Plantronics Voyager Edge review: Worthy buy for superior sound quality

The Plantronics Voyager Edge is a pricey Bluetooth headset that has the features to match. One of the key things that set it apart from other Bluetooth headsets is its peculiar design that does away with the bulk leaving just a thin mouthpiece and a tiny diamond-shaped head.   The Voyager Edge supports A2DP, which means you can also use it to listen to music wirelessly. There’s PBAP support for caller ID and NFC support means you can pair it quickly with a supported phone just by tapping it to the headset.   Performance Sound quality on calls is excellent with sharp clarity in calls made and received by the headset. The headset automatically answers phone calls when you plug it in your ear. It effectively eliminates background noise, which makes it suitable for use even in crowded places. It has built-in volume keys, so you can adjust the volume on calls and music without having to take out your phone.   Plantronics also claims that you can answer a call by just saying “Answer” or “Ignore” to ignore a phonecall, but we found that it does not always detect spoken commands correctly.   [caption id=“attachment_227513” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Portable dock of the Voyager Edge[/caption]   It claims a 10-meter range but, as with most Bluetooth headsets, you’ll notice distortions if there are obstructions such as walls and trees in the vicinity. This affects the sound quality when using the headset around the house. In open areas, the headset works well and stays connected to the phone up to a decent range. The headset does not warn you when you’re moving outside the phone’s range.   Comfort The Voyager Edge cuts on the bulk with just a diamond-shaped head and a slim mouthpiece, which makes it sleeker than the Plantronics Voyager Legend CS we reviewed earlier. With understated looks, it’s a good option if you don’t want draw attention with the device.   [caption id=“attachment_227511” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  The Voyager Edge has an understated design that won’t stand out in the crowd[/caption]   It comes with three interchangeable eartips to suit different ear sizes. The silicone eartips are soft on the ears and, combined with the device’s weight of just nine grams it’s also comfortable to wear for long durations. There’s an optional ear loop for added support when you’re running or sweating it out in the gym.   Ease of use It comes with a charging dock, which adds up to 10 hours to the headset’s battery. The dock has battery indicators of the headset and for its own battery. You can charge the headset and the dock separately, though the dock comes in handy for charging the headset on the go. The dock is small enough to fit easily inside a purse, though a bit too large to slip into your pocket.   [caption id=“attachment_227509” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Battery-level indicators for the headset and the dock[/caption]   The Voyager Edge is easy to use even for first-time users. The instruction manual comes with helpful steps to get you up and running with the device in no time. Pairing via Bluetooth is easy once your phone discovers the headset and the Voyager Edge had no difficulty pairing with either iOS or Android devices. It supports multi-device pairing, too, so you won’t have to re-pair any additional phones.   Price and Verdict If call sound quality is high on your priority list, you won’t be disappointed with the Plantronics Voyager Edge. We also recommend the headset for its comfort fit, noise-eliminating capability and sleek design. The only chink in its armour is that it doesn’t always detect voice commands such as “Answer” and “Ignore” for answering and ignoring calls respectively.   At Rs 7, 490, it’s on the pricier side, but a worthy investment for the superior quality and features.