I have spent nearly my entire career in events management and being in this line, you need to be on top of things all the time. So whether you are in the middle of an event setup or receeing a potential venue, negotiations with suppliers, juggling approvals with clients and coordinating with your team never ends.

So given my need to be constantly on the move (back then at least), I’ve purchased my fair share of wireless Bluetooth headsets and I have to say that I’ve not really used one that ticked all the boxes. Some did not fit well and that made me very conscious about moving about too fast. Some did not have good microphones, so I still needed to raise my voice whenever I was on the line at a noisy environment.

Recently, some friends at Plantronics sent me their latest Bluetooth headset for review – The Voyager 5200. So we put this baby to the test!

Besides testing the product myself, I felt that I would be able to provide a better and more honest review by testing the Voyager 5200 with a friend who leads a demanding role in the sales and service line.

CS Tan is a Sales Manager at Eagle Secure Tech – a company noted for their years of experience in providing industrial and residential security solutions, while carrying big names in security products such as ABUS.

On a regular day, CS manages 2 service/retail outlets and to ensure excellent service, he personally sees to customer inquiries and supervises installations of security systems at the homes and offices of some very notable names in Malaysia. This also means that his job requires him to be on call all the time and to be constantly on the move as well, making him the ideal candidate to put the Voyager 5200 to the test.

After testing the device for a week, here are some of the top reasons why you need to get the Voyager 5200 by Plantronics.

1. Convenience

One of the best experience when using the Voyager 5200 is its convenience and the freedom it gives you. If you’ve been dabbling with cabled headphones as your handsfree solution then my friend, you have not yet experienced true freedom. The Voyager is a tangle-free solution designed to make things easy for you, so that you can focus on what’s important.

Been using the Bluetooth headset for a week, but mostly in the car because I would like to drive hands free (for a change). – CS Tan

 2. Six layers of unique WindSmart Technology

When you are a supremely busy person, the last thing you want are things that hinder your performance or productivity. By that I include the elements as well. Your surroundings.

We’ve all been there I suppose. When you have an important call or a potential client on the line and all they can hear is WIND plus the faint, muffled sound of your voice. The Voyager 5200’s WindSmart technology is truly awesome because the device is designed to detect wind direction and adapts accordingly to ensure that your voice comes through clearly.

Superb! No doubt about it, this technology – it’s amazing. – CS Tan

3. Four Noise Cancelling Mics

To couple the WindSmart Technology, the Voyager 5200 is equipped with not 1, not 2, but 4 noise cancelling microphones. Allowing your voice to stand out from unwanted background noise. This makes the Voyager 5200 ideal for all sorts of environments; bustling streets, noisy kopitiams, loud installations…etc.

The best thing I like about this headset is the clarity of the entire conversation. Of course we can’t blame dropped calls to the headset but during conversations every word spoken and heard is crystal clear. – CS Tan

4. All Day Comfort

This device has undergone rigorous testing to ensure that its ergonomic design provides all-day comfort. Now, even though this area may still be debatable but in all fairness,  I don’t think anyone would really wear a bluetooth headset from 9-5. We also understand that its going to be very challenging to be able to create a headset that can comfortably fit every possible ear size and shape in this world.

The device fitted me well with an S size ear plug. Unfortunately, CS couldn’t find an ear plug size that fitted him comfortably so he had to settle.

The headset comes with 3 sizes of ear plugs and I couldn’t really find one that fit me best. The headset also is challenging for people with spectacles to wear. I had to remove the specs, fit the headset etc…- CS Tan

Because this device is worn over your ears for added stability, a down side may be that it can be a hassle for people who wear spectacles. Like CS, you may struggle a little to put the device on as the temples of your glasses get in the way.

5. Smart Sensor Technology

One of the cool things about the Voyager 5200 is its Smart Sensor Technology.  This technology uses contextual intelligence to keep up with you so that you can focus on that important call. There’s no need to fumble to turn your device on or off. That’s what the Smart Sensor is for.

This is another great point about the headset. It knows when it’s on the ear and when it is off it. So while driving, I could just answer the phone just by placing the headset on the ear. – CS Tan

6. Voice Control

With the Voyager 5200, you get to experience the power of your voice. A dedicated voice control button easily activates Siri and Google Now. Whispered alerts update you on talk time, and even announce the names of incoming callers so you can simply say “Answer” or “Ignore” to calls without lifting a finger.

This feature is excellent when you have your hands full. Few of us tried this feature, some worked well the first try but some needed a few tries. Check out what CS has to say (quite funny actually).

The voice command for answering calls is  “Answer”, which is supposed to automatically answer the call for you, but after trying several times… Unser, Arnnnserr, Ant-sir and nothing happened, i figured that it’s not Asian accent proof. – CS Tan

So there you have it. Our tried and tested review on the Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset. Overall, both CS and I agree that this headset gets a THUMBS-UP! Given there are a couple of downsides to the device (which gadget doesn’t anyway), ultimately its their cutting edge noise cancelling, six layers of WindSmart® technology and Smart Sensor technology that trumps all. Nuff said!

Watch the video and you’ll know what I mean.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 retails at RM424.15 (NP: RM499) on Oribags.com. 

Bagsology would like to give a big shout out to CS Tan for being part of this review. If you like to find out more on security solutions for your office or your home, please check out Eagle Secure Tech’s Facebook page or visit their showroom at: