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Features
- Dual microphones use AudioIQ2 technology to cancel background noise
- WindSmart three-way wind noise protection (grooved vents, GORE acoustic fabric, electronic filters)
- Echo cancellation
- Incoming automatic volume adjustment
- Multipoint technology (pairs earpiece to two phones)
- Voice prompts for status alerts (low battery, etc.)
- Charge Lithium Ion battery in 1.5 hours (In earpiece and charging case)
- Up to five hours talk time
- Up to one week of standby time
- Unique charge case stores, protects and recharges your earpiece
- Charge case displays headset and case charge levels on LCD screen
- Weight: 8 grams
- Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR and eSCO
Pairing
I tested the Discovery 975 with Motorola's MOTO W755 Bluetooth mobile phone. The device must first be paired with a phone before it can be used. Before pairing, users may need to read over their mobile phone’s instruction manual to find out how to pair the device from the phone’s side of the Bluetooth communication. Motorola phone users should note that they must first turn on their phones’ Bluetooth radio before pairing it with a Bluetooth device.
Pairing Plantronics’ Discovery 975 with Motorola’s MOTO W755 was straightforward. If you’re experienced in pairing, you will barely even need to read the user guide to do it. Pairing is as easy as turning on both devices, holding down the headset’s call-control button until the indicator flashes red and white, and then using the controls on your phone to locate and select your Discovery 975, which will show up as the code “9xxPlantronics” on your mobile phone. Usually, the mobile phone’s program will prompt users for a security code, which can be found in the Discovery 975 user manual. Once the phone and headset are paired, the headset’s indicator should flash white.
During normal use of the Discovery 975 each day, I connected the headset to my phone with a simple press of the call-control button. The device can easily switch a call to and from a mobile phone during a call by holding the call-control button for two seconds.
Battery Life and Charging
The superior battery life, charging time and the included charging case makes the Plantronics Discovery 975 unparalleled for these functions among Bluetooth headsets. During this reviewer’s tests, I was able to use the Discovery 975 heavily for five days before having to recharge the device. A second week of testing yielded similar results.
First-time users can use a fully charged Discovery 975 within 1.5 hours of taking it out of the box, but even a 30-minute charge will make the device useable. The 1.5-hour charge makes this headset one of the fastest charging in the industry.
As if the short charge time wasn’t enough, the included black leather charging case gives users an additional three charges while they’re on the go, extending the headset’s decent 5 hour talk time and one week standby time by three. That means that a user can use their headset for 15 hours of talking or three weeks of standby before having to recharge it.
Plantronics has designed the Discovery 975 so that the headset can be charged on its own, or inside the charging case. The charging case can also be charged on its own. Amazingly, it only takes 1.5 hours to charge both the charging case and the headset at the same time. This is the same amount of time it takes to charge the headset or carrying case independently.
Users who choose to charge the headset in the charging case can connect the headset directly to a plug inside the case. An LCD screen on the bottom left corner of the charging case’s face indicates how much juice remains for both the charging case and the headset. Once charged, or if needed for use, an ejection button releases the headset from the charging case for easy access. At that point, the LCD screen will show only the charge remaining for the carrying case.
Because of the charging case, users can leave their charging cable at home and simply store the device in the case when it is not in use. The case also protects the headset when it is not in use.
Plantronics uses a micro-USB charging port design for both the headset and the carrying case. The included AC Adapter and the inside of the charging case has a micro-USB plug, while the headset and the outside of the charging case have a micro-USB port. This reviewer does not understand the micro-USB design, when the universal Mini-USB port design works well and adds functionality. A Mini-USB port design would allow users to charge their Bluetooth headset via a computer or an AC adapter. The micro-USB port limits charging options to the AC adapter only, unless users buy a necessary USB-to-micro-USB cable. However, because the micro-USB port resembles the durable Mini-USB port, the Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset and its charging case will likely outlast headsets with different charging port types.
As with all reviews of Bluetooth devices, this reviewer will once again bemoan the fact that users cannot replace the batteries inside their Discovery 975. That means that over time, the Lithium-ion batteries inside the headset and the charging case will wear out, requiring more frequent charges. Eventually, the devices will have to be discarded and replaced. All device makers should take this issue into consideration and, at the very least, offer battery replacement services for people who want to keep using a product they like.
Style and Comfort
The Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset is stylish. As it slants gently from the ear toward the mouth, it looks sleek and attractive. The black leather charging case is also attractive and looks good hanging from a belt loop via an included lanyard. Users may also hang the charging case from a backpack or purse. Unlike the Discovery 655, the modular charging case for the Discovery 975 is useful and attractive.
To improve the charging case, Plantronics should make an expandable lanyard so the case can still connect to a belt buckle but also hang low enough so a user can put it in his or her pocket. A longer lanyard may also assist in this way for users who want to attach it to their backpack or purse. The current lanyard is not long enough.
The medium ear loop fit this reviewer perfectly, and was barely noticeable at first or over time (Large and small ear loops are available and come with the device). The ear loop is designed in a way to keep the headset in the ear. Even after I shook my head from side-to-side and up-and-down, then brushed my ear against my shoulder, the headset did not budge and continued to fit naturally.
Plantronics really got style and comfort right with this device.
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