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Download Poly Savi 8220 UC DECT USB Wireless Headset Data Sheet
Download Poly Savi 8220 UC DECT USB Wireless Headset Manual
Poly Savi 8220 UC DECT USB wireless headset is unique as most of the headsets out there for computers are Bluetooth headsets, where this one is DECT, which gives you more range.
In this blog, we will give you an in-depth review along with a microphone sound test so you can see all the features of this Poly wireless headset.
Comfort
The Poly Savi 8220 UC weighs in at 6oz, which is about an iPhone's weight for comparison sake. It feels lightweight when wearing the headset, and I find it comfortable for all-day use 8+ hours.
Most wireless headsets with active noise cancelling features typically weigh almost double and find they are not comfortable after 4+ hours of using them straight.
The picture above is what it looks like wearing it. Don't mind my goofy looking face as it was taken from the full in-depth video above.
The headset's design is made for people who work from their computer and need a Poly Bluetooth headset that is comfortable for all-day use but still has good enough audio and some extra noise cancelling headphones with the ANC feature. (more details on ANC below)
Headband
The headband is made of metal, but they wrapped it with a leather material with what feels like a small amount of foam. When the headset rests on top of the head, it makes it feel more comfortable rather than a piece of metal resting on your head.
The speakers are slightly smaller than other headsets with ANC, but the leather ear cushions are soft and squishy and pleasant to wear. These cushions are not oversized, meaning they don't entirely go over your ears as they rest on top of your ears. Even though the headset rests on your ears, I find it much more comfortable than headsets with larger ear cups.
Rotating Ear Cups
The noise cancelling headphone speakers rotate a full 180 degrees. Everyone has a different size and shape head by having speakers, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your head. Another benefit of having a headset that rotates a full 180 degrees is that you can lay your headset flat on the desk.
Sound Quality
Noise Cancelling Microphone
The Poly DECT headset has a noise cancelling microphone, which can be adjusted to be located close to your mouth for best noise cancelling and sound quality.
We do a microphone test on the video above. Fast forward to 7 minutes into the video, and you can see the quality of sound and noise cancellation microphone.
If noise cancellation is a big concern, you should check out this video on an app you can get on your computer that uses artificial intelligence to remove unwanted noise for your microphone and speakers. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/n6l431KSZt0
Stereo Audio Quality
The dual speakers on this headset cover both of your ears so you can get the best possible sound. I'd say the sound quality on this headset is mid-grade sound, a range of bass and range. Poly designed the headset to have a balance between the weight and sound quality.
Other headsets have a better sound that will give you more bass and more range in sound. The weight of those headsets is almost two times as heavy. I don't find those headsets comfortable for all-day use. After 4+ hours of using them, I find discomfort on my head, and if I wear them too long, I find myself having a headache. The 8220, on the other hand, weighs only 6oz and feels comfortable for all-day use.
Ok, so the sound is mid-grade. Is it good?
In my opinion, if you're an audiophile, you'll be disappointed. Still, for most of us working professionals, we don't need the best audio for music. We need a good sounding headset that is comfortable for all-day use. This headset meets those needs very well. The bass is not flat like much similar headset in this class, and listening to music is still very good.
Overall, I'd say the sound quality is 7/10 based on all the alternative options out there.
If you only care about audio quality for music, you should check out the Bose 700 UC we did an in-depth review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/olOlPEYnJPI
Active Noise Cancelling Headphones (ANC)
What is a bit unique about this Poly Savi 8220 UC USB wireless headset is that it uses DECT 6.0 wireless technology, where most use Bluetooth when connecting to a computer. Not only is it DECT 6.0, but it also has active noise cancelling headphones (ANC), which electronically removes unwanted background noise.
The Poly Savi headset is the only headset on the market that has both DECT and ANC made for professional workers who need all-day comfort and battery life.
Turn a switch on the bottom of the headset speaker to activate the active noise cancelling feature. Noise is one of the leading causes of distractions and an increase in stress. Having ANC helps avoid distractions and reduces stress, which is excellent, and I'd say it helps remove about 30-50% more surrounding noise.
What is ANC (active noise cancelling)?
It is a feature on the headset that uses the microphone hardware built into the headset to remove unwanted background noise electronically. When you wear the headset and turn the ANC feature on, you'll find that you feel like you're more isolated and can hear your music, phone calls, or just more silence.
Do you need even more noise cancellation?
If you need even more noise cancellation in your speakers and microphone, check out this app we did a review on that uses artificial intelligence to remove even more background noise.
Check it out here: https://youtu.be/n6l431KSZt0
Connectivity
The Poly Savi 8220 UC wireless headset connects to the computer ONLY. This headset is not a Bluetooth headset, so it will not connect to mobile phones. It uses a USB-A or USB-C dongle to get it paired to the computer for a wireless range up to 200 feet away from the PC.
To connect to the computer, plug in the USB dongle as pictured in the picture above into the computer. The USB dongle comes pre-paired and will connect automatically and will show with a blue LED light.
The headset will work with any software or audio you do on the computer. One significant advantage of this headset is that you can answer and end calls with the push of a button on your business communication software.
To get remote answering on your business communications software, you will need to download the Plantronics HUB. Some of the software platforms that support this feature are RingCentral, Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft Teams, and many more.
What is remote answering?
Remote answering is a feature that allows you to answer and end calls directly from a button on the headset. When a call comes in, you can wirelessly be up to 300 feet away from the computer and press the answer button on the headset to answer or end the phone call.
Battery Life
The Savi 8220 features a 700mAh battery that boasts a 13 hour talk time battery with up to 2-day standby time. The reality is that this headset is right for professionals who need to be able to use the headset for all-day use but will put it back on the charger after working for the day.
A nice feature of the battery on this headset is that it is replaceable. Many of the Bluetooth wireless headsets similar in functionality do not have a replaceable battery. When your battery runs out, then you have to replace your headset? How does that make sense? Not being able to replace the battery in your headset creates unnecessary waste and impacts our environment negatively.
Luckily, this headset can replace the battery once it wears down and no longer performs the way you would like.
It takes 3 hours for the battery to charge fully.
Wireless Range
DECT 6.0 gives this headset a max wireless range of about 10-20 times further than Bluetooth wireless headsets. Poly rates this headset as 590 feet, but that is a joke because in real-world environments with walls and radio frequencies, you will probably get about 200 feet, which is still much better than all Bluetooth headsets.
Another thing to consider is that if you have an office with many headsets nearby called headset density, DECT allows you to have many devices close by. With Bluetooth, you start to get range and sound degradation when you get near the 50 headsets within proximity. In comparison, the Poly 8220 and DECT wireless headsets can get closer to the 100-200 devices before receiving the same issues.
In regards to wireless range, this headset is the most range that you will get for a headset that connects directly to computers. With my Bluetooth headsets, I can't make it to the refrigerator or coffee pot without losing audio for my calls and music, making me sad. With Poly 8220, I can easily reach my kitchen and coffee, which makes me happy :-).
Design
Poly always designs their products very well, and they didn't miss the mark on this headset either.
The Poly 8220 UC comes included with a charging base with a high gloss finish to it, making it look and feel like it's a premium, well-made product. I like the included charging base as it gives your desk a dedicated spot to place and charge your headset.
The other fit and finishes of the headset look nice with a mix of a metal body, plastic, and rubber accents and a hint of red color to give the headset an excellent visual appeal.
Physical Buttons
The headset has physical buttons around it to give you quick access to adjusting your headset.
- ANC switch (Turn active noise cancelling feature on or off)
- Volume +/- (Rotate the dial on the earpiece to increase/decrease volume)
- Mute
- Play/pause (Answer or end calls with a push of a button)
- Power on/off
Price
The Poly Savi 8220 UC USB wireless headset is priced 20-30% less than the upgraded 8220, which has triple connectivity (Desk phone, USB, Bluetooth). If you only need to connect to just a computer, it is well worth the additional savings to not pay for features you don't want or need..
For the price, this is an excellent value as you get:
- great sound
- quality, noise cancelling microphone
- active noise cancelling headphones
- all-day battery life
- comfort for all-day use
- long wireless range
- replaceable battery
- remote answering for most business communication software
MSRP = $339.95
What's nice is we offer this headset on a month-to-month no contract rental program where you can get it with an unlimited warranty for only $21/mo. you can learn by clicking here
Who is this made for?
The Poly Savi 8220 UC USB wireless headset is made for working professionals who work on the phone for long periods and who don't want noise distractions to focus on their work.
Poly 8220 is for those professionals that use computers for their business calls and meetings. This is not for those traditional VOIP desk phones (corded type).
Who is this NOT made for?
- Someone who wants the best audio quality for music.
- Someone who is looking for a cheap wireless headset.
- Someone who needs to connect to something other than computers.
- Someone who wants one ear open to hear what's going on around them.
Where to buy?
We hope you have found this in-depth review and sound test to help your journey find your next headset.
We are a provider of all the leading headset manufacturers and believe this is a great headset to consider purchasing. We even have it available as a month-to-month rental for only $21 per month. You can learn more by clicking here.
