Two versions of the same problem land in our inbox constantly: a drawer full of headset cables nobody can tell apart, or a pile of headsets that "stopped working" the day the office switched phone systems. Both have the same cheap fix, and it's almost never buying new headsets. If your headsets are quick-disconnect, you just need the right bottom cable — and this guide shows you how to identify the one you have and the one your phone needs.
Quick answer
Last updated July 2026
Swap the cable, not the headset
The most expensive mistake in this whole area is throwing out working headsets. A quick-disconnect headset is built in two parts — the headset top and the bottom cable that connects it to the phone — precisely so the two can be mixed and matched.
QD (Quick Disconnect) — The flat connector in the middle of a professional headset cable — it looks a little like a USB plug — that lets you separate the headset top from the bottom cable. It's what lets you walk away from your desk without unplugging from the phone, and what lets one headset work across different phones by changing only the cable.
Myth
We changed phone systems, so our old headsets are useless — we need all new ones.Reality
Almost never true if your headsets are QD. When you change phones, the headset top still works; it's only the bottom cable that needs to match the new phone. Swapping a cable costs a fraction of a new headset, so a drawer of "dead" QD headsets is usually a drawer of perfectly good headsets waiting for the right cable. The one rule: brands don't cross-mix. A Plantronics headset needs a Plantronics cable, and a Jabra (GN Netcom) headset needs a Jabra cable, even though the QD plugs look similar.How to identify a Plantronics QD cable you already have
Plantronics doesn't clearly label every cable, so you identify one by looking at three things: any code embossed on the QD plug, the size of the QD plug, and the color of the modular plug on the phone end. Match those against this table:
| Cable | QD plug marking | QD plug size | Modular plug |
|---|---|---|---|
| A10-12 / A10-16 | "A10" embossed | Large | Smoke RJ9 |
| Cisco / M12 / M22 | No marks | Small | Clear RJ9 |
| Avaya HIC | "HIC" embossed | — | RJ9 |
| Avaya HIS | "HIS" embossed | — | RJ9 |
| Polaris (U10P) | No marks | Small | Smoke RJ9 |
| Reverse Polaris (U10P-S) | No marks | Small | Clear RJ9 |
| Aastra Polaris (U10P-S19) | No marks | Small | Clear RJ45 |
The tell between the two most-confused cables — the Polaris (U10P) and Reverse Polaris (U10P-S) — is the modular plug color: smoke for the Polaris, clear for the Reverse. A few older cables end in a 2.5mm plug instead of a modular plug; the older Avaya HIP-1 has been discontinued. These all work with any Plantronics H-series or EncorePro headset. To identify a Plantronics wireless headset by its base instead, see our guide to reading the base code.
Which cable does your phone need?
If you're starting from the phone rather than a mystery cable, match your desk phone brand to the right Plantronics bottom cable:
| Phone brand / model | Cable you need |
|---|---|
| Nortel, NEC | A10 (the most common cable) |
| ShoreTel | A10 |
| Cisco 7900 / 8900 / 9900 (headset port) | Cisco / M22 (U10) |
| Cisco SPA (LinkSys) | 2.5mm SPA cable |
| Avaya 1600 / 9600 | HIS |
| Other Avaya (with headset port) | HIC |
| Yealink, SNOM, Grandstream | U10P-S (Reverse Polaris) |
| Polycom IP / VVX | U10P (Polaris) |
| Aastra, Siemens | U10P-S19 (RJ45) |
A couple of these have quirks worth knowing: on Polycom phones, some models pair the U10P Polaris cable only with specific headsets (the EncorePro HW510, HW520, HW540, HW710, HW720), which our Polycom VVX headset guide details. And Cisco's exact cable and remote-answer setup vary by series, covered in our Cisco compatible headsets guide. For Jabra headsets, the equivalent bottom cable is the Jabra GN1200 smart cord, which has a switch to match your phone.
Where to get the right cable
Once you've identified the cable — by the markings on one you have, or by your phone brand — you can order it and revive a headset you already own. All the Plantronics bottom cables, plus the Jabra equivalents, are on the headset cables collection. If your cable doesn't match anything above, or you're not certain which your phone takes, call our team at 877-999-3838 with your phone's make and model and we'll identify the exact cable — it's the kind of thing we sort out in a minute.
How do I identify a Plantronics QD headset cable?
Identify a Plantronics QD cable by three features: any code embossed on the QD plug (A10, HIC, or HIS, or no mark), the QD plug's size (large or small), and the modular plug's color (smoke or clear RJ9, or RJ45). For example, an "A10" embossed on a large QD plug with a smoke RJ9 is the A10 cable, while an unmarked small QD plug with a clear RJ9 is the Reverse Polaris (U10P-S).
Can I use my old headset with a new phone?
Usually yes. If your headset is a quick-disconnect (QD) model, you keep the headset and just swap the bottom cable to match your new phone, since brands don't cross-mix. A Plantronics headset needs a Plantronics cable and a Jabra headset a Jabra cable. Because a cable costs far less than a headset, this is the inexpensive fix when headsets stop working after a phone change.
What's the difference between the Polaris and Reverse Polaris cables?
The Plantronics Polaris (U10P) and Reverse Polaris (U10P-S) look nearly identical, and the difference is the modular plug color: the Polaris has a smoke-colored RJ9 plug, the Reverse Polaris a clear one. The Polaris is used for Polycom phones, while the Reverse Polaris is used for Yealink, SNOM, and Grandstream phones. It's easy to order the wrong one, so check the color.
Which Plantronics cable do I need for my phone?
Match the cable to your phone brand: the A10 for Nortel, NEC, and ShoreTel; the Cisco/M22 for Cisco 7900/8900/9900 phones; the HIS for Avaya 1600/9600 and HIC for other Avaya models; the U10P-S for Yealink, SNOM, and Grandstream; and the U10P Polaris for Polycom. The A10 is the single most common cable in the industry.
Do Plantronics and Jabra cables work interchangeably?
No. Although the QD plugs look similar, Plantronics and Jabra cables are not cross-compatible — a Plantronics headset requires a Plantronics bottom cable, and a Jabra headset requires a Jabra cable such as the GN1200 smart cord. Always match the cable brand to the headset brand, not just the plug shape.
The lesson in a sentence: before you replace a single headset, check whether you just need a different cable. Identify what you have by its markings, match it to your phone with the table above, and a drawer of "useless" headsets turns back into working ones for the price of a few cables. Find the right one on the headset cables collection, or call 877-999-3838 and we'll pin it down.
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