Plantronics .Audio 50 Headset

Author's product rating:   

Reliability	Excellent
Ease of Use	Simple
Quality	Good
Durability	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Lightweight, solid, quality sound, one - ear design, good cable length, inline volume control
Disadvantages:	None I can see !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have to say, the technology market continues to surpise me time and again. I, unlike many of my friends, work on the 'Buy cheap, buy twice' mantra. It's served me well for years, the things I've bought have lasted and lasted - I guess I've always thought you have to pay for quality. Don't get me wrong, I don't jsut buy the most expensive items, but I've always thought there's a happy medium between price, quality and durability.

Few months ago I say on my other headset - yes, that's right I sat on it! Time for a replacement! I searched around for something that would pass my quality checks - I was shocked to discover that there was a monumental gap between cheap and expensive headsets. I was a bit strapped for cash at the time, but I really needed a headset - I do a lot of talking on Skype and Ventrilo, and using speakers for this just really isn't an option. I found this for around £14.99 a few months back and, against all my previous theories, decided to give it a go.

:: Packaging ::

Clear plastic boxing with a cardboard insert - picked mine up from PCWorld, so you can see exactly what your getting. It's one of those ones you have to mutilate and swear at to get open! At least that means it's completely new, I guess.

:: What's In the Box? ::

There's a great little guide about how to plug the headset into your soundcard - I didn't use this myself, but it's aimed at the "technophobe", so this product is accessible to just about everyone. I got a voucher for Skype credit - I can't remember how much it was for, but it was certainly enough to let you try out this new service. It's free to call other Skype PCs, but with credit you can phone mobiles and landlines - worth a try, the quality is pleasantly surprising.

The headset itself, of course! I will get to the details of this next.

:: The Product ::

A single headphone, boom microphone and headband make up the product. There is also an in-line remote control. It all feels really sturdy, not at all like a budget set. Plantronics is a a great brand, blending functionality with durability on all their devices. This one is no exception.

Two connectors, a 3.5mm microphone and a 3.5mm heaphone jack. Some people would prefer a USB connection; but, to be perfectly honest, you can't beat the direct connection. Plus, whereas USB doesn't, this give's the device universal compatibility, - regardless of OS and client program. Works greta for me on Linux!

:: User Experience ::

Make no bones about it, this is a super comfortable headset. The grippy node on the non-headphone end of the headband ensures this won't slip off if you tilt your head forward. Plus, it's lightweight. So when it's in use you will hardly notice it's there. The inline remote control is another great feature - want to say something to someone, but you don't want it heard through the microphone? No problem! The handy "mute" slider allows you to quickly deactivate it. The volume control here is also great for quick adjustments to the listening loudness.

The adjustable headband, featured as you would expect, have enough travel to ensure that with will fit all head sizes. Also, the boom microphone extends outwards or inwards slightly so you can ensure the optimal position for your physics. I've found it fits me great, and although it makes you look like you work in a call-centre, it sure does the job without any fuss! The one-ear design means that you can hear what's going on around you too - this oesn't mean that quality is sacrificed, however. The single earpiece produces great sound and doesn't distort or crackle as some do.

The ear-piece is mounted on a omni-directional hinge - this means that the pad will tilt to suit your headshape and ear position. I've found this to be a feature that ensures complete comfort while using the set.

:: Product Uses ::

Fantastic for Skype, or other internet telephony applications - no drivers required so it's an out-of-the-box-plug-'n'-play device. Other uses include the use of voice recognition software. Tired of using the keyboard, or maybe your getting aches and pains? I've found voice recognition software to be pretty good, and although it's not my input method of choice, I have tried it out with this device and truly it works. As I've said before the microphone is crystal clear, so you won't get problems with poor quality input sound messing around with the software. I also use this for Ventilo and Teamspeak voice chat, and have had no problems there.

:: Overall ::

I know this review is all positive, and it might seem that I'm glossing over any problems - really, I'm not, it genuinely is this fantastic! This is a great all-round headset that will serve you fantastically well - I've had mine for around 3 months now and haven't experienced a problem yet. Better still, the price is one that is affordable and great value: what are you waiting for? This is the best headset you can buy for this price. Period.

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:: Technical Specifications/Feature Summary ::

+ Monaural (single earpeice);
+ Noise cancelling microphone;
+ QuickAdjust telescoping microphone boom;
+ Volume control;
+ Mute control;
+ Swivel-mount ear cushion;
+ Hypoallergenic,soft foam ear cushion;
+ Lightweight, flexible headband Stowable boom;
+ Standard 3.5mm gold-plated plug.

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I hope this has been helpful - any suggestions or comments please let me know! :D