I have plantronics CS-50s (analog wireless) and CS-50-USBs (USB wireless--seems to use the same headset as CS-50 with different base station electronics), which I like, but I'm looking for some wired headsets to use with Cisco Communicator and Microsoft Lync/Livemeeting.

I see the Plantronics Blackwire CS-610 and 610-M, but I have a couple of concerns:

- a few reviews mention audio hiss, which would be annoying, and
- I can't tell the difference between the -M ('Microsoft') and regular versions.

Anyway, I wondered if anyone had comments on these headsets specifically, or other models I should look at.

Audio quality and comfort are more important to me than cost, and I like monaural over-the-head styles. I don't like the headbands that hit the wearers head above the ear.

Thanks,
Heath

We have a few GN 9350e headsets which work very well in our environment, with the added bonus of connecting to both the phone and PC at the same time (you toggle between the two with a button) Range is pretty good, and price is on par with other headsets of this quality.

Call Plantronics for Technical Support: 888-752-6876. They should be able to answer your questions...

....JIM....

I use the blackwire 210's - they are only like $40 and are microsoft certified. Work very well for my needs and have good sound quality.

I have to agree about the blackwire 210-m's. A colleague was sent .wav files to be uploaded into a voicemail, he played them through a 210-m while he had it pressed to the mouthpiece of a deskphone and recorded it, sounds perfect.

I'm not sure of the exact difference between the Microsoft and non-Microsoft versions. I bought the Microsoft version figuring I was going to plug it into windows and use it with software on windows so that might give me the best advantage. I don't use Microsoft's software, but the mute button and volume up/down buttons all work in Jitsi, which I use for a SIP client, and GoToMeeting under Internet Destroyer. I also use it to record WAV files for my voicemail system's menus and my own mailbox, and they sound way better than recording them over the phone handset.

Incidentally, if anyone cares (or has a better answer), it is quite a challenge to record WAV files using the new sound recorder on Windows 7 - it seems to only allow you to save in .WMA format. I ended up copying the one over from my XP system, and that still works for what I need it to do!

/Offtopic.

Use something like Audacity for recording, lot more flexible.

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