Plantronics HW261N Stereo Binaural Headset with Noise Cancelling - Comfortable Office Headphones for Calls, Music & Online Meetings - Perfect for Remote Work & Home Office

Review for: Plantronics SupraPlus Telephone Headset (HW261N binaural and HW251N monaural)OVERVIEW:-----------Here below we compare and discuss the 2 highest-end (sound quality especially) Plantronics wired headsets with noise reduction, SupraPlus vs. EncorePro. Let's begin by noting which models are monaural vs. binaural:SupraPlus HW251N - Monaural (1 earmuff), microphone noise reducingSupraPlus HW261N - Binaural (2 earmuff), microphone noise reducingEncorePro HW291N - Monaural (1 earmuff), microphone noise reducingEncorePro HW301N - Binaural (2 earmuff), microphone noise reducingThe W in the model names stands for WIDEBAND AUDIO for which Plantronics claims improvement in sound clarity, etc., however support says you likely wouldn't detect any difference with or without it with wired headsets. That said, these two headphones are considered to have the BEST SOUND QUALITY OF THE PLANTRONICS LINES WITH NOISE-CANCELING.The N in the model names stands for NOISE-CANCELING technology which I will refer to here mostly as NOISE REDUCTION, that is the noise that comes to the microphone.SIMILARITIES:--------------(1) NOISE REDUCTIONThis is reducing the background noise that comes into the microphone.Plantronics measures microphone noise reduction between 30%-75% for both headsets, so there is no difference there. After testing, however, I think it is much closer to 30%-40% and Plantronics support agreed.As I had heard the noise reduction may be higher for one of the two headsets I did a test and if there is a difference I couldn't tell. I was unable to get frequency distribution vs. noise reduction information, thus I can't say if there is a difference in handling low or high pitched noises. Support says they use the same noise reduction system.Please note that this noise reduction will NOT SILENCE NOR EVEN SEVERELY DROP THE VOLUME of human voices around you. Talking near the headset can certainly still be heard, just at a reduced level. Claims made that conference participants magically can no longer hear loud people around a reviewer and his/her headset should be taken with suspicion. I've tested noises out to around 8' away from the headset. Home office users will want physical separation from household noise and not want to entirely depend on microphone noise reduction.See below in the section "How To Get More Noise Reduction" for how to do just that from these headsets.Calling the headsets "noise-canceling" is perhaps a bit misleading, but to be fair that is the generally accepted name of the technology that does the noise reduction.DIFFERENCES:--------------So other than number of earmuffs, what are some of the other less obvious differences?(1) ADJUSTMENT OF MICROPHONE POSITIONThe EncorePro (HW301N/HW291N) is easier for microphone positioning, however the SupraPlus boom readily bends to accomplish much of the same thing.The EncorePro microphone boom nicely pivots independently of earmuff angle. For perfectionists or particularly large faces, the microphone tip also BOOMS IN AND OUT only with the EncorePro, though I have never used that feature.So, although the SupraPlus boom can be bent to accomplish a similar positioning, the EncorePro positioning method is superior in ease and exact positioning.(2) COMFORT AND FIT/FINISHSo other than microphone positioning, what else can we say about comfort and fit/finish differences?The EncorePro (HW301N/HW291N) has high quality leatherette earmuffs, while the SupraPlus has perfectly fine simple foam earmuffs. Most users trying both told me the EncorePro earmuffs were marginally more comfortable.The EncorePro is a 10% LIGHTER headset (2.5 vs. 2.8 ounces). It has more aluminum and superlight nylon in the build compared to the SupraPlus.Though initially everyone found the EncorePro SLIGHTLY MORE COMFORTABLE than the SupraPlus, as time passed some folks said the EncorePro felt too WOBBLY/INSECURE on the head and switched to SupraPlus. Thus while some might prefer the EncorePro fit, I'm giving the SupraPlus the edge for comfort.I should note that the combination of the leatherette earmuffs and overall fit/finish of the EncorePro LOOKS HIGHER-END. That said, the SupraPlus doesn't look bad at all, just plain Jane compared to the EncorePro.Notes:- You can get LEATHERETTE EARMUFFS SEPARATELY FOR THE SupraPlus (HW251N/HW261N). These are NOT as high quality as those that come with the EncorePro, but folks who tried them out for me marginally prefer them over the foam. It takes a few minutes and some dexterity to replace the foam ones (tested) with one of these fairly inexpensive ear cushions.I love this headset. I work all day taking calls and this headset has never let me down. My customers say they can hear me loud and clear. My only wish for Plantronics is that they would have one that I could have volume control and a mute button on the cord itself. I do have a Amplifier M22 along with the headset, although, I have had the M22 replaced 2x now, I am not super happy with it. The first one I could hear my customers loud and clear but they could not hear me. The second one my customers could hear my great like we were sitting side by side they told me, however, all I could hear was a buzzing noise. I did call back to the Plantronics customer service. They were very helpful the only advise they could give me was keep replacing the M22 until we got it right. I'm going to keep fanagling with it until I am happy. I'm sure it's just user error on my part. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars. Only 4 stars because I think Plantronics can come up with volume and mute options on the cord itself instead of buying the amplifier. I highly suggest this headset.I am a hearing aid user and could not hear clearly through my old headset. I called Plantronics and asked for their recommendation and they recommended either this model or the single earpiece model HW251N. Either of these headsets will activate the telecoil in my hearing aids so that when I put the headset on my hearing aids activate the telecoil and I hear all sounds directly through my hearing aids. The sound is extremely loud and clear. I have to admit it is hard to get used to having the earpieces sitting close to the top of my ear (and it probably looks really strange) but they serve their purpose as I am a teleworker and nobody sees me wear them anyway...My Panasonic cordless deskphone has a 2.5mm headphone adapter so I did have to buy a Plantronics Quick-release cable to make the connection but that's fine. I did ask Plantronics about the amplifier for this headset and they said it wouldn't work with a cordless phone. That said, I can hear clearly and as long as I put the noise-reduction mic near my mouth people tell me they can hear me just fine.I'm not a big reviewer but I felt obligated to post this as I was so happy to find a headset that worked without the hearing aid manufacturer's poor accessories.My employer sent me the single earpiece version and it was always muffled. I purchased this for myself and couldn't be happier! Sound is crisp and clear, the headset is very light weight and comfortable. It does have the plantronics 4 pin plug so you need an additional piece like the plantronics DA80, which I had anyway. I am very happy with this purchase.ok quality. the mic boom is a little bit short but nothing too bad. however, the ear pads are extremely itchy. in addition after a couple of months they get filled up with crud, dead skin, and sweat and need to be replaced. it does not come with extra pads.I purchased this for work...I can hear clearly but the people I am speaking to say they can hear me clearly at all. I was on a conference call with my employer and a client and my employer call med after the call and told me to throw it out as I was crackly and sounded a million miles away. I have only had it a few weeks so there is no wear and tear.A1 Good product, fast shipping!A little weak on the mic but overall pretty neat product!Work well once I got the proper connection to the phone.