Plantronics Voyager 520
Manufacturer: Plantronics, Inc. Part number: VOYAGER 520
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset has a comfortable fit, easy-to-use controls, and solid performance, all at a good price.
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CNET editors' review
Plantronics Voyager 520 price range: $37.99 - $93.95
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 08/27/2007
The good: The Plantronics Voyager 520 is a very comfortable and lightweight Bluetooth headset with excellent call quality. It's also quite affordable.
The bad: The Plantronics Voyager 520 looks a tad dull, and its volume toggle was a little tricky to use.
The bottom line: The Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset has a comfortable fit, easy-to-use controls, and solid performance, all at a good price.
As we mentioned, the Voyager 520 has a dramatically different look from that of the Voyager 510. Going for a more contemporary look and eschewing the Borg-like design of the 510, the Voyager 520 has a simple tear-drop Bluetooth headset design. It is long and narrow, measuring about 2.5x0.7x0.5 inches and weighing close to 0.63 ounce. We can't say we're too thrilled with the style of the headset, since it does look a little conspicuous when you're wearing it, and the black-and-silver color scheme is a tad dull.
But the design isn't the important thing--it's the fit and comfort that count. And it's here that the Voyager 520 shines. Behind the headset is a simple in-ear earpiece that sits comfortably just inside the ear canal without any discomfort. The Voyager 520 also has an ear hook that's made out of a really flexible silicone material, and it can rotate to fit either ear. We were able to wear the headset for hours without any problems at all.
Probably our only real gripe with the Voyager 520 has to do with the multifunction toggle, which can be pressed down for handling calls, and acts as a volume rocker when moved up and down. Pressing it down was easy enough, since it juts out above the surface of the headset. However, toggling the rocker up and down can be a tad tricky. The switch often felt quite stiff, and sometimes our fingers would slip off the rocker when trying to move it. Above the toggle is an LED that glows blue or red depending on the function.
Unlike the Voyager 510, the Plantronics Voyager 520 doesn't come with too many extraneous accessories aside from a charger and a charging cradle. You can, however, purchase additional accessories from Plantronics.
We tested the Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset with the BlackBerry Pearl. The pairing process went very smoothly, especially thanks to Plantronics' QuickPair system that automatically sets the Voyager 520 to pairing mode the moment it's turned on. Once it's paired, the QuickPair mode will remain inactive until the devices have been unpaired. Call quality was really good, probably thanks to Plantronics' AudioIQ technology that reduces background noise and enhances the sound of the natural voice. There was some disturbance in windy environments, but it wasn't too serious.
Other features of the Plantronics Voyager 520 include the typical ability to answer, receive, and end calls; last number redial; voice dial support; the ability to transfer calls from the headset to the phone and vice versa; as well as a battery indicator. You can also pair it with more than one Bluetooth device, then toggle between the two with the Voyager 520's MultiPoint technology. The Voyager 520 has a rated battery life of 8 hours of talk time and a promised standby time of 7.5 days.
User reviews
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Quite impressed; an outstanding value in a small, comfortable earpiece that doesn't look too flashy
by dutchvliet on September 28, 2007
Pros: Conversation quality on both ends in various environments; lightweight and comfortable; easy pairing
Cons: A bit difficult to adjust volume during a call with one hand
Summary: I purchased the 520 after having troubles with five different devices that wouldn't work properly with my Moto Q. I borrowed a friend's older 320 and it worked, ...
Summary: I purchased the 520 after having troubles with five different devices that wouldn't work properly with my Moto Q. I borrowed a friend's older 320 and it worked, but the mic was uni-directional and there was no noise canceling or wind screen. I looked at some of the higher-end Plantronics devices, but was worried about customer reviews regarding charging.
I picked up the 520 almost as soon as it was released and have very few negative comments. It is lightweight and very comfortable. I like the small "hook" on the earpiece as it makes the device feel more stable. The earhook sort of snaps into place, keeping the device close to your face. I noticed that the editors thought it was a bit dull in appearance. I enjoy wearing a device that doesn't make me look like I belong in a sci-fi movie or like I'm a telemarketer.
I've used it in many different environments including times of high wind, where it performed as good or better than any other device I've used (I've used bluetooth earpieces for over four years). I listen to mp3's softly while I work in my office through my 520 and I still get a day's and night's use out of a charge (wish I could say the same for my Q!) and have no issues with comfort.
I've had no complaints from people on the other end about sound quality, and when I ask they say that they can't tell that I'm using an earpiece at all. For my part, I can hear their voices very well, even with a lot of background noises around me.
Impressive... most impressive.17 out of 17 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent performer!
by ShelW on October 8, 2007
Pros: Sound quality, noise/wind reduction, comfort
Cons: No USB connection for charging
Summary: This is an excellent bluetooth headset. Very comfortable to wear... soft rubber hook, ear bud is also soft and comfortable to use, while blocking out external noise.
Battery life is ...Summary: This is an excellent bluetooth headset. Very comfortable to wear... soft rubber hook, ear bud is also soft and comfortable to use, while blocking out external noise.
Battery life is exceptional... easily lasts two, three days of heavy use.
While not the smallest headset, the 520 delivers on sound quality in both directions, comfort and battery life. Also, the multi function button, used to change volume levels as well as receive/disconnect/transfer calls and activate voice dialing is a good size, and easy to access.
Check this one out... you won't be disappointed!4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works well generally, but painful.
by wesmain on October 14, 2007
Pros: Good sound, broad volume range
Cons: Static. People complain that I sound distant, like I'm using speakerphone. Earbud hurts after more than a few minutes.
Summary: The problem with the sound quality may be a result of the bluetooth on my cell phone (a motorola RIZR). Can't say for sure, I'd need to try ...
Summary: The problem with the sound quality may be a result of the bluetooth on my cell phone (a motorola RIZR). Can't say for sure, I'd need to try it on another phone. But the earbud, the part that sticks into your ear, becomes quiet painful for me after more than a few mintues. It's just too big and wide. I wish it had different size earbuds like some headphones do.
I will say that the volume is good, I can hear others well. It also does not bounce around as much as my old earpeice, one that does not have an earbud that sticks into your ear. It stays in place as you move around.6 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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works well with htc mogul ppc 6800
by tbrown75 on October 3, 2007
Pros: works as advertised
Cons: little low on volume on user's side
Summary: I just upgraded to the htc mogul from a nokia 6255i and realized that the mogul did not get along with my old motorola h500 bluetooth headset. I decided to ...
Summary: I just upgraded to the htc mogul from a nokia 6255i and realized that the mogul did not get along with my old motorola h500 bluetooth headset. I decided to do some research and there were lots of posts complaining about the mogul's bluetooth stack blah blah blah. I decided to see what the Voyager would do for me and I can't complain. For this particular phone, there may be many bluetooth headsets that do not work well (I owned one), but I can say the voyager 520 is great so far, even in my noisy honda civic at 65 mph (haven't been any faster yet). It may simply be the fact that it uses bluetooth 2.0 which the phone likes. I can say that the voyager is very comfortable for my ear, but everyone is built differently.
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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excellent best one i have seen yet!
by 4cefedtsi on September 21, 2007
Pros: great noise cancellation!,lightweight , VERY comfortable.
Cons: the buttons on the side need tobe pressed kind of hard and are a tad annoying
Summary: this is the first i have owned and i love it. i originally bought it just to wear in the car and i dont have a/c so my windows ...
Summary: this is the first i have owned and i love it. i originally bought it just to wear in the car and i dont have a/c so my windows are always down. even with the windows down people can hear me very clearly and w/ the noise cancelaion i can hear them! truley one of the best on the market. A+++++
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Can I get a what what???
by sonuchi on January 6, 2008
Pros: lightweight, small, easy to understand and connect
Cons: static, hard for people to hear in car, pain in ear after use, noise cancellation bad
Summary: I thought this was a pretty good headset when I got it but after using it for about 2 months I've noticed a lot of things that just get ...
Summary: I thought this was a pretty good headset when I got it but after using it for about 2 months I've noticed a lot of things that just get to me. When I'm in the vehicle people can't hear me the greatest. When I'm in my home it's ok but the weirdest thing is that when I put my phone in my pocket or start to walk away from it about 10 ft I start to get static. This product doesn't really stick to it's proclaimed 30 feet of usage. I'm actually planning to return this in the next few days just because I'm not truly satisfied with it. Overall, this is my first headset but that won't make me stop using them. One bad experience doesn't make this a horrible one.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Exceeded expectations - glad I got it!
by mcsmasher on March 16, 2009
Pros: Good sound quality, lightweight, comfortable, battery life lasts fairly long.
Cons: Some noice cancellation issues; activation is a little confusing
Summary: Let me preface my comments by saying this is my first Bluetooth headset. Having said that, for price and ease of use considerations, I'm really glad I purchased the ...
Summary: Let me preface my comments by saying this is my first Bluetooth headset. Having said that, for price and ease of use considerations, I'm really glad I purchased the v520. I got a great deal through one of CNet's advertisers - $33.99 with free shipping (this thing costs $70 at WalMart!). I found no problems with the comfort of the ear bud or the rubber over-the-ear loop. In fact, sometimes I forget I'm wearing it. Call quality is very good. One of the reviews on here complains about not being able to hear when walking behind a wall....well DUH!!! Put your phone in your pocket or clip in on your belt, and the v520 will work fine. Like I mentioned in the "Cons" section, the party on the other end sometimes has issues hearing me when I have the windows down in the car or if I am outside on a windy day, but that's about it. I'm pretty sure when they say "Noise cancellation", they are referring to other people, or loud music, etc and this unit performs as advertised in that regard. Activation is a little confusing so make sure to follow the directions EXACTLY as they are written. So, if you're looking for an inexpensive Bluetooth headset that performs well, the Plantronics v520 is for you. (by the way, the v520 and the v521 are the same thing)
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy To Use
by jms187 on February 14, 2008
Pros: Sound Quality & ease of use
Cons: None found yet
Summary: I owned 2 Motorola Bluetooth units prior to getting this unit. Charged it up & noticed a great improvement the 1st time I used it. The sound quality coming / going ...
Summary: I owned 2 Motorola Bluetooth units prior to getting this unit. Charged it up & noticed a great improvement the 1st time I used it. The sound quality coming / going is great. People complain about 1 unit vs another but I think quality has a couple of determining factors. 1st is the quality of your cellular unit ? cheap cellular equals cheap performance. Don?t blame all the faults on how a Bluetooth performs if the phone is lacking.
How do you take care of your equipment? Were talking electronics here ? not a baseball bat that you can leave outdoors ? let it get wet or abuse it & you will have issues. That includes dropping it & either leaving it in a hot vehicle during the summer or a cold vehicle during the winter.
Expecting too much out of the unit. Trying to use the unit at a rock concert or driving down the highway in a semi truck ? it just isn?t going to sound like your home hardwired telephone. Learn the limits of the technology & then judge the performance of your equipment after that. What works well for one person & their expectations might just be different for another.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not recommended for truck drivers with noisy cabs.
by sivicman on February 5, 2008
Pros: Good ear volume and talk time.
Cons: Terrible background noise and static from people on the receiving end. I thought this product was high priced for something that was made in China
Summary: I drive a semi-truck for a living and the cab is extremely noisy so I purchased this headset because of the noise canceling feature. I could never hear anyone with ...
Summary: I drive a semi-truck for a living and the cab is extremely noisy so I purchased this headset because of the noise canceling feature. I could never hear anyone with my ear bud corded headset with the noise from the engine, exhaust, etc., so I thought with the Bluetooth technology and the ear volume control that this would be the ticket, not so. I could hear a lot better with the Voyager 520 but everyone was complaining to me of the high amount of background noise and static. The talk time seemed to be good, but the noise canceling microphone didn't do it's job. This headset might be ok for people in luxury cars, but for truck drivers forget it.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Does everything I need it to do
Pros: This is my third try at a headset. My first was also a plantronics but I did not like how it sat in my ear and the changable ear pad always fell off and got lost when I put the headset in my pocket. The 520 gives me great sound and I don't lose parts
Cons: The multipurpose button can be tricky but I find it works fine for me to change volume and to answer and hang up calls. I do find it hard to mute but I do that on my phone anyway because I like to see the phone telling me that mute is on.
Summary: After months of study I chose the 520 and I have been very happy with my decision. The fit, sound and distance of this headset are perfect for me. I ...
Summary: After months of study I chose the 520 and I have been very happy with my decision. The fit, sound and distance of this headset are perfect for me. I spend hours on the phone and never feel uncomfortable with the 520 on my ear. I find that often I put the headset on because the quality of sound is better than actually using my phone. I have found that static occures mor often with my LG envy 3 than with my old LG phone but I just have to make sure the phone is not blocked by my body. This only happens when the phone is in it's case on the opposite side of my body.
I forgot to mention that the battery life is stellar and pairing was a breeze!
Updated on Sep 15, 20091 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Plantronics, Inc.
- Part number: VOYAGER 520
- Description: In the car, at the airport, or on the job - Plantronics Voyager 520 delivers business quality audio performance. Noise-canceling microphone filters distracting background noise so you can be easily heard while the innovative windscreen minimizes wind noise. It's user friendly with convenient one-touch call controls and desktop charging cradle. If you use two Bluetooth phones, multipoint technology lets you easily switch between them with the same headset. Versatile design provides a secure fit for all day wearing comfort wherever your meetings take you.
General
- Product Type Headset - Bluetooth 2.0
- Weight 0.6 oz
- Recommended Use Cellular phone
- Additional Features Mute button, Volume control, Voice activated, Answer/end button, Noise canceling circuit
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphone - Monaural
- Headphones Form Factor Over-the-ear
- Headphones Technology Dynamic
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.0
- Bluetooth Profiles Headset Profile (HSP), Hands Free Profile (HFP)
- Sound Output Mode Mono
Microphone
- Type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Battery Headset battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
- Run Time (Up To) 8 hour(s)
- Standby Time 180 hour(s)
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
