American Plantronics, now operating as Poly, has followed up its successful Voyager Legend hands-free headset with the new UC 5200 model. The key question is: does it warrant an upgrade for existing users?
If you’re familiar with Bluetooth headsets, particularly in professional settings, you’ve likely encountered the Plantronics Voyager Legend. This headset has been a popular choice, especially in Nordic countries, creating anticipation for an upgraded version. Poly (formerly Plantronics) has responded with the Voyager UC 5200. This new headset boasts several enhancements over its predecessor, including improved Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for enhanced noise reduction, a P2i coating for moisture resistance (protection against sweat and light rain), improved ergonomics, and a charging case for extended battery life.
Visually, the differences are subtle. The headset maintains its compact, flexible design, easily adjustable for use on either ear. Battery life is rated at up to 7 hours on a full charge (our tests yielded approximately 6-6.5 hours). Charging is facilitated via an included microUSB cable, which supports simultaneous charging of both the headset and the charging case. The travel case provides convenient charging, whether stored for travel or readily accessible. The inclusion of the charging case is a valuable addition.
We evaluated the headset in various environments with “HD audio” enabled via the companion app (available as a free download). Feedback on call quality was consistently positive, even in high-noise environments such as a busy street with significant background noise. The microphone’s signal processor utilizes multiple directional inputs to distinguish between voice and ambient noise. This feature proves highly effective for mobile professionals. Even users with mild hearing impairments reported improved clarity when using the headset compared to the built-in microphone on iPhones. The sound quality receives high marks.
The sidetone (hearing your own voice) experience is also commendable, and the silicone eartips provide a comfortable fit. Three different sizes are included; users should experiment to find the largest size that fits comfortably for optimal stability and bass response. While not designed for music listening, the headset provides adequate audio quality for casual listening, such as background music between calls.
Our primary criticism concerns a software issue that affects connectivity with Apple’s Siri. A key benefit of a headset is hands-free operation, enabling voice commands via the microphone. However, voice commands such as “Call the office” or “Send a text message to Kalle” failed in approximately 80% of our attempts, despite repeated pairing attempts and software reinstallation. It is anticipated that this issue will be addressed in a future software or firmware update, at which point we will revise this assessment.
Overall, we are satisfied and impressed with the Poly (Plantronics) Voyager UC 5200. While not heavy headset users previously, the UC 5200 has become a preferred tool for making calls more efficient and improving audio quality for both the user and the recipient. The wireless range is satisfactory (tested up to approximately 10 meters), and battery life is adequate. At the time of this review, the price is approximately 1,200-1,500 SEK including the charging case, representing a reasonable value for the features and build quality. While not the least expensive Bluetooth headset available, it is undoubtedly among the best.
