I read a post on jkontherun the other day about the trend away from Bluetooth headsets. As luck would have it, I had recently come across the Plantronics Voyager 855 I reviewed for Just Another Mobile Monday last summer and had started using them again. The experience was/is… well… awesome.
The headset is comfortable, sounds great and offers a degree of flexibility that is all too rare. Even though I reviewed them a year ago the Voyager 855 remain in Plantronics’ catalog. There is, however, a major difference now… Amazon has the $150 headset for under $35. That makes it a STEAL.
Let’s take a look.
The Plantronics Voyager 855 Bluetooth headset stands out because it can either be a one ear Bluetooth headset or a stereo headset. Even better, you can switch from one to the other in seconds.
The headset itself is familiar– long, narrow and unobtrusive. (Well at least as unobtrusive as a BT headset can be.) The headset comes with a number of different earbud tips so that you can find the best, most comfortable fit. It is worth taking the time to try all the sizes since, with the right fit, this is an exceptionally comfortable headset.
The headset can be used with or without an earloop. I prefer the earloop on this side since it ensures the headset stays in place.
Buttons on the device are minimal. This results in the headset being exceptionally easy to use. There is a main call button on the body of the device that is larger and easy to activate. It serves as the power button as well. There is a button toward the rear of the headset that immediately mutes the sound. It is large enough to easily access but small enough to avoid hitting it unintentionally. Finally, there is a volume control that it “typical rocker-style”. Tap one side to get louder. Tap the other side to get softer.
As noted above, the headset works with the earloop or without the earloop
Overall the headset is so light and comfortable that I all but forget I am wearing it.
I have found the voice quality to be nothing short of terrific. The noise reduction technology used in the headset works well and the sound quality is very good in both directions. My assistant, who often gets calls from me when I am on the highway to or from home, tells me that it is as good a headset as I have used. On my end it was the same.
A nice feature of the headset is that there is a sliding boom that brings the microphone closer to your mouth. This improves sound quality and serves as a convenient way to answer and end phone calls.
Standby time for the headset is about 160 hours and talk time is rated as up to seven hours.
As a stand-alone headset I highly recommend it but, and this is a huge but, it is much more than a standalone headset.
The Voyager 855 included a second earbud that is tied to an additional earloop. Unplug the ealoop you were using (if you were using it) and plug this new one in and… you get a fully functioning, high quality, stereo Bluetooth headset.
With it, you can listen to your music from any Bluetooth enabled device that supports A2DP for streaming stereo music. Ooooooh, that finally includes the iPhone! Yeah! The fit and comfort (often an issue for me with stereo Bluetooth headsets) is exceptional. And the sound quality and BlueTooth connection? Well let me put it this way, I listened to my iPhone using it all last night and had no complaints. I love it!
As a headset, the Voyager 855 is very good.
As a stereo Bluetooth headset, the Voyager 855 is even better.
And when used as both with a cell phone that supports stereo Bluetooth it is a terrific, flexible combination.
Pros-
Good Sound, Excellent flexible design, comfortable, after a year they are still awesome
Cons-
When I first reviewed it I indicated that it was “Pricey”, but a year later it is still available. Check them out here: Plantronics Headsets and Accessories.
Original review appeared on JAMM