Reviews and Comparison of Plantronics Headsets and Jabra Corded and Wireless Headsets
One of the most common questions we get form our customer at HeadsetPlus.com is “Jabra vs. Plantronics, which headset do you recommend?” This is a tough question to answer. It’s like asking someone do you like BMW or Mercedes? Which one is better. You will get different answers depending on who you ask. The answer is more to do with personal preference and price than with headset or the sound quality. Jabra does make more variety of office headsets at different price points than Plantronics for both corded and wireless headset models. So let’s compared the most popular models:
Plantronics Corded Headsets:
The most popular Plantronics corded headsets are:
Plantronics HW540 ~$110
Plantronics Encorepro HW540 is one the newest of the Plantronics corded headsets. Released in 2015, and being the replacement of the old HW251N SupraPlus headset. It’s a very popular headset because it’s a convertible headset. The headset package comes with 3 different wearing styles (over-the-head, over-the-ear, and behind the neck). It’s very flexible, So the user does not have to decided which style at the time of purchase. Also, the user change change to any one of the three styles any time he or she wishes. It’s also very popular because when a company needs to purchase large quantities of headsets for everybody, the HW540 will have the wearing style for everybody’s own personal preference.
Plantronics Encorepro 710 was also released in 2015 as the new top-of-the-line Plantronics corded headset family. It’s has all the bells and whistles of a top end headset – telescoping microphone, reinforced headband, leatherette ear cushions and wide band audio.
Jabra Corded Headsets:
To avoid some confusion, Jabra headset was formerly known as GN Netcom Headset. For 20+ years, the same headset was sold under the GN Netocm brand. When the two companies merged, the company changed the name to only as Jabra. So the older GN Netcom models are now known as Jabra GN Headsets. Let take a look at some popular Jabra corded headsets:
Jabra Biz 1500 Mono is the new entry level headset (price $70), replacing the previous Jabra Biz 1920. It’s better built, more rugged and better construction than the older Jabra Biz 1920. It looks very similar to the Plantronics HW251N mention earlier. it has all the features of the more expensive model – noise canceling microphone, HD quality sound, and adjustable boom arm, except it’s only $50! It comes with the professional level 2 year warranty. This is our top selling Jabra headset due to the price point of only $50.
Jabra Biz 2300 is the “middle of the line” Jabra corded headset. Better over all construction than the Jabra Biz 1500 and more features such as Kevlar re-enforced cord, making it virtually UN-breakable. Air-shock mic, a microphone that eliminates breathing noise for the caller. 360 deg. free spin boom arm.
Jabra Biz 2400 II Duo Noise Canceling Headset is the “top of the line” Jabra Corded Headset. It’s equipped with extra large leather ear cups to block out unnecessary background noise. Extra padding on the headband for extra comfort. Kevlar reinforced cords, Peakstop technology that removes extra loud noise that may come through the phone lines. Plus a 3 year warranty from Jabra.
Plantronics Wireless Headsets:
Now we will analyze the wireless options:
Plantronics CS540 Wireless Headset, Convertible (C054, CO54) , this is the top seller from Plantronics on a wireless set up, with range of up to 350 feet on line of sight. In a convertible style, so you can wear it either over the ear with the included ear hook, or over the head with the head band included or behind the neck with the optional neck band sold separately. Volume controls as mute of the mic can be easy accessed as the answer/end call. Talk time of up to 7 hours in a single charge, the CS540 has the well known SoundGuard technology that protects the user against sound levels above 118dBA.
Poly Savi 7310 Office Wireless Headset Mono, desk phone and PC from Poly, formerly know as Plantronics is one of the best options for large deployments, as it offers the highest encryption on DECT frequency of 256 bit AES encryption, allowing to have the double of headsets in a single location. The Savi 7310, offers connectivity to any corded desk phone and computer via USB-A or USB-C, this unit comes with both cables, making it an option for either laptops or desktop computers. This headset is a nice option for either government agencies or medical field as offers the highest encryption mentioned before and they need the best un hackable wireless connectivity. Up to 13 hours of talk time and with an outstanding standby time of up to 50 hours.
Poly Voyager Focus 2 Office USB-A Bluetooth Stereo Headset is one of the newest additions from Poly, this unit offers multi connectivity with a desk phone, computer via USB-A and a smart phone via the built in Bluetooth in the headset. This headset offers a nice feature that is called Active Noise Canceling, that allows the headset to block most of the noises around the user environment, but with the latest technology of 3 levels of advanced digital hybrid Active Noise Canceling technology, allowing the user to switch to different levels depending on the location, and even turn it off if its not required. With a range of up to 300 feet and a talk time of up to 19 hours, Focus 2 can be taken down the road and be used with the smart phone at any place.
Jabra Wireless Headsets:
Jabra Pro 920 Mono Wireless Headset System, its the entry level from Jabra for a wireless solution for a desk phone. With an easy setup and noise canceling microphone that can block up to 60 percent of the back ground noise. Range of up to 350 feet on line of sight, with an attractive price as well. User friendly voice prompts make set up a breeze and simple, with intuitive call control buttons makes it easy to manage calls from the distance. For being a convertible style, among the optional wearing styles available are the Ear hook and the neck band.
Jabra Engage 65 Mono Wireless Headset System. Moving up in the food chain we have this headset, offering a DECT Secure level C, being one of the best options for government agencies where the DECT frequency has to be in high level of security, thanks to this the Engage 65 offers 3 times the wireless density for larger deployments. With an easy to use and discrete design, offering a range of up to 490 feet on line of sight, with a built in busy light into the ear cup and the microphone, allowing the user to be noticeable when in a call. Connectivity to a desk phone and to a computer via USB-A.
Jabra Engage 75 Stereo Wireless Headset System, we reach the top of chain from Jabra with the Engage 75, thanks to the highest DECT encryption as the younger sibling, allowing to have 3 times of headsets in one single location. This unit allows you to use it with more devices, a desk phone, two computers Via USB-A and two Bluetooth devices, thanks to the built in Bluetooth into the base of the headset. You can manage some of the settings from the touch screen base, that let you know as well, which device is being in use, battery lifetime, talk time among others. Built in Busy light which is one of our staff’s favorite feature as allows the user to let know when on a call.
