, your computer and your mobile device or tablet and the best alternatives available for each one of them.

We are going to start with your office desk phone. Here we have 2 alternatives available, we can go with a corded headset or with a wireless solution, depending on the budget and on preference.

A. Corded Headsets for Office desk phones.

If we are heading towards a corded headset we have to consider a couple of things here that are essential for a headset to work properly. This is not rocket science, however lot of times if one doesn’t make a little of homework and end purchasing an items that are not fully compatible with their phone can turn an opportunity to a happy solution into a really messy frustration and annoyance. Most of the corded headsets for professional call center grade users are going to have a special connection called Quick Disconnect known as “QD”. This end can be easily confused with a USB port, which will discuss later. You should now asking “What is the purpose of this “QD” feature?” And the answer for this is that it allows a call center user to step away from the desk and take the headset with him/her and when coming back and engaging with a call they just attach faster and easier than taking headset on and off or plugging unplugging from the phone.

First, we need to know if your desk phone has a built in amplifier. You are going to ask “How can I find out that?” and “Why do I need that for?”. The answer to the first question is that if your phone has a built in amplifier makes easier to get a headset to plug in directly to the phone. The answer to the second question is that with the built in amplifier you can answer the calls from the phone itself so when you have your headset plugged in you don’t need to pick up the handset at all, you can answer the call by pressing the headset key and you can modulate the volume coming to headset and even mute the microphone. As you can see in this picture, this desk phone has a headset port on the side, and for the same reason it has a built in amplifier. The corded headset for this case in an entry level would be the Jabra Biz 1500 Mono Direct Connect if want to keep it in a friendly budget with noise canceling microphone and with an over the head wearing style headband covering one ear so the user can be aware of the surroundings. If it’s a loud environment and it’s required to cover both ears so the user can focus on the call and with a better noise canceling microphone I will recommend the Jabra Biz 2400 II Duo Ultra Noise Canceling Direct Connect Headset, as you can see the headset has leatherette ear cushions instead of foam, covering both ears with Kevlar reinforcement and wiring, making it a lighter and more durable unit and with Jabra’s own Ultra Noise Canceling microphone, that is the best in its class for loud places.

What happens if your phone doesn’t have the mentioned built in amplifier or headset port or headset key? Not to be afraid as you can get a corded headset for those desk phones you are going to need an external amplifier and then a corded headset. With the combination of those two items will work with virtually any desk phone. I recommend the Plantronics M22 Vista amplifier and the Plantronics HW540 EncorePro 540 Headset.

If you are in need of a headset compatible with your hearing aids is advised to get this setting as well, even if your phone has the built amplifier as the external one will increase the volume coming to the headset. For hearing aid compatible headsets compatible with the M22 amplifier I will recommend the Plantronics HW510 EncorePro 510 Headset if want to cover 1 ear, if need to cover both ears I will recommend the Plantronics HW520 EncorePro 520 Headset, this would be the best solution for someone with hearing aids as the HW520 is a true binaural sound headset, so the sound comes from both speakers.

Another case that we might find in your desk phone can be that it has a 2.5mm jack on the side. This means that the built in amplifier is on place and you can simply connect a 2.5mm headset. If want to keep it in a friendly budget you can go with the Jabra Biz 1500 Mono Cisco SPA Headset. Special mention here is that perhaps your desk phone with a 2.5mm jack is not a Cisco, it can be either a Panasonic or Toshiba for example, nothing to worry about as the 2.5mm jack is a universal port and for the same reason the Cisco adapter included in t will be fully compatible.

We are going with a new case now, modern desk phones from for example Poly or Yealink come with a USB-A port on the side, back or top of the phone. For this reason you can either get the first mentioned headsets or you can get a USB corded headset. This port needs to be enable to receive a corded headset. If the port is enable as soon as you plug in the headset the phone will give you a notification (visual and a alert) and then you can answer or end calls by pressing the headset key on the phone. For this kind of desk phones I will recommend the Plantronics Blackwire 5210 USB-A Headset. Easy to use, comfortable to wear and an affordable option for desk phones with USB-A enable ports.

But here is another question “I have a Yealink W-Series cordless phone, how can I get a headset?” The answer for this question is you need to check the side of your phone, you should find a covered 2.5mm or 3.5mm jack. If you have any of the Plantronics H-Top headset, you will need the Plantronics 2.5mm QD cable if you have a Yealink W52P or the Plantronics 3.5mm QD cable if have a Yealink W56P/W56H/W53H/W53P.

 

B. Wireless Headsets for Office desk phones.

We had discussed on how to install corded headsets for your desk phone, now we will discuss how to install and which wireless headset are recommended for your phone. We will show you how to properly install your wireless headset on your desk phone as there are 2 ways how to make it work and will explain the main difference between them.

The first way is the most common for virtually any desk phone with a corded handset (receiver). This can apply to VoIP and analog desk phones as well. We are going to recommend the Plantronics CS540 Headset as its a well known unit for the next setup. This headset is a Wireless DECT frequency headset, allowing people to roam around the office up to 350 feet on line of sight and allowing to go thru walls without cutting in out while on a call.

First step will be to unplug the handset (receiver) from the base of the phone, then using the telephone interface cable that comes with the CS540 headset plug in the handset to it, one of the ends of the interface cable gets plugged into the base of the wireless headset and the other end goes into the handset port of the phone (the one that you just freed). We are then going to plug in the power adapter into the base of the CS540 and let the headset to charge for at least 20 minutes, you will see the blinking lights once it gets powered up and charging.

Now, we are going to put our CS540 headset on, then take the handset off from the phone and press the Answer/End call button (silver one), you should hear the dial tone from the phone. You would be able to modulate the volume coming from the headset and mute the microphone.

This installation is recommended for desk phones with no built in Electronic Hook Switch (EHS) capability. The user can attach a Plantronics HL10 Handset lifter, and this device will pick up the handset for you from the distance. For telephones with the EHS function built in we will discuss down how to properly install your wireless headset and what to do before doing that.

There are going to be some models of office desk phones that are not going to be HL10 lifter compatible mainly because the design of the phone creates a conflict with the handset and the lifter, and when the user tries to pick up the handset with the HL10 lifter what happens is that it drops the handset or can’t pick it up, for those cases you will need to get something from either Jabra with its GN1000 RHL or from Sennheiser with its HSL10 II lifter, the design of these 2 lifters are the best advised units for this cases, make sure that you can not mix and match wireless headsets and lifters, this means that you need to get something from Jabra if plan to get the GN1000, like the Jabra Pro 920 or the EPOS Impact D10 II headset if plans to get the HSL10 II.

Now we will discuss how to install your Plantronics CS540 with a phone with EHS function as most of the new desk phones mainly VoIP desk phones have that function and instead of using the HL10 lifter they require a special cable, however is advised to always speak with a live person in order to get the proper cable as it’s not a mix and match situation.

First check on the back of your phone, and you will find the headset port and usually closer to it on the opposite corner you should see extra ports, like the handset port, the ethernet port and then extra ports, depending on the model of phone it can be labeled as “AUX”, “EXT” or “EHS.

On this picture we have a Polycom VVX desk phone, VVX’s have a tiny little port with 5 prongs and is not labeled, so you don’t have to worry. Most of the EHS cables are going to have a funny or weird design mainly because they have to plug in both ports at the same time and the other end gets plugged back in the base of the CS540. When using a EHS cable for the remote answer we are not going to need the Telephone Interface cable as these cables act as the mentioned cable, so you can store it in a safe place, being careful of not tossing it as you never know when you will need it.

Depending on the situation, you might need a Plantronics Amplifier Cable Extension cord if your Cisco or Polycom desk phone has a sidecar, because the EHS cable will not be long enough to reach to both ports, as the sidecar takes space on the back of the phone and one of the EHS cable ends is not long enough to reach to the headset port on the back of the phone.

Before plugging in your EHS cable to the phone and the base of the wireless headset, you need to enable the EHS function on the phone as by default is not enabled from the factory and a lot of times people think that their new wireless headset is not working or the EHS cable is at fault. Depending on your model of phone you need to go into the settings and then on the headset settings, from there you need to find the “EHS Function” and turn it on by selecting the brand of headset/EHS, the phone will have a list of them among them will be Plantronics/Poly, Jabra or Sennheiser. It is important to do this before plugging in because the phone will restart and after the phone restarts it will be ready to simply plug and play.

After all the steps are done, you don’t have to pick up your handset to use your headset on taking  or ending calls. Simply put your headset on and press the Answer/End call button (silver one), you should hear the dial tone from the phone. You will notice that some lights on the desk phone will turn on, depending on the model, such as the headset light and you will hear a “click” on the base of the wireless headset, this is normal as the base is trying to let you know that is connecting to the phone and you should be able to hear the dial tone of your phone.

Things to remember with a wireless headset are things like in order to avoid static when using the wireless headset you need to place the base at least 12 inches apart from your computer and at least 6 inches from the desk phone. If you are in the middle of a call and walking around and you start hearing static means that you are loosing range so you need to get a little closer to the base to avoid that static. A lot of times people don’t hear a dial tone at all, this is an easy fix, you have to turn over the base of your wireless headset and change the setting on the Configuration Switch (it goes from A-G), considering that A is the preferred setting for most of the desk phones and D for Cisco desk phones with no EHS cable.

Now we will discuss solutions for home desk phones. Everyone at home still on these new age days has a phone at home and sometimes people would like to get their hands free for example if need to take a note or if they are doing chores while on a call and we will analyze some offers next.

The good thing about what we had read so far is that a corded or wireless headset for a home phone applies the same rules as for the office desk phones. This means that in order to get a corded or wireless headset your home phone needs to have a corded handset (receiver), this recommended headsets are compatible with home phones that are laying down in the table, this means that not compatible if you have your desk phone mounted on the wall or you have one of those specialty theme phones like the classic clam burger phone, or the Mickey Mouse phone or the most common known “Princess Design” phone and those cordless phones will have something to be used but will discuss that down the road.

C. Corded headsets for Home desk phones.

For corded headsets the recommended solution would be the Plantronics M22 Vista amplifier and the Plantronics HW540 EncorePro 540 Headset. As we discussed before is the same principle, we need to unplug the handset from the phone, then plug in the handset into the M22 Amplifier and the amplifier gets plugged back into the handset port that you just freed. The HW540 headset gets plugged into the M22 and as soon as you pick up the handset and put it on a side you will hear the dial tone on your headset.

D. Wireless headsets for Home desk phones.

For a wireless headset will recommend the the Plantronics CS540 + HL 10 Wireless Headset Bundle. With this setup you get a good quality headset and the remote answer for your desk phone. All the analog desk phones don’t have the Electronic Hook Switch (EHS) capability as this is designed for VoIP lines, for the same reason there’s no cables to do the remote answer with your home desk phone, however the Hl10 lifter will work and will do a good job.

As mentioned before with office desk phones without EHS capability sometimes the design of the phone can create incompatibility issues with the HL 10 lifter and for same reason you will need to go with a different brand that will avoid this.

E. Corded headsets for cordless home phones.

For those cordless phones you can get something corded or wireless depending on the budget. The corded solution is usually the less expensive and it is a straight forward solution, as those cordless phones have a 2.5mm jack on the side and for the same reason you can get Jabra Biz 1500 Mono Cisco SPA headset. In this case the coiled cord perhaps will be a little too long for some users as it might be tangling a lot. If that is the case, you can replace that cord with the Jabra 2.5mm Headset adapter as this cord is only 5 inch long straight non coiled design.

F. Wireless headsets for cordless home phones.

For a wireless solution for cordless phones I will recommend the CS540 headset from Plantronics and you will need to plug the base of the wireless headset into your phone line using Plantronics TR-11 Analog Adapter. Then you will need to get a line splitter so you can have your cordless phone plugged to your line, then you plug in the TR-11 adapter into the splitter as well and the other end of the TR-11 adapter goes into the base of the base of the CS540 headset and this will allow you to answer and end calls by pressing the Answer/End call button (silver one), as soon as you press it you should hear your analog dial tone. With this setting you can carry your cordless phone with you and with your headset you would be able the answer/end calls and make calls using the cordless phone dial pad.

As you can see, on analog home phones is a little simpler to get a headset and not so complicated as with the office desk phones. Now that we had gone with those 2 scenarios, now we will discuss how to install corded and wireless headsets on your computer.

G. Corded headsets for the computer.

BY 3.5MM jack.

With everyone now days on virtual meetings and webinars they need the best performance on a headset with microphone, for the same reason there are going to be corded and wireless solutions. Corded solutions would be the most budget friendly, however there are some wireless alternatives that actually don’t break the bank and in all the following all are certified to work with all the UC platforms and certified for Microsoft Teams due to its outstanding performance in their microphones. To start we are going with the Jabra Biz 1100 EDU headset. This unit simply plugs to the 3.5mm jack of the computer and straight forward the sound coming in the headset and going thru the microphone would be processed by the computer, no need for additional software to download and fully compatible with Chromebooks.

BY USB port

In order to get the best sound quality incoming and outgoing the preferred method to do this us by the Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, any computer has them available and offers less compromise compared with a 3.5mm jack as the USB ports were designed to plug and unplug devices multiple times. With this being said, the recommended headset with a nice price point and durability will be the Evolve2 30 UC Mono, this is the most comfortable headset for people to be on virtual meetings all day. One important thing to mention is that in order to get the full potential not just of the Evolve2 30 headset but virtually with any USB corded or wireless headset is that we need the third party software to be installed in the computer, as this works as a middle man between the headset, the computer and any UC platform. Besides that, it helps the headset to keep it updated with the latest firmware and depending on the features of the headset some customization is possible, like  the turn on or off of the busy lights, sound adjusting, bass customization to mention a few.

H. Wireless headsets for the computer.

With wireless solutions for your computer we encounter 2 different frequencies from where we can choose, the wireless DECT and Bluetooth and w will explain the difference between these 2 and the pros and cons as well. Both of them are going to require a dongle or a base which will be plugged to the USB port of the computer.

DECT HEADSETS.

We will start with the DECT frequency description, as this is the one that provided the further range, the Poly Savi 8245 UC offers a range of up to 300 feet as its a wireless DECT headset, thanks to this the user can walk away and roam around. The benefits of this unit is that you get a further range and almost troubleshoot free when using it and almost no interference with nearby cell phones or computers as the frequency is Wi-Fi interference free. As mentioned before, in order to get the optimal performance when on calls you need to install the third party to update the firmware as is required especially by all the UC platforms. The drawback of this particular unit is the limitation to be used only on the computer which means that if you want to use it with another device is not possible. Another withdraw is in the not so easily to repair the dongle if needed, making it a little challenging for not tech savvy people and the last one will be the pricing as these units tend to be on the higher prices compared with the Bluetooth offers.

BLUETOOTH HEADSETS.

Now we go with Bluetooth connectivity for your computer, thanks to Moore’s Law every 2 years or so new technology comes out and gets reduced on size and price, for the same reason I will recommend the Poly Voyager 4310 UC, this unit is a Bluetooth class 1 headset and we will discuss its advantages and the withdraws as we did before. Same requirements are needed as with the corded and DECT offers, the integration of the third party software to update firmware and customize the headset, but in this case you can do it from the computer or from your smart phone. To start we can see that the price point is really attractive compared with the DECT offers and even compared with USB corded headsets, another benefit is that offers multi-connectivity, meaning that can be used on the computer with the Bluetooth dongle and it can be paired to a cell phone and have them both paired all time so no need to switch back and forward. The biggest withdraw here would be the range, as it would not be as further as the DECT offer, the up to 160 feet is nothing to be dragging about, and for same reason that is a Bluetooth device as soon as you go across a wall or by big metallic appliances you can find connectivity issues, for same reason if you have multiple Bluetooth enable devices is most likely that the headset will encounter some connectivity issues.

Thanks to the newest USB ports now we can find the classic USB-A and the new USB-C parts on any computer, and for the same reason now on corded or wireless headsets (DECT or Bluetooth) you can find the USB-A version or the USB-C version.

 

I . Corded headsets for mobile devices.

We now are entering on how to install and which headsets will work for your mobile device such as a smart phone (cell phone) or a tablet. And for this we can go with a corded or wireless solution and will show the available solution for each case.

BY 3.5MM JACK

For a corded solution for a smart phone or tablet as long as they have a 3.5mm jack the recommended solution without hurting the wallet would be the Jabra Evolve 30 II Stereo Headset with 3.5mm jack. Pretty straight forward by plugging in the 3.5mm jack of the tablet or cell phone (if it has it) and the sound coming and going will be directed by the cable of the unit, no additional software needed.

 

Now we are going to dive the corded solutions for smart phones with no 3.5mm jack in iPhone and Android devices. With iPhone users they are going to need the Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter that they sell at Apple stores as Apple decided to not give that adapter anymore and after that you will be able to plug in a 3.5mm jack headset to your iPhone. With that being said for that case my personal experience would be better getting a wireless solution and we will discuss more of this further down.

BY USB-C PORT

Android users have a little more of options here on corded solutions, mainly because they were the first ones in adopting USB-C charging ports or in some cases they still give 3.5mm adapters with their devices. If your Android device has a USB-C port like the one pictured here, I will recommend to get the Jabra Engage 40 Wired Stereo USB-C headset. As it is a USB-C corded headset the Android phone will recognize it as a sound device right away and will stream the sound to the speakers and the microphone will have a crisp sound quality.

For the same reason that the device is plugged by the USB-C port you are going to need to install the third party software so you can customize the sound on the headset and in some other cases you can get access to workout logs as well, one of the perks of having third party software.

 

J. Wireless headsets for mobile devices. 

Now we will discuss the wireless options for your tablet or smart phone, for this connectivity we only have Bluetooth pairing available as DECT is not available for mobile devices. For the same reason as the headset and the mobile device are in closer with the user, the range is something that we are not going to dig too much, but is advised to get a Class 1 headset such as Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC headset as it will give better range and microphone performance compared with older Bluetooth headsets. A special mention here comes to the Evolve2 Buds as these are UC and Microsoft Teams certified as some people wants the most discrete headset, specially if they are on the road all the time or if they want to use them while working out. Thanks to the range and the advanced microphones these 2 offer comfort and performance all day. And same as with a USB  headset, the third party software is advised to customize the headset and get the best performance on the microphones.

 

Coming back to the office means that you will be using your desk phone more often, specially on an office environment. For the same reason you will be in the need to get a headset, which will allow you to be hands free when on a call, which is a convenience as we need both hands for properly typing on the keyboard or if need to write down using pen and paper.

For the same reason there are 2 types of available headsets for the desk phones, the first one is the wired kind and secondly, we have the wireless ones and we will discuss in deep the main differences between them and will advice which to get for your desk phone.

Wired headsets (also known as Corded):

These are the most common headsets available in the market, depending on the desk phone require either a special connector or an external amplifier for outdated phones. The benefits for these headsets are among, lower cost as for the same reason not expensive, lower maintenance costs, no battery issues as they don’t require power as the desk phone makes everything to work, unless you are using an external amplifier which requires power, sound quality as the connection between the headset and phone is by hard wiring.

Lower cost headset recommended: Jabra Biz 1500 Mono Direct Connect Headset.

This headset would be your entry level on a corded setup, with an easy plug and play interface with your phone, as long as you have a headset port on your phone and a dedicated headset key this would be your way to go. With your dedicated headset key, when a call comes in simply press the key and that will open the channel to your headset, if need to modulate the volume or mute the microphone you can do it from the phone itself.

Lower cost headset with no headset port recommended: Plantronics M22 Vista Amplifier + Plantronics HW540 EncorePro 540 Headset.

This alternative would be your corded solution for older desk phones with no headset port on the back and no dedicated headset key (this means the phone has no built-in amplifier). The way this setup is connected is buy unplugging the handset from the phone, then plug in the M22 to the handset port and plug in the headset and the handset into the M22. The amplifier will let you modulate the volume the volume coming in the headset and mute the microphone as well.

Lower cost headset compatible with desk phone and computer recommended: Jabra Biz 1500 Mono QD + Jabra Link 180 Telephone Computer USB Switch.

This setup is advised for people wanting to use only one corded headset with the desk phone and the computer. To keep the lower cost there is no volume control or mute key found on the switch. Easy to setup and use and fully compatible with PC and Mac computers and with desk phones with a corded handset. If you need to use the desk phone just trigger the switch to the phone icon, and to the PC icon if need to take a webinar.

We had discussed the benefits of the corded headsets, and now we will list the disadvantage of them. Among those we can find that the main one would be the limited mobility as they are plugged to the phone this makes the user not able to move freely when on a call and the next thing is that with the cables on a desk including the keyboard, mouse among others can create a tangled chaos on your desk on no time. Another disadvantage of corded headset that can be included would be compatibility, as most headsets were designed to be used with one device to keep lower costs, but on the modern days that everyone is taking webinars or virtual meetings they require a headset as they can’t use the computer speakers and for the same reason if you want to use only one corded headset for both devices you need a special switch and if wanting to get more features like volume control increases the pricing reaching really close to wireless headsets offers.

Wireless headsets:

We will talk about the benefits of wireless headsets and will recommend the best solution for your desk phone as well. The mayor advantage of a wireless headset will be the mobility, as with a wireless headset the user can step out of the desk even in the middle of a call and with a dedicated wireless frequency that allows the user to even go thru walls without cutting in and out in the middle of a call. The second benefit of a wireless headset is no more tangling cables and less chaotic mess on the desk, making it an advantage versus the corded ones. Another feature over the corded ones is that with wireless headsets a user can create a conference setup with up to 3 headsets all paired to one base without being even near by as the wireless frequency of the headsets allows to roam around.

Entry level wireless headset recommended: Plantronics CS540 Wireless Headset.

The top seller from Plantronics with a convertible style of wearing, that allows the user to wear it over the head or over the ear, one of the lightless and smaller headsets in the market, easy to use and to be worn all day. The Answer/End call, volume control and mute functions are controlled from the headset itself and offering a range of up to 350 feet. The base offers a reminder when on mute by changing the light color to a solid red.

Entry level wireless headset covering both ears recommended: EPOS Impact D30 Wireless Headset System.

This would be an alternative for a wireless headset covering both ears for a loud office environment with a true stereo sound quality and noise canceling microphone with a little of further range as well of up to 500 feet. The volume control and mute functions are located as well on the headset by itself and with a larger bendable microphone boom arm that can be worn on either side. The base offers a reminder when on mute by changing the light color and flashes.

Entry level wireless headset compatible with desk phone and computer recommended: Poly Savi 7310 Office Wireless Headset Mono, desk phone and PC.

This unit offers what is called dual connectivity allowing to be used with a desk phone and the computer, the base comes with the proper cables to be used with both devices so can leave the base plugged and forget about it as the base will do almost everything on the connections. The base offers a reminder when on mute by changing the light color. The bendable microphone boom arm comes with Acoustic Fence Technology that is a huge improvement over Noise Canceling microphones as can block more background noises like loud fans, barking or lawnmowers for example.

After mentioning the benefits of the wireless headsets now we will mention their disadvantages of them by starting with the first one that would be higher price as in some cases the budget is the fundamental part of a purchase, additional costs by requiring remote answer for the desk phone. The remote answer feature is something many people want on a wireless headset thinking that the feature is built in the headset, however depending on the desk phone a special cable known as Electronic Hook Switch or “EHS” can be used or a mechanical lifter for older desk phones. A possible disadvantage would be the battery life, I would like to emphasis the “possible” term because most of the wireless headsets promise a talk time of minimum 12 hours of talk time, however a typical sales call can take between 40-55 minutes for example and if using the wireless headset with the later mentioned EHS helps the battery to last longer on a normal day as by pressing the end call on the headset, the headset goes on stand-by mode and with newer batteries the talk time gets improved as new technology is implied. The more wireless headsets in a closed environment the higher the risk of interference between them creating poor sound quality or connectivity issues.

As you can see, on both cases they all are going to have their Pros and unfortunately, they will have their Cons as there’s not an official winner. On personal experience after testing corded and wireless headsets, the freedom of mobility that a wireless headset offers and the remote answer capability makes it my choice to go for a headset at the office but, the price point is a setback and let me think of a corded solution for a desk phone.

 

So you got a CS540 (C054) wireless headset and after plugging it in you see that it either is not working or doesn’t offer enough range or you are having other issues with it?

Well… before troubleshooting it all the way to the deep, we need to check something essential and this is if the unit on hand is a North American DECT frequency headset or it’s designed for the European markets. And the best way to find out is by taking a look at the base of the CS540. Think about like opening the hood of your car and checking the oil level.

On this picture you can see that we have two C054 bases, both same model but on the top right corner, you can see that the one on the right side says “C054“, which is the North American DECT frequency headset. This unit is designed to work properly and if have some issues with it, you can do the normal adjustments by adjusting the master volume dials on the speaker and microphone or by selecting another letter on the configuration switch.

The one on the left side as you can see it says “C054A“. If you have this unit there’s no troubleshooting needed as this is the European market unit. For the same reason you need to return this unit immediately to the seller.

But why both bases and headsets look the same?

Short answer for this is that the CS540 bases are in the same assembly line of Plantronics and they share almost all the components, it is in the interior when they install the different DECT frequency chip that complies with the European markets and helps the manufacturer to have a standard model in the pipeline and can even share same instruction manuals.

How did I got this C054A base without even noticing it before?

Unauthorized partners usually sell these units thru Amazon, eBay, Newegg, Walmart, among others and for the same reason you can find some CS540 headsets on really ridiculous prices, that in some cases they offer it at half of the price of an Authorized partner. Follow the old saying “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.” Return this item at once as you will not be able to make it work properly.

How those unauthorized partners get their hold on these items?

They usually buy these items by bulk sales in closeout on European markets and then they offer them for sale on a third party without realizing that the models they are selling are useless in this side of the globe.

How can I do my part?

The easiest way is by reporting Unauthorized partner you bough the unit from on the platform you got it from.

You can always ask resellers if they are Authorized partners and if so what is the warranty on their sold products. An Authorized partner products have no need to offer extended warranties as their products are original and legit that are designed to work from day 1 and if need any troubleshooting those items will come with  technical support as well.

Authorized partners can be located at the Poly portal and will show their certifications on Sales, Technician as well and they will have their current Badge from Poly presentable in their site at all time. Remember that the new badge should say “Poly” and with the Poly Logo and not the old Plantronics Badge with the Plantronics Logo.

 

I bet that you wonder if your old school style desk phone is compatible with a wireless headset. The short answer is yes, it is fully compatible as long as you have a corded handset (receiver) and you have your desk phone not mounted on the wall or too inclined on your desk.

The reason why the later mentioned is that there’s a device that allows to do the remote answer using a wireless headset. You wonder, what is “remote answer”? Remote answer is allowing a wireless headset user to answer the call from the distance by simply pressing the answer key on the headset or tapping it. You need to be careful at the time of getting your handset lifter, as sometimes for the design of the phone by itself the lifter will not be compatible with the desk phone, which means that in some cases the lifter will not have the proper angle to pick up the handset or in another case, the lifter will pick up the handset so high that will drop the handset off from the base.

Special mention on this topic is that handset lifters are not cordless phones compatible. As matter of fact these kind of cordless phones can be used with a corded headset that will be plugged in the side of the phone, typically a 2.5mm jack and those headsets usually cover one ear and the phone needs to be carry with the user all the time. One compatible headset will be coming from Jabra, the Jabra Biz 1500 Mono Cisco SPA headset will be compatible with any of those cordless desk phones and with bigger issues.

A lot of people might not like the idea of having a cord dangling from their cordless desk phone, for that, Plantronics created the TR-11 adapter. This adapter allows to use any Plantronics wireless headset such as the CS540 with your cordless desk phone. The way how to setup this adapter is by using a line splitter, that can be get locally at any electronic store, plug in the cordless desk phone on one and and the TR-11 and your Plantronics wireless headset on the other end. Then you can take the wireless headset with you and if the phone rings you would be able to answer the call by tapping the headset, you still can take your cordless phone with you if need to make calls out as well or if want to see who is calling using the ID caller if you count with this service.

When choosing a handset mechanical lifter needs to match the headset as those are not as mix and match, with that being said Plantronics will be compatible just with Plantronics, Jabra with Jabra and Sennheiser with Sennheiser.

The Plantronics HL 10 Handset Lifter is the well known unit from Plantronics and compatible with most of the desk phones with certain exemptions which will mention down later. HL 10 lifter is fully compatible with all Plantronics wireless headsets, including CS, Savi and Voyager families.

The lifter will be attached to the desk phone and needs to be located between the handset (receiver) and the speaker of the phone. The speaker has a built in ringer that will let the lifter know when a call is coming in and that way can tell the headset a call needs to be answered.

Note: If you have your old Plantronics wireless headset laying around and want to get the HL 10 lifter, make sure that you still have the Telephone interface cable. This cable is essential to make it work as it is required to plug in your Plantronics headset into the desk phone. If you lost yours or can’t find it, you can order it here.

Mitel desk phone users: The HL 10 lifter from Plantronics is not compatible with certain models of Mitel desk phones, included are the 5330, 5340 and the 5360, this due to the angle of the phone. However we have another alternative that will work for you!

The Jabra GN1000 RHL lifter is your ally here, this lifter is designed to work with any of the Jabra wireless headsets family such as the Pro 900s, Pro9400s, Engage for example.

As you can see here, the design of the lifter is on reverse when compared with the Plantronics case, so instead of picking up the handset from the top of the receiver with a lifting straight movement, it will be picking up from the top of the receiver but with a reverse lifting movement, that allows the handset to stay at its place and avoiding to drop the handset when trying to answer a call. We can say that the design of the lifter movement is a uppercut punch when compared as a jab punch in the Plantronics case and thanks to that uppercut move the handset remains in place.

And for last, but not least we have the Sennheiser HSL10II, this would be compatible with all the Sennheiser wireless headset systems, such as the IMPACT, Office Runner, SDW headsets. This last one has a similar design on the action/movement as the Jabra one, so this is another alternative for Mitel users that are not compatible with the Plantronics HL10 lifter. The arm of the HSL10II does the uppercut movement and thanks to that keeps the handset on its place thanks to the design of the arm.

Most of the newer VoIP desk phones have the built in Electronic Hook Switch capability, which means that they don’t need a mechanical lifter but a special cable that take place of the lifter, making it a more intuitive, less clunkier and more reliable remote answer option. Give a call if you don’t know which is the best option for your desk phone.

Jabra had done it again by raising the bar higher. The new Evolve2 55 wireless headset is the best solution available for the new norm of Hybrid work without compromising performance and not breaking the bank, and today we will compare it against other alternatives in the market.

The new Evolve2 55 wireless headset is designed to be the new entry wireless headset from Jabra, but compared with another headsets in the market the Evolve2 55 offers something the others don’t and that is Active Noise Canceling at an approachable price point. This feature is strongly useful for really loud environments for Remote workers or Hybrid workers as it helps to keep focus on the call without annoying distractions from the surroundings. The new and improved fit offers the Jabra Air Comfort technology which is greatly appreciated when using a headset all day long.

 

The new headband design offers more comfort to the user as it now can be adjusted not only on the sides, but on the top as well, thanks to its cushioned headband full of ultra-soft perforated foam layers provides ultra comfort to the user.

Thanks to its new design on the flexible rotating earcups, relieve pressure to the user, giving an out-of-the world comfort, besides that helps to storage the headset easier in small spaces such as backpacks or carrying cases.

The Evolve2 55 offers a microphone boom arm with noise-cancellation microphone technology that includes a smart chipset that powers the speech recognition on the microphone and separating it from the background noise, with this the other end of the call gets the most professional sound quality no matter where you are located. The added built in busy lights are noticeable from the distance and automatically turn on when in a call so you can people know when are on either a call or meeting.

The Jabra Evolve2 55 is certified for all mayor UC platforms included among, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet to mention a few. Thanks to its voice over USB feature the Evolve2 55 headset can be used as a corded headset thanks to its USB corded included, just in case if you forgot your Link 380 dongle and in need to jump into a meeting in a rush.

After mentioning all the features of the new Evovle2 55 headset will compare it against the closest competition.

A. Evolve2 65.

The first thing we will notice here is the size of the headset, as the ear cups are slightly bigger 40mm versus 28mm, headband is thicker as the headband has memory foam surrounding the band. We will notice the slightly higher price as this was the main headset that started all the new Evolve2 family. Similar as the Evolve2 55 offers the voice over USB feature and offers fast charging as well making it a great contender, however the lack of the Active Noise Canceling tries to compensate for the size of the earcups.

B. Evolve2 75.

Here is the bigger sibling of the Evolve2 family, the Evolve2 75 differs by a bigger price difference, however you can see that this 40mm earcups offers the Jabra Advanced Active Noise Cancellation that offers different levels of adjustment. The boom arm can be easily stored away on its designed hide away place and thanks to this the Evolve2 75 can be used as a boom less mic headset thanks to its Discrete Mode and Open Office certified microphones. The advanced ANC and boom less feature compensates the price versus the Evolve2 55, mix of soft and harder memory foam are found in the earcups.

C. Focus 2 UC.

Poly offers the Focus 2 as an alternative, price point speaking its a close call. The Focus 2 offers Digital Hybrid technology with deferent levels of graduation, Acoustic Fence Technology in the boom arm and offers a comfortable headband similar as the Evolve2 55. This headset can be used not only for the computer and cell phone, but with your desk phone at the office as well, as long as you get the optional Office Base. On the downhill part of this, the Focus 2 offers a micro USB charging and voice over USB instead of a USB-C, and the built in busy light only lights on 1 side and can’t be as easy to notice as the Evolve2 55.

In the heart of Toronto’s vibrant art scene, one artist is captivating audiences with an explosion of colors and emotions. Meet Soon Cho, a creative force whose journey from South Korea to the corners of the world has etched its mark on her unique artistic vision. Soon Cho’s work is a celebration of joy, an offering of encouragement, and an invitation to find solace amidst life’s chaos.

 

The Artistic Odyssey:

Soon Cho’s artistic journey began in her childhood, as a shy girl finding solace in the corners while her imagination danced on paper. The dream of being an artist was ingrained in her, a dream that only grew stronger with time. Her journey across continents and cultures has fueled the tapestry of her art, each stroke echoing the beauty and diversity she has experienced.

Inspiration from Life’s Symphony:

Drawing inspiration from the canvas of life, Soon Cho’s art mirrors the simple yet profound moments of everyday life. The play of light, the rhythm of music, and the poetry of nature find their way into her masterpieces. Music is her constant companion during the creative process, amplifying her emotions and infusing life into her artwork.

A Symphony for the Senses:

Soon Cho views her art as a medium of communication, a way to express her very essence and vitality. Music is her muse and carefully curated playlists accompany her on this journey of creativity. Soon Cho’s choice of music ranges from instrumentals to indie tunes, from hip-hop beats to classical serenades, each resonating with her artistic spirit.

BonoBeats Lite: A Harmonious Experience:

Recently, Soon Cho had the pleasure of immersing herself in the world of BonoBeats Lite headphones, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Melding functionality, portability, and elegance, these headphones seamlessly fit into her on-the-go lifestyle. The superb sound quality, noise isolation, and captivating aesthetics make the BonoBeats Lite headphones a cherished accessory, enhancing both work and leisure.

A Heartfelt Recommendation:

Soon Cho enthusiastically advocates for BonoBeats Lite headphones to fellow artists and those in pursuit of an active, dynamic lifestyle. The affordability, impeccable audio quality, and sophisticated design make them a must-have companion, embodying both form and function.

A Glimpse into the Future:

As Soon Cho peers into the horizon, she envisions expanding her canvas to encompass larger public art projects. Her passion for supporting fellow artists and creating impactful, monumental installations speaks volumes about her dedication and artistic integrity. Stay tuned as Soon Cho continues to grace the world with her creativity and artistry, leaving an indelible mark wherever her brushstrokes land.

 

Today we will discuss the acquisition from HP of Poly (Formerly known as Plantronics) and what this means for end users and product line up.

As you are aware, Plantronics about late 2020 and early 2021 finalized the bought of Polycom, this being one of the major big names on conference desk phones as in communications infrastructure and with a wide product catalog. After this merge both of the brands renamed as POLY and as you are aware most of their products switched on their products, their bases and boxes from the old “Plantronics” or “PLT” logo to the new and freshly for late 2021 “Poly” logo.

With this transition, the product lines of both brand continued the same with no bigger changes as it was mainly their logos on the boxes and items, making it almost unnoticeable for untrained eye on how to spot the changes.

Fast forwarding now on early 2023, to be more exact on March was when the news were out that HP had finalized the acquisition of the brand Poly and with this now Poly becomes a brand under the HP umbrella that is wide world know for all their electronic products including but not limiting as personal computers, laptops, printers among others and now with Poly’s technology on headsets, video conference and telecommunications makes it a jointly new adventure with a promising future. As the vision on this new venture is to focus on what is call the new norm of hybrid work solutions.

Thanks to HP Customer Service taking over and helping the Poly side, now the warranty and customer services inquiries have a faster response time and with a 24hr a day tech support alive either by phone or chat online, this being a promising experience for people in need of a helpful hand at different times of the day or night.

During the year 2023 Poly will continue to handle it’s tech support issues until the end of the year that is when HP will officially take over. The same is going to happen with authorized partners assistance as they all will be moved into the new HP platform and according to HP all this will get finalized by the end of Q4 of 2023.

Special mention as now this would be a little more confusing that with the previous merge and we will discuss this next to avoid miscommunications and frustrations down the road.

Poly SKU’s VS HP SKU’s

The first thing people will notice at the time of trying to order any Poly product would be the change of the SKU, when Poly manufactured their products most of their SKU’s would be consisting of only numbers such as the CS540 headset making it easy to identify and order on the most common headset setup. The more specialized products or known as “Special Products” line usually started with a number “9” before and with this you will automatically know that is a special division product such as the SMH 1783 Headset for the Visually Impaired.

To begin with this need to mention that the Poly products remain the same and they do work the same way that had been designed for and work with great performance. The changes will be coming in the part #’s, as part of the acquisition, all the Poly SKU’s must be transferred to HP SKU’s and this could take sometime and for the same reason perhaps the old Poly part # is not available anywhere as they already changed to the new HP part #. No need to freak out as if you got into this situation you can always give a call and speak with a live agent to help you as they would have a list of the part #’s change.

The part number change is not something that will be done on a over night move, this process will take some time and for the same reason as Poly is still running their production you might find that if you ordered the Poly part # perhaps you got shipped the HP part # or vice versa, nothing to get worried, as long as the item matches the name on the box you will be fine.

The new HP SKU nomenclature will be a mix of numbers, letters and special characters which is why this time it can become a little tricky for the untrained eye, a perfect example of one of the first ones on changing is the CA22CD-SC PTT Adapter, as this is one of the first ones on taking the new HP SKU and as you can see the new part has the mentioned mix.

Thanks to this acquisition now HP has an Ace under the sleeve, thanks to the knowledge and technology of telecommunications from Poly now can offer a full wide arrange of solutions for remote workers or hybrid workers as it mixes both of perfect worlds and with the trusty HP Customer Service support gives the end user a piece of mind when on duty and of assistance of help. With this move, there will be new products coming up, giving a huge advantage versus the competition today. As soon as these get out we will be reporting of them.