Articles

INTRODUCTION

   Sometimes i recall of a period when you could really have a hard time finding a nice Bluetooth earpiece to go with your brand new Bluetooth compatible cellular phone and so your only real choices were pretty much units manufactured by the same company as your phone. Fast forward almost a decade later and we now see countless Bluetooth earpieces from a large variety of companies ranging from small and young to large ones already counting many successful years in the market. Today's review is focused on such a product manufactured by Plantronics, one of the largest companies in the field and listens to the name Voyager PRO HD Bluetooth Headset.

   From the day two airline pilots working in a garage set out to invent a new kind of aviation headset until today, we have considered breakthroughs in audio technology as our daily business. We pioneered the lightweight headset, the mobile headset, noise-canceling technology and the personal speakerphone, always driven by a single obsession: remove the barriers to simply smarter communications. The result? Our products are used by everyone from pilots, astronauts, and 911 emergency workers to 100% of the Fortune 100. From friends conversing across the globe, to mobile professionals doing business on the road, to contact centers and executive offices, Plantronics is the choice for everyone united by digital technology and the human need to communicate. Plantronics is a publicly held company (NYSE: PLT) headquartered in Santa Cruz, California with offices in 20 countries, including major facilities in China, England, Mexico, and the Netherlands. Our products are sold and supported through a worldwide network of Plantronics partners, including resellers, systems integrators, retailers and mobile carriers. And a half a century later, we are striving every day to deliver simply smarter communications with innovative design and technology.

   I don't really think that Plantronics really needs any introductions since they've been one of the top manufacturers in the field of Bluetooth compatible headsets for many years now something which I’m sure you all know, or at least most of you. Of course this is based on facts since i have previously tested quite a few of their products without issues, or at least not serious ones. Today’s review is also somewhat special mainly because Plantronics actually listened to all of their clients and took the Voyager PRO+ back to the drawing board in order to further enhance it so i was quite curious from the start to see just how much better the latest PRO HD version was from the previous PRO+ version (if at all) i had in my hands last year.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Plantronics used the same cylindrical clear plastic clamshell box as with their other products to ship the latest PRO HD Bluetooth Headset.

At the left side right beneath a warning message (which is quite true) you can see the reported talk time, standby time, effective range and weight of the headset.

Moving at the rear we see the features of the unit written in 10 languages right next to the list of specifications and bundle contents.

The bundle includes the PRO HD Bluetooth Headset, get started guide, 4 eartips, safety information, USB to mini USB cable, car charger and the AC wall charger with the usual EU and UK tips.

THE VOYAGER PRO HD

Plantronics bundles 4 different size eartips with the Voyager PRO HD, two made out of fabric and two gel ones so you can pick what's best for you. Personally i stayed with the default one but that's just me.

Just like the Voyager PRO+ and the PRO before that the PRO HD follows the same exact design, unless of course you know what to look for.

One of the main differences the models have between them is that this time over the Plantronics logo is engraved on a polished silver surface at the rear of the headset.

Another difference between the models is this cayenne red stripe on the interior of the microphone.

Perhaps the easiest to spot difference is the HD mark at the joint between the microphone and the rest of the headset.

The Voyager PRO HD sports the same long curved microphone which may not appeal to everyone in terms of design but it really works as advertised.

The answer/end call button is yet another similarity with the previous headsets (although a tad different) and is placed right on the main joint.

The dual microphone features both noise cancelation and Windsmart technologies for the best possible audio delivery.

Conveniently placed at the top are the audio up/down (increase/decrease) buttons.

Both the power button and the activity LED are placed at the lower end of the rear.

The charging port is placed at the bottom of the headset (a cover would be nice to see).

One of the great things about the Voyager PRO HD (and the others before that) is that you can switch ears easily just by swiveling the microphone.

The activity led turns red during charge, purple when the discovery mode is running and blue when it's turned on.

One strange thing i came across is that when discovering the unit it’s reported as PLT_VoyagerPRO and not Voyager PRO HD.

CONCLUSION

   Although both the previous Voyager PRO+ and the PRO HD are identical in design the same does not apply for their performance since i both the received and transmitted audio quality of the Voyager PRO HD is perhaps the best I’ve ever heard from a Bluetooth headset, at least from an single earpiece one (not stereo). Certainly i can't claim to have the best and most accurate/sensitive ears in the world but i use Bluetooth headsets on a daily basis mainly for testing purposes so i can tell when a specific unit is better or worse than another one. Audio quality aside the Voyager PRO HD features a smart sensor which unless you are wearing the headset it sends all calls to your cellular phone instead. This is a very useful feature but at first it had me puzzled since i would answer the call from the headset without wearing it and it would transfer to the phone itself. Regarding the actual range and battery life of the Voyager PRO HD i only have good news since the real talk time of the unit actually surpasses the 5 hours mark (almost by 20 minutes) when used with the audio turned all the way up, something that not many headsets in the market are capable of, while the actual range of the headset was roughly 9m. Plantronics has also bundled the Vocalyst automated service with the Voyager PRO HD (allows you to send e-mail, texts, and even tweets by just using your voice) which i have to admit i didn't actually use during the entire month of testing.

   At this exact moment in time the Plantronics Voyager PRO HD Bluetooth Headset has dropped in price and so it can be purchased for around USD80 inside the USA and 60Euros inside the EU from Amazon. Even at the initial price tag of USD99/99Euros the Voyager PRO HD was an excellent choice for people who put audio quality, comfort, ear stability and battery life before all else so with the current price cuts i really think it's a catch. I am well aware that the somewhat bulky size of the headset may not appeal to some people but for professionals the design can't really get any better than this. Bottom line the Voyager PRO HD Bluetooth Headset is amongst the top ones in the market currently (if not at the top) and that's why we are awarding it with our Platinum award.

PROS

- Design (For Some)
- Audio Quality (Transmit/Receive)
- Dual Noise Canceling Mics
- Smart Sensor (Just Wear It To Answer The Call)
- A2DP Streaming
- Battery Life
- Vocalyst Service
- My Headset Application
- On-Screen Battery Meter (iOS/Android)
- Multipoint Technology (Simultaneous Connection With 2 Devices)
- Windsmart Technology
- Price (Current Price Cuts)

CONS

- Bulky Size (For Some)
- Smart Sensor Needs Getting Used To