Plantronics Voyager 520
Starting at: $34.95
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on:
The good: The Plantronics Voyager 520 is a very comfortable and lightweight Bluetooth headset with excellent call quality. It's also quite affordable.
The bad: The Plantronics Voyager 520 looks a tad dull, and its volume toggle was a little tricky to use.
The bottom line: The Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset has a comfortable fit, easy-to-use controls, and solid performance, all at a good price.
As we mentioned, the Voyager 520 has a dramatically different look from that of the Voyager 510. Going for a more contemporary look and eschewing the Borg-like design of the 510, the Voyager 520 has a simple tear-drop Bluetooth headset design. It is long and narrow, measuring about 2.5x0.7x0.5 inches and weighing close to 0.63 ounce. We can't say we're too thrilled with the style of the headset, since it does look a little conspicuous when you're wearing it, and the black-and-silver color scheme is a tad dull.
But the design isn't the important thing--it's the fit and comfort that count. And it's here that the Voyager 520 shines. Behind the headset is a simple in-ear earpiece that sits comfortably just inside the ear canal without any discomfort. The Voyager 520 also has an ear hook that's made out of a really flexible silicone material, and it can rotate to fit either ear. We were able to wear the headset for hours without any problems at all.
Probably our only real gripe with the Voyager 520 has to do with the multifunction toggle, which can be pressed down for handling calls, and acts as a volume rocker when moved up and down. Pressing it down was easy enough, since it juts out above the surface of the headset. However, toggling the rocker up and down can be a tad tricky. The switch often felt quite stiff, and sometimes our fingers would slip off the rocker when trying to move it. Above the toggle is an LED that glows blue or red depending on the function.
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Nicole Lee is a senior associate editor for CNET, covering cell phones, Bluetooth headsets, and all things mobile. She's also a fan of comic books, video games, and of course, shiny gadgets.
User Reviews
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Most Helpful User Review
stars 21 of 22 users found this review helpful
"Top Notch Headset!" By WilliamRivera
Pros + Great sound clarity
+ Great voice clarity
+ Nice looking
+ Very Long Battery Life
+ Fairly Comfortable
+ Good controls for volume and power
+ Easy to connect
+ Very good range
Cons - Plantronics should have included a vehicle charger in this kit.
- Noise cancelling is OK, but fails badly when outdoors in windy conditions
Summary I purchased this headset about two months ago and while it took a little getting used to, it compares favorably with the only other headset I've used, the Motorola HS850.
Comfort: The soft rubber ear channel and rigid/soft rubber hanger combo allows long term wearing. I sometimes forget ... Expand full review
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Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Headphones Type: Headphone - Monaural
- Product type: Headset
- Design: Over-the-ear
