Plantronics CS520 Wireless Headset

Overview of the Plantronics CS520 Wireless Headset

The latest CS520 is replacing the very good CS361N (now being run out until stocks last). The CS 520 is a binaural wireless headset (the headset has two ear cups) and that puts it in a very unique class. If you spend more than 4 hours a day on the phone, manufacturers suggest using a binaural model. The reason is twin ear cups offer a less fatiguing listener experience, since the sound is distributed equally between the ears so the volume doesn’t need to be as loud.

There is only a small range of binaural headsets and the only other offerings are the run out CS361N, the run out Plantronics SAVI W0350, the latest SAVI 720 and the Sennheiser DW Office Pro 2).

Unlike the other models the Plantronics CS 520 is an office-only wireless headset. This means it cannot connect to your computer, so PC calls and voice recognition applications are out. However, this aside the CS520 is a bulletproof headset that offers excellent sound quality and comfort.

Our advice is there is virtually no difference in pricing between this and the latest SAVI 720 so buy the better W720 or the even better Sennheiser DW Pro 2! If you’re a person buying binaural you understand quality anyway.

The Plantronics CS520 is the work horse of the 500 series. It is tuly a case of function over form. It offers great talk time, a robust build design and it’s even more comfortable being 2 ears. If you’re looking for an over the ear - not over the head wearing style - then go for the CS 540 (also comes with two wearing styles).

The sound quality in the new CS520 headset is superb and incorporates their Enhanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology which is claimed to deliver more natural voice sounds. Plantronics 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 become wireless this may become important.

The CS520 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 2, 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 CS 520 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 during the day!

The Plantronics CS 520 wireless headset also features the “must have” SoundGuard technology. This protects phone users from loud, potentially harmful noises. This ahhpens when ‘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 a feature like this there have been reported cases of people suffering from temporary, even permanent hearing loss. Plantronics SoundGuard means you’ll be protected whenever you are using your CS 520 headset.

The main downfall of all office-only wireless headsets like the Plantonics CS520 (including the discontinued CS361N) is that they don’t work with your computer too. 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 CS520 are simply one trick ponies.

Many people are buying multi-use headsets (computer +office phone) to keep their options open. For around the same money you can look at products like the Plantronics SAVI 720 and the Sennheiser DW Pro 2. 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 W720.

For office only phone applications the Plantronics CS520 is a great binaural headset but it’s not great value!

Look at the prices for yourself. You’d be crazy to not get either the Plantronics SAVI 720 (office + computer + mobile) or the brilliant Sennheiser DW Pro 2 for just a little more. They are better value and offer a whole lot more.