Poly Headsets (Formerly Plantronics)

Poly and Plantronics: same headsets, newer name

If you are shopping for a Plantronics headset, you are in the right place. Plantronics acquired Polycom, and the combined company took the name Poly. Later, Poly was acquired by Hewlett Packard, so its products are now offered under the HP name. That is why you will see newer models listed as HP Poly, such as the HP Poly Mission USB headsets and the HP Poly Focus 625, next to familiar Plantronics names like the CS540, Savi, Voyager, Blackwire and EncorePro. Our Plantronics Hub vs. Poly Lens guide covers the back story and the software side.

Start with what you will connect to

Poly makes a different family for each kind of workstation, so the first question is what your headset needs to plug into:

• A desk phone: a DECT headset such as the CS540 or a Savi, or a wired EncorePro headset with the right cable for your phone.
• A computer for Teams, Zoom or softphone calls: a wired USB Blackwire or HP Poly Mission, or a Voyager Bluetooth headset with its USB adapter.
• A computer and a mobile phone: a Voyager, which pairs with both.

Not sure whether you need DECT or Bluetooth? Our DECT vs. Bluetooth guide explains the tradeoffs. In short, Bluetooth "would be our first choice for many people", while many DECT headsets are designed to work with business desk phones.

The Poly families, in plain words

Voyager: Bluetooth for your computer and mobile

Voyager headsets connect to your computer through a small USB Bluetooth adapter and pair with your mobile phone at the same time. The Voyager 4320 UC, for example, includes the BT700 USB adapter, connects to both your mobile phone and PC or Mac, and can reach a corded desk phone with the optional Office base, sold separately. It has up to 24 hours of talk time, and you can keep talking over the USB cable while it charges. In our blender test, "you could still hear my voice loud and clear with little to no evidence of noise going on around me." If you want one ear free, the Voyager 4310 UC is the single-ear version.

The HP Poly Focus 625 (the Voyager Focus 6) replaces the Voyager Focus 2. It is a stereo headset with hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC), a hideaway boom, a replaceable battery and magnetic ear cushions, plus a Fold version with a hard case for travel. In our side-by-side test, "the Voyager Focus 6 microphone had noticeably better voice fidelity than the Focus 2." See our Voyager Focus 6 review, or compare every model on our Poly Voyager headsets page.

Prefer an earpiece? The Voyager Legend 50 UC is a lightweight Bluetooth earpiece with up to 10 hours of talk time, and up to 30 hours with its charging case. Should you use the USB adapter or your computer's own Bluetooth? In our Legend 50 microphone test, the mic sounded the same either way. The adapter still gives you a more stable connection and remote call control, and without it you won't have remote call answering in apps like Teams, RingCentral and Zoom.

CS540 and Savi: DECT for desk phones

The CS540 is an office and desk phone headset. It comes with a telephone interface cable, it is very light, and it gives you three wearing styles: earbud, earbud with ear loop, or headband, plus an optional neckband. Its DECT range is up to 350 feet, it gives you 7 hours of talk time, and up to four CS540s can join one base for a conference call. It can also work with a computer through the Discover D315 cable. To answer calls away from your desk, add an HL10 handset lifter or an electronic hook switch (EHS) cable made for your phone model.

Savi is Poly's line of DECT office systems. The Savi 8420 Office connects to your computer, desk phone and mobile phone, adds ANC, and supports conference calls with up to four headsets. Its Bluetooth is housed in the base, though, so you can't take the headset on the go with your mobile. For desk phone cables, lifters and EHS adapters, see our wireless headsets for office phones, where the table lists the part for each phone brand, or check your model in our compatibility guide. Compare DECT models from every brand on our DECT headsets page.

Blackwire and HP Poly Mission: wired USB for computers

Wired USB headsets have no batteries to charge, no wireless connection issues and simple plug-and-play setup, which also makes them easy to standardize across a large team. The Blackwire 3325 is a double-ear USB headset with a USB-C plug, a USB-A adapter and a 3.5 mm plug for mobile devices, and it weighs just 4.6 ounces.

The HP Poly Mission series comes in three steps. The 400 series is the most affordable and suits quieter spaces. The 600 series adds dual microphones, AI noise reduction, larger cushions and a busy light. The 800 series adds active noise canceling, with three microphones on the 815 and four on the 825. As our Mission 400 vs. 600 vs. 800 comparison puts it, choosing "is less about picking the most expensive option and more about matching the headset to your environment." See every model on our HP Poly Mission headsets page, or browse all Poly wired headsets.

EncorePro: quick disconnect for desk phones and call centers

EncorePro headsets end in a quick disconnect (QD) plug. On a phone with a headset port, the QD plugs into a lower cable made for that phone. On a phone without one, it plugs into an amplifier base, and a QD to USB adapter lets the same headset work with softphones. The cable depends on your phone make and model, so check before you order. Our Poly HW540 review covers the convertible model, and our quick disconnect headsets page lists the EncorePro models.

Teams or UC version?

Many Poly headsets, including the Voyager 4320, Legend 50 and Blackwire 3325, come in a Microsoft Teams version and a UC version. If you use Teams exclusively, choose the Teams version. As our Teams vs. UC guide puts it, "If you don't use Microsoft Teams or you use Teams in combination with other call software, go with the UC version." Our Microsoft Teams headsets page lists the Teams models.

Hub or Lens: the software

Older Poly and Plantronics headsets, such as the Savi W740 or CS540, use Plantronics Hub for firmware updates and settings. Newer devices use Poly Lens, which also lets IT teams monitor, update and troubleshoot headsets, speakerphones and phones across an organization.

Comparing Poly with a newer DECT design

If you are replacing a CS540 or Savi and you also work from a computer and mobile, compare the Yealink HA64 Pro. Its DECT and Bluetooth both sit in the headset, so it connects to your computer, desk phone and mobile, and it can be used in the office or on the go. Its DECT range is up to 606 feet. Read HA64 Pro vs. Poly CS540 and HA64 Pro vs. Savi 8200. Our CS540 comparison is also fair to the original: "if your needs are for desk phone use only, the CS540 could be a viable option."

Buying Poly headsets for a team

We quote volume orders, and we accept purchase orders, tax-exempt orders and payment terms for enterprise, government, education and healthcare teams. Get a team quote. Teams of 10 or more can also use our Managed Hardware Program, with one flat monthly fee per seat, quoted for your team, and replacements that ship first.

Still not sure?

Tell us your phone system, your computer setup and how noisy your space is, and an advisor will match you with the right Poly model and the parts it needs. Talk to an Advisor.