- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently tested nine Plantronics headphones. They're a brand that's well known for their business headsets, but they also make feature-packed Bluetooth headphones for casual use. Their consumer-level headphones tend to be reasonably priced and generally provide good value overall. Here are the best Plantronics headsets we've tested.
Updates
- 10/14/2020 Plantronics Voyager 3200 Bluetooth Headset reviewed
- 08/17/2020 Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless updated
- 05/21/2020 Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset reviewed
- 05/15/2020 Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset reviewed
- 03/05/2019 Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless reviewed
Best Plantronics Headphones
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Best Plantronics Headphones
Mixed Usage7.2Neutral Sound7.7Commute/Travel7.4Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.4Wireless Gaming5.9Wired Gaming7.5Phone Calls6.7Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesWireless YesMic YesThe best Plantronics headphones we've tested are the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016. These comfortable over-ear headphones have a sturdy design and about 30 minutes of continuous battery life, so they can easily last through a 9-5 workday and commute. They have an easy-to-use control scheme and an ANC feature that does a decent job of isolating you from mid-range noise like background chatter at the office. Their sound profile is well-balanced with some extra thump and rumble, making them well-suited for bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. They also support NFC for quicker pairing, and you can connect them with two devices at once, which is nice if you often switch between using your phone and computer.
Unfortunately, their app doesn't include any features like an EQ or presets that you could use to customize their sound profile. The ANC feature struggles to block out bass-range noise, so they aren't ideal for reducing the sound of a rumbling engine during your commute or traffic outside a window. Otherwise, if you're looking for versatile over-ear headphones, these offer a long battery life and a well-balanced sound profile. They also support aptX and aptX-LL codecs if you want lower latency via Bluetooth.
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Best Plantronics Bluetooth Headset
Mixed Usage6.0Neutral Sound5.7Commute/Travel5.7Sports/Fitness7.9Office5.5Wireless Gaming5.3Wired Gaming5.2Phone Calls6.1Type Mono EarbudEnclosure Closed-BackNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicWireless YesThe best Plantronics Wireless Headset we've tested is the Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset. This Bluetooth mono headset has a comfortable design that should be comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. It's stable and shouldn't move around or slip out of your ear even when you're on the go. It feels sturdy enough to survive a couple of drops and bumps, too. While this headset's sound profile isn't especially well-suited for listening to music, human speech should sound fairly full-bodied, present, and clear. The Plantronics Hub companion app also features a multitude of phone-call-related configuration options. Its boom mic can swivel completely around, allowing you to wear the headset on either ear. It does an excellent job of isolating your voice from loud background noise. This headset also supports multi-device pairing, allowing you to take calls on your phone or PC.
Unfortunately, the boom mic's recording quality is sub-par, as it makes recorded speech sound muffled, dark, and slightly distorted. The headset itself also blocks out very little ambient noise, so you may have trouble hearing what's being said on a call in a noisy environment, though this design does allow you to easily hear your voice. Otherwise, if you're looking for a mono headset well-suited to taking calls while you're on the move, this is a good option.
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Best Budget Plantronics Headset
Neutral Sound8.0Commute/Travel7.1Sports/Fitness7.2Office7.2Wireless Gaming6.0Wired Gaming7.6Phone Calls6.8Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesMic YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesThe Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless is the best Plantronics headset at a budget level that we've tested. These over-ear headphones have a balanced sound profile that delivers a touch of extra boom to mixes while vocals and lead instruments are clear, present, and detailed. That said, their companion app offers a couple of EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. They have a decently comfortable fit and come with a carrying pouch to help protect them from dust when you're not using them. You can pair them with up to two devices at a time, and they have over 24 hours of continuous battery life, which is great for long days at the office or on the go.
Unfortunately, while they have active noise cancelling, they still struggle to block background sounds like the low rumble of bus and plane engines, as well as ambient chatter. Some users have also reported that their unit's headband cracked or broke with regular use, which is a bit disappointing. That said, if you're looking for wallet-friendly over ears, they're a suitable choice. They're also among the best podcast headphones that we've tested.
Compared to other brands
- Lots of features. The Plantronics headphones we've tested have some of the best combinations of active features. Their best models typically have noise cancelling, a great battery life with lots of different power-saving features, multi-device pairing, and even support for low-latency Bluetooth codecs, NFC for easier pairing, and talk-through modes.
- Good audio reproduction. Most Plantronics headphones have good audio reproduction that's either very neutral or with a bit more thump and rumble while still sounding well-balanced.
- Great controls. One of the most noticeable features of the Plantronics lineup are the controls. They're unique and often unorthodox compared to other brands, but they're efficient and ergonomically placed on the ear cups, making them easy to use.
- Mediocre noise cancelling. Although Plantronics headphones have many features, noise cancellation is not their biggest strength. They isolate well enough for some environments, but they have a lot of self-noise and don't block ambient noise like other noise cancelling headphones from competing brands.
- Bulky designs. While most Plantronics headphones feel durable and comfortable, many have a rather bulky design that doesn't look as sleek or stylish as competing models.
- Limited budget options. While Plantronics headphones usually aren't that expensive, they don't have very many options in the budget range, unlike other brands that cover greater price ranges.
Overall, Plantronics makes versatile headphones that tend to be reasonably priced, especially considering how feature-packed they are. Their headphones have some of the best control schemes we've tested and tend to have lots of great features like active noise cancelling, power-saving options, and even low latency Bluetooth codecs. Their noise cancelling doesn't usually perform as well as competing models, and they don't have the most elegant designs, but the brand still makes some of the best wireless headphones we've tested.
Recent Updates
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Feb 21, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
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Oct 14, 2021: Removed the Plantronics Rig 800LX SE Wireless as they're no longer available. Added the Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless as 'Best Budget Plantronics Headset'.
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Jun 16, 2021: Checked the text for accuracy and product availability. There hasn't been a change in our results.
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Feb 18, 2021: Verified that all main picks are currently in stock and represent the best choice for their given category.
Conclusion
Plantronics don't have many products geared towards more casual users, but they still make a few feature-packed, versatile headsets. Models from both their Pro and Go series have easy-to-use controls and well-balanced sound. Unfortunately, their headphones tend to struggle with noise cancelling and don't always have the sleekest designs. However, they provide excellent battery performance and generally feel well-built overall.
Discover our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones.