Plantronics H-Series Headsets
Plantronics H-Series headsets — corded, QD-connected, built for the desk
You're looking at every Plantronics H-Series headset we carry — the corded EncorePro line built for call centers, reception desks, and anyone who lives on the phone all day.
One thing worth knowing before you scroll: every H-Series model ends in a Quick Disconnect connector, not a plug. Each one needs a matching cable, amplifier, or USB adapter to reach your phone or computer — which one depends on what's on your desk. More on that just below.
How to choose a Plantronics H-Series headset
The choice comes down to three things: how many ears you want covered, how you want to wear it, and what your microphone has to fight. Start with the ears.
One ear covered, one ear open to the room. The default for reception, retail floors, and supervisors who need to hear a colleague lean over and ask a question.
Both ears covered, the room shut out. The pick for busy open-plan floors where you need to lock onto the caller and stop hearing the eight conversations around you.
Then the wearing style. The 510 and 520 sit over the head with soft cushions. The 530 swaps the headband for an over-the-ear hook if you'd rather not flatten your hair. And the 540 is a 3-in-1 convertible — headband, ear hook, or behind-the-neck, switched with a clip — so one part number covers a whole team's preferences and simplifies your spares inventory.
Now the microphone, where the names trip people up. The "noise canceling" in HW520 EncorePro Noise Canceling refers to the microphone, not the speakers — it's a directional, passive noise-canceling mic that rejects the room on the transmit side so your caller hears you and not the keyboard clatter beside you. These are not active-noise-cancellation (ANC) headsets; nothing here quiets your own ears. The VoiceTube models (the "V" versions, like HW510V) trade that for a clear voice-tube mic suited to quiet rooms, and most are HAC — hearing-aid compatible — which some legacy phone and regulatory setups specifically require.
EncorePro 300, 500, and 700 — which series fits your team
All three share the same Quick Disconnect, the same noise-canceling mic approach, and the same wideband audio. The difference is build quality and comfort over a long shift — which matters more the more hours someone wears it.
- EncorePro 300 (310 mono, 320 binaural). The affordable contact-center workhorse. Lightweight, durable, and built for high-volume seats where you're buying in quantity and every dollar per unit adds up.
- EncorePro 500 (510, 520, 530, 540). The mainstream professional line — soft audio-tuned cushions, SoundGuard hearing protection against sudden volume spikes, and compliance with OSHA / Noise at Work limits. The 540 convertible weighs about 22 grams, under an ounce.
- EncorePro 700 (710 mono, 720 binaural). The premium tier: the most cushioning and the most refined build, aimed at the agents wearing a headset every hour of every shift.
That durability is the quiet reason these dominate shared-seat environments. In a hot-desking or follow-the-sun call center where a dozen people snap into the same connector across a week, a QD outlasts a directly-wired USB headset many times over — which is why a small upfront cost for the adapter pays back across the deployment.
Is Plantronics the same as Poly?
Yes — it's one company under a new name. Plantronics acquired Polycom in 2018, rebranded the combined business as Poly in 2019, and was itself acquired by HP in 2022. Through all of it, the EncorePro H-Series stayed exactly what it was. A "Plantronics HW540" and a "Poly EncorePro 540" are the same headset.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Every H-Series headset ends in a Quick Disconnect, so it needs a matching connector. For a computer or softphone, use a USB adapter — the DA70 to keep it simple, or the DA80/DA90 if you want inline call and volume controls. For a deskphone with a headset port, use a direct-connect cable; for one without, use an amplifier. Send us your phone model and we'll confirm the right part.
Yes. Plantronics rebranded as Poly in 2019 after merging with Polycom, and HP acquired Poly in 2022. The EncorePro H-Series carried through unchanged, so a Plantronics HW520 and a Poly EncorePro 520 are the same headset — only the logo and part number on the box differ.
No. The "noise canceling" in these model names refers to the microphone, which rejects background noise so your caller hears you clearly. It does not quiet sound in your own ears — that would be ANC, which these wired headsets don't have. If you need to block office noise from your own ears, look at an ANC model instead.
Monaural covers one ear and leaves the other open — best for reception, retail, and anyone who needs to stay aware of the room. Binaural covers both ears to help you focus in a loud open-plan space. Same audio and mic either way; it's purely about how much of the room you want to tune out.
They share the same connector, mic, and wideband audio. The 300 series is the affordable high-volume workhorse, the 500 series adds softer cushions and SoundGuard hearing protection for all-day wear, and the 700 series is the premium tier with the most comfort and the most refined build.
Each carries Poly's manufacturer warranty, and every order here includes our help matching the correct cable, amplifier, or USB adapter for your setup — the step that trips most buyers up. If you're outfitting a team and aren't sure which connector to standardize on, reach out before you order.