26.12.2020

The headset arrived safely and comes in a premium looking and well-designed box. Along with the headset you get a charging stand with USB Type-A cable attached, carry case, USB Type-A to Type-C cable, 3mm AUX cable, airplane adapter, USB Bluetooth receiver, and the user guide.I’m very pleased with the quality of the whole kit; the headset, stand, carry case, and even the cables are all premium quality, well put together and in general the whole package gives off a very premium look and feel to it, no issues from me in this area and the quality is well reflected in the price.The comfort of the headset is excellent, I can easily wear them for a whole working day without them becoming uncomfortable.Its hard to get a headset that is both comfortable but tight enough that it doesn’t fall off if you move around quickly but Jabra did a great job of getting a good balance between comfort and fitment on your head. The earcups and headband are very soft and squish into your head to provide the perfect fit and seal. The ear cups also slide up and down on separate rails to give you a bit more head room.This headset is designed for use in the office or working from home, and for taking calls or using it with chat applications it performs excellently. Calls are very clear, and the noise cancellation does a great job of filtering out background noise although it works better with alternating background noise like people talking rather than a constant noise like a fan heater from my experience using it. The hear through/sidetone feature is very useful and I can hear myself along with background noise very clearly when its activated.Although not primarily for media, the headset still performs very well when listening to music or watching videos and provide good bass and clear vocals but are definitely not as good as my XM4’s when it comes to this area. I found the default equaliser settings to be a bit flat and after playing around with the levels the sound quality did improve a little bit.The microphone quality is good but nothing special and no where near as clear as my £100 gaming headset. It does a great job of filtering out background noise for someone on the receiving end, but it sounds nothing like you would expect it to at this price point, probably the weakest area in the whole headset which isn’t great as its main purpose is for talking with. I do like the pull-down microphone though, it’s a great design choice and it features a mute button on the end, you can also answer or end calls by bringing it down or putting it back up which is pretty neat.The battery life is another strong area and should provide up to 37 hours use from one charge so it should easily cope with a full working day and if you buy the stand you can just keep topping up the battery during downtime with very little effort required apart from just placing it down. As the headset can also be charged with the USB cable it means you can plug it into a portable battery if you’re using it while travelling.The Jabra app or desktop software is excellent to use, well-designed and allows to you to use a whole host of features on the headset. I mainly use the desktop version which even updates the firmware on the USB dongle and stand, as well as the headset itself. The only issue I found while using it on the desktop (either with the USB cable or BT adapter) is that pretty much any application that uses the microphone causes the headset to go into mono mode making it useless for gaming or listening to media while you talk to someone, but as mentioned this is not what its designed for.I love the stand, its well designed and very heavy for its size so along with grippy base it stays well put on your desk and doesn’t move when you place the headset down on it. Once you get the hang of it the headset becomes very easy to place down and lines up perfectly with the charge contacts. I plugged the cable into both my computer and wall outlet, and it charged the headset just fine with no issues. I’m not always a fan of charging bases but this one is great, looks the part, and highly recommend!I’m also a big fan of the carry case, its exceptionally high quality, with soft padding on the inside along with some of the best mesh material I’ve ever felt. Its well laid out and I’m glad Jabra included an image on the inside to show how the headset is positioned in the case to make it easier when you put it away. A good quality case is often overlooked but Jabra did an excellent job with this one and I think it looks great.Overall, while this is an expensive headset, I feel its worth the money in every area except the microphone which could have been a bit better for this price point and also due to the fact its one of the headsets primary uses. It’s not terrible and no one has complained about it but from my experience its not as good as some of the cheaper gaming headsets that I’ve used in the past. Everything else though is perfect and on this basis, I feel this product is still worth four out of five stars and I would recommend it if you spend a long time on the phone whether you’re in the office or working from home.

14.11.2020

This headset is a premium business device which is intended to combine top quality for all-day business use in conferencing or call centre work, with no less than 10 microphones, but also with excellent performance for music. Those who want a wireless headset mainly for personal use (but still with 8 microphones for communications) might look at the Elite 85h which is cheaper, looks similar and seems to share much of the same technology, but without a boom microphone, charging stand, Bluetooth dongle, or UC (Unified Communications) features.What you get is an over-ear headset with a clever folding mechanism that enables it to fit neatly into the supplied zipped carrying case,a charging stand with a USB connector, a USB Bluetooth dongle, a 3.5mm jack cable for analogue connections, a USB cable for charging without the stand, and a flight adaptor for use on ancient aircraft audio systems. The boom microphone is integrated into the right earcup and non-removeable, but when folded away you hardly notice it. Everything has a high-quality feel, as you would expect for a premium product.This is a Bluetooth 5 headset which is equally at home with PC, Mac, or mobile devices. There are some nice features, starting with active noise cancellation (ANC). I am typing this in a room with an easily audible fan noise from a server. Without ANC it is quite loud. If I engage the ANC it becomes almost inaudible – very effective. This is the ideal scenario for ANC, an even background noise (another common case is aircraft engine noise). ANC is less effective for variable noise such as, for example, typing noise from keyboards, but even with this it has a slight effect.There is another related feature though, which is hear-through. Over-ear headphones are effective at passive noise shielding, which is great except when someone is trying to talk to you, or when you need to be aware of your surroundings. With hear-through, microphones relay the sound so you hear everything without it being muffled. ANC and hear-through are controlled via a mode button on the left earcup, useful.Why a Bluetooth dongle, when most modern PCs and laptops have built-in Bluetooth? The answer is that it has a longer range and extra smarts for things like call control. With the dongle, the Bluetooth range is up to 30m (100ft). However it does connect OK without the dongle, but with shorter range and feature UC features.The charging stand is a cunning design that supports the headphones despite being smaller than one of the earcups. 15 mins charge enough for 8 hours of battery life, or you can get a full charge in 2 and half hours that gives 37 hours of play time.The Evolve2 85 is supported by apps on PC, Mac and smartphone. I used mine mainly with PC, and with the Jabra Direct app I was able to update the firmware, check battery life, and configure the headset in various ways. For example, you can enable or disable automatically answering calls by unclipping the boom microphone. There is also a graphic equalizer for music.How good is it? Generally I am pleased, though there is one feature which I feel should be spelt out more in the documentation. This headset has two speaker modes, Music and Speak, and they sound totally different. In Music mode, the frequency response is 20Hz-20.000Hz, in Speak mode it is 100Hz-8.000Hz and (I think) mono. The reason is that Speak mode is optimized for clarity of communication, emphasizing the mid-range used by speech and no doubt performing other processing. Switching between Music and Speak mode is entirely automatic and the rule seems to be that if the microphone is active, Speak mode is on. This explains why I was getting some odd effects when using Windows sound settings, for example. In normal use it’s unlikely to be a problem.When using a conferencing application, I found using the boom microphone a considerable improvement for speech clarity than with it folded back, but it was acceptable either way.Comfort is a matter of personal preference. I found the Evolve2 85 good for comfort though I am not sure I would like wearing it all day. A few hours though is no problem.There are a couple of things to be careful about for compatibility. One is that we are in transition from USB A to USB C and you can get the Jabra Link 380 Bluetooth dongle in either version – but it is expensive. It would have been good to have an adaptor in the box. The dongle also comes in different versions for Microsoft Teams or generic UC. The UC version will work with Teams and vice versa, but there are some extra control and alert features which make it worth getting (or not getting) the Teams version depending on the intended use.Overall there is a lot to like, in particular the excellent noise cancellation, the long battery life, and the fact that this headset is high quality for music as well as for communications. I also love the hear-through feature since often I do want to hear what is going on around me. Pretty good then; but bear in mind that this only really makes sense if you do want both the communications features and a headset for music.

21.11.2020

I'm coming from owning a set of Bose QC25's and Sony WH-1000XM4's so as you can imagine pitting these Jabra Evolve2 85s against the 2 best noise cancelling headphones is a tall order - however as they are at similar price points the comparisons are inevitable.Firstly I will say these Jabra's are business orientated - the mic is exceptional (Ince extending the boom arm down) and simply put if you're after a quality wireless headset for meetings and conferences then these are for you. It gets more complicated if you want a pair of headphones for media consumption too. I can attest to that these Jabra's are very comfortable - over ear headphones always suit me best and the Jabra's cups fit well over and provide a nice passive noise cancellation seal too which shows me that it is a good fit.I'd put these as more comfortable than the Bose but just less than the Sony's - I can easily wear these Jabra's for hours on end with no trouble.Design wise it's all personal preference to be honest, I like that to extend these headphones for larger heads the mechanism is seamless with the headphones and the gunmetal with black look great too. I'm not so sure on the actual shape though, it looks a bit thin for my liking but as I said personal preference and definitely not a deal breaker. It comes with all the accessories you'd expect - USB-C cable to charge, 3.5mm Aux cable, Airplane adapter and the charging stand which is actually really convenient. The case is a hard shell with a soft touch outer layer which will get the job done and is convenient for travel.Onto the sound and they're actually very good. I'm no audiophile but it all sounds great to me, deep enough bass and music is clear so I can't complain. Surround sound works too which is cool when watching films/shows and overall it is a good experience. Wireless capabilities are a real must for me in 2020 and Bluetooth connects almost instantaneously from powering on. I much prefer the physical buttons on the right headphone cup, volume up/down and play/pause is so much easier to learn as muscle memory rather than gesture based controls on other headphones.The active noise cancellation is good, but not on the levels of Bose nor Sony. Simply put if that is your main feature you're after don't buy this. It works to some extent and the mobile app is quite good in letting you turn it on/off and adjust levels but simply put it dulls most sounds not eliminating them. Hear through is excellent though, it amplifies outside sounds making it perfect for travel if you want to hear any announcements.The microphone is the real USP of these headphones and they are simply the best I've ever had in this regard. I've had people tell me I sound very clear without the normal buzz/feedback of background noise and I just think in this working from home climate it is important to maintain some professionalism. The red busy light feature is a cool idea but I always turn it off if I'm on a video call as it looks weird on camera, but for phone calls I do have it on as it gives a clear indicator to others that I'm busy.I do have some niggles, and it is possible that software updates provides some fixes. Firstly connecting 2 devices works but it doesn't seem to change priority very well. It works sometimes, other times not and as I can't rely on it I've reverted back to just connecting one device at a time which is a shame. Secondly the charging stand only works if connected to a USB data port (e.g. USB on a laptop). There's no logical reason behind this and I do find it annoying I can't use a normal USB plug. It's not a massive issue as I do keep the stand next to my work computer to charge but having the option would be nice. Finally my biggest gripe is that I can't seem to just use the 3.5mm wire to listen to my devices without turning on the headphones. I've never known headphones that can't just use the wire 'old school' method, I can only hear sound with these headphones if I also turn it on which defeats the purpose if the battery is dead. Luckily it takes 15 minutes of charge for 4 hours of playback using the USB C cable which is very fast.Overall I think these headphones are very targeted at business but that's no bad thing. If they're to be used primarily for work and media a far second then I'd say go for it, but if media playback is your main focus then I'd recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4, especially as they beat these Jabra's in everything but microphone quality and are priced very similarly.

24.11.2020

I have previously used headsets from Jabra's Evolve2 line and they impressed me, I have been really excited to try one of these out since it's their flagship.These headsets are designed for professionals who work in offices and are on the phone all day, I do not work in an office and don't really call much bit I did try my best to make the most out of all usable features while doing this review, if you are not a professional and don't need all of the extra features this headset provides, look into the Elite 85h which is cheaper and more for consumers.The comfort is alright, it's light enough and doesn't give me any pain even after hours of use, one (subjective) complaint is the leather earpads,these do really well at sealing out noise (which we will get onto in a bit) but I would have at least liked the option for foam earpads (especially at this price) since leather causes me to sweat, which isn't pleasant.There are a whopping 10 microphones inside of this headset, I believe they are used for the hearthrough feature and blocking out background noise so the people on the other end of the call don't hear everything around you, the boom arm fits nicely inside of the the earcup and doesn't look weird.And now, the sound... Average... I had high expectations for sound quality, but it doesn't really impress me, I won't take any points away for this though since it is pretty much just a professional version of the 85h, which is a much cheaper headset, the higher price is all in the extra features and compatability.The noise cancelling is excellent though, this is the first "active noise cancelling" headset I've used that actually does what it says it does, I can hardly hear my extremely loud keyboard while I type this, very impressed with the noise cancelling.There is also another feature called "Hearthrough" which is pretty much the opposite of noise cancelling, it allows you to hear outside of the headset and is excellent, it sounds almost exactly like using open back headphones, brushing things against the outside of the headset is no problem since the mics aren't directly on the shell, other headphones that have a similar feature will destroy your ears just by touching the external microphones.One of my favourite parts of this headset is the charging stand/dock, plugging things in manually is so stressful in the 21st century, so docks are a great way to charge up your devices without any suffering, sadly, this dock only seems to work while plugged into my computer, I could not get it working from a USB charging port at all, this really upset me since I don't have many spare USB ports on my computer so the dock will most likely be sitting back in the box until Jabra fix this.The stand has a lot of weight which helps it stay in place, unlike my other dockable devices, this dock actually stayed in the same place I put it even after 2 weeks of daily use, very happy with this and wish more docks were weighted.Of course you get the busylight, which is Jabra's main thing it seems, I never really had a use for it but I can see it being very useful in an office, if you don't know what a busylight is, it's a load of LEDs around the headset that will shine red when you're in a call, they are visible from all angles so you don't have to worry about social interaction while you wear this headset.You also get a carrying case, it feels very nice, I keep the headset inside of it when not in use or charging on the dock, it also includes a slot for your Jabra Link and some wires.And finally, the mic quality, I called my dad and he says it's good, but I personally don't like it and don't think it's good at all, if you're just calling people, it's going to be fine and blocks out a good amount of background noise, but I wouldn't use it for anything else personally.I really enjoyed using this headset even though most of the features aren't made for me, it's an excellent headset and I would absolutely recommend it to professionals, just keep in mind that the mic quality isn't amazing and the stand only works when plugged into a computer.If you are a consumer though, look into the 85h or other products, this just isn't worth it.Thanks for reading my review!

13.9.2020

As someone who wears headphones for several hours a day (for both music and voice calls), I was eager to try out this new headset from Jabra that promises excellent noise cancelling with good audio quality.Pros:- Active noise cancellation is very good - blocks out the outside world- Very good audio quality - suitable for listening to music- Microphone boom arm can be stowed when not required- Good microphone call quality- AAC codec support- Can simultaneously connect to 2 devices at the same time, e.g. a computer and a phoneCons:- Charging stand only works when powered by a computer - will not work from a USB power adaptor- Battery life not quite as good as promised- Slight audio delay evenwhen used in wired mode might not suit some applications- No AptX codec support (partially mitigated by the included Jabra Link adaptor)In the box:- Carrying pouch- Jabra Evolve2 85 headset- Charging stand- USB-A adaptor (Jabra Link 380)- Flight adaptor- 3.5mm audio cable- USB-C charging cableFirst impressions were excellent. The headset and accessories come stowed in a carrying pouch that holds everything. Stowing the headset away is easy thanks to the folding design.The charging stand is a nice addition. You rest one earcup against it and it gently locks into place. I found that the charging stand only works when plugged into a computer, it will not work with a USB power supply which is a bit of an oversight.I could wear these comfortably for hours because of the soft padding on the earcups and generous thick padding across the headband - even when wearing glasses.The noise cancelling is excellent. Put these on and you shut out the world around you. It seems to be on par with the best offerings on the market. Low frequency droning sounds like a dehumidifier or washing machine are easily silenced. I like the fact you can toggle the ANC into "hear-through" mode which allows you to hear people around you without removing the headset.Audio quality is very good. These are closed back headphones and provide a decent but not overwhelming amount of punchy bass, with clear mids and highs. I could not hear any distortion or background noise even at high volumes.Microphone quality is good. I made several calls and used this with Teams, Skype and Zoom without an issue. I was easily heard during calls.Sadly they do not support AptX (this means lower audio quality when paired to a Windows machine over Bluetooth) but they support AAC (good for Apple devices!). However this can be mitigated by using the included USB Jabra Link 380 adaptor.The adaptor is pre-paired out of the box and will give you the best possible audio quality when using a Windows PC as it supports the AAC codec, so I recommend using it. It also enables the advanced functionality/integration with Microsoft Teams, Skype and Zoom which I tested. You can use the side button to answer/hang up calls. Lowering the microphone will unmute you, raising it can quickly mute your mic during a call.For full functionality you need to install "Jabra Direct". This lets you configure the integration with VoIP software and update firmware. You can also adjust EQ and enable/disable functionality such as automatically pausing music when you take the headset off.The busy lights are interesting. The earcups have lights that glow red during a call to show people that you are busy. When you have the headset laying on the table/charger, they also flash purple when you get a notification from an app like Microsoft Teams so you know you need to respond.The included 3.5mm cable means you can plug these into anything with a headphone socket - it works however there is a small audio delay (around 100ms) so these would not be suitable for monitoring audio when recording/etc.Overall I am very pleased with these, and I am now using these as my main headphones when using my PC. They are clearly designed for the business market with the Teams integration (and work well with other VoIP software including Zoom) but you also get excellent noise cancellation, good quality audio when listening to music and being able to pair to 2 devices simultaneously is very handy.

26.11.2020

When I received this headset and opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised, when you open the front cover there is a diagram giving you details of all the controls of the headset, without even having to open the manual.Next you see the hard case, which is great for protecting your headset when travelling, storing at home or in the office, inside the case, there is room for the USB C cable, the 3.5 audio cable (in case you want to use them as wired headphones) USB Dongle, and airplane adapter, it is the first case I have seen with dedicated compartments so you are secure the cables/plugs won't scratch your precious headset.Then there is the headset, it feels really premium,the sides are a mixture of plastic and a nice rubbery texture. The controls are on the back of each ear cup, they are easy to use as after a while they become second nature, as with other headphones I have, I have posted the diagram of the headset showing all the controls, sockets and boom arm that I talked about earlier.There is more than enough padding on both the ear cups and head band, they are really comfortable, I have worn them for 6 hours straight, and didn't get any overheating on my ears or pressure on the top of my head, and at one point forgot i had them on.The first time I used them I played some music and was very happy with the sound compare to headsets I have used in the passed, I'm not an audiophile, I just know what I like, the treble was crisp, the bass was just right, (I cannot stand headphones that have too much bass) , and the mid-range was just how I like it. If you don't like how they sound there is always the app, Jabra Sound+, I have never had a set of headphones with a dedicated app, here you will find a Music equalizer where you can alter the bass, mid-range and treble, plus there are 6 music pre-sets. There is also a thing called Soundscape where you can play sounds like Waterfall, Diving, Ocean Waves, Rainy Day Songbirds etc, great if you just want to sit back and relax, the only problem is, you may fall asleep and miss your stop or station. Another thing that is really useful is when you are listening to music and remove the headphones the music stops, when you replace them it starts again from where you left off, brilliant.Next I tried out the mics, so I made a phone call, I asked the caller at the other end if they could hear me OK, they said yes, I asked was my voice clear, they again said yes, then I pulled the boom arm down and asked how was it now, they said clear but a little louder, brilliant I thought, because if the mics were no good, then the headset wouldn't be fit for purpose. Next I tried it on a video call, the same as before, voice was clear. Also I must add that I could here the other party clearly at all times.I think the noise cancelling works really well, better than I expected, and the Hear Through system it great, when you go into a shop you don't have to remove your headphones, just press the Hear Through button and you can hear everything people are saying.The other things I like is that there is a red light on each ear cup that lights up when you're on a call, so that others know not to disturb you. Then there is the foldaway Boom Arm which slots into the right cup, it's great, when you're commuting it looks just like any other set of headphones, but when start working you can cancel the music and connect to your phone and pull the Boom Arm down, it also swivels to the left to be nearer to your mouth.My model came with a desk charger, if there was one disappointment, it would be this, don't get me wrong it works fine, but it can be fiddly to position the headphones correctly, I'm sure I will get used to it over time, but if not there is always the USB-A to USB-C cable.Now the verdict. To me this is a great headset for work and pleasure, especially if you are working in an office or from home, for phone calls and video meetings they are brilliant, but expensive, would it be cheaper to purchase two separate headsets, one for work and one for pleasure? It all depends on how much you normally spend on each.

2.9.2020

This is a review of the Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless Headset with Charging Stand – Noise Cancelling Microsoft Teams Certified Stereo Headphones with Long-Lasting Battery – USB-A Bluetooth Adapter – Black as there are a number of other options. Note the titles of the USB-A with stand and the USB-C with stand are transposed so if you select one the title is of the other. I will try to flag this to Amazon to get it corrected. The other options are OK. If you want the stand it is worth buying this as a bundle as it is an expensive option to purchase separately.The headset is supplied in a branded box which contains; a sturdy leatherette zipped case, 3.5mm to 3.5mm wired cable, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable,a converter for the standard aircraft 2 x 3.5mm plug to 3.5mm socket, a charging stand, a safety booklet, and tucked away in a small pocket in the case is the USB-A Bluetooth adapter. I missed this at first as it is very small and hard to see but provides a better connection to laptops and PCs and is pre-paired to the headphones.There are no instructions but they are worth downloading from the Jabra website to get the most out of the headphones. They can either be charged via the USB cable which supports fast charge or via the docking stand which is a little fiddly initially to locate but helps to make sure that they are always charged and at the ready. This holds the headphones via a magnet and is terminated on a USB-A lead. there is no power supply but most people have numerous phone charges or spare USB ports so I do not see this as an issue.These headphones are optimised for long conference calls and are comfortable to wear and not too bulky for over-ear headphones that incorporate a microphone boom. This folds out neatly from the right-hand side and can be twisted to adjust its position. They pair easily via Bluetooth and all operations are repeated verbally which make them easy to use. They also switch on when unfolded and pause when removed which works very well and makes them very convenient to use. This can be configured via the Sound+ application available on Android and Apple stores which can also be used to locate the headphones and adjust the announcements.The sound quality is very clear and natural for music or speech. If you like really heavy bass for gaming or music then you may need an alternative but they were fine for me with good detail without being harsh. The sound can be adjusted via the app but I like the neutral setting that they have out of the box. Where they excel is speech and two way calls were clear although make sure you adjust the boom microphone correctly for the best experience. They support Google Assistant and Apple Siri but don't support Amazon Alexa and despite using the same app as my Jabra Evolve 85 headset there is no option to select it. Maybe it will come as an update?The noise cancellation is selected by a button on the side which cycles between "hear through, handy if you expecting an Amazon delivery), off and ANC." It is effective in cutting background noise without introducing annoying hiss. It can be used on its own with preset background noise such as "birds" or "running water" as well. I also like the fact that sidetone, which is the feedback of your own voice when you speak. This allows you to speak more naturally with the correct volume and demonstrates Jabra's background in telephony. They have a long claimed battery life of up to 37 hours and I have not come close to discharging them yet to cast doubt on this although it is dependant on volume and features used.This is a very high-quality set of headphones optimised for conference calls but quite capable of playing music as well or listening to audiobooks on a plane with the ANC blocking out background noise. They are expensive but have the build quality and set of features to back this up.

13.11.2020

I fell out with Jabra over what I considered to be a flaw with a previous Evolve model. I'm mentioning this upfront because that same flaw is present here, although I'm starting to think that there's nothing anyone is ever going to do about it, and nobody but me cares. Basically what happens is that every time the audio restarts after a pause, it fades in. Why does this matter? Well, if it's during music I guess it doesn't, but if you're an audio typist such as my wife, it means missing speech and having to constantly rewind. Having got that out of the way, here's my view on everything else.As far as the office side of it goes, I left it to my wife for her opinion.She tells me that the audio quality and microphone quality is wonderful (with the reservation outlined above) and they feel much more substantial than the usual cheap headsets which she's used before. The microphone tucks away perfectly into a groove in the earcup and comes down and stays in position when needed.My job was to give a slightly more technical overview and so I used the set for music, as if they were regular audio headphones. I connected to my Samsung S10+ phone, a process which was very straightforward using the bluetooth switch. A voice announces that pairing is available, and the Jabra phones showed up in the 'available' list. You know how it works. I played various styles of music, moved around the room a bit, and the connection was solid. Audio quality is very good indeed, although I would have to categorise it as being light on bass and heavy on treble. I suspect this is deliberate because that would suit the human voice more and would allow it to come through clearly, and luckily it's a sound signature which I prefer.The noise cancelling feature is activated with a small button. Three modes - OFF/ON/HEARTHROUGH - are available. Off is as it says, and although the earpads - which are indeed very comfortable - fit nicely and offer some passive cancellation you may well prefer to switch it on. You'll immediately notice the difference but NC isn't class leading and doesn't do a great deal for high frequency noises. It's still very good, but you wouldn't buy this headset if all you were looking for was the best way of silencing the world around you. "Hearthrough" is one of those features which, I'll be honest, I've never really seen the point of. It allows the outside world to be heard. I guess if you're in an office and somebody approaches you it lets you hear what you're saying, and if that is the case then I think the system adopted by other manufacturers is better - you touch the earcup. Having to find a button is a bit fiddly. But it works, and it can be configured by installing special Jabra software or a phone app.This model charges using a USB-C cable (supplied) or the charging stand. It's a good idea, whereby you leave the stand on your desk and rather than just dumping the headphones down when you aren't using them you leave them on the stand and power them up at the same time. If you do want to put the headphones away you can fold them up and store them in a nice soft case.One last feature is the provision of a USB-A dongle, should your computer not have Bluetooth. I guess this is something that is more prevalent in offices, but every laptop and phone in our house has it and so it wasn't necessary. I've used a Jabra dongle before, and installation and connection was straightforward, but I couldn't see any advantage over the Bluetooth.Overall I would have to say that this is one of the better headsets I've come across, but it comes at a price. As well made as it is, I have to knock a star off because in my view it's probably overpriced by about £75. Get past that though, and you'll be happy with your purchase.

22.11.2020

I currently own a pair of Jabra Elite 85h (definitely worth a buy btw with about £100 knocked off for Black Friday) and they are great, with great sound, great features and a pretty decent app (Jabra Sound+) to further enhance them, so I was reasonably excited about these Jabra Evolve 2 85, with a gearing more towards work and the office.Now, I use my 85h purely for music, when shopping or (thankfully not very often) travelling to the office and have been using my trusty old wired Sennheiser Momentum for calls and meetings on the phone or via laptop which admittedly can be a bit fiddly, so I was a little bit excited about what these could offer.They are very similar in build and design to the 85h,with a very similar (very nice) hard shell case and 3.5mm cable, USB C charge cable and flight adapter, the ANC, sound and features are also very similar but there are some very striking (and welcome) differences.Unlike the 85h these have a physical on/off/bluetooth switch, and slightly different placement of the volume/skip buttons which I prefer over the 85h, and an optional wireless charging doc, which works brilliantly for charging but also just for resting the headphones on when not in use.They sound great, both on calls and listening to music with a good range and via the app - equaliser control so you can customise the sound to your liking, the ANC is very good and the ability to reverse this (hear through mode) is very welcome (and useful).The mic picks up my voice really well, the clarity is good and they are very comfortable - thick padding on the headband and soft, wide ear cushions see to that really well. I’ve had them on for 4 hours at a time without discomfort, though for that long, my ears do get a bit warm.Battery life is stated at 37 hours, this is probably quite accurate, I haven’t fully run them down to be honest, closest I’ve got was two full eight hour days without charging and they were displaying in the app as 50% battery, it’s so easy just chucking them on the charger for a quick top up (point to note here, when charging they remain connected to your devices so if you get a call through you can just pick them up and carry on).What really, really impressed me the most with these though is the simple ease of set up and use. I already had the app on my phone, these came, I paired them with my phone and the app, installed firmware update, set my moment to my liking, paired them to my laptop and that was that - five minutes at the most. They connect to two devices simultaneously, and retain these connections when charging in the cradle. I literally turn them on and I’m ready, connected to phone and laptop and that’s it.Impressively simple and effective - being able to switch between a zoom call to a phone call and back at the touch of a button, it’s very clear these have been designed extremely well for purpose and easily fulfil expectations.I did expect them to be decent, as the 85h are, but I am genuinely impressed with just how simple and easy they are to use and how effective they are at what they do.The old Sennheiser Momentums are back in the drawer again ...

2.9.2020

I’ve had these Jabra Evolve 85 for a few days now and I must admit these over-ear headphones are one of the most comfortable I’ve tried on for a while now. The memory foam on the arch is soft and the extenders slide up and down smoothly without any noise or friction.The outer casing is made out of plastic but the plastic doesn’t actually make it feel cheap, in fact, it’s very well made and the plastic makes the headphones light and comfortable.I’ve been using the 85’s daily and come rain or shine, it sits comfortably without any wearing fatigue and the clamp caress your head more than squeezing it. Also, the ear cushions are soft after supple. After the daily grind,I’m actually looking forward to my commute home and immerse myself in my chosen tunes.The Evolve 85’s comes with all the latest tech such as Bluetooth 5.0, a choice of USB C or USB A charger.There is also the advance 10-microphone technology that significantly reduces background noise giving you more clarity on your conversations via the headphones.And if that wasn’t enough, there is a separate Boom arm that folds out from the headphones that you can twist towards your mouth for extra clarity. The boom arm is so well hidden, flushed on the headphones that you will not notice it unless it was unfolded.Also included with this headset is a USB dongle that you can use to plug straight into your laptop at work or your companies professional phone network and it will work straight of the bat. You can still connect the headphones via the aforementioned Bluetooth or the more traditional method of an audio jack, this is also included.Finally, there is also a free App that you can use to you can control the equaliser and some basic functions.The sound quality of the 85’s are also very good, the audio sound quality is crisp and clear and it will handle most genres without much fuss. It’s not quite market-leading but unless you are super fussy or an audiophile, you will be hard press to notice much difference. Especially if you’re not going to do a comparison test with similar models of the same price range from competing companiesWhat excels with this 85’s is the call clarity and battery life. The claim usage is 37 hours on one charge and if you do a quick 15 mins charge it will give enough juice for 8 hours playtime, Impressive indeed.Overall, these Jabra 85’s are made for professionals that send a lot of their time in web seminars or are using Zoom for meetings. In this aspect, these headphones are wonderful and with the wireless dongle, it will fit seamlessly in your network. There is even a LED light that lights up red when you are on a call, this is to let friends or colleagues know that you are in a call and hopefully they will not disturb you. however, if you want a pair of headphones for its musical abilities then you will probably find better-dedicated performers, especially at this price.All in all, these 85’s are very good sounding earbuds that you can wear all day with minimal disturbance to others around you. It is made aimed specifically for the professional market but it is easily just as good for daily use.

31.8.2020

I’m no stranger to high end, noise cancelling headphones, having previously had Sony’s top of the range MX1000’S.here are my findings based on real world use. All photos attached are my own taken of the item I received.What’s in the box?Jabra Evolve 2 85 Wireless headsetJabra Link 380 BT adapterHeadset charging deskstand1.2m/3.9ft USB-C to USB-A cable3.5mm jack audio cable 1.2mFlight adapterCarry caseWarranty and warning (safety leaflets)User GuideSound and performanceThe sound quality is very impressive. These headphones also have on-ear detection which is very handy.However, one of the best features on the Evolve2 85 is the insane 37-hour battery life - far more than anything I’ve ever had before on other headsets.If that’s not enough, an included fast-charge cable means you can get 8 hours of battery life for just 15 minutes of charging. The headset also comes with an included charging stand meaning any time they are on the desk, they can be charging and available immediately.The boom-mic features 10 built-in microphones, and yet is far more subtle than other office headphones and is big reason the Jabra is so versatile. The microphone also features a one-touch voice assistant support that worked well with both Android and Apple phones as well as my iPad Pro.A nice touch I’ve not seen before is a 360-degree ‘BusyLight’ that activates automatically when you start a phone call to let people around you know are busy. This can be turned off if required but especially useful given the noise cancelling element of these headphones means people can’t even get your attention by shouting at you!DesignSleek and comfortable. In fact, possibly the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used.As well as the adjustable arms, each earpiece is covered with soft memory foam that made it easy to forget I was still wearing them.The Evolve2 85 really are an absolute pleasure to wear. I found myself frequently putting on the headset whilst working just for the noise cancelling feature alone - they’re so comfortable they are fine to wear just for that reason.The ear-piece buttons are easily accessible, meaning you can comfortably toggle between the Active Noise Cancellation and hear-through settings. I wish the ear cups worked like my mx1000’s where they automatically hear-through when I cup a hand to my ear though - that’s a very nice feature of the Sony.Final sayThey have incredible battery life, are sleek and exceptionally comfortable. They have some features missing the Sony’s I’m comparing them to have, but are lighter on the head and more comfortable so in my mind, win overall.If you are looking for a premium Monday-Friday headphone that allows you to commute and then use in the office, the Evolve2 85 will be very hard to beat. If your primarily looking for perfect audio or for gaming only with multi channels etc, then these may not be the best. However, for a day to day setup, that’s versatile enough to use Practically everywhere, take a punt. You’ll not go wrong. Expensive, but the. They do almost everything you could want and do it well.

1.12.2020

Jabra is a well known Brand for it's Bluetooth ear devices. These Jabra Engage headphones are just amazing. Good first impressions, as soon as you start unboxing. Neatly packed in a box with all accessories included.The zip hard carry case is stylish, it holds all accessories together. This is not just an ordinary case, the feel is soft leathery and of superior quality.After unfolding the headphones for the first time, I was reluctant to twist it back to fold. It is because the make is so nice and elegant that you don't want to handle it roughly.The headphones look stylish on the head, because if you notice, over-the-head band snug fits around nicely above the ears.Without any doubt,these are Expertly built. Headphone design is Over-the-ear, which makes them more comfortable than On-ear ones. These cover your ears rather than pressing to snug fit. It also depends on your personal preference which design you would prefer.In addition Soft mouldable memory foam ear cushions make them more comfortable to wear for hours, with Ultra soft over-the-ear headband.Outstanding Call quality, comes with 10 built in mics. You don't need to pull out boom-arm mic to talk. But that boom-mic gives you enhanced audio output, pulls out & tilts. There is also a mute button on the boom-mic, for quick access.Superior Music sounds. Listening to music is a different level with excellent deep Bass. When you experience you realise how incredibly it is designed. I have been listening to music, podcasts and audio books.Bluetooth connectivity is brilliant, it automatically connects to different devices. I have been connecting it with my Samsung S9+ and the laptop. You can connect up to 8 devices and auto switch between the 2 mainly. The wireless range is 30m, which is enough for office or home use.Download Jabra app from stores for full functionality. you can control Noise Cancellation and Hear-through modes and various other functions.Charging stand is a good addition, leave it on the table and charge Headphones easily. I also charged it with Type-C (Android phone charger), which also charges quickly.With 37 hours of battery life, you won't be needing to worry about charging very often.When not in use, Headphones can be folded outwards, comfortable to leave that way on the neck for easy head movement. Quick Charging, 15 mins gives you approx. 2 hours battery time.- Battery life: Up to 37 hours– Charging time: up to 140 minutes- 10 Microphone technology- 40 mm speakers– Digital hybrid Active Noise Cancellation- Visible Busylight (can be disabled from the app)– Hideaway boom arm– Pair up to 8 devices- Auto Switch between 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously- 30 m wireless range- Bluetooth adapter (strapped with Velcro inside)- Charging stand- 3 years warrantyI loved these Headphones, cannot find a single fault, just the price may be. You can use these headphones for work & for personal use. These are designed to target professionals mainly, to use these at work and to commute. Excellent but expensive indeed.

26.11.2020

The packaging is very high quality. The headphones come in a solid zip case and the charging dock comes packaged in the min box.They come with a USB-A cable , Bluetooth dongle , 3.5mm – 3.5mm cable and a 3.5mm twin plane adapter socket.The headphone cups fold 90degrees to flat and in on them selves, so tuck away neatly into their case. There is a soft insert inside the case which contains the other peripheral items.The charging dock attaches to a computer USB socket for power feed.The headband is slightly flexible which is useful but they do feel a bit on the fragile side so I wouldn’t want to sit on them.The box points you towards their website where you can download the Jabra Direct software.

17.11.2020

COVID-19 has changed the world in innumerable ways, but one of the biggest is the way in which we work. Working from our lounges or bedrooms became commonplace earlier in 2020 as the pandemic took hold, and for many, that meant building an effective remote-working setup. Anyone who has been on a Zoom call the past few months knows the frustration of a poor microphone and headset.Enter the Jabra Evolve2 85. This headset is built for the discerning professional - a piece of equipment that should deliver high-quality audio, a comfortable fit, and crisp, clear voice to the people on the other end of a video or audio call.In Brief:PROS- A comfortable, snug fit.

29.8.2020

I was a bit hesitant with regards to these as I wondered if any headphones could be worth the money they are charging. I can now categorically say a 100% yes. I am blown away by these headphones. Firstly, ease of use. It took a few minutes to get them to pair via bluetooth with my computer but in all fairness I think that was a Mac issue rather than the headphones. I like the way the headphones talk to you telling you what is happening. So, initially they said, not paired. Then they said paired once I was up and running. When you switch them on it also gives you a battery level. I love that - I was told the battery level is full. Talking of batteries, there is both a USB lead for charging and a charging stand.

Jabra Evolve2 85 - Reviews

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