It took me a little while to figure out the best way to start this review.  I mean, this is a great headset and it is very easy to use.  I just couldn’t figure out the best way to convey that sentiment.  And then it hit me, why not give it to my wife to test out.  You have to understand that my wife is a complete technophobe.  She thinks Bluetooth is something that comes from gum disease.  So, if this really is as comfortable and easy to use as it appears, then she should have no trouble at all using it.  That was the plan.  Unfortunately, as they say: the best laid plains of mice and men….When we tried to have Sarah use it deep down in the Bluetooth sub-basement of the JAMM Testing Laboratories…well, no one she tried to call was home.  So, the only feedback she could give was that her mom’s answering machine sounded very nice.  Regardless, if she had tried it, then she probably would have told you how clear it sounded, and how comfortable the earloop was.  So, I will stand in for her and tell you what I think she might have said had she been given more time to test it.

What’s In the Box: You don’t need much to make this headset work, which is great for those of you who are new to the world of Bluetooth headsets.  Essentially, the box includes the headset, an AC charger and a charging cradle.  There are also instructions which will help you connect the charging cradle to the AC adaptor.  Finally, there is a short user guide. 

The only reason I mention it is to note that the user guide comes packaged in a mirrored silver sleeve, which is just about the coolest packaging for any user guide I have ever seen.  Having noted that, we can toss the user guide because no one ever looks at them anyway.

Bluetooth Pairing and Connection: Of course, the first thing you will want to do with the headset (after an initial charge) is pair it to your device.  Plantronics’ Quickpair technology makes this a snap.  The first time you turn on the headset, it will automatically enter pairing mode.  After that, to pair with another device, just hold the button on the face of the headset until the light blinks red and blue (alternating), put your device in pairing mode and just follow the instructions on the screen.

The Voyager 520 features the Bluetooth 2.0 protocol, which means it should maintain a strong connection for up to 33 feet.  I tested this by walking around the house and found it lived up to this expectation exceptionally well.

The most impressive feature with respect to pairing the headset to your device is the new Multipoint Technology.  Typically, when you attempt to maintain an active connection between a Bluetooth headset and two devices simultaneously, the devices will create interference making it difficult to use your headset with either device.  Not so with the Voyager 520.  I connected the headset to both my Sprint Mogul and my wife’s Palm Treo 700wx.  I then tried calling both from our home phone.  The headset was able to recognize which phone was ringing and instantly switch to that connection to answer the call.   One question I did have here was what happens if you are using the headset with one phone and the other phone rings?  Will it automatically revert to the handset speaker?  I tested this out and found that I was able to answer the call on my handset, despite the connection to the Voyager.  If you want to answer the second call from your headset, however, you will need to disconnect the first call and then connect to the second call. 

Fit and Comfort: This was one of the most comfortable headsets I have ever used.  Unlike most Bluetooth headsets, I could leave this one on my ear for hours at a time with no fatigue.  The reason lies in the creative solution for the over-the-ear-loop.

The loop consists of two parts, a straight firm stem which goes in front of your ear, and a flexible rubberized loop, which will hook around your ear.  Because it is made from pliant rubberized plastic, the loop will conform to whatever conditions your ear can conjure for it.  This is contrary to most over-the-ear loops, which require your ear to fit the shape of the loop.  The one problem I did have, however, was the size of the loop itself.  I have fairly small ears and this was a relatively large loop.  It would have been nice if the size of the loop had been more adjustable.  As it was, I constantly found the headset slipping from my ear.

The over-the-ear loop is also on a hinge, which allows it to pivot 360 degrees, or swivel from side to side.  This makes helps adjust it to your ear.  It also means the headset can be quickly swapped from the right ear to the left and back again.

Controls: Or, should I say:control.  Because this headset features a single button that takes care of everything.  I loved this, because it is an acknowledgement of the fact that this thing is going to be hanging off your ear, and you will be trying to access the controls without looking.  If there are too many buttons, this can become quite difficult. 

By utilizing various sequences of pushing and holding this button, you can:

• power the headset on or off
• enter pairing mode
• answer a call
• adjust the volume
• transfer a call to or from your handset

In addition to this lone button, you will also notice a light near the back of the headset.  Of course, this is the infamous blue light, which will blink whenever the headset is in standby mode.  I am still confused by this phenomenon.  Is there some reason that Bluetooth devices must have a blinking blue light?  Really, I find this to be a distracting annoyance.  I hope future headsets will manage the courage to phase out this light.

In addition to showing whether the headset is in standby mode, the light can also be used to learn the battery status (low, charging, fully charged), pairing status, whether your phone is in or out of range, and whether you have missed a call.

That’s it.  Everything you need to know is located either in the light (which can be blue or red) or in the control button.  I like the simplicity of this.

Sound Quality: As I have said in numerous reviews of Bluetooth headsets, it is great when these are comfortable, but that is completely meaningless if you do not have good sound quality.  The Plantronics goes far above and beyond any expectations I may have had in this department.

I have used a number of Plantronics headsets in the past.  The sound quality has always been acceptable, even good, but nothing to make it stand out from the crowded pack of competitors.  That step was finally taken with the Voyager 520 headset.

I found the sound in both the speaker and the microphone was crystal clear.  Both ends feature noise cancellation making it considerably easier for you to hear and be heard.  This includes a hidden wind shield.  Wind noise is one of the largest problems with outdoor use of a Bluetooth headset, and the Voyager handled it extremely well.

As a test for this technology, I took the headset to soccer practice.  My wife stayed with our oldest son while he practiced his soccer skills (or skillz) and I took our younger son over to the adjacent playground to jump, swing, and climb for an hour.  At the end of practice, my wife called to tell us to come over and meet them.  Despite the fact that we were both surrounded by screaming children, we could hear each other perfectly  — as though the kids were somewhere far away and we were talking over a romantic candlelit dinner.  Of course, then my son threw a handful of sand and dirt at me and we were instantly back to reality.

Battery and Power:The Voyager claims to offer  8 hours of talk time or 180 hours of standby time.  In my use of it, I found nothing to challenge the accuracy of this claim.  I really found the battery in this one to be excellent.

The problem I had here was the charger (although it is a fairly nice cradle as you can see above).  As usual, Plantronics has insisted upon a proprietary plug system.  This means that I cannot use it with the Gomadic Quadcharger, and I have to carry an extra plug with me anywhere I travel.  Typically, if I have a choice when I travel between taking a slightly inferior headset with a universal mini or micro USB adaptor, or the Voyager with its proprietary adaptor, I will probably be leaving the Voyager at home. 

Conclusion: Well, I was hoping to use this space to tell you home much my wife loved this headset.  Although, she did say her Mom’s answering machine sounded nice and seemed to think it felt better than most headsets she had tried to wear.  The only downside I had with this one was Plantronics’ continued insistence on utilizing non-standard adaptors in their AC charger.  Otherwise, get ready for that annoying guy in the Verizon commercials, because the next time he pops up in your life with one of those “Can you Hear Me Now?” ads, you will have to play your coolest Tom Cruise, because he will be crystal clear…”Crystal”.

Vital Stats:

Name: Voyager 520 Bluetooth Headset

Manufacturer: Plantronics

Tested With: Sprint Mogul by HTC (WM6) and Treo 700wx (WM5)

Where to Buy: Plantronics

Price: $99.95