Voyager Focus is an awesome productivity tool.
I spend a good percentage of my day on a computer – and the other percentage on the phone. There are very few days when I don’t have lengthy conference calls and spend my time bouncing back and forth between computer, smartphone, and landline. When I first took the position I’m in two years ago, I had a hard time typing notes because I was having to hold onto a handset at the same time I was participating in a conference call. It’s a difficult balancing act. I was offered a headset, but it was wired and very difficult to use with the phone system. At the beginning of this year, we were making a shift in our phone system to one that included a softphone option that was available on our smartphones. That was when I really decided that I needed a good wireless headset to be efficient and productive. That’s when I was introduced to the Voyager Focus UC Headset by Plantronics.
I had experience with Plantronics as a standard mobile Bluetooth headset company and I’ve always been impressed with their products. They put a lot of thought into their designs and they provide solid products for consumer use. So, when the gorgeous Voyager Focus landed on my desk, I knew that it was something special.
The Voyager Focus UC is a world-class stereo Bluetooth headset with active noise cancelling. It comes equipped with smart sensors, dynamic mute alert, and a long, 12-hour battery life as some of its most prevalent options. I started using the headset right away and have loved every moment with them.
Because I spend so much time on the phone, comfort was a vital importance to me. In fact, aside from the sound quality, comfort is the most important feature I look for in a set of headphones. The ear pads on the Voyager Focus are soft and cushioned. If you wear the headset for long periods of time, you might find that your ears will get warm. I do notice that but only after hours of use. One of the really cool things about the Voyager Focus is that you can listen to music as easily as you can participate in phone calls. When I work, I almost always listen to music. And it’s a seamless transition between enjoying music and talking to clients on a conference call. Because of that, I wear these headphones a lot more than standard headphones and yes, my ears do get hot, but the headphones never, ever cause headaches or any other pains. I wasn’t sure how I would like working with a double-sided headset (both ears being covered), but now I can’t imagine working without them.
The sound quality of these headphones is absolutely phenomenal. No matter what type of audio I listen to – music, movie soundtrack, spoken word, phone conversation – I can always hear a great depth of sound and dynamic range. I’ve never had any complaints from people on the other end of the phone saying they can’t hear me, or understand what I’m saying. The microphone provides HD quality voice audio and has a very nice flip down style so that it is ready to be used when you need it and stored away when you don’t. The active noise cancelling feature is top-notch, too. I feel completely isolated when I’m using them. It’s great for conference calls when you really need to be able to hear the other parties involved. There is very little ambient noise leak-through and voices come through loud and clear.
I have the option of working from home at times and that can become a bit distracting when there are dishwashing and laundry noises going on in the background. The Voyager Focus is a lifesaver for people who work from home. The headphones make it very easy to concentrate on the task/conversation at hand instead of the pots and pans being cleaned in the background.
One of my favorite features of the Voyager Focus headphones is the smart sensor and auto-mute function. Throughout my day, I have face-to-face meetings with colleagues and so I take the headset off before heading to our conference room. In doing so, the audio I’m listening to gets paused. The amazing this is that when you put the headset back on, it starts playing again. This is a very useful mechanism of the headphones. I could have to rush away from my desk and not want to miss any music on my Pandora station. Because of this function, I don’t have to worry about physically pushing ‘pause’. The headphones do it for me.
Another great feature of the Voyager Focus wireless headphones is the charging stand. While this may not be a big deal to some, for me it’s huge. The headset slides into the stand and connectors inside the earpiece provide power to the rest of the headset. It’s a slim, sleek stand that looks good sitting on any desk. I have mine neatly tucked away in the corner of my desk, but it’s still very easy to get to. When I’m done with the headset, I just slide it onto its dock and it charges as well as stores the headset.
I’ve had some really great experiences with this headset. The best part is the multiple types of integration it allows for. I use it regularly with my smartphone. The companion app for the headset is free to download and while you can use the headset with your phone without it, your experience will really benefit from the app connection. You can do things like –
- Customize settings
- Manage smart sensor options
- Check battery level
- Manage your headset call features from your wrist with your smartwatch
Plus, you have the full functionality of the headset. I’ve actually used my smartphone/headset both with and without the app and things like the auto mute feature are not available unless you are using the app.
In case you can’t tell, I’m a huge fan of this headset. It’s really changed the way I work and really increased my productivity level. It’s very easy to use, comfortable, and the Voyager Focus UC really offers a lot in the way of extra features beyond just talking on the phone or listening to music. It’s a great productivity tool and one you will be glad that you have in your office tools.
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For more information, visit plantronics.com/us/product/voyager-focus-uc.
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