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Review and experience using Plantronics Voyager Edge. Plantronics Voyager Edge Bluetooth Headset Review: The Edge of Now

Your top model mobile headset Voyager Edge, which incorporates everything modern technologies, which this company is capable of, specializing only in the production of headsets all its life. This is what we will talk about today.

Plantronics Voyager Edge Headset Contents

The Plantronics Voyager Edge headset comes in two color options: white and black. The package includes a USB cable, three sets of gel seals (soft, allowing you to wear the headset all day long without pain and securely fixing the device in the ear), an ear hook (although I don’t use it, but maybe someone will need it), a miniature charging device for car cigarette lighter(motorists will appreciate it) and a charging case.

Plantronics Voyager Edge headset appearance

The headset has a look that has already become classic after the Discovery 925 and Discovery 975 models: a square headset body with smoothed corners and a leg. The outer surface is varnished. The manufacturer talks about a special water-repellent coating. I didn’t immerse it in water - this model cannot be called completely protected, but drops of, for example, rain are not so scary for it. The picture shows the slots of one of the three microphones, the other two are located in the leg and together are capable of cutting off wind noise.

On one of the edges of the “square” there is a microUSB charging socket for charging the headset battery. It lasts for 6 hours of talk time. The charge lasted me for 2-3 days, despite the fact that the headset was constantly connected to the phone and laptop - I used it for Skype calls and so as not to disturb my colleagues in the office with the sounds of my laptop (alerts, music, video with sound). Above charging socket Volume control keys are located.

On inside legs placed contact Group for charging the headset in the charging case.

On the other side of the “square” there is a mechanical lever that turns the headset on and off. You can see an LED dot in the corner. Depending on the situation, it glows red or blue. Signaling that the device is turned on or off or entered pairing mode.

The charging case looks monolithic. Its internal surfaces are polished. Two rows of LEDs indicate the charge level of the case itself and the headset (when it is installed inside).

The bottom part uses matte plastic, and the side surfaces are slightly rubberized and, due to their texture, collect dust and specks. Therefore, I would prefer a black model. On it, I believe, the dust particles would be less noticeable.

The end has its own microUSB socket for charging the case itself and a durable loop made of braid, apparently for attaching the case to a belt. I wouldn't wear it on a belt, I find it inconvenient. But perhaps someone will adapt the case by attaching it in this way, for example, to a bag or backpack.

If you use the case, you don’t have to charge the headset for a week.

For those who have never used a headset mount like this, it may seem like it will constantly fall out. In real life, if you choose the right size of gel sealant, this does not happen. But too large a seal leaves an unpleasant feeling after prolonged wear. The headset itself has never fallen out during a month of use. Although in a crowded public transport I still put it in my shirt pocket. But rather as protection against theft. Because in a crush it’s not difficult to steal it.

Headset applications

Pairing the headset with a laptop and phone did not cause any problems, this has been happening for a long time simple procedure, the same for all manufacturers. Owners of Android smartphones can count on pairing via NFC. When you connect for the first time, the headset requests access to phone book. This is done in order to pronounce the caller's name if it is in the phone book. Unfortunately, only recordings on English language. In everything else there is full support Russian.

For smartphones, Plantronics has as many as 4 different applications. They are available for Android and iOS. The simplest of them is Headset Battery Meter, which displays information about the battery charge status and remaining operating time in the notification panel. In fact, the information is redundant, since the headset itself speaks this information (in Russian, if it is selected as the working language) every time you turn it on or press the main button once, which is the entire external panel"square". I should note that battery discharge (or notification of it) occurs unevenly. The last 25% of the charge is discharged not in an hour and a half of conversation, but faster. Although the operating time is quite long. In a month, I charged the headset separately three times and the case only once.

The main and most useful application- PLT Hub. It allows you to configure the headset, select the notification language, activate all sensors and automatic functions(I included everything).

Another application is called Find MyHeadset and is designed, as you might guess from the name, to search for a headset. The Send a Tone button makes the headset speaker beep, allowing you to find it in the room. True, in a noisy room the sound cannot be heard.

For special occasions you can see where the headset is located on Google maps. The BackTrack function remembers the last, as far as I understand, place where the headset was used. It also keeps a history of use. As you can see, the names from the address book in Russian are perfectly displayed in the journal.

In the simple settings of this application, you can select the alarm melody to search for the headset in the room, select the method of using the GPS tracker, and clear the log.

There is also an application for the computer. It's called MyHeadset Updater and exists for Windows and MacOS. With it, you can perform all the same settings, but in addition update the headset firmware.

The application, as you can see, is also localized.

Sound messages and operating features

Nowadays, few people will be surprised by the sound dialing of numbers - it has existed in phones for a good ten years. This is not to say that all these alerts and messages are so important and useful, but in general they create the feeling that you have in your hands a fairly high-tech device with voice interface. For example, you can select a language when you turn on the headset by following its voice instructions. By holding both volume control keys, you can call up the voice menu at any time and select the interface language. As I already said, every time you turn on the headset, it notifies you about the charge level and connections. This is starting to get a little boring, since the phrases almost always sound the same: “power is on, talk time is N hours, one phone is connected, one computer is connected.” You can connect two devices at the same time: a phone and a computer, two computers or two phones. On the other hand, you always understand the state of the headset and immediately notice when some connection “falls off”.

During an incoming call, the headset informs you every time that you can accept or reject the call by issuing a voice command. It is slightly annoying that after pressing the call button or voice command“Reply” takes a couple of seconds before the conversation starts. We have to come to terms with this. On the unpleasant side: according to my observations, in about 15% of calls the caller stopped hearing me during the conversation. In these cases it helps automatic shutdown headsets and transferring the call to the phone. To do this, just remove the headset from your ear and pick up the phone to continue the call. Similarly, you can take a call by picking up the headset from the table and inserting it into your ear.

In Russia, Plantronics Voyager Edge can be purchased for 4,500 rubles. There are no official supplies in Ukraine yet, but I have met price offers in online stores for 1200 and 2000 hryvnia. Although official price at 130 dollars should, it seems, bring us to a price tag of 1600 hryvnia.

Bottom line

Plantronics Voyager Edge is a state-of-the-art, high-tech device equipped with last word technology. It’s hard to imagine what else can be taught to a headset today. It combines excellent voice quality, voice commands and alerts. Supports Russian language (except for recognizing names in the phone book). Thanks to the case with a separate battery, its time battery life allows you not to use charger for a week, actively using the headset all day for phone and computer calls. And Plantronics applications for computers and smartphones make it easy and simple to configure this model and update the firmware (though not via Bluetooth, but when connected via USB cable). Only the fact that it loses some calls (although you can still continue the conversation on the phone by removing the headset) does not allow us to give this model our highest award. However, it deserves the editorial "we recommend" award.

5 reasons to buy Plantronics Voyager Edge:

  • high battery life (thanks to the charging case);
  • excellent voice quality and wind noise suppression system;
  • voice control, voice notifications and Russian language support;
  • applications for settings on a computer and smartphone;
  • maximum range of supported technologies (NFC, multipoint, automatic response sensors).

1 reason not to buy Plantronics Voyager Edge:

  • “loss of sound” for some calls.

Today our review will focus on a more businesslike communication device than usual. Plantronics has been striving for many years to make convenient means communications for the market of ordinary consumers. We usually review gaming headsets and headphones, but today we're going to change our rule a little because Plantronics® Voyager Edge UC It's worth paying attention to.

Let us remind you that Plantronics is far from a newcomer to the market of headsets and any other products related to consumer audio electronics. The year of foundation of this company begins in 1961 and this gives it the right to be a trendsetter and new technologies in the world of communication between people.

Voyager Edge UC is a Bluetooth headset with high performance, and allows you to negotiate anytime and anywhere, wherever you are. But let's look at the technical specifications.

Specifications and features:

  • Manufacturer: Plantronics
  • Model: Voyager Edge UC
  • Black color
  • Material: plastic
  • Multipoint: yes
  • Bluetooth version: 4.0
  • Sound type: Mono
  • NFC support: Yes
  • Range: 10m
  • Battery type: Li-Ion
  • Talk/standby time: 6/168 hours
  • Charging time: 1.5 hours
  • USB rechargeable: Yes
  • Display: No
  • Moisture resistance: Yes
  • Replaceable panels: No
  • Mounting type: With earhook
  • Extras: Charging case, Extra time talk time up to 10 hours
  • Weight: 9 g

Packaging and equipment

It is worth noting that the Plantronics Voyager series is an official trademark and this series includes a large number of Bluetooth headset for communication. However, our model is one of the most advanced and youngest.

If we're talking about about a business device, then, as you understand, either this is a premium segment and it has a unique design and appropriate packaging, or the packaging is simple and symbolic, but the insides are distinguished by “smartness and ingenuity.” Assuming the Buyer Already Knows Everything unique advantages desired device, and he does not need to purchase a unique model with image packaging, he needs the device itself. In case of Voyager headset With Edge UC we have just such an illustrative example.


The box has a fairly simple, nondescript appearance of cardboard packaging, inside which is everything necessary components to provide full-fledged work Bluetooth headsets.

The kit included:

  • Bluetooth headset
  • Case with built-in battery
  • Mini-USB adapter with Bluetooth support
  • Micro-USB cable
  • Power adapter
  • Replaceable silicone tips
  • Documentation warranty card

Simple packaging is replete with different components. It should be noted that Plantronics has always been famous for the fact that, from seemingly unrelated components, we get a fully functional device with amazing capabilities.

The box has a yellowish tint with slight shading and is divided into two parts. At the top there is the headset itself, a mini-USB adapter and a charging case. At the bottom are all the necessary components for charging.


Appearance and features

The headset itself is dark in color and uses non-staining materials that do not leave fingerprints. On the body of the headset there is a micro-USB connector for charging, and on the microphone stem you can see slits. Inside each there is a noticeable red fine mesh; this is a protective mesh for three microphones located in different places.

On the main part of the headset body there are volume control buttons, a power lever, and a call answer button.

On the microphone stem there is a button for activating voice commands. The list of commands is quite impressive and here are a few of them - battery charge, connection status, call back the last caller, answer or end a call, etc. Some of them can be disabled if not necessary.

It’s nice that in a modern headset there is no need to press a button for an incoming call; just say “answer” loudly and you will hear the voice of the called party on the other end of the line. It is very comfortable. It is also convenient to reject a call. To do this, you need to say the voice command again or simply remove the earphone. In this case, the headset will not only cancel the call, but may also turn off music playback.

The charging case deserves additional attention. This is the most large element, which is present in the box and it immediately catches your eye. As you understand, its function is simple - increasing the headset's talk time up to 10 hours. The built-in battery allows you to do this. Also, if necessary, you can find out the battery level of the headset and the case itself. External part The case is covered with black ribbed rubber. The lower part allows you to attach (hide) a mini-USB adapter for connecting to a laptop.

Charging is very simple. It is enough to simply “drown” the Bluetooth headset into the niche intended for this purpose, where the contacts are closed and power is supplied to the headset. At this time, you can track the charge level and how quickly charging occurs. If a call suddenly occurs while charging, you can easily disconnect the headset and activate call answering. Everything is very simple, and most importantly, it is as functional as possible.


On the body of the case there is a micro-USB for charging, the same connector is located on the headset. you can use charging adapter, both for the headset and for the case as needed. The case increases the life of your headset by 10 hours of talk time, in total you will have almost 16 hours of uninterrupted conversation. This is very convenient and useful for office workers who spend a lot of time making calls and talking on the phone for many hours.

Listening

Voyager Edge UC was tested in various locations. Since I am a mobile person, it was more convenient for me to use the headset in the car. However, at home, on the street and in the office, the headset performed excellently. The voice is clearly audible in all places without distortion or loss of sensitivity. Wind and external noise could not somehow affect the quality transmitted voice. Even if you were nearby external sources noise, such as music, the noise of passing cars, etc., there was no need to raise your voice so that the interlocutor could hear you.

Conclusion

For mobile and business people, this headset is not only recommended, but will simply be necessary. If you take into account the wide functionality and capabilities that it has, then it’s a big plus. None of the competing headsets can boast of 16 hours of continuous calls. Convenient features and voice quality with a lot of noise around us still give this headset a huge advantage. In general, the owner of the Plantronics® Voyager Edge UC headset will have many, many advantages. Unfortunately, we found only one drawback, this is a considerable price.

Pros:

  • Unusual design of the headset and case;
  • Battery life approximately 16 hours;
  • Voice commands, notifications and sensors;
  • Russian language support;
  • Excellent speech quality;
Page 1: Test and Review: Plantronics Voyager Edge - Premium Bluetooth Headset Page 2: Hands-On Tests and Conclusion

Page 1: Test and Review: Plantronics Voyager Edge - Premium Bluetooth Headset

Wearable devices have been rapidly gaining popularity since last year. But besides fitness bracelets and smart watch There is another mobile companion that has been on the market for quite some time: Bluetooth headsets. Our test laboratory has received a new functional Plantronics headset Voyager Edge.

Not for all users wireless headsets are associated with wearable devices, but the Voyager Edge's features and rich functionality can clear any doubts. Of course, the flagship Plantronics headset is aimed primarily at working with the phone, but there are many nice bonuses. For example, various voice commands allow you to avoid having to take your smartphone out of your pocket or purse, especially if you have a smartphone under Android control or iOS, but more on that later.

Technology without weaknesses

The Voyager Edge headset is aimed primarily at phone calls. It weighs only three grams, three microphones are located on two sides of the bracket and directly above the ear. The digital signal processor in the headset detects and filters external noise. Similar technology uses most smartphones today, but usually only on two microphones. This approach not only saves your interlocutor from extraneous noise, but also automatically adjusts the headset volume depending on the background noise. If it is quiet around you, then the interlocutor will not “yell” at the top of his voice.

Voyager Edge connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Plantronics used version 4.0, which has lower power consumption. A2DP, HFP1.6, HSP 1.2 and EDR profiles are supported. In particular, HFP support is important because with this profile the headset can access contact information stored on the smartphone, making it easier to use. We also note the presence of convenient Smart Sensors technology, which allows you to determine whether the headset is on or not. When your phone rings, just insert the Voyager Edge headset into your ear to answer the call.

The headset has a built-in lithium polymer battery, although the capacity is not specified. Plantronics says talk time is 6 hours, but with the built-in charger case, which has its own battery, the time increases to 16 hours. In standby mode, the headset, according to the manufacturer, can work up to seven days without connecting to a charger.

Easy setup

The headset equipment is well thought out, the same can be said about installation and configuration - if you choose the right smartphone. First you need to specify system language headsets (there are Russian, English, German and several other languages), to confirm you need to double-click the answer button, after which the process of connecting to the smartphone will start. It can be done in the traditional way via Bluetooth or use NFC for authorization (this is the difference in comfort between iOS and Android). In the case of NFC, it is enough to touch the headset to the corresponding part of the smartphone for two to three seconds, after which the smartphone recognizes the request to establish a connection. Once connected successfully, you will be asked if Voyager Edge can access your contacts list. At this point, the setup process can be considered complete; you can move on to the control buttons.

The headset has five buttons, but many perform two or three functions. The most important is the call answer button, which is located at the top center of the diamond edge. On the other side of the diamond there are two buttons for controlling the volume, which are also needed to select the system language, as well as a power button. On the top side of the bracket (if the headset is in the left ear) there is a button voice control, it also pauses music playback and mutes microphones. At first, you will have to get used to the abundance of buttons, but then you are unlikely to get confused. After a few phone calls, this arrangement will seem convenient. Unfortunately, the volume control and voice control buttons require a certain amount of pressure. So, when pressed, the headset may move from its position in the ear, you need to get used to it.

Here we should say a few words about fastening. Many headsets come with a headband that fits behind the ear, but Plantronics decided to do away with it. The Voyager Edge attaches inside the ear like earphones using a rubber element above the speaker. Due to the light weight of the headset, it fits tightly; even with sudden movements, the headset does not fall out. In addition, such a mount provides an advantage for those who wear glasses. Finally, Voyager headset Edge is waterproof, so you can wear it outside in light rain. The manufacturer in this regard refers not to the usual IP certification, but to the P2i nano-coating of the headset and case with water-repellent properties.

  • Headset
  • Case with built-in battery
  • microUSB cable
  • Car adapter
  • Replaceable attachments
  • Documentation

This headset came from outer space, it looks futuristic and can do a lot of unusual things. Put it to your ear and Edge automatically answers the call. Removed - the conversation is over. And this is just the beginning...

Design

In the article about new MWC products, I already briefly talked about Edge, the article aroused interest - I judge this by both the number of views and the number of emails received. Summing up the results of last year, for the umpteenth time I had to note with sadness: nothing truly interesting is happening in the Bluetooth headset segment. Rare glimpses. One of them is Plantronics Voyager Legend, an interesting product for a wide variety of people.

Apparently, the company decided to make something similar in function, but with more image, with an eye not on corporations, but on the mass consumer. Previously, this role was played by the 925 and 975 models, but now they have decided to abandon the digital designation - apparently for better recognition of the devices. Remembering a number is more difficult than a name, this rule always works. The name, of course, was not chosen by chance. Translated from English, Edge means edge, edge, or even advantage. If you look at the device, the name will become clear. I haven't seen such a futuristic product in the category for a long time. It seems that everything is simple. In fact, such a headset belongs in a sci-fi film about the near future. It's hard to explain why it seems like this to me, better look at the photographs. Well, or pay attention in the store, Edge will soon be available for sale in Russia.




The front part is made of matte plastic, there is also a white version that uses glossy plastic. The materials are non-staining, fingerprints are invisible.


On the case there is a microUSB connector, on the microphone leg you can see a slot, inside there is a mesh made of red material that protects the microphones from the wind. On the front panel you can see another slot, there is also a microphone (there are three of them in total).

Another interesting thing worth noting is the protection from water, or rather from rain: “Nano-coating of the P2i headset and a case that protects from moisture.” I don’t know what P2i is, I’ll have to figure it out.






Wearing method

The headset can be worn with or without a headband, as you prefer. I recommend trying different attachments from the kit; the smallest one suited me. The Edge is comfortable to wear, fits perfectly, you just can’t feel the silicone pad - I recommend it. Compared to the Legend with the Edge, a different usage scenario is expected: inserted into the ear when you need to talk, then put back in your pocket or in the included case. Actually, that's exactly what I do.


Control

On the body there are volume control buttons, a power lever, a call answer button (in fact, most of the front panel is what it is). On the microphone stem there is a button to activate voice commands, while they only work in English, the system is understandable. The commands are as follows: find out the battery charge, connection status, call back the last caller, answer or end the call. Last function switchable. Works flawlessly when incoming call you just need to say Answer and start talking if the headset is already in your ear. At incoming call Caller ID works, that is, Edge prompts the subscriber's name, but this only works for contacts written in Latin.



The same button helps to mute the microphone and control playback; everything works fine on the iPhone.

Another way to answer a call is through the sensors built into the Edge. When you insert the headset into your ear, you can answer a call, transfer a call from your phone to the headset, or continue playing. When the Edge moves away from your ear, it hangs up the call, stops the music or podcast, and transfers the call to your phone. Everything works fine, the sensors can be turned off if desired, and calibration is also supported; to do this, the headset must be connected to the cable and placed with the speaker facing up on a flat non-metallic surface.

The indicator light is miniature and does not attract attention.


The headset software update is supported, there is also a Russian language for voice commands and notifications, the latter help when using Edge: status, turning on or off a particular function, a hint when to charge the device.

Additional functions

The headset supports NFC, you can use this function to pair, I tried with Sony Xperia T2, everything works. A2DP is supported, you can listen to podcasts, music or audiobooks in one ear. It is possible to disable the HD Voice function (there is such a thing), disable voice commands, A2DP - all this is respectable; in terms of management, Edge is very convenient. Everything described above must be done using proprietary program


Nutrition

A separate story is the complete box with a built-in battery. The ancestor, Plantronics 975, had a leatherette case with small display and the lid, I can’t call it uncomfortable. The Edge has a space-age case, as much as the product itself. A small capsule, the outer part is made of rubber with a pattern, the inside is plastic, there is a loop; if desired, you can thread a carabiner or ring here, wear the case on your jeans or attach it to a bag, whatever you like. There are separate charge indicators for the case and headset; they light up when you take out the device. By the way, the Edge installs until it clicks and stays firmly inside. To pull it out, you need to press your finger on the speaker with reverse side. Everything is very comfortable and natural. The case has a microUSB connector for charging; interestingly, the headset has the same connector - that is, you can use the case or leave it at home or in the office, as you wish. This versatility is refreshing.






The stated operating time is up to 6 hours of talk time, this is when you use only the Edge, when paired with a case, the time increases to 16 hours. Outstanding performance. In life, such a scenario is quite justified: you have a conversation, put the device in the case, when there is an incoming call, you take out the Edge, it automatically connects (and the call is also answered automatically thanks to the sensors), you talk, and put it back. It is gratifying that Plantronics has tried to increase the operating time as much as possible - for many users similar devices four or five hours is frankly not enough. I’m not talking about teenagers, but about those who sometimes spend hours in the office negotiating.

For fully charged The headset will need about 90 minutes from the microUSB cable. When connected to an iPhone, the Edge's charge indicator appears.

Voice quality

Tested Edge paired with iPhone 5S in different conditions: in the office, in the car, on the street in the city center. The result is almost always the same - you can be heard well in a variety of conditions. The operating range is about five to six meters, I tested it in the office. If you are talking and music is playing nearby, you don’t have to raise your voice; the interlocutors did not complain about background noise. In fact, speaking using the Edge is much more convenient than using the iPhone.


conclusions

In the USA, the headset costs about $130, we will have about the same price, that is, about 4,500 rubles, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. I think if you're thinking about buying something like this, here you go interesting idea– Plantronics has made a huge step forward, we are talking about the Bluetooth market as a whole. There really is something to see and talk about; in fact, Edge is interesting both outside and inside. It’s difficult to list all the advantages here, I’ll try to highlight the main points:

  • Very interesting design both headset and case
  • Great quality speech transmission
  • Operating time (total) about 16 hours
  • Voice commands, notifications, sensors - it all works great
  • Comfortable to wear
  • Russian language supported

And a lot of all sorts of features - NFC, A2DP (which makes it possible to listen to music), the ability to work with two smartphones at once, plus interesting little things. As a minus, I would consider the call answer button to be a bit stiff, but this is not so bad, considering how many ways there are to answer a call.

I've been waiting for this device for a long time, I was glad to introduce you to Edge. Coming soon to stores, if you like accessories, be sure to try it.


Sergey Kuzmin ()

30.06.2016

That means I got a headset... And not just a headset, but a Bluetooth headset... Yes, not just a Bluetooth headset, but... but what can I say, let’s be honest, the headset we’re going to talk about is straight speaking, it’s “screwed up” nowhere else and its analogues are literally on the fingers of one hand of a novice mechanic after working with a circular saw... Here there is, probably, everything that can be in general in such things, and even something that should not be here should, in principle, - a thing that by its presence shows that absolutely everything in this world can be done better... and everything in this world can cost even more... I’ll try to tell you...

The headset is called Plantronics Voyager Edge. The manufacturer is not entirely unknown, but the pop-popular Jabra completely blows all other brands out of the minds of the average person. But Plantronics is a purely American company, never bought by Chinese corporations (well, assembly in China - so everyone has it there... it’s only Chinese developers trying to open a factory somewhere in Spain, to improve their image, or something).

Speaking of Plantronics...

The company has been around for over 50 years, and during this time it has achieved one thing - absolute recognition in the HandsFree field.

Well, to understand, it was Plantronics that organized communications at NASA during the first space flights (or rather, the second ones - I don’t know who organized communications for Comrade Gagarin) and it was through Plantronics equipment that Neil Armstrong spoke.

An indicator of the current situation is the adaptation of switching equipment by industry leaders (HP, Cisco, Siemens, Nortel) specifically for Plantronics headsets.

This is a more than serious company, it turns out, otherwise it’s all Zabra and Jabra...

The headset is sold in excellent packaging - the main box is made of very thick high-quality cardboard with a magnetic clasp, a plastic box... beauty! There is such a thing lying on the display window, and you already want to buy it. And the unpacking!

This is almost an ideal box for a worthwhile thing. Let’s say, for a gift... after opening the beauty in the form of the main box and plastic shell (everything is tightly closed - you can’t open it without a knife), access to white thick soft cardboard opens, in which each component has its own separate closing compartment!

I love boxes and beautiful packaging...

Some photos of the packaging

First Look:

Huge plastic wings completely cover the cardboard “bed”:

Even the branded inscription, and it’s not just written, but embossed, looks so stylish.

To make it more convenient for us to remove all these boxes, special flaps were made on both sides. It’s a small thing, but even such a basic thing adds advantages to the overall perception.

No, really, it’s very disappointing when expensive things are delivered in “somehow” packaging, all sorts of people like Amazon explain this as a struggle for environment and the need to use recycled raw materials, I accept this logic somewhere very far away - I’m not buying a thing, I’m buying emotions (otherwise why, in general, spend money on things more expensive than 5,000 rubles). Here everything is in order with emotions - the feeling of complete delight is fully present.

Giving Plantronics its due, I note that for their part they sold far from empty emotions. The package is never inferior to the packaging...

Headset - everything is clear with this, replaceable tips in the ear different sizes(tips of different sizes for ears of different sizes) - this also happens, the charging cable is no rarity, the cradle - well, it also happens, and then it suddenly turns out that this is never a cradle - this is a full-fledged external battery!

And in addition - an adapter for a USB output for the cigarette lighter in a car (a small thing, on Ali it costs 3-4 dollars, but it is included in the kit - this is not so much a necessity as a banal concern for customer satisfaction, we bought the product and don’t think about the components - we immediately use it in any situation).

So far everything seems great...

The headset itself is made of plastic, which is expected. Two types of plastic are used here: matte rough - throughout the body ( grey colour), glossy, dense and slippery on top of the body (white color).

The entire surface is dotted with buttons and switches: on/off, volume controls, answer/end button, voice command button.

About the answer button - it’s not immediately visible - this wide white surface plays its role.

All elements are purely mechanical, the movement is clear, there is absolutely no play in the buttons in the grooves. Here, on the body, I mean, there is a pair of connectors. One of them is designed to connect to the charging dock, and the other is a standard micro-USB (I note that it sits a little clumsily...).

My opinion is that using a standard, generally accepted connector is very, very correct. So, today in every home, in every car, in every office, there is at least one cable and we can almost always recharge the device.

But now I will describe, in my opinion, an absolutely fantastic thing - an ear holder (I have no idea what to call it). So, it clings to the auricle and does not allow the headset to fall out under any conditions (I jumped and shook my head until I got seasick - the headset didn’t even try to fall out), and considering that this very holder is made of very soft and elastic silicone, it is not felt at all and does not cause any discomfort. And, yes, let me remind you, there are three of them in the set...

We continue about materials, but this time the charging box. Everything is different here: the top and bottom are matte white plastic, the loop is fabric (you can use it as a keychain, for some reason), and the entire perimeter is covered with white rubber a couple of millimeters thick. Looks and feels great! And also, this rubber protrudes just a little (much less than a millimeter) from below above the plastic, due to which the box rests confidently on the table and does not slip.

The car charger is the same white glossy plastic, dense, high quality.

All, appearance praised, now get to work!

Sometimes it’s worth reading advertising brochures - I mean, that’s where I learned about the presence of such a thing in the headset as NFC. Yes, it turned out that to fully pair with my Sony ZL, all I needed was to touch the earphone with my phone. That's all! No device search, no “trust or don’t trust”, no “visibility timeouts” and other paraphernalia - touch and 5 seconds of time. Conveniently, however, for the first time, by the way, I connected devices via NFC (I worked with tags, with metro tickets too, but this was the first time for two gadgets).

If in your phone NFC no - no problems (well, a little more difficulties), Bluetooth 4.0 is easily detected by any devices - the Lenovo S580 found, identified and connected the device via the Bluetooth channel in about a minute.

So, when installing software on a PC, in addition to fine adjustments, we can also update the firmware. The update takes up to five minutes with firmware download.

And here mobile app, in turn, will provide us with the opportunity to also search for a lost headset. Having received a request, the earphone will begin to squeal at the limit of its capabilities and flash its various diodes (well, if there are diodes, then why not flash them - this is not a phone, where they are not installed in principle).

Control of headset options is also fully present.

There is also a simpler application - Find MyHeadset, created exclusively for searching for a device - there is only one button, but a big one (the rest are more options for the sake of options)...

Both programs have an interesting BackTrack feature - this is just if things are bad, and “I remember very vaguely what happened in the morning” - the program records the GPS position of the headset (data is taken from the phone), and using this data it can be found. In theory. Like the memories in "Bachelor Party" (that movie).

As an addition, a notification with the remaining charge is constantly displayed in the curtain, in the case of Find MyHeadset - percentage and operating time, and in the case of PLT Hub - only talk time.

This is where I would like to end the review, but such a headset, paired with modern telephone We just need another program that will make them friends, just like musketeers. If you have a stable Internet channel, there seem to be no questions - a couple of years ago they invented Dusya, which perfectly understands voice commands and is a full-fledged voice assistant, but what to do in the absence of the Internet is the question.

For myself, I found a solution in the form of Cyberon Voice Commander and Voice Speed ​​Dial. In general, the second is like an add-on over the first from the same developer, and without it it does not work, but the difference between them is fundamental.

So, Voice Commander tries to actually recognize the command and do something useful: call someone, launch a navigator, tell the time...

But you understand, recognizing a voice is a rather difficult task, and doing something based on vague user commands is even more difficult (“I wanted to make a thunderstorm, but got a goat,” this is the most harmless example). Therefore, it’s difficult for me to use, and given that it seems to me that the most popular voice command will be something like “Call Tuzik,” it’s quite logical to leave only caller recognition.

This is what the second program is for. Everything here is simple to the point of genius: we ourselves assign a label to each number (or program, but I didn’t appreciate this) (you just need to do this with the headsets turned off), and then, when you give a voice command, the program checks the labels, repeats it to be sure, and calls.

It calls - does not open a contact or phone book, does not ask questions, but simply dials the subscriber.

Something like that...

Opinion

To be honest, I am very impressed by the device - for me, its functionality allows you to actually do without your hands for almost the first time. Everything is very simple and fast - the same NFC, which allows you to avoid the nerves of not finding the device, a cradle that will extend the operating time three times, voice notifications and commands, silicone mount... The thing turned out great, and it's all in wonderful packaging.

The only thing I would like is a better understanding of voice commands, but I don’t quite understand where the limitations of the headset end and the limitations of the phone begin, and Dusya really helps.

There is only one question left - the price. If it weren’t for the site, I probably wouldn’t have gotten acquainted with such a device - the price of the headset exceeds the price of very many phones and, moreover, its price is much higher than the average budget allocated for such devices. But having paid, you can be sure that not a single penny was wasted or overpaid for a brand or “show-off”.

Well, I’m packing the headset - it’s just my father’s birthday, and I’ve been wanting a headset for a long time...!