Home > Consumer Reviews > Plantronics Encore H91N Monaural Headset with Noise Canceling Microphone

This headset is designed for phone systems, and will not connect to a device that requires a miniplug, such as a transcriber or recorder or cell phone. To use this headset with a computer, you need a Headset to USB Adapter (Plantronics DA40). An equivalent product that connects using miniplugs is the Andrea Electronics NC-181 (available from the company's website, but not from Amazon).

We use these and the newer, solid-boom models at work for taking calls and these Encore ones are total trash. The mic booms easily contort and bend, becoming permanently crimped and making it impossible to pick up your voice. The swivel for the boom loosens with use and eventually will no longer stay where you put it. In addition, the head band is not very strong so during the day your headset slowly slides off your ear due to it's own weight.

I suppose if you got one new, were the only user, and babied it when you used it that it would do a good job. I mean, when I am forced to use one at work (because the new ones are all being used) I still get my job done, but it isn't comfortable or convenient. At all.

The sound quality is as good if not better than other headsets I have used.
It is comfortable to wear.

The down side is the microphone is not easily adjustable, you have to bend and twist the mic to get it into position.

I'm still shopping for a similar-looking set, but one that terminates with a 2.5mm plug, compatible with cordless phones. When this unit, used, arrived it had a cord ending with the "quick-disconnect" line connector. Working with the seller, I acquired the other half of the cord. But It Terminated In a Square, Four-lead Connector, Probably Physically Compatible With Normal Household Phone Wall Jack!

After some web digging at Plantronics>Encore>second page>fine print, I discovered that it requires one of their amps. More homework revealed dissatisfied reviews with their companion amp, priced from about $60 used to $200 new.

Next logical step will be to work on returns procedure.

My husband and I are in a Southern Rock Band and I sing backup and play the Tamborine. He recently purchased the Plantronics Encore Monaural Headset with Noise Cancelling Microphone for my birthday. Well....I love it. Before, if I was jamming with the tamborine and had to step up to the microphone and do some backup vocals, it was a little awkward. It really made it hard to boogie, sing and jam at the same time. Now with my new toy, its great. The quality is excellent. I would have never thought that the output would be so clear with a hands free unit, but it is. All the band members think its great and want a set now!