Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset

Pros: 1. Capability and excellence at it's purpose...hands free communication with good background noise cancellation.

2. Battery Life...it actually lasts for the length of time that you need it.

3. Clear and simple controls.

Cons: It just flat out works...no negatives in that.

Summary: Before I go into my opinion, I have to note that I've had all of the major, premium headsets. I've had the Jawbone headsets (Original, II, and Prime), BlueAnt V1 and Q1, Motorola Endeavor HX1, and now the Plantronics Voyager Pro.

The Jawbone original headset was very good. It was a little bulky, but the technology was good and it worked for me. The earloop was a little fussy and was prone to breaking, but after a few extra earloops via eBay, I was all set for a while. The Jawbone II and Jawbone Prime were not good for me. Both were prone to making me sound like a space alien speaking on a tin can, as well as the fit was bad. In Aliph's attempt to make the device have an improved and sexier design, they made it too small, too light, and with too little spring in the earloop. All of those changes added up to the little nub not touching my cheek when I talked, thus negating one of the main capabilities...noise cancellation. I know that the Prime was supposed to provide 'average' noise cancellation when the sensor nub wasn't touching my face...but that didn't work for me. I'm willing to say that these issues were just mine, but no matter what, it didn't work for me.

The BlueAnts were good...both of them. The voice control capabilities were nice. I have to say that the audio quality was also good. The noise cancellation was pretty good. I rarely had any complaints about audio quality. Additionally, with the Q1, the capability to do firmware upgrades was a great capability and kudos to BlueAnt for building in that capability. More BT headset makers should do that. Once again, the issue was the fit. I couldn't get a good seal of the earpiece in my ear generally because the earloop wasn't very effective in holding the earpiece in place. More importantly, I had 2 Q1s and with both, the part of the device that you put in your ear actually broke! It just separated from the body of the earpiece and was unusable. I did the return dance, and was really done with the Blueants...unless I couldn't find anything better.

I even purchased the Motorola Endeavor HX1. Being a tech nerd, I have had my eye on that bone conduction technology ever since Motorola bought it from Invisio about a year ago or so. About the Motorola, great new technology idea, great fit with the ear springs (they basically wedge the BT device in your ear). The ear springs + the very good earloop = fantastic fit. The on/off switch, the easy to reach/use volume buttons, easy/big multifunction button, etc...all top notch and well designed. The only problem...people could not hear me using the regular Crystal Talk noise cancellation technology, or the new bone conduction technology. Hmmm...great fit/finish, great fit (the deep earpiece didn't bother me at all, but some may not like it)...but missing one core capability...audio quality. To me...audio quality is important in a BT headset...maybe that's just me.

I had consistently read good things about the Voyager Pro (great audio quality, great fit, comfortable, long battery life, easy to use, etc), and had heard the same complaint (kinda big and not as fancy). I have had good experience with Plantronics headsets in the past (with work phones, albeit), and I was already comfortable in Plantronics' capability to make a good headset. For whatever reason, I was a little concerned about the size and expected frumpiness of the headset...then I took a 'grow up' pill and thought about my actual usage and need.

Hmmm...why do I want a BT headset again? Is it an accessory like an earring? Or, is it a mobile device that I use so that I can communicate in a hands-free mode, where I can hear my callers, and they can hear me while i'm on the move? Hmmm...the more I think about it, in a non marketing-polluted way, I realize that it's the latter. So, I took the plunge and purchased the Voyager Pro.

I was surprised that it wasn't actually as big as I thought it would be! Funny thing, the small belt-pouch that I've used for all of my other BT headsets works just fine to the Voyager Pro! Hmmm...nothing like a few 'facts' to confuse you if you've been just listening to the marketing hype.

I did some voicemail tests with me driving (the most common way that I'll use this tool), with music on in the vehicle, and with the headset on for a couple of hours at a time. Wow! As I heard for myself, the audio quality is fantastic. I was driving on the highway at 75mph...in my truck...and the voicemail test showed that none of that noise was audible. In my test, I then turned on the radio at a level that I would never use while on the phone, but I just wanted to see what would happen. Driving in my old truck, at a high rate of speed, on a loud highway, with the radio up loud...and on the voicemail test...good audio with just a few noise artifacts. Excellent work and kudos to Plantronics. Where have you been all my life??

So far so good with the Plantronics.