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Sound Quality
When determining the overall standards of a Bluetooth headset, nothing is more important than sound quality. So, in the case of the Plantronics Voyager 520, I am afraid I have mixed reviews.
With regards to incoming sound, the quality offered by the Voyager 520 was crystal clear with no noticeable interference. I tested the headset while playing music, while driving in heavy traffic, and within a noisy office environment.
While using the Voyager 520 on my VX8100, I received many complaints from callers on the other end that the sound quality was poor and that there was a lot of interference. However, when I switched over to “the V”, I never received any complaints from callers on the other end. For the most part, nobody even knew I was using a Bluetooth headset. However, when talking in noisy environments, callers said they could hear noticeable interference, but this is usually the case with or without a headset. So, from the standpoint of outgoing sound quality, the Voyager 520 demonstrated excellent performance when using the right phone. I don’t mean to condemn the VX8100, but in this case it did not pair well with the Voyager 520 headset.
Range
The Plantronics Voyager 520’s user manual states the device will offer a wireless range of up to 33 feet. My tests showed this claim to be very accurate. When using the headset with the VX8100 handset, I achieved a range of up to 30 feet before the signal began to degrade. However, while using the headset with “the V”, the range I achieved was even better, up to 35 feet. At that range, the headset’s signal also remained strong even when traveling through several walls.
Conclusion
The Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset met my expectations from Plantronics as an industry leader in Bluetooth technology development. The Voyager 520 operated exceptionally and the functions were simple and provided optimal call control, even when using more than one Bluetooth device. The design of the headset is eye-catching and the Voyager 520 was comfortable and light on and off the ear. Above all else the headset’s performance is my biggest concern, while it operated beautifully on the slightly newer model “the V,” the performance was not as good as I was hoping for on the phone that I originally tested it on, my VX8100. I would recommend the device if you know that your phone has superior Bluetooth technology, but if your phone is a little older or if you have any trouble with Bluetooth connectivity I would be a little tentative about choosing the Voyager 520 from Plantronics.
Pros - Great sound quality, for callers on both ends
- Intuitive operation
- Above average battery life, and convenient charging options
- Comfortable fit
- Sleek, modern design
Cons
- Earpiece size and shape isn’t adjustable (may not fit all users)
- Didn’t perform well on slightly older phone
