Do you want the best headset? 
The need for excellent sounding communications is more important today than ever before. When you stop to consider how many people are now actively using applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Skype, RingCentral, Webex, Dialpad, Logmein and others, it’s easy to see why having good image and sound quality is important.
In this blog, I’m going to showcase a new product by Poly. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Poly, they’re the new company that was formed when Plantronics joined forces with Polycom.
Products from both stables are global leaders. Polycom is widely known for their high quality video and audio conferencing solutions. Plantronics has a long history of bringing to market innovative and reliable headsets for work and play.
This new alliance blends their respective core competencies to produce new products to meet the global demands. In this blog I’m going to introduce you to one of them. Specifically, the new Poly Sync 40 speakerphone.
Before I get into the details, I wanted to let you know that I recorded a Youtube product review of the Sync 40. You should check it out here:
In this video you’ll not only be able to see the product, but you’ll be able to hear how it sounds when playing a conference call as well as music. You’ll also be able to hear how a voice sounds when using this device.
So, make sure to check it out, and if you do, please give it a thumbs up if you find the content informative and helpful. You might even consider subscribing to our channel where we are constantly reviewing and comparing the latest headsets, conference phones and webcams. And, when you subscribe, you’ll be first to hear about our free giveaways that we do every Friday.
Ok, let’s see what this new Sync 40 is all about.
First, it’s important to know that the Sync family of speakerphones comes in three sizes; small, medium and large. Specifically, the Sync 20 is the smallest of the group, followed
by the Sync 40 and the largest of the bunch is the Sync 60. This blog will only cover the Sync 40.
What size room is the Sync 40 best suited for?
According to Poly, the Sync 40 is best suited for rooms up to about 16 feet by 16 feet (5 meters by 5 meters). The device has 3 built-in microphones and an oversize loudspeaker, so it’s pretty capable in clearly picking up speakers' voices as well as allowing the far end to be heard well.
You can extend the reach of this speakerphone by connecting two of the Sync 40’s together. More on this in a moment.
How many people can you have on a call?
In a typical setting, the Poly Sync 40 works well when you have up to about 5 people. That number can vary depending on the size of room, and layout of the table and how the participants are positioned. But in general, you’re in safe territory by deploying the Sync 40 with a group of up to 5.
This number can be expanded when you connect a second Sync 40 to the main unit. The number of microphones goes from 3 to 6, and you have a second loudspeaker too. As you might imagine, these added capabilities help you to bring more people into your conversations because it effectively doubles your reach, and because the two units are connected wirelessly, you can position them where needed. This is very nice because it gives you several ways you can configure your group for optimum effectiveness.
Connecting a second Sync 40 is easy. Simply press the pairing button on the first unit until it shows it’s in the pairing mode, and do the same for the second. This allows them to link up together. This process takes a short amount of time, much like pairing a headset to a mobile phone for example.
I did try to pair a Sync 40 to a Sync 60, but I wasn’t able to get them paired up together. I concluded that Poly designed it that way, and restricted the wireless connection to the Sync 40 only.
Connectivity
The Poly Sync 40 can connect to computers via the included USB cable, which is 3.5 feet long. If your computer is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect it that way as well. You can also connect to a mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth. The Sync 40 uses Bluetooth version 5.1.
Having a portable speakerphone that connects wirelessly, and the ability to add a second unit gives you a lot of flexibility. Not only for use with a desktop or laptop computer, but imagine the use possibilities when connected to a mobile phone? You can literally have an individual, or group meeting anywhere you have a mobile phone connection. Anywhere in your office, at the beach, in a hotel room, relaxing in the backyard to name a few.
Battery Life
You can have the most awesome speakerphone, with impressive features and sound, but if it’s wireless and you don’t have much in the way of talk time, then you really don’t have much.
You’ll be pleased to know that the Poly Sync 40 has a battery that yields up to 30 hours of talk time. As you can see, that’s plenty of power to handle even your longest meetings. Because you have up to 30 hours, you won’t need to recharge the Sync 40 very often either. When you do, the recharge time is 5 hours, which I feel is a bit long, but still manageable.
The Sync 40 has a handy feature that’s built-in. It has a built-in power bank that can be used for things such as recharging a mobile phone. That can prove very useful especially if you’re using the mobile phone for your conference calls. This may seem like a small detail, but in a lot of cases, those small details can make a big difference. To me, this seems like one of those situations.
How much does the Sync 40 weigh?
The short answer is 22 ounces. As smaller, portable speaker phones go, that’s actually fairly stout. When you compare this weight to other models by Jabra and Sennheiser for example, you’ll find that the Sync 40 is heavier and feels well built.
Heavier doesn’t always mean better, but in this case, I do like the fact that it feels more secure and stable when using it. Also, comparing the weight of the Sync 40 to a common object, it’s the same weight as an official Spalding NBA basketball.
Not only does the Sync 40 weigh more than other comparable speakerphones, but it’s a little larger too. Having more available space does allow for things such as larger speakers, more microphones etc.
What tech does the Sync 40 have that helps it to sound good?
Like other portable speaker phones, the Sync 40 is full duplex. This means that your conversations will occur naturally without any clipping of your conversations. It allows for a free flowing conversation just as you would have if you were speaking to someone in person or on the phone.
The Poly Sync 40 also has noise and echo reduction. In the past, this has been referred to as noise suppression, and echo cancellation. Both terms can be a little misleading because they suggest that noise and echo are fully eliminated. I think the term that Poly is using is more accurate in saying that noise and echo are reduced.
Truthfully, the sound is fantastic with no discernable noise or echo detected. I’m confident that if you used the Sync 40 on a voice or video call, you’d come away impressed. It’s a high quality product with high quality sound to match.
A 3 microphone steerable array is a standard feature. This is designed to optimize the voice pickup, and enhance the sound. Those that will appreciate this feature the most are those you’ll be talking with. They won’t have difficulty hearing you, and the sound will be crisp and clear.
The Sync 40 comes with a 50 mm high performance speaker that will enhance your listening experience. It also has bass reflect with dual passive radiators, and loudspeaker frequency response of 75 Hz to 20 Khz. Not being an audiophile, I can honestly say that I have absolutely no idea what this is, but to me, it sounds impressive.
At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter what they call all this stuff. What does matter though is how it sounds, and I can attest to the fact that the Sync 40 sounds very good. So, nice job on the dual passive radiators and loudspeaker frequency response Poly.
Anything sexy or cool about the Sync 40?
Aside from its stunning good looks, the Sync 40 does have that cool factor in the end-to end LED status light bars. During different actions the LED’s light up or scan side-to-side which not only helps to alert you of the activity, but lends a bit of coolness. So, if colored LEDs that light up, change color, scan and span the entire width of the
Sync 40 appeals to you, then you’re in for a visual treat. Being that these LEDs are as wide as they are, it makes it hard to not see them. It’s possible to overlook the light on other products that have a single, small LED.
I do realize that highlighting this might appear to be a stretch. However, lights do make a difference. Just ask anyone who owns, or has been in a car equipped with interior accent lighting. Cool factor? Oh yea!
Is there one model, or are there variants?
The Poly Sync 40 comes in four versions:
- Poly Sync 40, Standard (part number 216874-01)
- *Poly Sync 40, Microsoft Teams (part number 216875-01)
- Poly Sync 40+, Standard (part number 218765-01)
- *Poly Sync 40+, Microsoft Teams (part number 218764-01)
The Sync 40+ models come with the BT600 USB Adapter, for enhanced wireless range, and a more constant audio signal. The BT600 is also handy when used with computers that aren’t Bluetooth enabled. It allows you to not only connect, but connect wirelessly rather than having to plug in the USB cable.
* Microsoft Teams Focus Room Certified
How much does the Sync 40 cost?
The suggested selling price of the Sync 40 is $299.00. However, you can get a nice discount when ordering on our website, using coupon YOUTUBE.
For what you get at this price, I personally feel it’s a good value. You not only get a speaker phone that can connect to your computer via the included USB cable, but you can connect to any Bluetooth enabled computer, mobile phone or tablet wirelessly.
Additionally, you have the expansion option to add a second Sync 40 to double your reach, and add more people to your call. And, not to be ignored is the great sound you’ll get too. A good value? I’d say so.
Warranty
The Poly Sync 40 comes with a 2-year manufacturers warranty. In the past, most devices like this carried with it a 1-year warranty. Recently, that industry standard appears to have extended an additional year. It seems now that a 2-year warranty has become the new standard, which puts the Sync 40 warranty inline with others and this new standard.
Final thoughts
If having a portable, well-built, great sounding, wired/wireless speakerphone for your Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex, Logmein, Dialpad, RingCentral type calls appeals to you, then the new Poly Sync 40 might be for you.
If you like the idea of having a good quality speakerphone for you and your team to use for your meetings, then this may be the perfect product for you. And, if you like the idea of having a speakerphone that allows you to daisy chain a second unit so you can include more people on your call, then the Poly Sync 40 might be the ticket.
And finally, if you like having office technology that sounds as good as it looks, and at a fair and reasonable price, then look no further than the new Sync 40.
If this sounds like I’m sold on this product, you’d be right. I like how it looks. I like how it sounds. I like the controls and USB hub. I like the large LEDs that really get your attention. And, I like the price. So, what’s not to like about it? At the moment, I’m speechless, and that alone says a lot.
