Plantronics Voyager Pro UC

Sound quality

Continues the excellent sound quality of its predecessors. Reviewers agree that the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC possesses excellent sound quality, on a par with its highly rated predecessor, the Voyager Pro Plus. The incoming voice is crisp and clear and sounds natural, while the outgoing voice has an only occasional "muddiness" to it. Experts say the noise suppression is also excellent, with no background wind noise, static or hiss. However, PCMag.com's reviewer prefers the noise reduction capability of the Aliph Jawbone Era in his "torture tests."

Comfort

Sets the standard for comfort. Along with the other headsets in the Voyager Pro series, the Voyager Pro UC is "supremely comfortable to wear all day," according to CNET's reviewers. It's designed for long-term use and, while large, is well-balanced and easy to take on and off, even if you wear glasses. The unit comes with two sets of gel earbuds, but one user found that even the smallest earbud cover was too big for his ears. The swiveling microphone sits comfortably in front of the wearer's face and, although it's large, users don't find it invasive.

Usability

Smart technology to sense you're wearing the headset. Using the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC's Smart Sensor technology, you can answer calls just by putting the headset on: It's smart enough to sense when it's being worn. If you don't have your headset close by, it will route calls to your phone and can also turn your PC into a Bluetooth communications hub. However, with the power button placed behind the ear, several reviewers have trouble accessing it comfortably. The volume controls also cause some difficulty, with one user having to pin his ear down to use them. Another negative is that the Voyager Pro UC can't access the Vocalyst web-service that allows for text-to-voice features.

Appearance

Still has the distinctive, if clunky look. The Voyager Pro UC incorporates a behind-the-ear battery pack and a long boom microphone. Plantronics continues to focus on sound quality and comfort over style.

The bottom line

Professional reviewers who test the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC give it high marks for sound quality and comfort, and praise its Smart Sensor technology. The headset also provides excellent noise suppression, plus the ability to integrate your PC, tablet and mobile communications. It's extremely comfortable to wear, and its Smart Sensor technology automatically answers a call while the headset is being worn.