Plantronics EncorePro HW520 Binaural Noise-Canceling QD Headset
The EncorePro HW520 covers both ears
On an open-plan floor where a dozen people are mid-call, the hardest thing isn't hearing your customer — it's not hearing everyone else. The Plantronics EncorePro HW520 answers that by covering both ears, so the room drops away and the call is all that's left. It's the binaural version of the HW510, and like the HW510, it comes in a version for whatever phone is on your desk.
Both ears or one is a real choice, not just an upgrade — and so is which cable you need. Here's how to land on the exact EncorePro HW520 for your floor.
Both ears or one? The EncorePro HW520 vs the HW510
The EncorePro HW520 is binaural — it covers both ears — where the HW510 covers one. Both ears mean more focus and better isolation on a noisy floor; one ear open means an agent can still hear a colleague or supervisor. Neither is simply better; it depends on whether the job needs concentration or room awareness.
Blocks more of the room for focus and accuracy. Best for noisy, open-plan floors and agents who need to shut the room out.
One ear open for the floor. Best where agents collaborate, or need to stay tuned to a supervisor or nearby colleagues.
There's a floor-wide effect, too: when everyone's wearing both-ear headsets, the whole room gets quieter, because agents stop raising their voices to hear over each other.
Build the exact EncorePro HW520 you need
Seven versions, differing along two questions: noise-canceling mic or voice tube, and how it connects to your phone.
The microphone — almost everyone wants noise-canceling.
- Noise-canceling (HW520). The standard choice, used by six of the seven versions. The mic keeps your background out of the caller's ear. (783P6AA#ABA)
- Voice tube (HW520V). A hollow tube in place of the noise-canceling mic — no background filtering. Pick this only if you specifically need a voice tube. (783P8AA#ABA)
The connection — match it to your phone, and the right cable is in the box.
- Universal QD — needs an amplifier or cable. The bare Quick Disconnect version, no cable included. Add a Plantronics M22 amplifier, a direct-connect bottom cable, or a DA-series USB adapter for softphones — sold separately. (783P6AA#ABA)
- Avaya J100 / 1600 / 9600. Includes the certified Avaya cable for J139–J189, 1600, and 9600 phones. No amplifier. (783P6AA+HIS)
- Cisco IP (68xx–99xx). Includes the Cisco cable for the headset port on Cisco IP 68xx / 69xx / 78xx / 79xx / 88xx / 89xx / 99xx phones. No amplifier. (783P6AA-CIS)
- Cisco SPA. Includes a 2.5mm cable for Cisco SPA 303, 5xx, and 9xx phones. No amplifier. (783P6AA-SPA)
- Polycom. Includes the Polycom RJ9 cable for Soundpoint IP and VVX phones. No amplifier. (783P6AA-PO)
- Yealink. Includes the Yealink RJ9 cable for Yealink SIP-T phones. No amplifier. (783P6AA-YEA)
Does the EncorePro HW520 need an amplifier?
It depends on the version. The phone-specific bundles — Avaya, Cisco, Cisco SPA, Polycom, and Yealink — include the certified cable for that phone and plug straight into its headset port, no amplifier needed. The universal QD version includes no cable: its standard 4-pin Quick Disconnect needs a Plantronics M22 amplifier, a direct-connect bottom cable, or a DA-series USB adapter for softphones, bought separately.
Built for the long shift
Every version is built the same way: aircraft-grade aluminum with laser-welded construction and metal joints, soft replaceable ear cushions, and an adjustable headband. The binaural design uses a single cable — the second speaker is fed by a flat ribbon hidden inside the headband, so there's no cable splitting under your chin. The flexible boom has click-stop positioning guides that tell your fingers when the mic is placed right. For more isolation, the HW520 also takes circumaural (around-the-ear) leatherette cushions in place of the standard on-ear foam. It replaces the older HW261N.
Hearing protection, HAC, and audio
The EncorePro HW520 uses SoundGuard acoustic limiting to cap sudden noise spikes above 118 dBA, which helps a contact center meet OSHA and Noise at Work requirements over long shifts. It's telecoil hearing aid compatible for agents who use a T-coil-equipped aid, and its wideband audio reaches up to 6,800 Hz for richer, clearer calls that reduce listening fatigue. Pick the connection that matches your desk today, and you've got a both-ears headset built to outlast the phone it's plugged into.
- Plantronics EncorePro HW520 binaural headset with Quick Disconnect (or HW520V with voice tube)
- Soft foam ear cushions (fitted, both ears)
- Quick start guide
What else is in the box depends on the version: the Avaya, Cisco, Cisco SPA, Polycom, and Yealink bundles add the certified adapter cable for that phone, so there's nothing more to buy. The universal QD version includes no cable or amplifier — add an M22 amplifier, a direct-connect cable, or a DA-series USB adapter separately. Replacement foam, leatherette, and circumaural leather cushions, an EncorePro headband support pad, and spare voice tubes (for the HW520V) are available separately.
| Type | Binaural (both-ear), over-the-head, on-ear (supra-aural) |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Noise-canceling flexible boom with visual and tactile positioning guides (HW520); clear voice tube, no noise canceling (HW520V) |
| Connector | Poly standard 4-pin Quick Disconnect (QD) |
| Connection | Phone-specific bundles include the certified cable (plug-in, no amplifier); universal QD version needs an M22 amplifier, direct-connect cable, or DA-series USB adapter (sold separately) |
| Audio | Wideband, up to 6,800 Hz (same signal to both ears — not true stereo) |
| Hearing protection | SoundGuard acoustic limiting above 118 dBA; helps meet OSHA / Noise at Work requirements |
| Hearing aid compatibility | Telecoil Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) |
| Build | Laser-welded aircraft-grade aluminum, metal joints; single ribbon-cable headband; replaceable foam, leatherette, or circumaural leather cushions |
| Weight | Approx. 82 g (HW520); approx. 80 g (HW520V) |
| Lineage | Replaces the Plantronics HW261N |
| Part numbers | HW520: 783P6AA#ABA (old 89434-01); HW520V: 783P8AA#ABA (old 89436-01); phone bundles add +HIS / -CIS / -SPA / -PO / -YEA |
| Warranty | 2-year manufacturer warranty, plus HeadsetPlus lifetime technical support |
Software. With a Poly DA-series USB adapter (such as the DA80), the EncorePro HW520 connects to a computer and works with PC softphones and UC platforms — Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex among them. The noise-canceling versions keep your background out of the caller's audio on any of them.
Hardware. The HW520 ends in a Poly standard 4-pin Quick Disconnect. The universal QD version needs an M22 amplifier, a direct-connect bottom cable, or a DA-series USB adapter to reach a phone or PC. The Avaya, Cisco, Cisco SPA, Polycom, and Yealink bundles include the certified cable for that phone and plug straight into its headset port — no amplifier needed.
Platforms. The EncorePro HW520 is built for telephone-intensive work — customer care centers, help desks, telesales, and dispatch — on desk phones and softphones alike, where blocking a noisy room with both ears keeps agents focused through an all-day shift.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the EncorePro HW520 if agents work on a noisy, open-plan floor and need both ears covered to focus and block the room. Choose the HW510 if they need to stay aware of colleagues or a supervisor, since its single earpiece leaves one ear open. The two are otherwise the same EncorePro headset — both ears versus one is the only real difference.
It depends on the version. The phone-specific EncorePro HW520 bundles — Avaya, Cisco, Cisco SPA, Polycom, and Yealink — include the certified cable and plug straight into that phone, no amplifier needed. The universal QD version includes no cable, so it needs a Plantronics M22 amplifier, a direct-connect cable, or a DA-series USB adapter, bought separately.
No. The EncorePro HW520 is binaural, not stereo — both speakers play the same voice signal for focus and clarity on calls, not separate left and right channels for music. It covers both ears, but it isn't a hi-fi or gaming headset.
The microphone. The EncorePro HW520 has a noise-canceling microphone that filters background noise out of your outgoing voice — the right choice for a busy office. The HW520V replaces it with a clear voice tube and does no noise canceling. Both are otherwise the same binaural, over-the-head EncorePro.
Yes. The EncorePro HW520 is telecoil Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC), so it works with hearing aids that have a T-coil setting. If hearing-aid use is essential, confirm your aid supports telecoil coupling before ordering.
Yes. With a Poly DA-series USB adapter such as the DA80, the EncorePro HW520 connects to a PC and works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex. The headset is the same — you're choosing a USB adapter instead of a desk-phone cable.