If all day you’re on phone calls or Zoom meetings or on WebEx or other online collaboration platforms (and during the pandemic that’s a vast number of us), then you probably know about (and need) the convenience of a Bluetooth headset. Freeing up both hands to type or shift through papers, a headset makes things far easier, and with BT connectivity you’re untethered and free to roam about your space. While the top-rated bluetooth headsets buyer’s guide includes the Plantronics Voyager Legend Wireless Bluetooth Headset (rated No. 2 and given the ‘Honorable Mention’ award), the Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC however is not that one –this is an entirely different animal from the same maker. The 4220 UC is indeed a wireless Bluetooth headset, but has dual speakers over each ear completely blocking out background noise.
Why We Like It – Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC
The Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC is perfect for long periods of phone and/or online conversation needed by professional users. Comfortable to wear with all the essential features to maximize productivity.
- Great isolating headset
- Excellent sound quality
- Noise cancelling microphone
- Expensive
- Heavy compared to in-ear designs
Performance
The Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC is perfect for those whose job it is to be talking on the phone or online for hours at a time. It provides isolation in noisy settings so that you can focus on the conversation during a call, and noise cancellation provides call clarity allowing those on the other end to hear and understand what it is you’re saying. Although not specifically intended for listening to music, the 4220 is a stereo headset delivering excellent fidelity. You can listen to music, and when a call is received the music pauses so you can take care of business, and then resumes music play when you hang up. A red light on one ear speaker alerts those nearby that you’re on a call. Our Plantronics Voyager 5200 review also highlights another great headset that comes with active noise cancellation features.
A USB-A dongle is included in case your laptop or desktop doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth (a USB-C dongle or USB-A to USB-C adapter sold separately). Plantronics asserts the 4220 battery life provides 12 hours of talk time, 15 hours listening time, and 13 days of standby. These are estimates…your mileage may vary. Recharge the battery with the included micro-USB cable (USB-A). The downloadable Plantronic Hub app (available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android) adds useful capabilities –like ‘find my headphone.’
Design
The design of the Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC is as you’d expect for a professional wireless headset. Well padded ear pieces are over-ear (not in-ear like Apple Airpods, the No. 1 pick in the Buyer’s Guide). The headband is also cushioned so wearing the 4220 is comfortable during long periods. If you’re accustomed to single-ear in-ear headsets (like the ICOMTOFIT Bluetooth Headset), the 4220 will feel heavier (it is, but not by a lot). The fully adjustable boom microphone is hung from the right earcup, and the mic can be flipped up away from your mouth. Touch controls for plus/minus volume, track selection, call answer/end, mute, and keying an AI assistant like SIRI, are located on the outside of the right earcup, as is a red LED on-call indicator light. The plug-in to charge the battery is also in the right earcup. When you put on the headset an auto-on auto-pair voice prompt tells you that you’re connected and how much battery life remains. Additional battery management info and other capabilities are added with a download of the Plantronics Hub app (installed on the device to which you’re pairing the 4220). If paired to a device supporting wideband audio, voice clarity is improved by enabling HD Voice settings. Check out our Plantronics Marque M155 review for a much lighter bluetooth headset.
Value
The price of the Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC makes it clear that the intended user is a professional call taker like a dispatcher or customer service rep, or an inside sales rep making sales calls all day. If your job is all about the time spent in conversation, and/or you need good isolation in a noise filled environment in order to maximize your call efficiency and effectiveness, then a solution like the 4220 is probably worth its weight in gold. If your headset needs are less demanding, then a solution like a FimiTech Wireless Bluetooth Headset is significantly less expensive.
Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC Wrap Up
The Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC is a Bluetooth headset for professional users. It’s an outstanding choice with exceptional sound isolation, call clarity, and minimizes background noise. Does great as a stereo headphone for music listening as well.
