We buy and test headsets so you get to know which ones to buy

Wireless headsets have been the in thing for mobile phones nowadays.  But Plantronics is doing the same for the office phone setting with their CS60 cordless headset that can be attached to a standard phone to provide wireless conversations for land line calls.

The CS60 can be converted into three styles to see which fits over the ear, the over the head and behind the neck design.

The Plantronics CS60 utilises a Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telephone or DECT system that is used for most domestic wireless phones.  This technology provides a much greater range than the usual Bluetooth technology.  Inside an office setting the CS60 can extend to a range of up to 50 meters.

The Plantronics CS60 comes with a base station that connects with your landline phone and a headset that you can clip over your ears.  The CS60 base station contains the electronics to connect into your desk phone and the transmitter and battery charger for the headset.  This allows the corded headset connected to the CS60.  This makes the CS60 compatible with a slew of different phone systems and ISDN or digital phones.  The headset has a call answer button and a volume controller switch.  The CS60’s replaceable battery is capable of nine hours of talk time.   The battery can recharged quick whenever the headset is placed in the base station.

The Plantronics CS60 comes with the IntelliStand feature that allows you to answer calls just by taking the headset out of its base station, making it easier to answer calls as if you are just picking up a headset.

The Plantronics CS60’s sound quality is quite excellent for both the user and the caller at the other end of the line.  Whenever there is an incoming call the headset will make a bleeping sound to inform you. The bleeping sound is discreet so you won’t be disturbed or annoyed whenever you are talking to someone and you receive a call.

CS60 allows you to answer important calls whenever you are expecting them (even if you aren’t expecting one), this enables you to take calls that otherwise could have gone to the voicemail saving you the time from listening back to each and every one of them.

The Plantronics CS55H is a wireless headset system designed for home use for both with cordless or corded home phones.  Plantronics have combined the clarity of the traditional corded technology with hands-free mobility so you can move around your home away from the unit’s base station of up to 300 feet without experiencing any interruption or missing a call.  The CS55H utilises 1.9GHz of voice dedicated wireless technology that greatly reduces interference, virtually preventing you from experiencing any at all.

Conversations are a much easier task and more professional sounding thanks to the Plantronics CS55H’s noise cancelling microphone technology that filters out unnecessary noises.  Your voice and messages will come through loud and clear to the person whom you are talking to at the other end of the line all the while eliminating distractions such as cars honking, children running around and shouting, or your family’s voices.  The Plantronics CS55H will also work with Avaya telephone systems allowing you to remotely answer and hang-up calls without the use of the HL10 handset lifter.

Plantronics CS55H’s talk time can last up to 10 hours with its standby time lasting to up to 50 hours.  The unit’s range allows you to move away from the base station of up to 300 feet.  The device’s operates on a frequency of 1.9 GHz utilising DECT 6.0 technology.  Plantronics keep the user’s security in mind so the company incorporated a 64-bit digital security encryption so that numbers and contact remain secure within the system.

Plantronics CS55H’s battery type is that of a lithium ion polymer that charges 80 percent in 1.5 hours of charging time and a 100 percent charge in 3 hours time.  This is by far one of the fasters charging cordless headsets in the industry.  The CS55H is compatible with most office phones or PBX based telephones which entails that even if you have multiple phones and is only using one Plantronics CS55H, you can use them on almost all your phones without worrying if it will work or not.

You can wear the CS55H over the ear, over the head, or behind the head that includes a neckband.  The device weighs at 0.92 ounces.  Being one of the world leaders in cordless technology, Plantronics delivers quality headset technology to its consumers in almost all part of the globe.  One of their finest is the CS55H that can be used at the household office or for personal household use.

The PC146 USB multimedia headset is a behind the neck, binaural headset that was designed ideally for gaming, VoIP applications, and internet telephone conversations. The PC 146 is equipped with a USB sound card adaptor which allows you to plug and play and take your sound settings with you everywhere you go and whichever computer you use.

The PC 146 was engineered for a comfortable neckband design with its adjustable, bendable, easy to pivot, microphone.  The mic also includes a noise cancelling technology that greatly improves the quality of your communication, and also allows you more comfort and flexibility.  The noise-cancelling microphone provides for high quality speech clarity and voice recognition by filtering out the noise around your environment even though you are speaking in a lowly voice and the background around you is noisy.

In line volume control and microphone mute switch lets you adjust the volume strength and also carry out side conversations without the other person on the other end of the line hearing what the person you are beside with is saying.

The Sennheiser PC 146 can be used with your CD, DVD, or MP3 players as well as for IP-based communications through a detachable USB adapter.  The PC 146’s single-sided cable keeps your chin and neck free from annoyance and clutter allowing you to concentrate on your gaming or the work ahead.  The PC 146 includes a cable wind-up clip to keep the excess cable wires in between the headphones and the adapter out of the way for less clutter.

The Sennheiser PC 146 offers a generous cable length of 10 feet and its connector plug is USB based.  In order to use the headset application you need to have Windows 98 SE and above or Mac OS 10.3.9 or higher.  The headphones operate on a frequency of 40 to 20,000 Hz and runs on 32 ohms.  The sound pressure level released by the headset is up to a maximum of 118dB.  What all these means is that you can experience more sound quality and clarity while keeping your ears safe from the sound’s pressure.

The device’s microphone operates on a frequency response of 80 – 15,000 Hz and its pick up pattern is uni-directional.  The PC 146’s sensitivity is close to -38 dB and its impedance: 2 k ohms.  This translates to better voice quality on your end so that the person on the other end of the line can hear you with great quality and they won’t be able to pick up on the background noise that is around you.

A lot of computer users nowadays want a head-mike so what is in order is a headset.  Headphones with a microphone in one side of the earpiece are the standard equipment not only for computer gamers, but also for tech savvy computer users.

Sennheiser’s PC 135 USB headset has got the features that justify its price including, as the name suggests, USB connectivity.  The PC 135 is not a USB-only product; it is actually a plain analogue headset and microphone plugged into a USB adapter module with a standard 1/8 inch connectors.

The PC 135 is an open-back design; this design allows in more ambient noise, but also makes it easier to get relatively long throw out for the drivers.  The foam ear pads pop over the whole driver assembly.  The microphone boom can be rotated in almost 360 degree fashion and is also bendable which enables you to curl it close to your lips or bend it out.

The Sennheiser PC 135’s earpieces are designed as flat, hard plastic covered with a thin layer of foam.  This makes the headset truly comfortable.  The PC 135’s headband does not clamp unto the ehad tightly which is the common problem for most headsets.  The unit is adjustable that can fits almost all head sizes.  The earpieces can be pivoted so that it can sit flat on your ears.  The headset is lightweight preventing you from suffering neck strain, the headset weighs in at 3.2 ounces.

Even though the Sennheiser PC 135 is affordable compared to most Sennheiser units, the PC 135 does a very good job in its sound quality.  The unit has solid bass, smooth mid range, and absolutelylittle to n interference or static sounds at all.

The Sennheiser PC 134’s sound is exceptionally good for its size and price.  The microphone performs pretty well too.  Like most Sennheiser units it has noise cancelling technology.  From our mouth to whatever the device picks up is filtered from what the other person on the other end of the line hears.  It allows for great recording as well even if you are quietly speaking and there is a lot of background noise.

If you are looking for a good-sounding and comfortable headset that you can plug into your regular headphone sockets and computers without soundcards, the Sennheiser PC 135 USB headset ets the job done in excellent fashion, all that for a very affordable price that is light on the wallet.

The Sennheiser PC 131 headset that can be used for everyday needs such as for online gaming, music listening at your PC and for Skype conversations as the PC 131 headset is SKYPE certified.

The Sennheiser PC 131 headset includes two 3.5mm jacks, one for the microphone and one for the headphones.  The Sennheiser PC 131 can be used with your PC or laptop but also with music players such as CD players, iPods and other music playing gadgets.  You may also use this on handheld game consoles such as the Playstation Portable system.  The PC 131’s microphone is lightweight and is unnoticeable when not in use and upright.

The P 131’1 headset includes an in-line volume control and mute switch on the 3m cable.  This is quite useful whenever you are switching in between different applications which require different sound levels.

If you are someone whose appliances and stuff gets dropped, sat at, or kicked unintentionally, you don’t need to worry about the Sennheiser PC 131 headset as this can survive everything with little to no scratch at all.  The PC 131 is a well built unit that was intended to last.

The Sennheisser PC 131’s sound quality is very exceptional.  The sound has plenty and solid bass sounds, the unit’s sound detail and clarity can be at par with most headsets dedicated to music listening.   The Noise-Cancelling feature of the Sennheiser PC 131’s microphone delivers clear and solid sound.

The PC 131 is very lightweight and comfortable on the ears and around the head, even for prolonged periods of usage.  The headsets fit very well for any head size and have plenty of range for expansion.

The design is very functional and simple, with the microphone boom that is very easy to position and flips up with the headband when not in use.  There is a thin layer of foam in between your ears and the hard plastic, but the earphones spin that allows for a comfortable fit.

Sennheiser is one of the world’s best providers of quality products in the areas of electro acoustics, sound recording, transmission and reproduction, and manufacturing.  With more than 60 years under its belt, Sennhesier has built a very excellent reputation for itself.  This reputation is evident in the PC 131, engineered for simplicity in design and quality sound reproduction.  The Senheisser PC 131 is truly a headset for all your gaming, and music enjoyment needs.

If you are looking for that one solution to all your hands free communication needs, what you need is the Plantronisc M10 Universal Modular Adapter.  The Plantronics M10 works well with your choice of Plantronics headsets to deliver the specific level of comfort and audio performance that allows for a great hands-free convenience experienced for every type of user and every type of application.  The M10 is designed to be virtually compatible with almost all types of both single and multi line telephones.  You just need to identify your handset’s type (G type, R type, K type, or Euro type).  The back end portion of the device has a slide switch that will allow you to easily interchange the setting whenever you are changing the type of handset that you are using currently.

The device itself is ergonomically designed with its volume, headset or handset select and mute controls; Quick Disconnect button between the adapter and the headset allows you to move away from your phone without the need of removing your headset or disconnecting the call, and also a generous lightweight 10 foot coil cord that lets you move about freely at your desk without the worry of getting short in the cord limiting your movements..

The Plantronics M10 is ideal for professionals most especially Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP user.  The M10 modular adapter delivers a precise level of listening convenience, classy hearing protection, and superb audio performance.  The Plantronics M10 includes a clear line audio technology that will help in to improving call quality in almost any environment even for wideband VoIP usage.

The M10 utilises echo management technology for clearer calls without the interruption of hearing your own voice while on a call.  The device protects your conversation from loud noises and reduces background noise in your surrounding so you don’t have to worry about the person on the other end of the line hearing the noise behind you.

The device allows for easier and more convenient adjustment for incoming and outgoing call volume.  Then there is the one button selection from headset to handset for ergonomic use and design.  The M10 supports more natural sounding speech on wideband networks to allow for better voice quality.  Since it is compatible with most types of handsets, it can be used for most business and contact center phones.

Plantronics is the world leader in quality devices for sound production and headset/handset communications.  The M10 is a testament to the quality and high calibre products that Plantronics manufacture.  If you are in need of a universal modular adapter for virtually any types of handsets, then the M10 is just what you need.

The Plantronics CS55 the successor of the original CS60 model unit.  The CS55 operates at a 1.9GHz voice frequency.  The CS55 is shorter is the second generation of completely wireless headsets manufactured by Plantronics.  The original unit, the Plantronics CS50, operated at the 900MHz frequency.  The CS50’s base station is shorter than the CS50 and it is also used as a charging station when not in use.

The Plantronics CS55 have four microphone settings (A, B, C, and D) and four speaker settings (1 to 4) that will allow for greater range and ability to better fine tune the unit to your specific phone and personal volume needs.

The CS50 base station also has an up and down buttons for adjusting the microphone volume.  Using the microphone A-D allows you to let the person you are talking to hear you a lot better and using the up and down button allows you to fine tune you voice volume.

The Plantronics CS55’s range is 200 to 300 feet.  The unit’s talk time allows 8 to 10 hours with its battery life lasting 1 to 2 years.  To ensure the most comfortable fit Plantronics has includes multiple wearing attachments that can be adjusted to suit everyone’s comfort level.   The headband is the more traditional version donned with small leather ear cushion that can fit your ears.  This works seals off your ear and blocks out background noise in noisy environments.

The CS55 includes four different ear pieces which you can choose from to allow you to comfortably wear the unit over the ear without using the headband.

For compatibility, the Plantronics CS55 has a dial on the side of the base station numbering from 1 to 4.  The default setting 1 works on most phones, and if you see that it does not work with the default setting, you can try adjusting the from 2 to 4 to see which one will work with your existing phone.  The CS55’s 1.9GHz frequency allows for lesser interference and static buzzing sound even if you are close to the base station of the headset.  It’s predecessor the CS50 faces this problem whenever you are near the base station.

The Plantronics CS55 is a very good office or call center wireless headset.  You don’t have to do a lot of resetting, the unit includes a flexible and even bendable ear pieces and operates on a voice only frequency.  All these are evidence of Plantronics Inc.’s superb wireless and headset technology.

The Jabra VBT 2050 is a Bluetooth technology ear bud headset designed specifically for hands free mobile phone conversations and calling.  The unit includes four buttons for answering and ending calls, adjusting the volume and muting the call or conversation.  The VBT 2050 also includes two adjustable ear hooks, an internal rechargeable battery, and a dedicated on and off switch.  The unit can be worn with or without the ear hook, although the ear hook comes highly recommended for users who need a secure fit and for maximum comfort.

The Jabra VBT 2050’s design is very impressive with its simple and unpretentious layout.  The unit has a simple colour combination of silver and black and is not too brash looking.  This is what is known as the Jabra Discreet Light feature.  The Jabra VBT 2050 has a four button combination, volume up, down with the call and end call in a single cluster.  The volume keys is front facing and the power and the pairing is found on the side of the headset.  Since the VBT 2050’s volume keys are facing outwards, it makes it very easy to make adjustments to the level of volume for the calls while wearing the VBT 2050.

The Jabra VBT 2050 is designed so that it can be worn without an ear hook as the in-ear speaker is large enough to hold inside the ear canal.

The Jabra VBT2 050 includes functions such as auto-pairing, last number redial, and voice-activated dialling features.  Unlike the unit’s predecessor, BT3010, the VBT 2050 does not support three way party calls but can handle call waiting.

The Jabra VBT 2050’s call quality is average and can be used to its optimum quality when indoors such as at home and at the office.  When outside, the headset performs quite averagely in loud and noisy environments.

The VBT 2050 can be used in up to eight hours of talk time and up to 240 hours of stand-by time.  More importantly is how the unit looks and how it performs.  The Jabra VBT 2050 is easy to set up with most mobile phones.  The quality of the audio during calls has been average to good.  At best the call quality was only slightly muffled with lower volumes.  The disturbances and static sounds can only be experienced for short periods of time and are mostly caused by the reception.

You can stay connected wherever you work with the Calisto Pro 73680 Series hands-free home office phone system. It is integrated with a multi-function Bluetooth headset offering professional sound for your home office as answer your landline remotely, Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP, and even mobile phone calls.  The Calisto Pro 73680 is integrated with a compact cordless phone that stands as a built-in speakerphone, and due to its DECT 6.0 technology is virtually disturbance free.  You are also given the ability to download Outlook contact numbers.

The unit supports operating systems such as Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
Its newest reiteration allows Mac users enjoy the unit with Skype with its software for Mac installer.  This also allows Mac users to download the Apple Address Book contacts.

The Calisto Pro 73680 allows you to seamlessly switch between landline, VoIP and mobile calls.  The unit utilises Wi-Fi friendly DECT 6.0 technology for superb call quality.  The 73680’s compact cordless phone works with a headset or stand alone, it has a range of up to 33 feet range from the base station.  You are allowed to download 200 contacts with 3 numbers per name.

The Pro 73680 has a flip-up waist clip for On-The-Go dialling and Caller ID viewing.  The unit’s high-quality speakerphone works even when docked.

Using Bluetooth technology, you can connect the Calisto Pro 73680 headset to your mobile phone’s Bluetooth in order to make and receive calls while on the road.  The Calisto’s earpiece is ergonomically designed for custom fit and maximum comfort even for prolonged usage.  Calisto Pro 73680’s battery life allows for up to 8 hours of continuous and interrupted talk time and up to 120 hours of standby time.  The base station is a one stop charging station that maximizes your desk space and reduces clutter.

The unit is compatible with most VoIP soft phones including Skype, Yahoo!, and enterprise soft phones such as Cisco and Avaya and much more.

The Calisto Pro 73680’s calling features include: Caller ID; Call waiting; Flash; 3-Way Conferencing; Voicemail indicator; Mute; Redial; Volume control; Selectable ring tones; and Speed dial.

For connection it utilises PSTN for landline based phones and USB for VoIP or PC.  Calisto Pro 73680 utilises Plantronics’ world class sound with noise-cancelling microphone and extendable mouthpiece for better clarity of speech on your end and on the receiver’s end.

The Sennheiser PC 166 was designed with the help of professional PC gamers, and was built with the PC gamers in mind as well.  The PC 166 headset is one of the few most powerful open back gaming headset available in the industry.  The powerful noise cancelling microphone makes sure your conversations and comments come through to the other end of the line or receiver as loud and as clear as possible.  The Sennheiser PC 166’s well padded earphones and head-strap provide maximum comfort for prolonged and extended gaming sessions with your friends or family.

Sennheiser’s reputation for excellent sound quality is very much evident with the PC 166 headset.  The drivers have a frequency response of 15Hz to 23KHz to ensure that you can hear every sound detail whether it is big or small that the game designers have put in because you want to be able to distinguish between the sound effects and a gamer opponent who is creeping up your back waiting to take you out.

The Sennheiser PC 166’s in line volume controls and microphone mute switch offer the much needed convenience that any gamer could possibly ask for.  The unit’s analogue to USB adapter has a sound chip built in so that the PC 166 will save your settings even when you switch computers.  Also, the Sennheiser PC 166 is Skype certified.

PC 166 is very light, comfortable even in prolonged usage, and has excellent sound and microphone quality.  If you are a gamer who needs quality sound for your games and at the same time needs to be able to speak to other gamers and convey your messages loud and clear without any undue interruption, the Sennheiser PC 166 is just what you need.

The Sennheiser brand is a very familiar name worldwide for quality sound reproduction through their speaker and headset technology.  The PC 166 is evidence of this marvellous engineering and technology.  Since the unit is lighter and smaller compared to the HD500 (which is also used for gaming), using the Sennheiser PC 166 provides a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience to gamers.  Not to mention the headset’s microphone performs really well.  With its in-built noise and background cancelling feature, you will be able to send out your voice messages to your game teammates with no worry of sending the wrong message across, or not sending any at all.