Plantronics Voyager 855 switches from headset to headphones with ease

Rarely does an accessory hit the market that really seems to fill a gap in the already overcrowded Bluetooth headset space, yet Plantronics may have managed to pull off just such a feat with its uber-low-profile, transforming Voyager 855 headset-cum-headphones. Besides the sliding boom, this model might look like a regular over the ear unit at first glance, but a detachable cord with an earbud at the end allows the 855 to perform double-duty as A2DP-compliant headphones -- great for those of us trying to downsize from the normally-bulky earpieces offered by iLuv, Bluetake, and friends. You're also getting the all-critical AVRCP profile here as well, so the only real downside seems to be the price: sounds like it'll be retailing for around $200 when it hits later this month, although we've already seen street prices ranging from $80 to $150.

Update: Plantronics let us know that pricing will be more in the $110 to $120 range, so bully for you if you can find that $80 deal.

[Ellianth @ Sep 10th 2007 2:37PM]

ohh that's hawt. I want one.

[Abecedaria @ Sep 11th 2007 6:39PM]

But... will it work with the iPhone, i.e. answering calls, switching between calls and mp3, etc....

[Dustin Frazier @ Sep 10th 2007 2:53PM]

I definitely want these. I really hope they dedicate their effort to turning out high quality stereo audio. Otherwise, this will just be a novelty. I have been hoping for a product like this for quite sometime and I hope this sells well so other companies get the hint. Long-life low profile bluetooth stereo audio is where it's at.

[Mizer @ Sep 10th 2007 3:17PM]

I have been waiting for a long time for a decent device like this, I find it surprising that this technological progress has taken so long to get to this stage considering that the hardware (and some of the software) has been around for awhile. So I realy hope this one pans out in the reviews. Wouldn't be cool if the above device had no wire and the earphones would be wirelessly connected?? Now THAT would take a real long time to come along, eh?

[Jonathan Keim @ Sep 10th 2007 2:53PM]

This would be on my list if I didn't already buy the Plantronics 655

[Khris @ Sep 10th 2007 2:59PM]

-Plantronics Voyager 855
-iPod Touch

Santa, bring me the above two items for Christmas otherwise Rudolph gets it....and IT isn't a happy ending!

[Christopher Vendemio @ Sep 10th 2007 3:21PM]

iPod Touch doesn't have bluetooth. It was already clarified by Apple themselves.

[Khris @ Sep 10th 2007 3:23PM]

I realize that......however I can still want both items can I not?

[JSM @ Sep 10th 2007 3:22PM]

so, if I'm not mistaken (as I often am) this would also be usable as a bluetooth headset for voip on any bt capable laptop or pc?

[marwatk @ Sep 10th 2007 3:35PM]

What I'd love to see is a device like this that allows for multiple devices to be paired. That way I can use a regular ipod+itunes for audio with a bluetooth adapter, and my blackberry for work. It should also send the pause command to the ipod when a call comes in, and resume playback when the call ends. That way I'm not stuck with finding a phone that has A2DP but still works with my corporate email (basically only the Curve at the moment). Blackberry's media player is horrible.

[Michael @ Sep 10th 2007 8:16PM]

Check out Jabra's A125s for iPod and their BT8010's for your stereo headphones.

The A125s will plug into the pop port of the iPod and has A2DP and AVRCP for play/pause/fw/fr/forward/back controls. It connected to the BT8010.

The BT8010 is a stereo bluetooth headset with a detachable stereo earpiece. It will connect to both your A2DP phone and your adapter (or laptop, bluetooth enabled media player, etc) at the same time and pause the music from the iPod when a call comes in, letting you take the call without missing any music.

I love them.

[rdow @ Sep 10th 2007 6:23PM]

Jabra 8010 does what you want. Two devices can be paired.

Also, for the record, the Jabra has the same sort of design (detachable 2nd earpiece) and came out at the beginning of the year (I've had one since February). This isn't any sort of revolutionary design by Plantronics.

[djd @ Sep 10th 2007 7:55PM]

This model should support pairing to 2 devices. I have the 1st gen Plantronics, the 2.5yr old Discovery 640 and I pair it to 2 phones - works fine. The controls on the headset work with one at a time (if you are on phone 1 and phone 2 rings or you manually dial with phone 2 it auto switches to phone 2, but headset controls only work with 'last phone used' at a time), which is good. You don't want to voice dial from 2 phones at once!

[tso @ Sep 10th 2007 3:44PM]

there is also the jabra BT8010 that has a similar solution.

nice to see choice tho ;)

[LondonConsultant @ Sep 10th 2007 5:52PM]

A little while ago, I wanted a headset like this but couldn't find one and so bought a standard in-you-ear mono headset. I'll check out this Plantronics unit and also the Jabra mentioned above. I'm surprised these designs don't have a higher profile...

[Golferal @ Sep 10th 2007 7:02PM]

The Jabra design doesn't look like it has the in ear canal type earbuds whereas the Plantronics. I wonder how they compare in sound.

Also, they mention an extending boom mic, but no illustrations or photos showing it in that position. What gives?

[keithwwalker @ Sep 10th 2007 9:17PM]

The Jabra has great sound and battery life for a2dp, but the ear piece is a bit annoying. The plantronics looks great, with it's earbud design.

[Ted @ Sep 10th 2007 7:36PM]

This is a step in the right direction. There is a huge void that's just waiting to be filled for some slick, low profile, & rechargeable Bluetooth stereo headphones.

[ZekeSulastin @ Sep 10th 2007 9:37PM]

I just found the bluetooth headset I am purchasing for my Treo :@

[Richard @ Sep 10th 2007 11:37PM]

I sure wish the Shure guys would get in on the bluetooth thing.

[Jesse S @ Sep 10th 2007 11:55PM]

Bluetooth audio is still absolute shit.

Guys, do yourself a favor, get a bluetooth headset for calls, and a real set of headphones for audio...

Then again, the DAC's in phones aren't always very good anyway...Just look at the iPhone.

[george madden @ Sep 17th 2007 10:22AM]

I'm sure this may be a dumb question but can I safely assume that when the 2nd earpiece is NOT plugged in, I will still have A2DP functionality. I would like to use this headset even in the car in one ear to listen to books on tape (w/o Stereo) from my IPOD and allow the phone to interupt the IPOD when it rings. In fact, even music ready phones like my Razr Maxx should play music w/o the 2nd ear piece... Thanks...