A Polycom SoundPoint IP phone will take a headset, but it is fussier about which one than almost any other desk phone. Plug in the wrong Plantronics model and you get an audible buzz that no amount of volume adjustment fixes. There is also a setting buried three menus deep that has to be changed before a Plantronics headset will work at all, and nothing on the phone tells you that.
So here is what actually works on a SoundPoint IP, which cable it needs, and the two menu changes to make before you call it faulty.
Quick answer
Last updated July 2026
Which headsets work with a Polycom SoundPoint IP phone
This covers the SoundPoint IP 300, 301, 331, 335, 430, 450, 500, 501, 550, 560, 600, 601, 650 and 670 (Rev E or later). Plantronics engineering tested this range and found that only a specific set of H-series models works cleanly on it.
The original tested list was the SupraPlus and TriStar lines, and those are now discontinued. The current equivalents that carry the same certification are the EncorePro 500 and 700 series:
- Plantronics EncorePro HW510. Single ear, one side open to the room. The call-floor default.
- Plantronics EncorePro HW540. Converts between three wearing styles, so one model covers a mixed team.
- Plantronics EncorePro HW710. Leatherette cushions for people on calls all day.
Each of these needs the Plantronics U10P Polaris cable (part 27190-01) to reach the phone. The headset and the cable are always two separate purchases, which is the single most common thing people miss when ordering a Polycom SoundPoint IP 550 headset or any other model in the range.
For Jabra, any direct-connect model works, and those ship with the Jabra GN1200 smart cord. Set the switch on the cord to position 1 for SoundPoint phones.
Set your SoundPoint IP phone to Plantronics Mode first
This is the step that generates the most support calls. A Plantronics headset connected to a SoundPoint IP will not behave correctly until the phone's analog headset mode is switched over, and there is nothing on screen to prompt you.
- Press Menu on the phone. Go to Settings > Basic > Preferences > Headset > Analog Headset. Select Plantronics Mode using the arrow keys, then press the Select softkey. Connect the headset and place a test call.
If the person on the other end reports an echo, that is a separate setting. Press Menu, then Settings > Basic > Preferences > Headset > Echo Cancellation and set it to Enabled. On a managed fleet your IT team can set this across every phone at once by adding voice.aec.hd.enable = 1 to the sip.cfg configuration file rather than touching each handset.
Wireless headsets for a Polycom SoundPoint IP phone
A wireless headset works on a SoundPoint IP, and the question is only how you answer a call without walking back to the desk. There are two routes, and the cable one is better.
EHS (Electronic Hook Switch) cable — A cable that lets a wireless headset's base electronically take the desk phone's line, so you can answer and end calls from the headset itself. On a Polycom SoundPoint IP it is the Plantronics APP-51, which works with the current Poly CS500 and Savi wireless ranges.
The Plantronics APP-51 EHS cable works on SoundPoint IP 335, 430, 450, 550, 560, 650 and 670, and it removes the need for a mechanical lifter entirely. Pair it with the Poly CS540, or take the CS540 with the Polycom EHS cable as a single bundle that arrives ready to use. A Polycom SoundPoint IP 550 wireless headset setup is the most common version of this we ship.
The older route is the Plantronics HL10 handset lifter, which physically lifts the handset. It works, but SoundPoint phones have no bottom lip to hold the receiver in place, so the lifter needs a mounting accessory to sit securely. Given the APP-51 costs less than the lifter and has nothing to go mechanically wrong, we only recommend the lifter now for phones the APP-51 does not cover.
Whichever route you take, the base connects through the phone's handset port rather than the headset jack. Setup takes a few minutes, and we walk through it in our guide to the polycom ehs cable configuration.
One firmware requirement worth checking before you order: the phone needs SIP 3.1 or later to support EHS. Older firmware will not respond to the cable.
SoundPoint IP 320, 321, 330 and 331
These four models are the exception in the range. They have no RJ9 headset jack, only a 2.5mm port, so a standard QD headset and bottom cable will not physically connect. You need a 2.5mm to RJ9 adapter cable between the phone and the bottom cable. The same applies if you are setting up EHS on one of these models.
What headset works with a Polycom SoundPoint IP 550?
A Polycom SoundPoint IP 550 headset needs to be a Plantronics EncorePro 500 or 700 series QD model paired with the U10P Polaris bottom cable, or a Jabra direct-connect headset with the GN1200 smart cord. Set the phone to Plantronics Mode before connecting, or the headset will not work correctly.
Can I use a wireless headset on a Polycom SoundPoint IP 550?
Yes. A Polycom SoundPoint IP 550 wireless headset setup uses the Poly CS540 with the Plantronics APP-51 EHS cable, which lets you answer and end calls from the headset without a handset lifter. The phone needs SIP 3.1 firmware or later for the EHS cable to work.
Which headset fits a Polycom SoundPoint IP 335 or IP 450?
The Polycom SoundPoint IP 335 headset and IP 450 headset take the same setup as the rest of the range: an EncorePro 500 or 700 series QD headset with the U10P bottom cable. Both models also support the APP-51 EHS cable for wireless remote answering.
Why does my headset buzz on a Polycom SoundPoint IP phone?
Buzzing on a Polycom SoundPoint IP phone almost always means the headset model sits outside the tested range. Plantronics found that only the SupraPlus, TriStar and EncorePro lines work cleanly on these phones, and the current equivalents are the EncorePro 500 and 700 series. Check the phone is also set to Plantronics Mode.
Does a Polycom SoundPoint IP 331 or IP 650 need a different cable?
Yes for the 331. A Polycom SoundPoint IP 331 headset connects through a 2.5mm port rather than RJ9, so it needs a 2.5mm to RJ9 adapter cable. A Polycom SoundPoint IP 650 headset uses the standard RJ9 jack and needs no adapter.
Two purchases, one menu setting, and a firmware check. Get those right and a SoundPoint IP is straightforward. Everything confirmed for Polycom desk phones sits on our polycom headsets page, and if you have moved to a newer phone, our guide to headsets compatible with polycom VVX and Poly Edge models covers that range.
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