STARCHY white-collar types often make it a point never to mix business with pleasure.
Lucky for us, none of them seem to be employed at California-based headset maker Plantronics.
With its latest Bluetooth headset, the Voyager 855, Plantronics has managed to inject a little fun into the fuddy-duddy gadget by allowing users to listen to music in stereo wirelessly when they're not making voice calls.
Depending on your mood for the day, you can choose how the fully-convertible 855 should work foryou.
On its own, it works great as a Bluetooth headset for making voicecalls.
It features an extendable mic boom that you can slide out for better voice clarity and boasts seven hours of talktime.
EASY TO USE
The 855 also comes with AudioIQ technology, a digital signal processing feature that automatically adjusts sound levels depending on the level of external noise to maximise call quality on both sides.
During tests, the call quality was so good that the person on the other end of the line could not tell that a headset was being used.
Weight-wise, the 15g 855 is a tad heavier than similar headsets, but not enough that you feel it weighing down your ears after hours of use.
However, while the main call control button is easy to use, the small volume and mute buttons on the edge of the 855 need a bit of fumbling to get at, especially when you're feeling for the buttons while it's on your ear.
To turn the 855 into stereo earphones, just plug in the detachable second earpiece.
In stereo earphone mode, the 855 works just fine, with no dropout in sound even when the headset is up to 4m away from your phone.
You can also use the controls on the 855 to play, pause, and navigate from song to song.
The 855 makes an ideal companion if you commute regularly - the sound isolation buds on the earpiece is very effective in blocking out external noise.
With both earpieces seated properly and with music playing, the screeching grind of the MRT and the murmurs of fellow commuters around you simply melt into the background.
Plantronics also includes the buds in three different sizes so you can get the perfect fit.
To answer incoming calls while music is playing, just either click the call control button, or extend the mic boom. Your music will resume once the call ends.
While the rubber earbuds on this headset are similar to those found on high-end earphones from Shure, don't expect audiophile quality from the 855.
At best, the sound quality from the 855 is roughly the same as the earphones that come with the AppleiPod.
The bass response, however, is slightly better because of the sound isolation buds.
With the 855 costing $259, music lovers on the go may be better off getting a regular Bluetooth headset and a set of decent wired earphones for the same price.
But if you just need the occasional distraction on your daily commute, and love the convenience of having a two-in-one headset, then give the 855 some serious consideration.
