When kids
feel slighted or jealous, they’re likely to accuse their parents of
favoritism. I’ve let my children know,
from the get-go, that I probably do have a favorite, but don’t panic. My bias is fluid and easily won. This is a carefully thought-out and tested philosophy
intended to keep the young’uns on their toes and kissing up, which is right
where I like them.
Now that I have
access to the latest and greatest Plantronics’ offerings, it turns out that my
choice of headsets can also be swayed.
But I’ve never denied being fickle.
Not long
ago, I waxed rhapsodic about the Voyager Focus, its superior noise cancelling,
comfort, and the way it helped me concentrate and get work done. Recently, though, I started using the new
Voyager 8200 UC, and, well, be still my beating heart.
The 8200 is
Plantronics’ latest offering in the Bluetooth enterprise headset market. It’s modeled on the amazing BackBeat Pro 2,
and looks more like a consumer than an enterprise headset, with large oval,
over-the-ear cups, on-ear controls, smart sensors, and dynamic voice alerts. Also like the BackBeat Pro 2, but unlike any
other enterprise headset, the 8200 has no
boom. Instead, it uses four omni-directional
built-in microphones with boom array technology. These microphones are designed to focus on
the user’s voice, effectively blocking wind and background noises, ensuring my
caller can hear me clearly. The
enormously informal and unscientific survey I conducted was overwhelmingly
positive.
Plantronics
has also raised the bar on active noise cancelling (ANC) technology. I thought the Focus couldn’t be beat at shutting
out the sounds all around me, but Plantronics has taken it to the next level. Literally, with a second ANC option that’s
powerful enough to muffle the sound of an airplane engine.
The 8200 is
lightweight, with soft leatherette-covered ear cushions, and is comfortable
enough to wear all day. It’s intended
for the always-connected worker who needs to hear and be heard no matter where
she takes a call.
I listen to
music while I’m working, but I just don’t have the audiophile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-n4cWNK2MQ. Fair warning – when the bass kicked in, I
could feel it in my lungs.
vocabulary to describe the
quality of sound this headset provides.
If you’d like to have a little headset fun with the bass, try this:
So yes, I
have a new favorite headset. Stay tuned,
though. Plantronics continues to
innovate and impress, so there’s always an opportunity for a new favorite. I’ll keep you informed of any usurpers to the
crown.
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