Do you want the best headset? 
Even though wireless headsets have become highly popular among those who spend their working day on the phone or on video calls, not everyone has the available budget to spend on a wireless model.
So if you’re someone who logs a lot of time on a computer for business purposes, or someone who also needs a headset for mobile devices, then this blog’s for you.
A wired headset, when compared to a wireless model, has advantages and disadvantages. Advantages in the sense that it costs less, and a disadvantage because you’re tethered to a cord which some refer to as a ball and chain.
Another advantage of a wired headset is that there’s no battery to charge. Just plug it in and you’re ready to go for as long as you like, and without the worry of forgetting to recharge a battery.
In this blog I’ll be talking about one specific headset that I feel is well worth your time to consider. It’s from the global business headset leader; Poly. The headset I’m referring to is the Poly Blackwire 3225 USB Wired headset.
But, before I get into the nitty gritty of the Blackwire 3225, I wanted to let you know that we recorded a Youtube video where we reviewed this headset.
So if you’re like a lot of other people who prefer to watch video content over reading it, then you’ll want to check this out.
Blackwire 3225 Review + Mic Test Video
If you’re still reading this blog, then let’s find out what this Blackwire 3225 is all about.
It’s Affordable
First off, this is a very affordable headset. It has an MSRP of $79.95 which makes it among the most affordable wired USB headsets on the market. Yes, you can get USB
wired headsets for less, but chances are good that they’ll be made offshore by some no name company. Instead, the Blackwire 3225 is made by a company that’s been a global leader for decades; Poly.
This helps to assure that you won’t be getting a cheap knock off headset, but instead, a well-made headset by a well known company. And that, without a doubt, is not only saying something, but worth something.
Lightweight, so you can go the distance
When it comes to wearing a headset all day, the weight of it can really make a difference as to whether or not it’s comfortable to wear that long. Fortunately, the Poly Blackwire 3225 is light. And by light, I mean lighter than just about any other headset out there.
For example, the mono, C3210 model weighs a mere 3.04 ounces while the duo model C3225 weighs just 4.32 ounces. By business headset standards, these are among the lightest headsets you’ll find. And when it comes to comfort, lighter is always better.
Just to give you a sense of comparison, mono headsets that are considered to be light typically weigh around 6 ounces. We’ve even tested duo headsets that weigh as much as 10 ounces. So when you compare headsets like these to the Poly Blackwire headsets, you should get a sense of appreciation as to how light these headsets really are.
And as this segment title says, you truly can go the distance, which means comfort for all day wearing is assured. So you won’t end your workday with pain and discomfort, which is the main point of having a lightweight headset in the first place.
Bends like Mr. Fantastic
If you’re working in an office right now, take a moment and look around at your coworkers. Take a good look at the different sizes and shapes of everyone’s head. What you’ll notice is there are a lot of differences.
That’s something that makes a one size fits all headset practically non-existent. However, in the Poly Blackwire 3225, you have a headset that can do what might be viewed as a Mr. Fantastic feat.
The headband is made of a soft, flexible material that allows you to bend and twist it so that it adapts to a particular head size/shape. You really should see Drew bending this headset in our review video. If you’d like to check that out, fast forward to 1:13 in the video.
Worth noting is this degree of headband manipulation isn’t something that Poly would recommend, so if you end up buying this headset, do approach this with a bit more caution than what Drew does in the video.
It is however shown this way as a means to illustrate how flexible the headband is. Trust me when I say that just about all other headsets out there can’t be adjusted to this extent. This means you’ll be able to find a comfortable fit even if it isn’t a perfect one right out of the box.
For those of you who currently use a headband style headset and find it to be too tight, or too loose, then the Blackwire 3200 series may be a good solution for you to consider. After all, who has time for a pain in the neck, when your boss is already a pain in the rear?
Inline Controller Buttons
Like most wired USB headsets, there’s an inline controller on the Poly Blackwire 3225. So if you’re wondering what buttons are found on this controller, I’m here to help shed some light on that.
Here are the adjustments you can make using the inline controller:
- Call Answer/Ignore/End/Hold/Redial
- Call mute/unmute
- Volume up/down
All of these features can be accessed directly from the inline controller which makes navigating around calls simple and easy. You can also answer calls from the computer if that’s something that you prefer. You’re not limited to one or the other.
While on the subject of the inline controller, there is something else that’s handy and located on it. Though this is a USB headset, the Blackwire headset cable contains a 3.5mm pin connector that in turn, plugs into the body of the inline controller.
That means, when this is plugged in, you can use it with your computer (Mac or Windows). However, when you unplug the headset from the inline controller, you have a 3.5mm wired headset that can be used with a tablet or mobile phone.
This gives you far more flexibility over wired headset models that provide USB connectivity only. And who doesn’t like more options? I know I do.
Microphone Stuff
Comfort is without a doubt highly important when it comes to headsets. Sound quality is every bit as important too. So how does the Poly Blackwire 3225 do when it comes to professional sound quality, and reducing unwanted background noise? We tested those things, and here’s what I think about the 3225’s sound quality overall.
First off, voice quality is quite good especially when you consider that this is an entry level wired headset. Most entry level headsets struggle to provide good audio quality and noise cancellation.
I didn’t find the 3225 to struggle in the least bit. The voice audio quality was very good, and I might go so far as to say even better than headsets that cost twice as much. This takes me to the subject of noise reduction.
How well did the Blackwire 3225 do to remove background noise? We put it up against these noises:
- Dogs barking
- Office noise
- Blender test (we cranked up a Vitamix blender 2-3 feet away - very noisy)
Frankly, I was impressed with how well this headset did to remove the noise. Headsets aren’t really designed to remove all the noise, but reduce it enough so that it’s not overly noticeable while maintaining good voice quality in spite of all the noise going on in the background.
To that end, the Blackwire 3225 did a surprisingly good job. So if you work where noise is a constant, and your budget is somewhat limited, then the Poly Blackwire 3225 is a headset that you should really consider. The microphone is professional sounding, and the background noise reduction is top notch.
While on the subject of the microphone, it’s not only flexible so it can be properly positioned (should be two fingers width from the corner of your mouth, and just below your lower lip), but the microphone boom arm can be positioned on the left or right side.
Believe it or not, people do have a preference as to which side to place the microphone, and some headsets don’t give you the choice. Fortunately, the Poly Blackwire 3225 allows the microphone to rotate to a full 270 degrees for right or left side positioning.
So if you’re one of those who prefers a microphone on one side or the other, the 3225 will give you that option.
Headset Software
Poly offers software called Plantronics Hub that’s able to be downloaded so you can customize your headset to your preferences, and even update any firmware so your headset is always up to date.
For a fee, there’s Manager Pro that allows you to have visitiblity into every Poly headset across your enterprise. This is great for those IT professionals that are tasked with managing headsets throughout an organization. This can also help to minimize, or even eliminate on-site trips, or trouble tickets.
Final Thoughts
Is the Poly Blackwire 3225 the best thing since sliced bread? Uh, probably not because sliced bread is pretty awesome. But as headsets go, it’s maybe a close second.
Granted there’s no such thing as a perfect headset, but if you’re in search of an affordable, budget friendly wired USB headset that sounds great, reduces noise at a high level, is super comfortable, and gives you some flexibility in connectivity, then this is a headset that you really need to seriously consider.
No, you won’t get Active Noise Cancellation, but keep in mind that this is an entry-level headset.
For the modest price of $79.95, this headset is a great value. But if you want to reduce that modest price even more, I have a special offer for you.
Special Offer
How would you like to save some money on a new Poly Blackwire 3225, or one of the other 3200 headsets? You like saving money, right? Sure you do. So here’s the deal.
Visit our website and find your perfect Poly Blackwire headset. And when checking out, use coupon code BLOG to receive a nice discount on your order.
Want to save even more?
This makes me think of those commercials where they say “wait, there’s more” Well, I guess there is more in this case.
If you, or your team, currently use headsets, and they’re being replaced, where will these old headsets end up?
- In someone’s desk drawer?
- In a box in a closet?
- In an e-waste bin in the warehouse?
Why not turn those old headsets into cash or credit towards new ones? They can be worth up to $80.00 each which can go a long way to lowering your new headset price.
