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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1256627
Jabra's audio prowess isn't just for your musical entertainment, it's also put to good use in an everyday office environment. And in the days of Covid-19, as conference rooms have moved online and video calls are the new and constant normal, laptop speakers and microphones just don't cut it. Whether you're looking for a personal headset that doesn't sound like your taking your call from the top of a moving train, or you want to invest in something a little more versatile like a Bluetooth speakerphone, Jabra has some high- quality products to keep you and your coworkers sane through your hours of video calls. The Evolve2 65 As both a music lover and a frequent video call participant, the Evolve2 65's have become the new permanent fixture perched atop my head. They are packed with features for conference calls while still being comfortable for all-day use and pumping out that signature Jabra audio quality. And yes, they look cooler than a call center headset and more professional than a pair of gaming headphones. The Evolve2 65 was designed for video call use in a crowded environment, and they thrive in open office layouts or busy coffee shops. Thankfully, those same features often improve the experience of a busy household or noisy street. A busy light on each earpiece lets your coworkers (or kids) know when you are on the phone—no more awkward gestures or uncomfortable interruptions. It's like the "On Air" light at the radio station. This headset also uses 3 microphone technology to do an incredible job of eliminating ambient noise. Whether it's the trash truck coming by at the worse time, your kid's cartoons, or loud coworkers, the Elite2 65 makes sure the sound isn't broadcast to the rest of your conference call. In addition to their spectacular outbound noise cancellation, the Evolve2 65's have a couple of audio processing tricks to make them extra effective in a work environment. They 'fade in' a bit during the beginning of an audio stream and make sure you are speaking before transmitting the audio. No quick snaps or sniffs for your colleagues. This eases your audio experience in a way that's hard to describe, but if you've been on a video call, especially with people using their laptop microphones, you know just how harsh of an experience this can be. Like most pair of Bluetooth headphones, the Evolve2 65's feature classic 3-button control for volume/track control and play/pause. These are tucked on the back of the read earpiece, while the video conference controls are more prominently featured. A dedicated mute button is on the front of the earpiece, while a large call answer/leave button sits on the side with the microphone. Rotating the mic into or out of place will also unmute or mute respectively, but the dedicated mute button will become your go-to for voice control. It eliminates hunting for the microphone button, and the godforsaken 'sorry, I was on mute' refrain that permeates every work call. Event updates are communicated with a verbal indicator, including when coming on and off of mute. At first, this was surprising, and I thought it would interrupt my call or train of thought, but it is subtle enough to be useful without being distracting. And in a world where no one seems to know if they're muted or not, it's a feature I wouldn't give up. The on-ear style keeps these headphones appropriate for a work environment—big over-ear cans sometimes appear a little goofy on a video call—and help achieve the lightweight they need for all-day use. Memory foam padded ears also help with both comfort and passive noise isolation. I wear the Evolve2 65's with glasses half of the week and I don't have any comfort complaints.