Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC review

You wake up, look in the mirror and think, “I’m a working person, who needs a pair of headphones that will work for me.” There are numerous headsets that you could choose from, but you want something that’s as versatile as you are. Looks like you’re in luck; the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC headset fits in at home, in the office, at the gym, on the train, and in the coffee shop.

Who is the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC for?

To be frank, these are for anyone jaded by sub-par Bluetooth connectivity. If you fall into this camp, stick around. As per usual, Plantronics sets the bar for office communication technology and general connection stability.

• Office managers: Plantronics’ Class 1 Bluetooth implementation allows for up to 98 feet of travel, which means that your employees will be able to run to the water cooler without disconnecting from their calls. Additionally, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC is certified for Skype for Business. The active noise canceling is great for nearly eliminating room ambiance, and there are both included and additional software options to improve functionality.
• Desk jockeys: If your office space doesn’t provide Bluetooth-enabled headsets, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC is a great option. Aside from the aforementioned features, the headset alerts you when you’re speaking but unwittingly muted. It also vibrates when receiving incoming calls, even if your device is silenced.

What’s it like to use the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC?

The flexible neckband structure is lightweight and comfortable, and a rubberized coating creates just enough friction to prevent it from sliding around. Our version is black and orange—or is it poppy-red? Either way, the alternate colorway option is sand, which could have just as easily been called “egg yolk white.”

Though I’m not yet wed to Bluetooth headphones, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC is well-designed. An elevated multi-function button enables virtual assistant access, and my collarbone accidentally pressed it if my coat was zipped all the way up, pushing the neckband inward. Above are the volume buttons, which are easy to depress. A voice prompt notifies you when the volume is maxed out. To enter pairing mode, push the power button up for two seconds. From there it just takes moments to form a cogent connection.

Opposite of the multi-function button, an orange button toggles wide-band audio and stereo support. In plain English, this means that users with a compatible device can manually toggle HD voice. Further up the neckband is the active noise canceling switch. More on it its effectiveness in the Sound Quality section, but it does a solid job blocking out lower frequencies.

Looking fly as a pair of Jordans, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC headset sports a black and orange-layered grille. Not only does it manage to appear simultaneously professional and dope but the microphones are omnidirectional, so they should effectively pick up your voice while lessening background noise. (More on this later.)

What software features come with the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC?

As we now know, prolonged subjection to loud audio is a surefire way to induce early-onset hearing loss. Plantronics combats this by implementing SoundGuard® DIGITAL, which protects listeners against anything exceeding 118 dBA. It also features G616 anti-startle tech. This detects and mitigates sporadic, sharp increases in signal level, so if a loud pan pangs next to your head, the earphones will attempt to counteract it.

Additionally, IT management can take control with Plantronics Manager Pro. This is sold separately and allows for IT departments to oversee and manage Plantronics-supported devices. They can remotely ­initiate firmware updates and gain insight from acoustic event reports, device usage, and more. Plus, without any appended expense, clients can download Plantronics Hub for Mac, PC, iOS, and Android-enabled devices to customize voice prompt, volume, and general device settings.

How long does the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC battery last?

Charging via micro-USB or cradle requires one and a half hours to top up the 350 mAh lithium-ion battery. Once ready, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC provides 16 hours of playback, nine hours of talk time, and 14 days of standby time. That’s right, these can self-sustain for an entire Shakespearean fortnight. When active noise canceling is on though, the battery is undercut to 10.5 hours of playback time. To get a battery readout, just hold the power switch up for two seconds.

How do you connect the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC?

Reliant solely on Bluetooth 4.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack isn’t an option here. Clear voice prompts to make the initial and subsequent pairing processes a cakewalk. It takes all but ten seconds, max, to complete. Plantronics sensibly enabled SBC and Qualcomm’s aptX Bluetooth codecs. This is ideal for hitch-free communication, as the aptX codec is low latency, removing perceptible audio-visual lag.

Again, Class 1 Bluetooth range allows for up to 98 feet of movement. This works vertically and laterally, as I made sure to roam the putrefied stairwells of my apartment complex while testing the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC. Unlike other Bluetooth headsets, these, as the Pinterest platitude goes, “keep on keeping on” no matter the physical barrier. The nine other Bluetooth-enabled devices in my apartment also failed to pose an issue for the Voyager 6200 UC. Plantronics, props to you.

Multipoint technology—what does it do and how does it benefit an office?

It allows for the simultaneous connecting of two devices and pairing of up to eight, which sounds like overkill… until you remember that we’re in the Golden Age of Bluetooth. Naturally, it comes in handy when switching between the collection of company-provided and personal electronics.

Though the option for eight pairings is great, the most frequently used feature is the ability to simultaneously connect to two devices. Even as someone who works remotely from just a personal laptop and cellphone, switching optimizes workflow and efficiency. I no longer waste time trying to manually connect my devices to no avail.

Does the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC sound good?

Designed to be a versatile headset, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC earphones can “go beyond the office.” Back in my hometown, where the noise level of the local commuter train easily rivals that of an underground rave, the headset is okay. As we’ll get into further down, the active noise-canceling tames low frequencies with ease but falters with sharper sounds, such as the human voice. Passive noise isolation, however, performs rather well, assuming that you take a couple of minutes to find the appropriately sized ear tips.

With active noise canceling on, the sound quality dramatically improves. Though we could get lost in the thick of it, the gist is this: auditory masking is when our perception of sound is limited by other sounds. See, our brains only reserve so much bandwidth for auditory processing, so when we’re surrounded by noise, “unimportant” frequencies are filtered out. Thank evolution, because I’d much rather be able to hear a lion’s roar than a barista steaming milk.

Lows, mids, and highs

In the song Sunday Candy by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, it opens with a rhythmic, 80 bpm piano beat in the key of C Major. The Voyager does a fine job reproducing trumpets without overpowering Jamila Woods and Chance’s harmonies in the gospel-reminiscent ballad.

As one would expect, vocals shine through in the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC frequency response. The song culminates to create unity between Woods, Chance, and the collective choir, and the earphones’ reproduction of the final bars are gorgeous.

Active noise canceling or attempted noise canceling?

As we headphone enthusiasts know, active noise canceling technology can be hit or miss. On cheaper models, audio receives a lazy volume boost with a half-hearted attempt at blocking out ambient noise. That said, the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC’s performance is interesting and will block out some midrange noise but does little to affect very low sound like a nearby A/C unit.

Does the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC have good microphone quality?

Just like the infallible “first date, shoulder counting” trick, there are 1-2-3… 4 of them. The omnidirectional placement optimizes your voice and mitigates superfluous ambience. Initially, I was excited to use these; however, in a blind test, I was unable to tell the difference between the Bose On-Ear Wireless and the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC microphones. Bose uses a dual-mic setup, so there seems to be the disappointing issue of diminishing returns regarding mic quantity.

Should you buy the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC?

If the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC were only available at their original price of $299, I’d be hard-pressed to recommend them. Fortunately, the price has since dropped nearly a whole Benjamin, making them worth it. Though the active noise-canceling struggles to disarm daily chatter, it does a great job reducing room ambience, like air conditioners, refrigerators, and printers that hum in the key of E Major.

Again, if you’re an office manager with the financial liberty to outfit your office with the Plantronics Voyager 6200 UC, their compatibility with Skype for Business, Plantronics Hub, and—if you’re willing to shell out cash—Plantronics Manager Pro make these the pick for office productivity. Extras aside, the dependable connectivity alone is enough to warrant purchasing this headset. And for the John Doe office worker, these are a great investment as well. The earphones—though there’s room for improvement with higher frequency noise-cancelling—are a splendid two-in-one option that performs well in a multitude of environments.