Plantronics Discovery 975
Manufacturer: Plantronics, Inc. Part number: 81640-01
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Despite its finicky controls, the Plantronics Discovery 975 is a stylish headset with a comfortable fit, a great feature set, and excellent call quality.
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CNET editors' review
Plantronics Discovery 975 price range: $106.94 - $143.43
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 08/20/2009
- Released on: 08/20/2009
The good: The Plantronics Discovery 975 is a unique Bluetooth headset that features multipoint, voice prompts, and fantastic audio quality with good noise-canceling and wind-noise resistance. It has a much improved charging case with a battery status indicator.
The bad: The Plantronics Discovery 975 has a hard-to-press multifunction button and the volume key is tiny.
The bottom line: Despite its finicky controls, the Plantronics Discovery 975 is a stylish headset with a comfortable fit, a great feature set, and excellent call quality.
The Plantronics Voyager Pro earned our Editor's Choice award earlier this year for having the best sound quality of any Bluetooth headset we've tried. However, the Voyager Pro was marred by its slightly bulky and unfashionable appearance. The new Plantronics Discovery 975, on the other hand, is a much more stylish Bluetooth headset. It is similar in appearance to its predecessor, the Discovery 925, but features the same noise-canceling properties as the Voyager Pro. It's not quite as comfortable as the Voyager Pro and the buttons are not as easy to use, but the call quality is incredibly good and it comes with a handy charging case that extends its battery life threefold. The Plantronics Discovery 975 is available for $129 retail.
Like the Plantronics Discovery 925, the Discovery 975 looks a lot like a giant hair pin. It also has a square-diamond top like the Discovery 925, but the 975 has faux leather covering on the front. From that square diamond is a long and skinny boom mic, which we think is more stylish than the triangular boom on the 925. Measuring 2.7 inches long by 0.8 inch wide by 0.5 inch thick, the Discovery 975 appears almost like a piece of jewelry when worn. That said, the design may not be for everyone.
At the base of the boom mic, in the middle of the square diamond, is the multifunction call button. On top of it is a very thin LED indicator line that glows white when it is powered up. Since the button is part of the overall boom mic, it requires a bit of pressure to push, which we found annoying. On the top left of the headset is a single volume key. To change the volume, you have to cycle through a few volume levels, instead of being able to increase and decrease like on a normal volume rocker. Not only is the volume button tiny, we would prefer a real volume rocker rather than a single button. The charger jack is on the top right.
Flip the headset around and you'll find an earpiece similar in style to the Discovery 925. It has a nice ear tip gel cover, with a square loop that lets the earpiece sit snugly within the folds of the ear without the use of an ear hook. The Discovery 975 comes with a couple of other ear tip gel sizes for different-size ears. It was incredibly easy to put on and take off, which makes the Discovery 975 great for intermittent use. Do be sure to maneuver it so that the boom mic points toward the mouth for the best performance.
The Discovery 975 has the normal headset features, like answering, ending, and rejecting calls, plus it has voice-dial support, last number redial, call mute, and the capability to transfer calls from the headset to the phone and vice versa. It also has multipoint, which lets you connect up to two different headsets simultaneously. The Discovery 975 also features voice prompts that let you know when you've enabled or disabled call mute, the battery status, plus the Bluetooth connection status. The latter is especially handy when you wander outside your handset's Bluetooth range; the headset will automatically let you know that you've lost the connection.
We also quite like the portable leather charging case that comes with the Discovery 975. It looks a lot like a lipstick case, just as the one for the Discovery 925 did, but this one has an LCD screen that lets you know the battery life of the case and the headset. It also has a Bluetooth icon to show if the headset is connected. We like that it snaps into place securely, and that there's a lever you can press to take it out again. If you like, there's also a clip strap for the case, in case you want to attach it to your purse.
We tested the Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset with the Apple iPhone 3G. The pairing process went quite smoothly, and we didn't even need to enter the PIN code (though this may vary depending on your phone). We have to say we were amazed with the call quality. We tested the Discovery 975 in a variety of environments: in a quiet office, in a moving vehicle, and in front of a desk fan blowing at normal speed. In all of the above situations, we heard our callers without much issue. There was a bit of static noise at times, even in the quietest scenario. We detected a low hum occasionally, as well. Still, callers' voices came through loud and clear.
Our callers said we sounded great. Our voices sounded natural, with plenty of volume in all three situations. When we were in the moving vehicle, they couldn't hear the road or engine noise at all, and didn't know we were in the car. They did detect a bit of radio music in the background, but it was quite faint.
The Plantronics Discovery 975 has the same WindSmart technology as is in the Voyager Pro, and it shows. We were surprised that our callers could still hear us when we were talking right in front of the fan. They said our voice sounded the same, and even though they could hear some wind (saying it sounded like it was raining on a metal roof), they could hear us just fine. Overall, we were incredibly impressed by the noise-canceling and wind-noise resistance on the Discovery 975.
The Plantronics Discovery 975 has a rated battery life of 5 hours talk time and 7 days standby time. The charging case adds an extra 10 hours of talk time.
User reviews
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Top notch product; works exactly as advertised
by wase4711 on August 26, 2009
Pros: Great quality on every part of this package; great sound, easy pairing, very cool charging case, and all my phones paired easily with it
Cons: A bit expensive, but, worth it!
Summary: I have had dozens of BT headsets over the years, and, at this point, this one is the best..Got rid of a Bang and Olufsen for this one, as ...
Summary: I have had dozens of BT headsets over the years, and, at this point, this one is the best..Got rid of a Bang and Olufsen for this one, as its truly better, at 1/3rd the price..and, to JawBone owners, THIS is the one you should have bought!
Take that Jawbone back and get this one, as you wont be sorry!5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Worth every penny!
Pros: The most comfortable BT headset ever, great call quality and noise suppression. Long battery life from the portable charger and great at keeping the headset safe when not in use. The leather insert on the body of the headset is a really nice touch.
Cons: Really can't think of anything so far.
Summary: I've owned several headsets, from older Motorola models to the Aliph Jawbone Original and Jawbone 2 (the latter of which bit the dust when it fell out of my ...
Summary: I've owned several headsets, from older Motorola models to the Aliph Jawbone Original and Jawbone 2 (the latter of which bit the dust when it fell out of my pocket and I ran it over, hilarious and sad at the same time). After reading the reviews on CNet, while I was happy with the call quality, looks and functionality of the Aliphs and was ready to get a Jawbone Prime, the Plantronics caught my attention. Nice look (it has such a slim profile I think it actually looks better than any of the Jawbones), NO EAR LOOP needed and great reviews on call quality and usability, both for the 975 and its predecessors. The portable charging case looked interesting, but thought it might be a little gimmicky - I was wrong; it really helps to extend the battery life of the headset for several weeks. The call quality, loudness, usability and features equal or exceed the Jawbone - mostly what I like is how comfortable it is to wear (the great weakness of the Jawbone, in my opinion), it channels the Blackberry voice dial flawlessly and has an easy to use redial function. What also sealed the deal was this - I drive a convertible and when I've called called with the top down, the person on the other end said they could hear me just fine, loud and clear with very little background noise. I highly recommend this headset!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Plantonics does it again
by Jonathan2521 on September 17, 2009
Pros: great voice quality BOTH from mic and speaker
Cons: seriously nothing
Summary: I have had many headsets. The Plantronics 520 although not stylish was the best until this one. quality is excellent. I thought the little charge box was stupid at first ...
Summary: I have had many headsets. The Plantronics 520 although not stylish was the best until this one. quality is excellent. I thought the little charge box was stupid at first until i used it. You can get 2 to 3 charges out of it. So that means if you charge everything up, use the headset, you can charge it from the box at lease 2 more times before having to plug in. pretty cool. People dont know im using a cell phone. Noise canceling is very good. Speaker quality on receiving end is great. I can not stand headsets that makes people sound like they are talking into tin cans.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good Style, Bad Connection
by tflink on September 8, 2009
Pros: Stylish, good in ear fit, micro USB charger, charging case is nice.
Cons: Bluetooth connectivity to my iPhone produced static and noise.
Summary: I tried a number of headsets and thought this would be the one. Nice size, good in ear fit, stylish. But after multiple attempts to re-pair with my iPhone and ...
Summary: I tried a number of headsets and thought this would be the one. Nice size, good in ear fit, stylish. But after multiple attempts to re-pair with my iPhone and eliminate static between the phone and the headset, I finally returned it to the store. I should mention that I bought a different brand and static is no longer an issue.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sticking with this for a while :)
by skinnyflip on August 26, 2009
Pros: Excellent call quality, portable carrying case, really comfortable, able to charge while still on and receive calls through bluetooth.
Cons: Expensive, bought it for $143 with tax at best buy in Hawaii.
Summary: This headset is my favorite so far. After charging I paired it to my Nokia N82 and called 2 friends that I normally called with my previous headset, the soundid ...
Summary: This headset is my favorite so far. After charging I paired it to my Nokia N82 and called 2 friends that I normally called with my previous headset, the soundid 300. Both callers have said it sounds clearer than my previous headset. Also from my test with recording myself on voicemail while driving 60mph with windows down, I've noticed that wind isn't blocked out, but it is greatly reduced and does not overpower your voice.
Other things that I've notice is that the volume button adjusts the volume on the phone. It goes from muting, then next tap it'll bring the volume bar half way, then next to maximum.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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An extraordinary bluetooth headset
by bleekerbaby on August 25, 2009
Pros: Fit and finish - This thing is comfortable, and looks super slick.
Sound quality - Very impressive sound. Natural, unlike the Jawbone which can sound robotic. Incoming sound is also very clear.
Charging case - Just awesome! I love it.Cons: No cons thus far...Maybe a minor annoyance - the ear gels are tricky to install, but thankfully, it comes pre-installed with the medium one.
Summary: This is the ultimate bluetooth headset, hands down. Basically, you are getting 95% of the Voyager Pro's performance at 50% of the size. Sound quality is rock solid - ...
Summary: This is the ultimate bluetooth headset, hands down. Basically, you are getting 95% of the Voyager Pro's performance at 50% of the size. Sound quality is rock solid - my voice sounds very natural and unprocessed, and incoming volume is loud and clear. Also, it looks awesome, very minimalist design, and it's not gaudy looking like the 925. The result is a very sophisticated and "expensive" looking headset.
The charging case is excellent and much improved over the 925. The LCD screen lights up when first plugged in giving you a clear view of how much charge is remaining. Also, it now includes a landyard so it can very easily be clipped securely on the inside of a purse or briefcase.
925 owners - this headset is definitely worth the upgrade. One thing I noticed on the 925 is that it is impossible to hold a conversation when speaking very low, since the software-based noise cancellation cuts out your voice. On the 975, "talking quietly" is not an issue thanks to the dual mic system. Also, the 975 offers far more superior wind noise cancelation than the 925. I tested this out in my car with the A/C blasting on my face. The person I was talking to said he could hear my voice loud and clear over the sound of the A/C.
I bought my 975 at Best Buy...basically, I walked in, bought it and left.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Product for the Money
by lazybeef on August 22, 2009
Pros: -Small, charging holster, great battery life, easy to operate.
Cons: -Uncomfortable at first, overly simplistic, the volume button either makes it too quiet or too loud, expensive.
Summary: This is my second bluetooth device(had an LG for years until it died in a cup of soda) and I can say I am duly impressed. Plantronics integrated many ...
Summary: This is my second bluetooth device(had an LG for years until it died in a cup of soda) and I can say I am duly impressed. Plantronics integrated many great features into this device and is a pleasure to use. The noise cancellation is a very useful feature, especially when in a car, and It's compact nature allows it to be turned on and used without distracting one from the road. My only complaint is the rather steep price tag and the ear piece is slightly uncomfortable. It seems to wedge in your ear but the natural positioning of it points it too far away from my mouth so in twisting it, it becomes slightly uncomfortable if left in for long periods of time. It does come with several different ear pieces but the problem persists. It does not come with a car charger as other Plantronics products that I looked at do but the holster is capable of charging the headset two or three times fully so there should be no sudden emergency. If you have the money and want a great headset for driving or talking in busy places then I highly recommend this device.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent style but fails at noise-reduction
by Road_Warrior on September 4, 2009
Pros: Excellent style and comfortable fit. Easy to use with main on/off and volume/mute buttons. The extended battery case is also much appreciated and easy to carry, offering a portable charging station for those constantly on the go.
Cons: The headset fails at noise reduction/processing. Under quiet conditions, the reception and sound quality of both receiver and speaker is fine. But those on the other end complain of ambient and wind (e.g., common outdoor conditions) noise.
Summary: I upgraded from a first-generation Jawbone thinking that the Plantronics brand and reputation for this new device would fulfill some of the Jawbone's shortcomings. Unfortunately, the first-gen still outperforms ...
Summary: I upgraded from a first-generation Jawbone thinking that the Plantronics brand and reputation for this new device would fulfill some of the Jawbone's shortcomings. Unfortunately, the first-gen still outperforms the 975 with superior noise-reduction features---an absolute must for those that travel a lot and must chat in busy airports. I was excited to receive this 975 headset today but I must also return it for a full-refund. I will likely choose Aliph's latest Jawbone product.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The best ever bluetooth after voyager pro
by Johnny_Tung on November 19, 2009
Pros: Like Voyager pro, You can talk and hear clearly next to the wall which Jawbone could not do it, It also give a clear conversation even your handphone signal is weak, Which Jawbone fail to do it. It is magic
Cons: Call Button is a bit hard to press but it is ok for me
Summary: I have try more than 10 brand of bluetooh, So far 975, Voyager Pro and 510 is the best. I also have try jawbone and 925, It is not bad ...
Summary: I have try more than 10 brand of bluetooh, So far 975, Voyager Pro and 510 is the best. I also have try jawbone and 925, It is not bad but still not the best because it can't give you a good conversation if your handphone signal is weak
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Impossible to fit!
by tybkatz on November 15, 2009
Pros: Excellent reception and response.
Cons: Cannot use since it will not fit in my ear.
Summary: Useless since it does not fit.
Summary: Useless since it does not fit.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Plantronics, Inc.
- Part number: 81640-01
- Description: The ingeniously simple Discovery 975 offers a custom blend of elegance and advanced technologies to keep you connected clearly, comfortably, and easily. A striking, minimalist design offers the simplicity of one-touch controls, while dual-mic AudioIQ and WindSmart technologies keep your conversations clear, even in harsh conditions.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.1
- Weight 0.3 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Compatible Mobile Devices Universal
- Additional Features AudioIQ, QuickPair, WindSmart, Volume control, Answer/end button, Multipoint technology
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear ear-bud
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.1
- Bluetooth Profiles Headset Profile (HSP), Hands Free Profile (HFP)
- Sound Output Mode Mono
- In-Cord Volume Control Included
Microphone
- Type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories 3 ear tips, Carrying case
- Compliant Standards CE, IC, BQB, ETL, FCC, RoHS, WEEE, C-Tick
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable
- Run Time (Up To) 5 hour(s)
- Standby Time 168 hour(s)
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Plantronics, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Plantronics, Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://plantronics.com/
- Address:
345 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060 - Phone: 831-426-5858
- Fax: 831-426-6098
