Plantronics Voyager Pro UC

The Plantronics Voyager Pro UC brings some interesting sensor features and PC soft-phone compatibility to a long-lasting, great-sounding Bluetooth headset. However at $199.99, it's overpriced compared with its sensor-free brother, the Voyager Pro+, which costs half as much. The high price means it gets a slightly lower rating than what its top-notch sound quality suggests.

Design and Calling The Voyager Pro UC looks specifically like the Plantronics Voyager Pro+, even though the kit comes with a few accessories that the Pro+ doesn't include: a leather carrying case, a USB cable, and a tiny little Bluetooth dongle for PCs. The Bluetooth dongle is already paired with the headset, and will only work with the headset; it's not a general-purpose Bluetooth device.

The headset itself looks the same as the Voyager Pro+

The headset itself looks the same as the Voyager Pro+. You can read our Voyager Pro+ review, nevertheless in brief, this is a large, over-the-ear headset designed for all day use. Voice quality is thoroughly stellar; thanks to the big boom microphone and top-notch software. Battery life is as well excellent, with 6 hours and 38 minutes of tested talk time.

Also like the Pro+, the UC connects simultaneously to a mobile phone and a PC, switching between them when each device requests permission. I had no problems connecting the UC to a T-Mobile myTouch 4G, a HTC HD7, and Macs and Windows 7 PCs.

Sensors and Software The one physical difference between the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC and the older model is invisible: A proximity sensor that can tell when you're wearing the headset. By default, the UC sends calls to your phone when you're not wearing it, nevertheless to the headset when you are. It automatically picks up a call if the phone is ringing and you put on the headset. It pauses your phone's music player if you're listening to music and you take the headset off, and it can change your presence status in Skype or a similar VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) client.

The software runs on Windows PCs only

The software runs on Windows PCs only, not Macs. It lets you automatically answer VoIP calls on your headset, changes your presence status when you take the headset off, and lets you automatically turn IM sessions into voice calls when you put on your headset. The headset works fine with Macs, just without these features enabled.

The Voyager Pro UC is a good choice for heavy VoIP soft-phone users who aren't price sensitive. Nevertheless for the vast majority of Bluetooth headset users, we prefer two less expensive alternatives. The Aliph Jawbone Era is our current Editors' Choice for its high style, excellent sound quality, and genuine app platform. And the Plantronics Voyager Pro+ is however a terrific performer, with great sound quality and long battery life.