BLUETOOTH ON STERIODS

PLANTRONICS VOYAGER PRO By Roy Nakano Someone decided to take the highly regarded Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset and put it on steroids. That’s the Voyager PRO in a nutshell. More accurately, Plantronics added its next generation of digital signal processing (DSP) technology, which it calls AudioIQ2. They also added an adjustable dual-microphone boom, which provides the advantage of capturing your voice close to your mouth. Plantronics says this allows the AudioIQ2 DSP to more effectively remove ambient noise while maintaining the natural sound of your voice. Plantronics also added three layers of its WindSmart technology to the Voyager PRO in order to further minimize wind-induced distortion. At the same time, Plantronics says its Audio IQ2 technology helps to decipher your voice from the wind to deliver a clearer sound to the listener. All this technology does have some physical consequences. The ear loop on the Voyager PRO is significantly larger than the one on the Voyager 520. One LA CAR staffer found it bothersome, but others did not. Superchargers and wide, high performance tires often require additional bulges and flaring to a car’s bodywork. Evidently the same goes for Bluetooth headsets that are given the high performance treatment! All the tuning and turbocharging does yield performance benefits, however. And in the case of the Voyager PRO, it’s the new benchmark in audio quality for Bluetooth headsets. Yes, this is the best-sounding unit we’ve tested, both for the user and the listener on the other end. We still regard the Voyager 520 the best buy of the bunch, but the Voyager PRO is the new top dog of Bluetooth headseat units in our books. Ergonomics: 9.0/10 Audio Quality: 9.8/10 Aesthetics: 7.5/10 PLANTRONICS VOYAGER PRO SPECIFICATIONS List price: $99.99 Street price: $76 Bluetooth v.2.1+EDR AudioIQ2 digital signal processing (DSP) technology Adjustable dual-microphone boom Dual external stainless steel microphone screens Acoustic fabrics surrounding the microphones for physical barriers to wind noise Adaptive 20-band equalizer delivers distortion-free audio and works with AudioIQ2 technology to automatically adjust sound to comfortable levels based on the noise level Bluetooth profiles: Hands-free v1.5 (HFP), Headset v1.1 (HSP) Range: Up to 33 feet (10 meters) QuickPair technology: Supports initial pairing with Bluetooth phones Multipoint technology: Supports an active connection with two Bluetooth devices Headset controls: Power on/off; volume up/down; call answer/end; mute function; quick battery check; call reject; last number redial*; voice-activated dialing* (*if supported by phone and phone provider) Voice prompts: Mute status on/off; battery status for low/recharge battery Battery type: 3.5V Li-ion polymer rechargeable Charge connectors: Micro USB connector and AC/DC Charge time: 1.5 hours for full charge Weight: 17.5 grams (0.62 ounces) Talk time: Up to 6 hours Standby time: Up to 120 hours (5 days) Warranty: 1 year limited warranty PACKAGE CONTENT Plantronic Voyager PRO Bluetooth headset AC wall/travel charger, three soft gel eartips, two foam eartip covers User manual Source: Unit supplied by manufacturer for review For more information, go to plantronics.com