Plantronics goes chrometastic with Explorer 395 Bluetooth headset

Who says Bluetooth headsets aren't cool any more? Not Plantronics. Today, the California-based company released the Explorer 395 earpiece -- a $49.95 earpiece in both black and bronze flavors, and aimed at first-time Bluetooth users. How so? You get dedicated buttons for volume, power and phone call, which puts the confusing single-button-operated headsets to shame. Being a budget line, there's no fancy noise-cancellation technology offered here, although the 0.39-ounce weight and five-hour talk time (seven days of battery on standby) seem to give a good bang for the buck. Still, at the end of the day it's all about real-life appearance and audio quality, so we'll hold our judgement until we get a review unit later this week. Stay tuned.

Show full PR text

New Plantronics Explorer 395 Bluetooth Headset Combines
Distinctive Design and Ease of Use

Lightweight, Ergonomic Design Delivers All-Day Wearing Comfort

SANTA CRUZ, CA – April 20, 2010 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT), the world leader in personal audio communications for nearly 50 years, today announced the new Plantronics Explorer(R) 395 Bluetooth(R) headset. Perfect for first-time Bluetooth users, the Explorer 395 is an extremely easy- to-use headset that features a compact, classic design and high-quality audio performance at an affordable price.

"Consumers buying their first Bluetooth headset are most concerned with usability. Product set up and basic operations, such as placing and receiving phone calls, must be intuitive," said Jeff Ducote, category director for Bluetooth products at Plantronics. "The Explorer 395 achieves this and goes a step further by combining simplicity with great audio quality, reliability and attractive styling."

Ease of Use and High-Quality Audio Performance
The Plantronics Explorer 395 delivers ease of use through dedicated buttons for volume, power on/off and call answer/end, which eliminate the confusion caused by a single, multi-use button. In addition, the Explorer 395 is universally compatible and includes Plantronics' QuickPair(TM) technology for fast and easy setup with any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.

The Plantronics Explorer 395 features precision microphone placement and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology to reduce noise, echo and wind distortion, ensuring the user's voice is heard clearly and sounds natural. The DSP technology also improves inbound audio so every word is heard on both sides of the conversation.

At only 11 grams, the Plantronics Explorer 395 headset is lightweight and discreet. It includes a contoured ear tip and ergonomically designed swivel earloop to provide a comfortable, stable fit. The Explorer 395 features premium design accents, including an elegant chrome finish, and is offered in black/silver and bronze/silver colors.

Users will spend less time hassling with chargers thanks to the Plantronics Explorer 395's long-lasting battery, which provides up to 5 hours of talk time and up to 7 days of standby time. The Explorer 395's designated slide on/off switch enables users to further preserve battery life between calls, and conveniently auto-connects once power is restored.

In addition to the Plantronics Explorer 395, Plantronics also introduced the Plantronics Explorer 240 Bluetooth headset.

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics Explorer 395 Bluetooth headset has a retail price of $49.95 and is available at BestBuy.com and www.plantronics.com today. The Explorer 395 will be available exclusively at BestBuy through June, and at Amazon.com, Apple, and Wal-Mart stores this summer. The Plantronics Explorer 240 has a retail price of $39.95 and exclusive variants are available now at AT&T, Frys, RadioShack, Staples, Target, T-Mobile, Verizon, and WalMart. For more information about the Plantronics Explorer 395 and the Plantronics Explorer 240, please visit: www.plantronics.com/explorer395 and www.plantronics.com/explorer240.

[Hazdaz Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:11AM]

Is holding a phone up to your ear THAT much of a choir?

[simvalue Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:29AM]

@Hazdaz yes, while driving a car (+ forbidden)

[amneziac Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:31AM]

@Hazdaz that much of a choir? It depends how many are singing to you at the other end of the phone.

[Peter Pan Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:31AM]

@Hazdaz no, but a headset makes you look like an important buisness person. FOR ONLY $49.95!!!

[bstump Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:48AM]

@Hazdaz You can get bluetooth headsets for like $25-$30 now...

[O Posted Apr 20th 2010 9:52AM]

@Hazdaz as more and more jurisdictions require handsfree phone usage while driving, these headsets are becoming more necessary. Even when you're not driving it is helpful to have both hands free to take notes or do other things while talking.

Plus if you are on AT&T it makes talking and surfing at the same time much easier....aint that right Luke Wilson?

[eliazar Posted Apr 20th 2010 12:38PM]

@Hazdaz
Is having your hands free for typing, driving, cartwheels ... whatever, a bad thing?
Also, choirs sing, chores are burdensome tasks, maybe you just misspelled it because of damage to your ulnar nerve by having your elbow bent sharply for too long though?
See http://www.cubital-tunnel.com/blog/cell-phone-elbow-or-cellbow-damages-nerves/

[Hazdaz Posted Apr 20th 2010 1:31PM]

@eliazar

Yeah, yeah, stupid me, I misspelled a word.

Anyways, I just put my phone on speaker when I am in the car. Never had a problem that way.

I personally could never get used to having a headset in my ear.

[Bootman340 Posted Apr 20th 2010 8:47AM]

It's illegal in NY to drive while holding a phone to your ear so they do have their place in that regard. I use mine quite often. Plantronics 920 Discovery. It's low profile so I don't look like I'm from Startrek.

[Dr Moses True Posted Apr 20th 2010 9:53AM]

Is every single headset article going to start out the same way? We know how they look, we know the people that make them look the worst, and we know they're going to keep getting made. This whole "Well headsets suck, but we're going to talk about this now" opening to ever one of these is beyond tiresome. Just review the device, chuckleheads.

[FitFan Posted Apr 20th 2010 10:27AM]

So now you can look like a retro dork?

Bluetooth headsets were cool for about one week ... until the first person wore it while standing in line at Starbucks.

[these2boots Posted Apr 20th 2010 11:21AM]

some people (my pops at 65+) really don't give a rats a%$ if they look cool or not. for him, it's just functional. he never hears the damn phone if his headset isn't in his ear!