Plantronics CS510 Wireless Headset

Overview of the Plantronics CS510 Wireless Headset

The latest CS510 is replacing the very popular CS 351N. The CS 510 is a very comfortable, tough and technologically advanced over the head wireless headset – just like the model it replaces.

Unfortunately, at current pricing levels we suggest you save your money and buy something cheaper. Sure the CS510 is a ticks all the bases but at $300+ we think it is still a little overpriced. When you consider it only works with office phones you can currently buy cheaper and better. The GN 9330e is about $80 cheaper and it’s a great headset. Alternatively you can buy the run out WO 300 which is a fantastic headset that does both computer and office phone (cheaper also!).

When stock finally runs out on the discontinued Plantronics WO200 and WO300 models the CS510 will be able to find it’s price level. Until then......do some really smart buying and stick to the GN 9330 or the ridiculously priced run out models. FYI the equivalent new models SAVI 710 and 740 are over $350+!.

The CS510 as well as the other CS540 and CS520 are all designed for your office phone only. Like the discontinued CS351N we think it will soon be one of our customers most popular wireless headsets.

If you’re looking to answer calls away from your desk we also recommend you buy an HL10 handset lifter. This device fits on your telephone base and lifts the hand piece up or down when you push a button on your headset, letting you answer and hang up on calls from anywhere in the office. A handset lifter for this headset is available separately, or as a great value pack.

So let’s start by reviewing.

The Good

The Plantronics CS510 is probably the most functional of the 500 series. It offers the longest talk time, the most durable build design and it’s extremely comfortable. If you’re looking for an over the ear - not over the head wearing style - then go for the CS 540.

The sound quality in all the new CS500 series headsets is excellent and incorporates their Enhanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology which is said to deliver more natural voice sounds. We don’t dispute it but we think you’d have to be in a lab or have canine hearing to pick the difference. They have also cleverly incorporated a new Voice-dedicated DECT™ technology which means that it eliminates interference from wireless networks you may have in the office. As more office devices start to become wireless this may become a very important issue.

The CS510 also offers users noise cancelling. This eliminates much of the background noise in a regular office and really is a must. Like our very popular Sennheiser Pro 1, Pro 2 and DW office, you can also now conference in other headset users (up to 3). This is a brilliant feature in call centres and where a manager may need to get on the line. Plantronics has also given the CS510 an intelligent adaptive power system that increases or reduces power consumption, based on your distance from the base station. This extends battery life and gives you up to 9+ hours talk time so it won’t run out of power on the job!

The Plantronics CS 510 wireless headset also features SoundGuard technology. This protects phone users from loud, potentially harmful noises. This is where ‘acoustic shocks’ are transmitted down phone lines as a result of dangerous customers yelling, blowing whistles, electricity spikes, weather conditions, transmission faults and the like. Without this feature you could potentially suffer from temporary/permanent hearing loss. Plantronics SoundGuard means you’ll be protected whenever you are using your 510 headset.

The Not-So-Good

The main downfall of all office-only wireless headsets like the Plantonics CS540 (including discontinued models like the CS70N, CS351N, CS361N) is that they don’t work on computers. The future of headsets is moving towards voice and computer convergence. This simply means that more people will start to use their headsets for softphone IP applications, VoIP (like Skype) and voice recognition software like Dragon Speak 11 and MacSpeech. Products like the CS510 are one trick ponies.

Many people are buying multi-use headsets to keep their options open, and for just a little more you can look at products like the Plantronics SAVI 710, 720, 740, Jabra Pro 9450 and the awesome Sennheiser DW Office and Sennheiser DW Pro 1. If convergence is in your future, then pay a little more to cover your bases now rather than having to replace your headset down the track. If you’re looking for mobile phone connectivity as well as office and computer then this is also offered by the Savi W740, W710 and W720.

The Verdict

For office only phone applications the Plantronics CS510 is a genuinely good headset. It’s smart, durable and comfortable with great battery life.

The problem we mentioned is that there is better value to be had with the current pricing levels. The GN 9330e is about $90 cheaper and it’s a great headset. Alternatively you can buy the run out Plantronics WO200 which is a fantastic headset that does both computer and office phone (cheaper also!). Or if you want you can even look at the run out CS351N it is replacing which is amazing value at about $250!

Over time when these pricing irregularities iron themselves out we’re sure that the Plantronics CS 510 wireless headset will become one of our top sellers. Until then make the most of the run out specials!