Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Bluetooth headset review

May 25, 2006
Plantronics 510 USBPlantronics sent me their Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset to review. Unlike any other Bluetooth headsets, the Plantronics Voyager 510 USB Bluetooth headset is the first to simultaneously support both VoIP softphones on your PC and your Bluetooth mobile phone simultaneously -- negating the need to deregister/re-register your Bluetooth connection with the other device. Plantronics is able to do this using their exclusive Multipoint Technology.

Measuring 4.0 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces, the Plantronic Voyager 510 headset is pretty lightweight - after awhile you don't even notice it is there. It is slightly heavier and bulkier than the Motorola HS850 , but I found the Voyager 510-USB much more comfortable on my ear. The Motorola HS850 would often dangle and not stay put.

Many PCs or even laptops don't have built-in Bluetooth, but fortunately, the Voyager 510 USB includes a plug and play Bluetooth USB adapter that works without the need for any software drivers. This enables mobile professionals to engage in one-step hands-free VoIP calling. If you want the ability to perform remote-end answer/hang-up integration with softphones you'll need to install the PerSonoCall application.

The system integrates with enterprise softphone software from leading companies — including Avaya, Cisco, Nortel, Skype, and others — to offer call notification and remote call answering through the headset. It also is compatible with most popular consumer VoIP services, like AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! although it doesn't feature remote call answer with these yet. I tested the ability to remotely answer incoming Skype calls from the 510-USB and it worked without a hitch. On an incoming Skype call from Greg Galitzine I simply pressed the call control button on the 510-USB and the Skype call was accepted. Beauty, eh?

Plantronics USB-510 profile
Profile of the Plantronics Voyager 510 USB Bluetooth Headset

The headset's "smart" technology knows which Bluetooth device you are using and allows you to take calls from any device simply by hitting the button. With the optional Plantronics Bluetooth Deskphone Adapter you can even switch between your office phone and your Bluetooth mobile phone. Thus, you won't need to use a dedicated "landline" phone headset.

The 510 headset features a noise-canceling microphone for clearer conversations and the mic boom swivels to position on either ear. The 510 supports adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) which helps avoid interference from WiFi networks. It supports a hefty 6 hours talk time using the built-in Lithium polymer rechargeable battery and up to 100 hours of standby time.

Plantronics USB-510 front
Front View of the Voyager 510 USB Bluetooth Headset

When you place the headset on the charging base, it automatically turns off the headset and charges it. Fortunately, when you remove the Voyager 510 from the charging base it remembers to turn it back on. Similarly, if you manually shut off the headset (depress power switch for 3s) and then place it on the charger, if you remove the headset from the base, the headset stays off. I wonder if the headset isn't truly "off" when you place the Voyager headset onto the charging base while it is still on? It's probably in a pseudo-sleep mode, but not totally powered off. The difference in charging the battery is probably negligible, so most users will probably keep the headset always turned on even when charging.

Plantronics USB-510 charging base and Bluetooth dongle
Plantronics USB 510 charging base connected to 1 USB port.
Bluetooth dongle connected to PC's 2nd USB port

Button functionality & testing
I had some minor difficulties with the power on/off switch which is very small and located just in front of the volume buttons, and it requires a very hard press. When the headset is on your ear, making a hard button press took a little getting used to. In any case, there are basically three buttons on the headset. The first button is simply a +/- volume button, which happens to be the largest of the three making it easy to adjust the volume.

The 2nd button on the 510 is the small black button I mentioned which toggles the power button (and mute with a quick depress). The power button requires you hold the button for 3s to toggle the power. Well, they advertise in the manual that it's 3 seconds, but I tested it and it's actually 3s to turn on and just 2-2.5s to turn off. The 3s is a tad long to turn on, but useful I suppose to prevent accidentally turning on or off the headset. Of course, like I said, you have to press the power button pretty hard, so I doubt it would be pressed by accident. It probably has more to do with the time it takes to negotiate a connection with the other Bluetooth devices.

The 3rd button on the Voyager is placed where the boom mic meats the ear piece and it is used to call answer or end the call, as well as toggle between your PC Bluetooth connection and your Bluetooth mobile phone. It is also used to activate voice dialing, redial, and other functions.

To activate last number redial you simply double click the call control button. You will hear a high tone for each key press. When you hear a further tone, the last number has been redialed. In addition, when receiving an incoming call you can press and hold the call control button to reject a call. You will hear a tone. When you hear a second tone, the call has been rejected and you can release the button.

Voice Dialing & Call Transfer to other BT device
You can easily perform voice dialing supported by your mobile phone by pressing and holding the call control button for 2 seconds until you hear a second tone. Then you can speak the name of the person you wish to reach. Switching a call from your mobile phone to the headset is pretty straightforward. You simply briefly press the call control button. Switching a call from the headset back to the phone requires a slighly longer button press until you hear a tone indicating the transfer has been complete. I was able to listen to streaming music on the 510-USB, hear beeps in the headset that an incoming call was coming in, and then press the call control to answer the call.

Features
Pros
- Lightweight
- Flexible and foldable to stow in pocket
- Cool charging base
- Excellent Sound Quality
- Comes with 3 different sized ear pieces for the best fit
- Includes a small portable USB Bluetooth "dongle" to Bluetooth-enable any PC/laptop
- Range performance was good - better than other BT headsets I have tested

Cons
- Too dependent on the time a button is depressed for some functionality - another button to take the load of one of the features might be good
- Power switch is small and hard to depress
- USB Bluetooth dongle doesn't have a key ring to put in on your keychain
- Can switch from listening to PC audio (music or Skype call) to an incoming mobile phone call,  however if you switch from the mobile phone to your PC (music or Skype call), it ends the mobile phone call. I wish there was a way to switch to the PC (put caller on hold) without disconnecting the mobile phone call.

Conclusion
The Plantronics Voyager 510 USB is one of the best if not the best Bluetooth headset you can buy, period. Its ability to register with both your PC's audio software applications (including VoIP) and your Bluetooth-enabled phone is a key differentiating factor. The audio quality was very good and the headset itself is very flexible making it very comfortable to wear. I didn't have any issues with the headset losing the Bluetooth connection (cutting out) at all and the range is very good. I highly recommend the Voyager 510 USB.

The Voyager 510 USB Bluetooth headset is available on Amazon for just $47.99 if you just need the headset to have access to a Bluetooth mobile phone. If you need the optional USB Bluetooth dongle/transmitter for PC-connectivity (VoIP, iTunes, other sound apps) then you can also pick it up on Amazon for about $179 (originally $299). Some PC's come with Bluetooth adaptors, or you may already have a USB Bluetooth dongle - though I'm not sure how well Plantronic's multipoint technology works if you use a 3rd party Bluetooth dongle. Best bet is to pay the $179 for both the headset and the Plantronics USB Bluetooth adaptor.

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Tracked on March 6, 2007 12:28 PM

Comments to Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Bluetooth headset review


  1. nicolas :
    June 15, 2006 12:00 PM

    i want to buy The Voyager 510-USB Bluetooth headset, where can i but it. (any country)
    specially eeuu, miami or spain or argentina.
    i am in uruguay.
    replay me as soon as posible.


  1. Plantronics Voyager 510-USB :
    June 20, 2006 4:48 PM

    They are now shipping in the USA...


  1. sophia :
    August 27, 2006 2:53 PM

    Have you been able to use this as a headset with other non Skype applications? Looks like a great deal, but I need it as a headset to use with PC applications.


  1. Tom Keating[TypeKey Profile Page] :
    August 29, 2006 1:08 PM

    Yes. As I wrote above, "It also is compatible with most popular consumer VoIP services, like AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! although it doesn't feature remote call answer with these yet."

    Thus, it will work with ANY PC audio application - VoIP or otherwise. BUT, don't expect the ability to integrate with VoIP application just yet. (press headset button and the application will answer the call) They're working on it. Right now, only Skype works as far as automatically answering from the Voyager 510.

    if you simply want to listen to your MP3s using Real or Media Player, then yes, the Voyager 510 will work just fine.


  1. James :
    September 5, 2006 12:03 PM

    Thanks for your great in-depth review.

    I've tried to use Skype with a Linksys blutooth dongle on my desktop PC and a Logitech Mobile Freedom headset. The problem this creates is every time I have to recharge my headset, it un-pairs the headset from my computer. So when I have an incoming call, there is not enough time to pair the headset and then answer the call.

    Does this Plantronics Voyager 510 headset maintain its pairing with the PC *while* it's being charged? That is, can you recharge the headset and then remove from the charging station and immediately take an incoming call (without having to pair the headset to the PC)?


  1. William Schwartz :
    September 11, 2006 9:10 PM

    I noticed in the pictures you wear glasses. Did the glasses/headset interfere with each other? I know many headsets don't work well with glasses.

    Also, i had a Motorola 810 (left it in a pocket and it went through the laundry...sorta still worked...) and then 850 (lost it...:(...) and with both of those when I tried to use them with a PC application line Ventrilo the headset woudl hang up after a while apparently not thinking there was a line connected or something and I'd have to hit the button to "answer" before I could talk/listen more. It sounds like this headset is aware of Skype but what about other apps, would I have this issue with the "call" as it were dropping?

    thanks!


  1. Tom Keating[TypeKey Profile Page] :
    September 18, 2006 4:16 PM

    >>Does this Plantronics Voyager 510 headset maintain its pairing with the PC *while* it's being charged?

    Yes James, it does indeed. In fact, it keep the pairing with BOTH the PC/USB Bluetooth dongle and the mobile phone Bluetooth connection. Thus, for instance, I was playing an mp3 on my PC over my Plantronics headset that continues to play when charging. That is, when I put the BT headset into the charging cradle and lift the charger to my ear, you can actually tell that the mp3 song continues to play.


  1. Ian Magrisso :
    September 27, 2006 7:00 PM

    How is the sound quality of this device vs. a usb headset on Skype? I am particularly concerned about the outgoing voice quality that I transmit.


  1. Jerry Lee :
    January 3, 2007 11:11 PM

    I just bought the PLT 510 and I've paired it to my cell phone and computer. I've also been able to test the headset in MSN Messenger and Counter-strike, but i haven't been able to figure out how to use it as a headset in Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 2142. I was wondering if it was at all possible to do so, and if so, how do I do that?
    (Although I've paired and tested the microphone, I haven't tried to use it while playing Counter-strike or while using MSN Messenger, so the microphone might not actually funtion properly)


  1. butopia[TypeKey Profile Page] :
    January 4, 2007 4:28 PM

    I bought one of these a month ago and have successfully used in my computer with Ventrillo and Skype. They have settings in the program where you can choose what you want to be input and output so you can have multiple output devices (say the speakers for one program and the headset for the other while using the headset mic for both as input). The only wierdness i have had is a horrible crackling on my computer speakes. don't know if that is interfearance or what but it is a pain.


  1. Anthony Shelton :
    August 6, 2007 1:49 PM

    I now use a Jabra headset that is similar to the Voyager 510. My biggest complaint with the Jabra is that it hurts my ear. Maybe it is too heavy or the area that rest on the top of my ear is not soft enough but the area of my ear stays irritated all the time. Have you had any similar complaints from the Voyager 510?
    Thanks,
    Anthony


  1. Butopia :
    August 6, 2007 10:56 PM

    I wear one of these 8-10 hours a day (until it runs out of juice) with glasses (thin temples) and it is very comfortable, i don't even know i have it on. I've been very happy with it. The "crackling" i mentioned before has stopped (don't know why) and I would love to know if it will work with any other Bluetooth dongle.

    I've been very happy, and I am next going to try a Jawbone I saw a guy using in a noisy environment and he said it was great.


  1. Dan :
    September 8, 2007 6:36 PM

    I have a motorola hs820 and my pc will not recognise it as a device. Is the problem with the pc or the headset? Did you have any problems getting your pc to recognise the 510?
    Thanks
    Dan


  1. Butopia :
    September 11, 2007 11:10 PM

    No problems seeing the Plantronics. What can be problimatic is getting the operating system and/or the application you are trying to use to USE the headset and an input/output device. I even use the mic as input but speakers as output. Ususlly you just have to jack around with the application and jet it fixed in the setup parameters for that specific application. I've used Skype, Ventrillo, PalTalk and I think Yahoo! chat successfully. Goodluck.


  1. Milan :
    January 4, 2008 4:15 PM

    The PLT 510 is a great device, I have successfully paired it with my PC and cell phone, but after rebooting them, it pairs only the last used device. With PC it sometimes works sometimes not and requires new pairing. Does it work smoothly in your case? I paired it with a RAZR and a PC with XP through a cheap USB/Bluetooth Dongle. Where could be a problem?


  1. butopia :
    January 6, 2008 1:40 PM

    Since I bought my 510 with the Plantronics bluetooth dongle, I have not had any problem. I still have not had a chance to try with a generic BT dongle and if you are having problems thight might be the problem. There is actually an application that you have to iinstall on the PC with the headset and the dongle. Again, don't know if that program would recognise and use a generic dongle. I do have 1 program (eChat) that does not seem to work with the headset, but I have not spent any real time messing with it to see if I could make it work by changing a setting somewhere.


  1. Raj Jathar :
    February 5, 2008 3:09 PM

    I have a question regarding its use with multi-line phones like the KX-TH112: how do I get it to switch lines just from the headset?

    Thanks!

    - raj


  1. Steve :
    March 2, 2008 8:50 PM

    Just bought the Plantronics Voyager 510 bluetooth headset last night 3-1-08.
    So far I love it has been the best bluetooth product I have purchased so far.
    Sounds great does not hurt my ear like other products I have used.
    Steve in Nort Carolina


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