Do you want the best headset? 
Jabra just keeps giving us all more and more headset, speakerphone and video conferencing options for use in business, and our personal life.
The blog today is to introduce you to yet another new product to join the expanding Jabra product line. I’m referring to the new Jabra Engage 55 DECT wireless headset.
There aren’t any shortages of wireless Bluetooth headsets. You can find them from all the leading manufacturers, and you can also find them cheaply listed online from lesser known providers.
But what about those who want a wireless headset for business that gives more wireless range, excellent sound quality and comfort? Well, that’s what this blog is about.
This blog will give you a good sense of what the new Jabra Engage 55 is all about. It will also give you the ability to hear how it sounds, and finally, I’ll share with you some tips on how you can save some money when you buy one.
The second thing I need to do is to let you know that we recorded a Youtube review video on the Engage 55 that includes microphone sound tests. So, if you’d rather watch that video over reading this blog, then I’ll provide it below.
Jabra Engage 55 Review + Mic and Speaker Test Video
DECT that can go the distance
For openers, this isn’t your typical wireless headset for business. Today, most of those are Bluetooth, and Bluetooth connected headsets are known to provide limited wireless range. Most are stated to provide up to 100 feet of range where actual usable range is more like 50 - 75 feet.
The Jabra Engage 55 is rated up to 490 feet. I have to say that Math wasn’t one of those subjects that I excelled at in High School, but I’m pretty sure that 490 feet is a lot better than 100.
The Engage 55 will give at home workers more freedom to move around the house. This means you can quiet the dog when the mailman makes that daily delivery. Or for those working in a busy office, you can grab that cup of coffee, talk with a coworker, or even have a conversation with the Warehouse Manager about a shipment.
The point is, the Engage 55 will give you more wireless talk range compared to Bluetooth models. Why is that you ask? Well, the simple answer is it’s not a Bluetooth headset, it’s a DECT headset.
If you’re unfamiliar with the differences between Bluetooth and DECT, then make sure to watch this video where David discusses the differences.
Because the Engage 55 is a DECT headset, you can’t use it with your mobile devices.
For many, that can be a drawback, so it’s important to understand how you’ll use a wireless headset so you’re not left disappointed.
The Engage 55 is designed to work with computers, and it comes with a USB adapter. This USB Adapter has a short, flexible cord that leads to a round adapter. It’s nice having the flexible cord because unlike typical adapters, this one can be bumped around without risking damage.
The bottom line is this; if you’re looking for a wireless headset for use with your computer, and also with your mobile phone or other mobile devices, then the Jabra Engage 55 isn’t your best choice.
But if you’re looking for a wireless headset that gives you long wireless range that will be used with computer based applications, then this may be your next new wireless headset because it’s perfect for that use.
Have it your way
The Jabra Engage 55 gives you the choice of three uniquely different wearing styles:
- Mono, single ear model that’s worn over the head and covers one ear
- Duo, double ear model that’s worn over the head and covers two ears
- And finally, a convertible model that can be worn over the ear, over the head or behind the neck, with all of these different wearing styles included.
So no matter what your wearing preference happens to be, the Jabra Engage has you covered, literally. Some may want both ears covered especially if they’re working in a loud office.
Others may want one ear uncovered so they can hear what’s going on around them. And still others may like the idea of having several different wearing styles all included.
Talk til the cows or chickens come home
If you’re a power user who spends countless hours every day on business calls, then the Engage 55 should be of interest to you. It comes with a battery that’s rated up to 13 hours of talk time.
And though that’s not as robust as many Bluetooth wireless headsets, it’s more than adequate for those who spend their down on calls. After all, who’s on calls for 13 hours a day? Nobody I know.
The battery can be recharged using the charge cradle, or for those who don’t want to bother with that, there’s a USB charge cable too. And by the way, the headset can still be used even when it’s being recharged. This is something that a lot of other wireless headsets can’t do. You may never use it that way, but isn’t it nice to have the option?
Worth noting is the charging cable is USB to micro USB. Now for some, this is a disappointment as they would have preferred a USB C cable instead. And though that is a bit disappointing, it isn’t a deal breaker for most people. Perhaps the next iteration of this headset will come with USB C connectivity. My sense is it will.
Lastly, the battery in the Engage 55 is replaceable. So many headsets today have non-replaceable batteries which means when the battery no longer holds a charge, the headset needs to be replaced.
That can be expensive, and certainly far more expensive than replacing a battery. Fortunately, you’re able to replace the battery in the Engage 55 which means that you’ll save money on expensive replacements.
Comfort stuff
The Jabra Engage 55 can’t be anything other than comfortable. I say this because it’s a very lightweight headset that’s been designed for comfort.
Jabra engineered the headband to have what they call “low clamping force” which keeps the pressure off your head, while at the same time minimizes heat build up too.
Hey, nobody wants a tightly clamped, hot headset right? Clamping…hmm…sounds like your head is in a vice or something. In any case, light clamping sure sounds better than tight clamping.
The headband is adjustable so you can find the fit that’s comfortable for you. The ear cushions are soft and doughnut shaped so they’re comfortable against the ear, and with a hole in the middle, it allows for better airflow which helps to keep heat to a minimum.
If you spend a lot of time on calls, then you’ll surely find this headset to be one that can be worn comfortably all day.
The good, the bad, and the ugly of sound
Honestly, a headset can be comfortable, give you long talk range and a great battery, but if it sounds awful, then where’s the value? Most would give a headset like that a pass. I would too. In business, there’s no time to sound bad.
Your calls are important, and you have a short time to make a good impression and that impression isn’t enhanced when you sound bad.
Fortunately, this isn’t something you need to worry about when it comes to the Jabra Engage 55. We tested this headset, which you can hear on our review video. We tested it for these things;
- Voice quality - how you sound in a quiet environment
- Voice quality - how you sound in a noisy environment
- Noise cancellation - How well the microphone removes unwanted background noise.
In terms of voice quality, the Jabra Engage 55 delivers a solid, crisp and clear sound. This is what you need when on important business calls.
The voice quality was maintained well when we introduced some annoying noises, so high praise for this mic.
Lastly, we threw some loud noises at the microphone to see how well it did to remove them.
The sounds included:
- Office noises (people talking as you’d find in a typical busy office)
- Dogs barking (to replicate what an at home worker might face)
- Blender test (no, most of us aren’t whipping up pitchers of Margaritas or fruit smoothies at our desk, but this noise is a great test of any headset microphone).
All in all, the Jabra Engage 55 did a better than expected job at taming these noises. Not only did it do a good job to substantially reduce these noises, but it didn’t compromise the voice quality while it wrestled with those sounds.
Some headsets we’ve tested in the past have performed well to reduce noise, but caused the voice quality to suffer. We didn’t notice that with the Engage 55, so you should expect a headset that removes noise at a high level, and keeps you sounding professional in the process.
In terms of the ear speakers, you can expect to have excellent audio quality when on your calls. The Engage 55 features wideband audio for natural sounding calls that are crystal clear.
These speakers, though great for your business calls, aren’t your best for personal audio such as listening to music. This headset isn’t designed for that, so if that’s something that’s very important to you, then this may not be your best option. For those needing a good quality headset for business though, this is a good option.
One final comment on sound is that the Engage 55 Adapter is ultra secure because it’s DECT security certified with additional military grade 256 bit encryption. This means that when you’re on a call, and wanting your conversation to be private, it is.
Headset controls
The Jabra Engage 55 allows you to turn up or down the hearing volume. You can also mute, and unmute the microphone, and finally, you can answer and end calls right from the headset on compatible applications.
The Engage 55 also has a built-in busy light to help those around you know when you’re on a call, and not to be interrupted. This helps to improve productivity and helps to keep a more consistent conversation, one without interruptions.
Software downloads
You can download the Jabra Direct or Jabra Xpress software to help keep your headset up to date, or make feature adjustments to help personalize your headset.
Even if you’re in charge of managing a large population of headsets, Jabra software allows you to monitor and manage that population from your desktop. This helps to avoid site visits as well as trouble tickets.
Hearing protection
Can I see a show of hands of those who would like to go deaf while using a headset? Looking….looking…looking. Hmmm…I don’t see any raised hands. That’s because nobody wants to lose their hearing when wearing a headset, or any other time for sure.
The Jabra Engage 55 comes with built-in SafeTone which is comprised of a few different features;
PeakStop - This is a feature that helps to stop sound spikes in their track. Should an unexpected sound spike occur, PeakStop will, well, stop it. Just what you need if you’re hit with one.
IntelliTone - This limits harmful audio exposure and normalizes speech levels as well as provides acoustic shock protection.
When you combine all of these hearing protection features, it should give you peace of mind that Jabra has your back. Or in this case, have your ears.
UC Vs Teams Variant. Which to choose?
If you’re someone who uses Microsoft Teams, but also uses other applications for communicating, then the UC version would be right for you.
If, on the other hand, you use Microsoft Teams exclusively, then for sure you’ll want the MS Teams version. With this headset version you’ll be able to take an incoming call when away from your desk up to the usable range of the headset.
No need to sprint back to your desk to catch a call while risking collisions with coworkers or tripping on cords. Instead, you’ll hear a quiet beep tone in the headset, you can then press a button on the side of the headset to take, and end the call. It’s quick, convenient, and for sure, far less hazardous to your health.
If you want a more detailed answer, check out the video below.
Final thoughts
If you’re someone who wants a wireless headset for use in business, and feels that Bluetooth headsets just don’t give enough wireless range, then the Engage 55 is a solid choice. You’ll get up to 15 times more wireless range, which gives you far more mobility and use options.
The battery is more than adequate for use in a business environment, and it’s light and comfortable for extended use.
It would have been nice if this headset came with a USB C connection, but in spite of this, it remains a solid headset to consider.
You get a great sounding microphone that’s able to reduce unwanted background noise at a high level, so your calls will sound crisp, clear and professional.
The speakers are great for business calls, with the wideband audio, but these speakers aren’t your ideal choice for high end audio for music. In spite of that, this headset wasn’t designed for that use, so keeping it in it’s lane, it does the job just fine.
So between the wireless range, comfort, sound quality, available software, hearing protection, and remote call answering, this is a wireless headset well worth your time to give serious consideration.
Do you like saving money?
Silly question, right? After all, who doesn’t like saving money? Well, if you’re like me, and just about everybody else, then here’s a couple of tips on how you can save some.
Tip # 1
Make sure to use coupon code BLOG when you check out. If you do, you’ll get an additional discount.
Tip # 2
Are you replacing an old headset? If you are, what will you do with the old one that’s being replaced? Put it in your desk drawer? Put it in a box, and banish it to the closet or storeroom? Or maybe you’ll just toss it out in the trash.
You don’t want to do that though. Why not trade in those old headsets for cash or credit instead? It saves you money, and it saves our environment too. A win-win situation.
Oh, and yes, you can use the coupon code and trade-in program together to save you even more. Learn more about this unique headset trade-in program here
Have questions, or need some help?
For whatever reason, maybe the Engage 55 just isn’t for you. If you need help finding a compatible headset, or maybe you just have a question, or need some technical support, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our California based Support Team is available to help you Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST. And no, we won’t be needing your credit card information, and you won’t get a bill in the mail either.
