Plantronics PW540 Polaris Convertible 3-in-1 Noise-Canceling Headset (HW540 + A10)
The PW540 fits every agent, no amplifier
Outfit a mixed team off one phone system and you hit two recurring costs: agents who want different wearing styles, and an amplifier at every seat. The Plantronics PW540 Polaris headset removes both. It's a convertible 3-in-1 — over-the-head, over-the-ear, or behind-the-neck — that plugs straight into a headset-ready phone, with no separate amplifier per desk.
It's the EncorePro HW540 convertible noise-canceling headset packaged with the Plantronics A10 direct-connect cable — the most flexible member of the Polaris family, alongside the mono PW510, binaural PW520, and earhook PW530.
Three wearing styles, one part number
The PW540 is a 3-in-1 convertible: the same headset wears over the head, over the ear, or behind the neck, using the parts in the box. It's a mono headset, so one ear stays open in every style; only the way it holds on your head changes. An agent picks the style that's comfortable and can switch any day they like.
One SKU for the whole floor, no amp at any seat
The PW540 collapses two procurement headaches into one order. You don't survey agents on headband versus earhook — every unit does all three — and you don't buy an amplifier for every desk, because the A10 cable connects straight to a headset-ready phone. For a mixed team on a direct-connect phone system, that's one part number that suits everyone and removes a line item from every seat. It's the reason the convertible-plus-direct-connect combination fits a varied call center better than almost anything else in the wired line.Direct-connect: no amplifier per seat
The PW540 includes the A10 direct-connect cable, which plugs the headset straight into a headset-ready phone's built-in amplifier — so there's no separate M22 amplifier to buy. "Polaris" is the legacy name for this direct-connect approach; the old P-series Polaris headsets were retired in 2008, and the HW540-plus-A10 combination is the modern equivalent.
The HW540 inside
The headset itself is the EncorePro HW540: a convertible, mono, noise-canceling headset with a flexible boom and visual and tactile positioning guides, wideband audio, and SoundGuard acoustic limiting below 118 dBA to help meet OSHA and Noise at Work requirements. Each style is properly designed — an adjustable headband with a soft temple pad, a bendable over-the-ear hook, and a behind-the-neck band — and the same soft cushion covers the speaker whichever way it's worn. It's built on laser-welded aircraft-grade aluminum with metal joints, weighs 22 to 32 grams depending on style, and carries a 2-year warranty.
The PW540 is the one you buy when you don't want to guess how your agents like to wear a headset, and your phones already have built-in amplifiers — a single part number that does all three styles and plugs in direct, with no amp at any desk. Confirm your phone takes a direct-connect cable, and it's plug-and-go across a mixed floor, backed by HeadsetPlus's lifetime support.
- Plantronics EncorePro HW540 convertible noise-canceling headset with Quick Disconnect
- Over-the-head headband (with temple pad), over-the-ear ear hook, and behind-the-neck band
- Plantronics A10 direct-connect cable (QD to modular plug)
- Soft ear cushion (fitted) and quick start guide
Together these connect directly to a headset-ready phone's built-in amplified port — no external amplifier or additional cable is required.
| Type | Monaural (single-ear), convertible — over-the-head, over-the-ear, or behind-the-neck |
|---|---|
| Wearing-style pieces | Adjustable headband with temple pad, bendable over-the-ear hook, and neckband — all included |
| Microphone | Noise-canceling flexible boom with visual and tactile positioning guides |
| Connector | Poly Quick Disconnect (QD) |
| Included cable | Plantronics A10 direct-connect cable (66268-02) — the modern replacement for the Polaris cable |
| Connection | Plugs directly into a headset-ready phone's built-in amplified port — no external amplifier required |
| Works with | Headset-ready phones with built-in amplifiers — Nortel (Norstar/Meridian), NEC, Toshiba, Mitel, Aastra, 3COM, Comdial, ESI, SciTec, and others. Not compatible with Cisco or phones needing HIS / HIC / U10 cables |
| Audio | Wideband; SoundGuard acoustic limiting below 118 dBA |
| Weight | 22–32 g, depending on wearing style |
| Build | Laser-welded aircraft-grade aluminum, metal joints |
| Lineage | "Polaris" direct-connect solution — the modern replacement for the discontinued P-series Polaris headsets; built on the EncorePro HW540 |
| Other styles | PW510 (mono over-the-head), PW520 (binaural over-the-head), PW530 (over-the-ear) |
| Part numbers | 783P0AA + A10 (A10 cable = 66268-02) |
| Warranty | 2-year manufacturer warranty, plus HeadsetPlus lifetime technical support |
Phones. The PW540 connects to headset-ready phones that have a built-in amplifier — business systems from Nortel, NEC, Toshiba, Mitel, Aastra, 3COM, Comdial, ESI, and SciTec, among others. It is not for Cisco phones or for systems that require a specific HIS, HIC, or U10 cable. Confirm your exact model before ordering.
Connection. The included A10 direct-connect cable plugs the HW540's Quick Disconnect into the phone's modular headset port, with no external amplifier. Direct connection puts volume and mute control on the phone rather than on the cord — if you want inline controls, an amplifier is the better route.
Alternative. If your phone has no dedicated headset port, the PW540 won't work on its own — you'll want the HW540 with an M22 amplifier instead, which adds universal compatibility plus inline volume and mute. For fixed single styles, see the PW510, PW520, and PW530.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Plantronics PW540 is the EncorePro HW540 convertible noise-canceling headset bundled with the A10 direct-connect cable. It offers three wearing styles in one and plugs straight into a headset-ready phone's built-in amplified port, so no separate amplifier is needed. "Polaris" refers to that direct-connect method — it's the modern replacement for Plantronics' discontinued P-series Polaris headsets.
The PW540 is a 3-in-1 convertible with three wearing styles included: over-the-head (adjustable headband with temple pad), over-the-ear (bendable ear hook), and behind-the-neck (neckband). It's a mono headset, so one ear stays open in every style, and an agent can switch styles whenever they like.
No. The PW540 is the direct-connect version — it includes the A10 cable and plugs into a phone that already has a built-in amplified headset port, so no external amplifier is required. If your phone has no headset port, you'd need the HW540 with an M22 amplifier instead.
The PW540 works with headset-ready phones that have a built-in amplifier — Nortel (Norstar and Meridian), NEC, Toshiba, Mitel, Aastra, 3COM, Comdial, ESI, and SciTec, among others. It does not work with Cisco phones or systems that require a specific HIS, HIC, or U10 cable. Confirm your phone model first, since the wrong cable is the most common cause of returns.
All four are the same Polaris direct-connect solution with the A10 cable — only the wearing style differs. The PW540 is the convertible 3-in-1, doing all three styles in one headset, while the PW510 is mono over-the-head, the PW520 is binaural over-the-head, and the PW530 is over-the-ear. Choose the PW540 when fit preferences vary across your team.