Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 6 x 6.5 inches ; 5.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0027FFZEW
• Item model number: Voyager PRO
  

By : Plantronics
Price : $79.95
You Save : $20.04 (20%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Recipient of 2010 iF Product Design Award The Plantronics Voyager PRO is a recipient of the 2010 iF Product Design Award for excellence in design quality, workmanship, choice of materials, degree of innovation, environmental friendliness, functionality, ergonomics, visualization of use, safety, brand value, branding and universal design. The award remains valid for the entire product lifecycle.Featuring the next-generation AudioIQ2 digital signal processing (DSP) technology, the Plantronics Voyager PRO delivers superior noise and wind cancellation as well as rich, natural inbound audio so you can hear and be heard clearly in virtually any noisy environment--from windy sidewalks to hectic airports. This comfortable, behind-the-ear headset features two noise-canceling mics on a boom, AudioIQ2 technology with its adaptive 20-band equalizer, and three layers of WindSmart technology. The pivoting mic boom lets you wear the headset on either ear and optimize the position of the two microphones. An automatic voice prompt alerts you to battery and mute status. It provides up to six hours of continuous talk time and five days of standby from single charge.


AudioIQ2 and WindSmart TechnologiesWhile other headsets deliver noise cancellation at the expense of overall audio quality, Voyager PRO's AudioIQ2 technology and unique adjustable dual-microphone boom provide the advantage of capturing your voice close to your mouth so the AudioIQ2 technology can more effectively remove ambient noise, while still maintaining the natural sound of your voice.
With its finely tuned adaptive 20-band equalizer, AudioIQ2 makes you sound like you're in the same room as your caller, not miles apart. To achieve this, AudioIQ2 makes use of two microphones--one that's focused on your speech and the other that picks out distracting background sounds, such as road hum and construction noise. It then compares the data from the two mics and eliminates the unwanted sounds, leaving your unique voice free to be heard clearly and naturally, as it was meant to be.
The dual microphones are also stacked with three layers of WindSmart technology. Stainless steel mic screens, acoustic fabrics, and an electronic filter in the mic circuitry--all aggressively block intrusive wind noise. The adjustable boom, which allows you to wear the headset on either ear, positions the mics where they can best capture your voice, further enhancing the sound quality.

See a schematic of the Voyager PRO's controls.

The Voyager PRO features a soft silicone ear tip that's ideal for acoustics and an ergonomic fit; a durable, flexible rubber that's suitable for continuous skin contact; and even weight distribution across multiple touch points to help avoid fatigue.
Engineered for Comfort and Your Mobile LifestyleThe Plantronics Voyager PRO endured 24 rounds of human factors testing to perfect the design for all-day wearing, comfort, and stability. The behind-the-ear wearing style is perfectly counterbalanced so weight is distributed evenly, rendering it virtually weightless when worn. The Voyager PRO ear tip is made of soft silicone for an optimal fit and features a "sound channel" that helps distribute audio evenly to the ear.
Designed with the mobile professional-user in mind, it includes easily accessible power, volume and mute buttons and features voice prompts for low battery warnings and mute status. Finally, the lithium polymer battery provides up to six hours of continuous talk time and five days of stand-by time, exceeding the talk and standby times of most mobile phones.
Specifications

• Bluetooth technology: Version 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• Bluetooth profiles: Hands-free v1.5 (HFP), Headset v1.1 (HSP)
• Range: Up to 33 feet (10 meters)
• QuickPair technology: Supports initial pairing with Bluetooth phones
• Multipoint technology: Supports an active connection with two Bluetooth devices
• Headset controls: Power on/off; volume up/down; call answer/end; mute function; quick battery check; call reject; last number redial; voice-activated dialing (if supported by phone and phone provider)
• Voice prompts: Mute status on/off; battery status for low/recharge battery
• Battery type: 3.5V Li-ion polymer rechargeable
• Charge connectors: Micro USB connector and AC/DC 100â€"240V
• Charge time: 1.5 hours for full charge
• Weight: 17.5 grams (0.62 ounces)
• Talk time: Up to 6 hours
• Standby time: Up to 120 hours (5 days)
• Warranty: 1 year limited warranty

What's in the BoxVoyager PRO Bluetooth headset, AC wall/travel charger, three soft gel eartips, two foam eartip covers, and a printed user manual
Featuring the next-generation AudioIQ digital signal processing (DSP) technology, the Plantronics Voyager Pro delivers superior noise and wind cancellation as well as rich, natural inbound audio so you can hear and be heard clearly in virtually any noisy environment--from windy sidewalks to hectic airports. This comfortable, behind-the-ear headset features two noise-canceling mics on a boom, AudioIQ technology with its adaptive 20-band equalizer, and three layers of WindSmart technology. The pivoting mic boom lets you wear headset on either ear and optimize the position of the two microphones, and automatic voice prompts alert you to battery and mute status. It provides up to six hours of continuous talk time and five days of standby from single charge.

 

Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset

 

Technical Details

• Dual-microphone AudioIQ2 noise-cancelling technology retains natural sound of your voice
• Pivoting mic boom lets you wear headset on either ear
• Includes micro USB charging connection
• Three layers of WindSmart technology - stainless steel mic screens, acoustic fabrics, and an electronic filter help block intrusive wind noise
• What's in the Box: headset, AC wall/travel charger, three soft gel eartips, two foam eartip covers, and a printed user manual

Customer Reviews

Dual mic technology is the newest breakthrough in cutting edge headsets and quality audio products. This Plantronics Voyager Pro is one of the best I've tried but does have minor flaws.
I keep giving these dual mic products 5 stars because they keep impressing me with their ability to improve audio quality. I gave this one 4 due to a minor flaw that's a bit annoying for those of us with facial hair - the wind screen on the boom mic catches my beard and rips out hairs at least a few times a day! Ouch I've since noticed another reviewer mention the same problem so it's not just me. If not for that, this headset probably would've gotten 5 stars. But I can't deny the fact that using this headset is literally painful!
The Voyager Pro indeed has superior audio quality. I tend to be a bit soft spoken and I also work in an office with barking dogs, so being heard on the phone can be challenging. No, this headset doesn't magically remove the barking dogs keeping only my voice for the caller to hear. But a friend that I speak to regularly often complains about the shrill barking in the background. It seems that headsets are so good at picking up audio that the dogs are amplified compared to what I hear live in person. Anyway, this Voyager Pro does a good job of suppressing the barking and blunting the edge to the point where my friend can hear me loud and clear while the barking dogs are more tolerable on his end. That's the advantage of dual mics.
Dual mic technology is really popping up everywhere. The results speak for themselves, literally Every dual mic product I have is superior to every product I've tried with only 1 mic. The comparison isn't even close. I've made the analogy before but it's worth repeating -- dual mics are similar to the mechanics behind having two eyes and two ears -- dual mics offer more dynamic range, depth, clarity and have the ability to drastically improve call quality in headsets. I'll never go back to single mic products again. The difference is that significant.
The boom mic on the Voyager Pro positions the dual mics closer to my mouth and callers say they can hear me loud and clear, as if I were in the next room. And call volume on my end is equally loud and clear. I credit that to Plantronics established reputation with headsets.
Buttons are responsive and the unit itself feels sturdy. I appreciated getting extra ear gels and foams too. Always helpful when trying to get a good fit. And the headset itself does fit comfortably. The boom makes it a bit larger than others but that's to be expected, but it's still light and I really don't notice I'm wearing it.
My only other quibble is that my phone supports voice activated calling but there's no way to access it from the headset controls. With other headsets, pressing the call answer button activates voice commands on my phone, but with the Voyager Pro, all I can do is answer a call or redial the last number dialed. A bit of a let down for a product with the "Pro" moniker. But I can't complain too much since voice dialing is problematic in itself. But still, it can be useful when driving and I'd rather have the option available to me.
UPDATE -- voice dialing does work. you just have to hold the call button a while for it to kick in.
The Voyager Pro is an excellent headset but I still have to give the edge to the BlueAnt V1 as my favorite dual mic headset. I like that the BlueAnt is voice controlled and also talks to you, giving verbal confirmation of everything that's happening, from connection status to incoming calls and the works. By contrast, this Voyager Pro only confirms battery and mute status. But for those who don't want more sensory overload in their lives, the BlueAnt might be overkill. This Voyager Pro is on par, if not slightly better at noise cancellation and the boom is a plus since it gets the mics closer to my mouth.
So if you don't have a beard, or scruffy 5 o'clock shadow for that matter, then you'll be happy with the Plantronics Voyager Pro. If not, you might consider shaving or the BlueAnt V1 instead. Otherwise, be prepared to lose a few facial follicles.

UPDATE 2: My replacement Voyager Pro broke right at 6 months. This time, instead of the rubber wire sleeve separating, the plastic microphone swivel broke. As before, Plantronics sent me a no-cost replacement.
I would like to address some of the feedback I have gotten on this review.
First, indicators. Yes, the Pro does indicate a charging state, and the light goes off when it is finished. I was used to the 510, which did the opposite.
Secondly, comfort. Everyone has different ears, and mine fit the 510 better than the Pro. I know this because I replaced my old 510 with a new 510, which I use with my laptop when working alone at home. Both the Pro and 510 are capable of connecting to two devices simultaneously, but each always tries to connect to the last thing it connected to, and I want a headset that always connects to my phone when I turn it on, so I grabbed a 510 for some ridiculously low price, and occasionally wear both at the same time. The 510, even straight out of the box, fits my ear better. Perhaps that is why my Pro keeps breaking.
UPDATE: As happened to another reviewer, mine broke in under 6 months. The flexible rubber bit cracked and eventually separated completely, right at the top of the ear, exposing the wires. Having long ago tossed the receipt, I thought I was out $100. But I called Plantronics, and they told me to mail it in for a replacement. A week after I dropped it in a first class mail envelope, a full retail Plantronics Pro box arrived at my door. I am hoping this one lasts longer than the last.
My Voyager 510 (v1) lived a long life. It was comfortable enough to wear for 8 hours at a time, which I often do while shooting pool. It worked very well with my Motorola RAZR (v1) for four years. It had good range, great battery life, and two annoyances. First, it had an extremely bright LED talk indicator that could not be turned off. This was changed on later versions of the 510. The second problem was wind/ambient noise. The 510 seemed to amplify everything, so unless I was in a quiet, windless environment when I used it, it was difficult for people to hear me.
I was very excited when I read the reviews of the upcoming Voyager Pro, and bought one the day it went on sale (sorry, Amazon, but Best Buy had exclusive marketing that month). The Pro looked like a better version of the 510, and in a couple of ways, it is. I like the audio cues that tell me the battery is low. The noise reduction is very, very good, although this seems to be at a slight cost to the fidelity of calls not placed in a noisy environment.
Nevertheless, this headset has flaws I cannot ignore. First, my RAZR refused to stay connected to it. I assume this was because the Pro uses Bluetooth 2.1, while my ancient RAZR was stuck at 1.2. The RAZR would complain of weak Bluetooth signal, then drop the headset. This immediately ended the call unless the phone was open, which rather negates the point of a headset. I bought an iPhone, which solved the connection problem altogether.
The second thing I note is that I can never tell when the Pro is finished charging. The 510 would let me know by lighting up the room with the brightest LED I have ever seen. The Pro gives no indication whatsoever.
Third, I have noticed, as have other reviewers, that the microphone catches in my beard. It doesn't actually pull hairs out, but it does tug a few times a day. It is a very minor annoyance.
None of these are reasons for me to give this headset anything other than 5 stars. But comfort is another matter. When I saw the design, I figured this headset would be as comfortable as the 510. For me, it is not. I can still wear it for a few hours, but my true test is a day-long session shooting pool, which involves a lot of moving around and changing head positions, not to mention challenging the battery life. My ear simply hurts if I wear the Pro all day. I tried switching the eartips, but none give me the comfort I had with the old 510.
That brings me to one final annoyance. I have tried wearing the Pro with bare eartips, and found it immediately uncomfortable. The foam covers are nearly impossible to get on, and very easy to pull off. Even the act of removing the headset from my ear can pull the foam cover off, unless I am careful. This was never a problem with the 510.
Pros: Great noise reduction, can pair with 2 devices at once, nice audio cues and battery life
Cons: Less comfortable than the Voyager 510, no full-charge indicator, poor eartip covers, does not play nicely with beards