Plantronics released the Voyager 5200 headset a couple months back, and it has received excellent reviews. PCMag gave it four stars.
“Plantronics Voyager headsets have had excellent voice quality for years. If you have a previous Voyager model like the amazing Legend, you don’t need to replace it with the 5200. But if you’re shopping for a heavy-usage, indoor-outdoor Bluetooth headset right now, the Voyager 5200 is still the benchmark by which we judge the rest, and our Editors’ Choice.”
The review especially praises the tight fit, the long battery life, and the solid noise cancellation features. Chris Davies from SlashGear also likes the 5200 and claims that even with the window down while driving, the headset made things still audible.
“As for audio itself, I dropped the windows and tried making calls while driving, expecting noise to overpower whoever I tried to speak to. Instead, while there was definitely wind noise to contend with, I could still make out the caller and they could hear me, which counts as a win to me.”
After using the Voyager 5200 for the past week, it’s safe to say that the excellent reviews aren’t just hype; the Voyager 5200 not only lets you hear others almost perfectly, but your voice will sound clear and natural as well.
First, it feels good to have put a headset on your ear and have it stay there. Even with some heavy walking, the 5200 didn’t fall off one single time. Second, it feels good to hear every word the other person is saying, especially in a busy area. You may be used to earpieces fitting tightly in your eardrum, but once you try the Voyager, you’ll realize that the 5200 doesn’t need to massage your eardrum in order for it to work. As long as it’s in your ear canal (and it stays there), then you can hear clearly.
There are a lot of buttons on the Voyager 5200 – volume buttons on the top, a power button on the back, and a call button on the boom mic. Unlike other Bluetooth headsets, these buttons are not only easy to reach, but they are also easy to press. You will not have to take the headset off in order to see where the buttons are.
One of the Voyager 5200’s best features is the fact that it knows when it’s on your head or not. If you listen to a podcast and take the 5200 off, everything will be paused. When you receive a phone call and put it back on, the call will be automatically answered.
The Plantronics Hub app for the 5200 isn’t just another companion headset app; it actually works very well and enhances the experience. The app works well when tested with both the iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. If you misplace your Voyager 5200, the app will help you find it. However, the Plantronics Hub app also lets you change different settings such as auto-pause options, mute reminders, etc.
One of the things many people hated about Bluetooth headsets in the last decade was the poor battery life. A headset never failed to go out on someone in the middle of the day because it wasn’t charged enough. Plantronics claims you can get seven hours of battery life with the Voyager 5200, and some tests revealed about six hours and 45 minutes worth of use. Besides, Plantronics also offers an optional battery charging case that delivers two additional complete charges.
The chances of you going back to using a Bluetooth headset are probably about as good as going back to using a Blackberry or another phone with a physical thumbpad. However, the Plantronics Voyager 5200 will prove that not only is a Bluetooth headset still useful, it can also be essential for perfect-sounding phone conversations, especially for someone who is on the go all day.