Sidetone is one of those subjects that causes people to stop, and scratch their head. That is, unless you’re a savvy audiophile who’s knowledgeable about all things audio related.
For the vast majority of people, the term Sidetone is one that probably leaves them wondering.
- What is sidetone?
- What does it do?
- Why would sidetone be important, or even a topic for discussion?
All good questions.
The shortcut answer about sidetone is that it’s the ability to hear your own voice when speaking. If you cannot hear your voice when talking to someone for example, it makes it hard, or even nearly impossible to know what volume to speak at.
You might end up yelling at someone while thinking you’re speaking normally. Or, you might find yourself speaking quietly to the point where it’s hard to hear you. That’s where sidetone comes into play.
There’s a fair amount of information on the subject, some articles get into a lot of technical details, while others maybe leave you wanting more. Here’s an article written by Iron Horse Trading that discusses sidetone, that I think you might find interesting and informative on this subject.
Also, I wanted you to know that we recorded a short video (less than 1 minute), on the subject of adjusting sidetone on your Poly (formerly Plantronics) headset.
If you’d like to watch that video rather than reading my sidetone rant here, then by all means, check it out below.
If you’re still reading this blog, then here’s the 411 on how to adjust sidetone on your Poly headset.
Step 1
Download the Poly Hub Software
Step 2
Connect your Poly headset to your computer
Step 3
Once your headset is connected to your computer, go to “settings” within the Poly Hub software
Step 4
Go to Ringtones
Step 5
Go to Volume
Step 6
Go to Sidetone. Here you will have the option of selecting low, medium or high. Make your selection
Step 7
Once you’ve made your settings selection (L, M, H), click Apply
That’s it. You’re now a Poly Headset Sidetone Dojo Master, or Guru. Now you can boast to your fellow coworkers of your new status with glowing pride. Well done!
Why you want to download Poly Hub