plantronics legend vs voyager

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Plantronics Voyager Legend vs Voyager 5200: Which Headset is Better?

• by Micheal Jamson
• March 8, 2021 February 15, 2022

Table of Contents

Headset removes the need of holding a telephone for having a conversation. It helps your shoulders stay completely relaxed as you talk through the headset. Using a telephone often causes muscle stress and stiffness, but with the headset your muscles are relaxed and it’s less stressful. The headset increases productivity and makes your workstation more comfortable. So, in this article, we will take a look at the Plantronics Voyager Legend vs Voyager 5200 and choose which is better.

The Plantronics voyager legend headset is a unique headset that comes with smart sensor technology and it’s compatible with most voice platforms. This headset is ideal for mobile professionals who use a mobile phone, PC audio, tablet communication, and more. The Plantronics voyager 5200 headset comes with an excellent Bluetooth feature and noise cancellation. Its design is attractive and it’s easy to position whenever it’s in use.

Plantronics Voyager Legend vs Voyager 5200 – Similarities

So, let us discuss the similarities between the Plantronics voyager Legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200.

Quick Glance

Noise Cancellation

The Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200 have similar noise cancellations. This noise cancellation helps to filter out unwanted sound whenever the headset is in use. The noise cancellation detects and analyses the sound pattern of incoming noise and generates a filter to cancel it out.

Smart Sensor

Both devices have a smart sensor technology that senses when it’s placed on-ear and it automatically answers the calls as they come in. When the headset is not worn, it can be set to automatically redirect the calls to your phones as soon as they come in. This feature is nice and makes answering of calls less stressful.

Read next – Jabra Talk 55 vs Plantronics Voyager 5200: Which Bluetooth Headsets are Better?

Voice recognition

They have voice recognition that makes answering calls easy and straightforward. You don’t have to press a button to answer the calls, you can answer the calls by saying answer then the headset automatically answers the calls.

The Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200 both have a talk time of 7 hours, charging time of 1.5 hours, and up to 11 days standby time.

Water-resistant

They have a P2i nano-coating technology that helps to protect the Bluetooth from sweat, rain, and coffee spills. With this, you can wear the headset in gyms or at the office without getting it damaged by water.

Read next – Jabra Talk 25 vs 35: Which Hands-Free Bluetooth Headset is Better?

Multi-Point Pairing

Both devices come with a multi-point pairing that lets it pair up to two devices. With this, you can seamlessly move from one device to another.

Smart Assistant

The Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200 are compatible with smart assistants like Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and Google.

Differences Between Plantronics Voyager Legend and Plantronics Voyager 5200

In this section, we will take a look at the difference between the Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200.

The Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200 come with similar aesthetics but their buttons are positioned differently.

Plantronics voyager legend

This headset is made of plastic material. It has volume and mute buttons placed at the side of the headsets. It doesn’t have a built-in Alexa feature for answering calls. The shape and size are a bit similar to the Plantronics voyager 5200 but have some slight changes. This Plantronics voyager legend has a dimension (4 x 0.42 x 2.5) inches and it weighs 0.688 ounces. It comes with stainless steel windscreens, an electronic filter in microphone circuitry, and an acoustic fabric mesh to block the wind.

Plantronics voyager 5200

Plantronics is made of a better polymer material than the Plantronics voyager legend. Its volume controls are positioned at the top which is far from the mute button. This helps you to avoid confusing the controls whenever it’s in use. It also has a red button for activating Amazon Alexa when it’s needed. The Plantronics Voyager 5200 comes with a dimension (5.51 x 2.28 x 3.66) inches and a weight of 0.7 ounces. It has an improved aerodynamic boom and a wind box to protect the microphone.

Read next – Plantronics Voyager 5200 vs 5220: Which Bluetooth Headset is Better?

Bluetooth technology

The Bluetooth technology of both devices is different.

This device comes with Bluetooth version 3.0 and a range of up to 33 feet (10 meters).

It has a Bluetooth version 4.1 that comes with a range of up to 98 feet (30 meters).

Audio profiles

The Plantronics voyager legend has three levels of Windsmart technology. It has three microphones and doesn’t allow the NFC pairing.

It comes with six levels of Windsmart technology. This device comes with four microphones and allows NFC pairing.

Read next- Plantronics M55 vs M70: Which Bluetooth Headset is Better?

Pros and Cons

Before our final verdict, we will go over a few pros and cons of the Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200.

• It is good for conference calls.
• It delivers a great performance.
• It delivers voice clarity and absolute durability.
• Sometimes it doesn’t stay connected to your phone for long.

Plantronics Voyager 5200

• It has good button positioning.
• It comes with good noise cancellation.
• The microphone feature is very good.
• It doesn’t connect well with some devices.

The Final Verdict

The Plantronics voyager legend and the Plantronics voyager 5200 both have excellent features and body build. They deliver voice clarity and make sure you’re able to answer the calls without using much effort. Both devices come with an excellent talk-time and charging time for efficient use. They have a unique water-resistant and multi-point pairing feature.

After considering both features, we decided to choose the Plantronics voyager 5200 as the better headset. The reason for choosing this headset is because it has more microphones, more Windsmart technology level, better noise cancellation, and better Bluetooth range.

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Plantronics Voyager 5200 vs Voyager Legend (2021): Which Wireless Headset is Better?

Plantronics, also known as Poly, has long been the go-to brand when it comes to Bluetooth headsets and other workplace communication devices. Its Bluetooth headsets deliver impressive noise-cancellation for a price that’s hard to beat. We hone in on the features and specs of the best-selling Plantronics Voyager 5200 and the Voyager Legend to find out which noise-canceling Bluetooth headset is the better purchase.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is equipped with six layers of WindSmart Technology, ensuring top-quality noise-cancellation even when in busy, crowded areas.

Plantronics Voyager 5200 vs Voyager Legend Comparison Chart

Major differences, design and comfort, noise cancellation, controls and connectivity, battery life and additional features.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is equipped with a built-in Alexa, a better Bluetooth version, and has one more microphone than the Voyager Legend

We’ll go through their differences in-depth throughout this comparison, but here’s a quick rundown of the major differences of the Voyager 5200 and the Voyager Legend:

• they have similar aesthetics, with slight design variations
• the Voyager 5200 has a built-in Alexa and Tile while the Legend doesn’t
• their Bluetooth versions differ, therefore one has a better range over the other
• the Voyager 5200 comes with 4 microphones while the Legend only has 3
• the Voyager 5200 has overall better noise-cancellation
• their charging cases, which are sold separately, look different and offer different features

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 and the Legend have similar aesthetics, but their button placements are slightly different

While they look similar at first, a closer look at the Voyager 5200 and the Legend will reveal they are made of different materials and their buttons have different placements. The Voyager 5200 is made of better material than the plastic hard shell found in the Legend.

With three layers of Plantronics' patent WindSmart Technology, the Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth headset can block out most external noise well.

Plantronics further incorporated what its Voyager Legend users suggested when it comes to the headsets’ volume and mute buttons. The volume controls on the 5200 are located at the top, far from the mute button, to avoid confusion or talking after accidentally pressing the mute button. There’s also a red button for activating Amazon Alexa on the 5200 that is missing on the Legend.

Both the Voyager 5200 and the Legend are lightweight and fit comfortably around the ear. Their in-ear tips also fit snugly in most ears and offer great noise isolation.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 delivers better noise-cancellation than the Voyager Legend

When Plantronics first released the Voyager Legend, it was widely praised for its noise-cancellation capabilities. It comes with three microphones and three layers of Plantronics’ WindSmart Technology that work great with blocking out external noise. There’s also no static heard during calls.

The newer Voyager 5200 kicks it up a notch with its four microphones and six layers of WindSmart Technology. They work together to detect wind and noise and actively make the necessary adjustments to your voice. The result? Impressive wind and noise-cancellation and stunning audio clarity. The caller on the other line will still hear you clearly even when you’re in a loud, crowded place or a moving vehicle.

While Bluetooth headsets are not the most ideal audio gear for listening to music or podcasts, both the Voyager 5200 and the Legend can still be used for these purposes. However, since they are only used on one ear, do not expect the same quality you get when listening with headphones.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 and the Legend allow voice prompts and multi-point pairing; the 5200 has a built-in Alexa and better Bluetooth range

Since the Voyager 5200 is equipped with Bluetooth 4.1, it has a better range and more stable connection than the Legend which only uses Bluetooth 3.0. With that said, the Legend still has good connectivity with no drop-offs on connection for most devices.

An extremely useful feature of both the Voyager 5200 and the Legend are their “Answer” and “Ignore” voice prompts. For instance, when you receive a call while driving, the Voyager will tell you who’s calling. If you say “Answer,” it’ll automatically connect the call.

Both the Plantronics headsets also allow you to pair two devices at once. Another crowd-pleaser is their ability to automatically answer the call when they detect that you put the headset on your ear. This is made possible through the motion sensor in the headset.

Both the Voyager 5200 and the Legend are compatible with smart assistants like Siri, Google, Alexa, or Cortana. However, only the 5200 comes with a built-in Alexa so you can activate this voice assistant straight from the dedicated button on the Bluetooth headset.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 and the Legend have the same battery life and water-resistance; the 5200 boasts Tile integration

Plantronics advertise a talk time of up to 7 hours for both the Voyager 5200 and the Legend at full charge. However, some users report they get a little less than that. For around 30 USD more, you can get the portable charging case which can add up to 14 hours of usage. The portable charger also works as a protective case for the Bluetooth headsets, making it a worthwhile purchase.

The Voyager 5200 can be docked on its charging case so you can easily grab the headset when you receive a call. For only an hour and a half of charging, you can get a full charge for both headsets. Another reason to go with the 5200 is it comes with a USB charger, unlike the Legend that uses a Plantronics proprietary charger. This means you won’t have to worry about forgetting the charger at home when traveling or having to bring a different set when your other devices already use a USB charger.

Protected by P2i moisture-repellent nano-coating, both the Voyager 5200 and the Legend can withstand minor spills, splashes, and sweat moisture. However, they are not recommended for submersion, even in freshwater. The Voyager 5200 is integrated with Tile, a feature missing in the Voyager Legend. In cases where you can’t find your headset, you can go to the app and prompt Tile to locate the device.

If you don’t mind the small price difference, go for the Plantronics Voyager 5200

Both the Plantronics Voyager 5200 and the Voyager Legend are reliable Bluetooth headsets that deliver top-notch noise-cancellation for their price. They can effectively block out sounds through Plantronics’ proprietary technology and can be worn comfortably for hours.

If you will only use the headset at your home office, then the Voyager Legend ‘s noise-cancellation should be fine. However, if you often talk on the phone while in crowded or loud areas such as cafes or airports, the Voyager 5200 and its superb noise and wind-cancellation will be the better fit for you. The 5200’s better audio quality alone makes the 20 USD price difference almost insignificant. Other smart features like the built-in Tile and Alexa are just an added bonus.

The Plantronics 5200 is overall better than the Voyager Legend headset as the former has more advanced noise-canceling and smart features.

Featuring six levels of WindSmart Technology, the Plantronics Voyager 5200 is one of the best noise-canceling headset.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 has better noise-canceling than the Voyager Legend. The 5200 is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Tile, features that the Legend lacks.

Both noise-canceling headsets boast up to 7 hours of talk time.

Rhodaline Escala-Phelps

Former Managing Editor and Team Leader at Compare Before Buying. Writer and researcher passionate about food, people, product comparisons, culture, and current events.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Plantronics Voyager Legend review: Plantronics Voyager Legend

The $99.99 Plantronics Voyager Legend proves headsets with boom mics can have style plus superb call quality.

Plantronics has been in the communications business since the dawn of the Jet Age and heady days of the Apollo space program. This experience shows in the company’s latest premium Bluetooth headset, the $99.99 Voyager Legend. It’s sure not a modest product name but designed as a follow-up to the Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus, and the Legend does what many might have though was impossible, improve on an already stellar design. In fact, the Voyager Legend offers even better call quality, a smaller size, a more comfortable fit, and a longer battery life. It’s still not inconspicuous compared with more minute headsets but if you do a lot of talking all over town and clear sound is your priority, you’ll want to splurge on this excellent mobile accessory.

Plantronics Voyager Legend

The bottom line, plantronic's hyper advanced voyager legend (pictures).

Design There’s no getting around the fact that the Plantronics Voyager Legend is a big contraption as Bluetooth headsets go these days. With its signature, and rather dated boom arm design, the headset is more bulky than compact competitors such as the Motorola Elite Silver, Jawbone Era, or even Plantronic’s own M55.

That said, the Voyager Legend is elegant compared to the rather unwieldy Jabra Supreme. Compared with the Supreme, the Legend has a premium feel thanks to plastics that I found reassuringly solid and well crafted. Indeed, while the headset’s ear loop is thick, it provides controls within easy finger reach. At the ear loop’s base sits a sturdy power switch while another switch above it toggles volume up and down.

The boom microphone arm is thinner that the one found on the Voyager Pro yet manages not to bend when positioning or appear flimsy. Two buttons live on the arm as well, a Voice key on the bottom edge, and Call button at the tip closest to your ear. I found both a cinch to press, though it was easy to accidentally hit either one while pushing the headset into my ear.

A standard gel ear tip comes attached to the Voyager Legend but Plantronics also bundles a larger and smaller size along with two foam earbud covers. I really appreciate the effort Plantronics took to make these tips a breeze to swap in and out of the device too. Just press inward and twist left or right to lock or unlock tips for insertion and removal.

Plantronics also says it took steps to make the Voyager Legend easier to wear for poor folks with glasses like myself. It seems the plan paid off since this is the most comfortable wireless headset I’ve used to date. The device also felt secure and lightweight in my ear, especially for a gadget this big. Another slick feature is the headset's sensors, which automatically detect when you remove it from or place it on your ear. It will smartly mute audio or answer calls depending on your actions.

Of course my experience wasn’t all puppies and rainbows. For example, none of the supplied ear tips felt anywhere as comfortable as the in-ear ear buds I prefer to use. Frankly what would really make the product impeccable in my view is an ear tip that compressed and slowly refilled my ear canal to provide a truly superior audio seal, almost like earplugs do.

To charge the Voyager Legend, Plantronics includes a small adapter to rest the headset’s metal contacts upon. The company also plans to sell a nifty travel case accessory for the device that also operates as an extended battery pack and charger for $29. Plantronics claims the case adds an extra 14 hours of additional talk time.

Performance Plantronics told me that this new incarnation of the Voyager line boasts not two but three microphones to improve audio. The device also supports wideband audio for extra clarity. My test calls backed up this claim with the Plantronics Voyager Legend turning in excellent call quality whether I was chatting from bustling New York streets, within crowded restaurants, or inside my raucous CNET offices. People on the other end couldn't tell I was chatting from a mobile connection either, though they could pick up ambient background noise such as babbling babies and running water.

Adhering to the Bluetooth 3.0 spec, the Voyager Legend features multipoint pairing, meaning you can link it to two devices simultaneously. In fact I had the headset connected to both my Samsung Galaxy S3 test unit and Windows 7 laptop. That said, using the Legend for VoIP calls yielded choppy audio mostly due to my old notebook’s old Bluetooth stack and supporting drivers. Plantronics sells a $49.99 Bluetooth dongle for this purpose. The Voyager Legend is also rated at to provide up to 7 hours of talk time and 11 days of standby time. My anecdotal use so far matches up with this boast and I have yet to charge the headset over two days of casual use.

Score Breakdown

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Plantronics Voyager Legend Review

A reliable option for everyday use, but the fit leaves a bit to be desired

• Northeastern University

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Plantronics Voyager Legend

Lifewire / Jason Schneider

Excellent call quality

Intuitive controls

Solid battery life

Awkward, finicky fit

Bulky awkward design

Lack of sound depth

If you want a mid-priced workhorse that can handle your day-to-day calls, then the Voyager Legend should fit the bill—but don’t expect it to really wow you.

• Durability/Build Quality
• Call Quality
• Battery Life
• Controls/Connectivity
• Competition
• Final Verdict

We purchased the Plantronics Voyager Legend so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

The Plantronics Voyager Legend is a middle-of-the-road option that's a solid option for average users. When Plantronics developed this Bluetooth headset, they did so with convenience and connectivity in mind, folding in some interesting sensor functionality, a degree of moisture-resistance, and even voice assistance integration.

The fit in a user’s ear and the sound quality inherent with that loose fit do leave a bit to be desired, so don’t look to these if you intend to place calls in excessively noisy settings. But if you want a moderately priced Bluetooth headset with tons of convenience and solid voice clarity, then this could be a great option.

Design: Subtle and sleek with a bulky battery housing

The look of most of Plantronics more “active” Bluetooth headsets is largely the same: a grill-adorned boom mic coming from a cylindrical driver housing, a clear silicone eartip, and a bulky behind-the-ear housing that contains most of the inner workings, including the battery. This design is somewhat intentional, as it puts a lot of the components behind your ear, and ostensibly out of sight, but that fact does have some ramifications when it comes to comfort (we’ll get to that in a second).

The boom mic itself measures just under 3 inches from the ear piece, and that bulky behind-the-ear component is about 2-inches long and .5-inches thick. The boom does swivel to fold up alongside the over-ear component, leaving a smaller footprint both when storing and wearing the headset. And with a mostly black design and a silver, perforated grill along the boom, this is actually our favorite Plantronics design (the more expensive 5200 has red accents that aren’t exactly subtle).

Comfort: An awkward fit with some bulk behind the ear

One of the biggest negatives for the Voyager Legend is the stability of fit. That’s odd, because Plantronics was clearly going for a bit of a sporty design with this headset, which implies that it would be a very firm fit with a good amount of comfort, but because of some design choices, that isn’t the case.

First, a point on the eartip—what should be the tightest, most ergonomic part, is actually a little awkward. The eartip is made of clear silicone, but it’s a little bit more rigid than the silicone you typically find in sporty earbuds. As such, it doesn’t mold to your ear canal as well, and also doesn’t create the firmest seal.

Impressive connectivity and sensor functionality, alongside really crisp call clarity.

The standard set is about .5-inches in diameter, and Plantronics does include two other silicone tips in the box (one set is slightly bigger, and the other slightly smaller). While most earbuds reward you for finding the right size, it’s almost imperative with the Voyager Legend that you find your ideal fit. We also found it more comfortable to wrap the silicone tips in the included foam black coverings, even though we anticipate this material wearing down over time.

The other awkward part of the fit here is the behind-the-ear section. As mentioned, it seems like a bulk of the battery and connectivity components are inside this arm. It’s quite thick and bulky as a result, which is fine from a looks perspective when it’s tucked behind your ear, but we found that this added some uncomfortable weight pulling backwards, which exacerbated the loose fit. Overall, if you can get used to the earpiece floating in your ear, rather than resting nicely, then this will probably work for you, but we think Plantronics could have done a bit better.

Durability and Build Quality: Sturdy, light, and mostly reliable

As far as Bluetooth headsets go, the construction here is mostly solid. The whole unit is encased in a soft, matte rubber surfacing, which makes it both pleasant on the ear and also flexible. This softness works in its favor, as it isn’t rigid enough to snap. There is one swiveling rigid part—the boom mic—and though we do recommend being careful when storing and pivoting it, it feels pretty substantial.

There isn’t an advertised IP rating for these, meaning we can’t offer you any definitive levels of water or dust resistance, but Plantronics does state that there’s a P2i nano coating that allows the headset to resist moisture and sweat. This headset will cover you for most of your needs, even if you move and sweat a lot, but we don’t recommend using these in heavy downpour, or submerging them in water.

The sound quality on these was serviceable, providing a great level of detail without any substantial amount of low end.

Call Quality: Crisp and serviceable without some depth

We spent a few days with this headset, testing its call capabilities between our offices spaces, on the street, and in our home. The sound quality on these was serviceable, providing a great level of detail without any substantial amount of low end. This lack of low end could have largely been due to the lack of seal in our ear, but if you’re hoping to listen to any music on these, then you won’t be super impressed.

Where the headset really shines is in the microphone quality. There’s a three-mic array that aims to pick up sound and cancel noise from a variety of angles. There’s internal DSP that suppresses noise coming through the mic to ensure a good level of crispness when you’re speaking, and paired with a 20-band equalizer that adapts to the environment, the voice quality is impressive.

They’ve even included something called “side tone detection” that aims to pinpoint and suppress acoustic reverberations in your space. They’ve also built a mesh wind-guarding net underneath the microphone grill that actually serves as a windscreen, helping to reduce wind clipping. In our tests, the microphone really did shine on this device, even in particularly echo-y rooms.

Battery Life: Solid and reliable, true to the advertising

Plantronics puts the battery life at about 7 hours of talk time and 11 days of standby time. We can say that the talk time is right about 7 hours (perhaps a little shy if you use this headset in a noisy area, requiring a lot of reduction), and our useage did trend toward 11 days of standby. This is largely affected by your personal use, but we can say subjectively that the battery life was impressive and true to the claims on the box.

The interesting sensor technology and the steadfast connectivity in most of our tests serve as key selling points for this headset.

What’s more, is that it takes about 90 minutes for a full charge. There’s no quick charging function here, but that 90 minutes to a full charge is pretty impressive, even for higher dollar options. One important note is that the lithium ion battery here recharges with an included proprietary charger that locks in via a magnet. It makes it really easy to just plop the headset into the charger as it sits on your desk (it’s like a mini dock), but because this headset doesn’t use the more universal micro USB , you’ll need to make sure you have the included charger wherever you’re on the go. It’s a lack of convenience that definitely sets this headset back a bit.

Controls and Connectivity: Intuitive, flashy, and very impressive

The interesting sensor technology and the steadfast connectivity in most of our tests serve as key selling points for this headset. There are dual capacitive sensors around the ear that actually detect whether the headset is on your ear or off. This folds into the connectivity, because this actually tells your phone whether an incoming call should be routed to your headset or to the phone, without pressing any buttons. You can have this headset connected to two phones at once, and you can answer calls from either phone—in our experience, this handoff was pretty seamless.

There’s a really pronounced on/off toggle switch, as well as a slider-based volume control, and a function button that is mappable with the associated app. There’s Bluetooth 3.0 on-board, including A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP headset protocols, which means that you’ll get about 33 feet of range and plenty of compatibility with most phones. It’s a really nice package that works pretty well, though it is important to note that we ran into some slight Bluetooth interference on our first pairing. This was handily fixed when repairing fortunately.

Price: Mid-tier and mostly fair

The MSRP on the Voyager Legend headset is $99.99, which is pretty high compared with its functionality. Most of the time, you can find this headset for right around $60. This might seem like a lot for a simple phone call peripheral, but it’s actually less than many of the other premium options out there. This price point buys you impressive connectivity and sensor functionality, alongside really crisp call clarity. If you’re in the market for a Bluetooth headset, this one will last you a while.

Competition: It will cost you

Plantronics Voyager 5200: Similar in design, but more expensive than the Voyager Legend, the Plantronics Voyager 5200 gives you just a bit more in terms of premium features. If you need cleaner calls and a sturdier build, go for the 5200.

Jabra Stealth: There are a few Jabra options that could be considered competition, but in this price range with this compact build, the Jabra Stealth seems to offer an interestingly unassuming alternative. That’s if you want to shell out the extra money.

Sony MBH22 Mono Headset: From a brand like Sony, you’d expect solid reliability. But the features on the Sony MBH22 Mono Headset leave a bit to be desired. If you prefer Sony as a brand, go for it, but features put the Voyager Legend in a better class.

Take a peek at some of the other best Bluetooth headsets you can buy.

Solid performance for a mid-range price, but the fit isn't the best.

The Voyager Legend is a really solid Bluetooth headset that sits at a nice price point and gives you great call clarity. That said, there is plenty to be improved upon when it comes to the fit and comfort level.

Similar Products We've Reviewed:

• Mpow Pro Trucker Bluetooth Headset
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• Sony MDR-RF995RK
• Product Name Voyager Legend
• Product Brand Plantronics
• Price $99.99
• Release Date October 2013
• Weight 0.64 oz.
• Product Dimensions 1 x 1 x 1 in.
• Color Black/silver
• Battery Life 7 horus talk/11 days standby
• Wired/Wireless Wireless
• Wireless Range 30 ft.
• Bluetooth Spec Bluetooth 3.0
• Headset Protocol A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
• Warranty 1 year

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Plantronics Voyager Legend review

Professional grade audio in a bluetooth headset.

TechRadar Verdict

Great design

Comfortable to wear

Excellent sound quality

Magnetic power connector

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The last time we looked at a Plantronics Voyager headset it was the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC v2 , and though it was pricy we were seriously impressed with the quality.

On the surface the Plantronics Voyager Legend - priced at £89.99/US$99.99 and TBC in Australia - looks a lot like its predecessor, but Plantronics has been working hard on improving an already impressive piece of kit.

In fact, in almost every respect it feels like a lot of thought and attention to detail has been paid to the new headset.

The ear piece is made of new material that fits comfortably in your ear and keeps it secure. A new sensor tells the unit when it is on your ear, so you can answer phone calls by simply attaching the Voyager Legend to your ear. This works well because it feels rather natural to hold the earpiece to your ear, much like you would do a phone.

Caller ID announces the name of the contact who's calling you, and if the earpiece is already being worn you can say "Answer" to answer the call. All of this makes the Plantronics Voyager Legend one of the best hands-free kits available, because at no time do you have to look at or handle your phone.

An extra microphone has been added to the array in the microphone arm to further increase voice quality, as well as eliminate background noise. The noise cancelling was already impressive, but the extra mic does well at keeping the speaker's voice clear even in very noisy environments.

Smaller changes to the buttons on the earpiece makes it more comfortable to use, and the inclusion of a MacBook-like magnetic charger is a great touch.

It might be a bit on the large size, but the Plantronics Voyager Legend is a comfortable and feature-packed headset.

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made.

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Plantronics Voyager 5200 Review - A headset for the unpredictable

The Bluetooth headset might not be the first accessory you think of when considering the "extreme" lifestyle, but Plantronics believes you're missing out. Its new Voyager 5200 picks up where the Voyager Legend left off, boosting microphone performance for tough and changeable conditions, and improving ergonomics for all-day use.

Plantronics focus this time around has been unpredictability of environment. While the Legend is designed to handle the everyday demands of frequent callers, the Voyager 5200 factors in the whims of the truly mobile – whether that be in the car, walking down a loud street, in a co-working space, or anywhere else that background noise is an issue.

So, the boom arm and earpiece still rotate to suit left or right ear wearers, but the arm is now shaped like an airplane's wing so that airflow moves around it more smoothly, and it contains four microphones rather than the three of the Legend. Each is mounted in its own, individual bay, covered by two layers of mesh barrier.

By isolating the microphones, the headset's DSP can individually compare the input from each and figure out which are doing better at picking up the wearer's voice and which are getting background noise, then adjust the gain levels accordingly.

It's not the only physical change. Charging is via a microUSB port now, though the proprietary magnetic docking port remains, working with the optional $39.99 charging case. That can either store the Voyager 5200 inside, or the headset can sit upright atop it for easier access while recharging; either way, you get two LED indicators to show battery status of both case and headset.

Plantronics says the Voyager 5200 alone should last for seven hours of active use, and that the charging case is good for two full recharges. If they're both dead, charge priority is given first to the headset and then to the case.

In practice, even after a week of sporadic use in the car and at my desk, I've not yet exhausted the battery case. Admittedly I'm not the sort of road professional who is constantly making calls (neither am I an Extreme Urban Warrior, for that matter), but the combination of Voyager 5200 and charging case seems more than enough for the casual user like me.

As for audio itself, I dropped the windows and tried making calls while driving, expecting noise to overpower whoever I tried to speak to. Instead, while there was definitely wind noise to contend with, I could still make out the caller and they could hear me, which counts as a win to me.

Meanwhile, there's a new layout for the controls, with the volume buttons moved to the top of the headset rather than the rear. It certainly makes them easier to reach, but even more useful is the audible warning if you start speaking while the Voyager 5200 is muted.

If you've got Plantronics's BT600 USB Bluetooth Class 1 dongle plugged in, and the company's Plantronics Hub software installed on your computer, you'll get a pop-up notification for the same thing, and the BT600's LED turns red when the Voyager is muted too. Unfortunately Plantronics couldn't provide a BT600 for my testing, though the headset will of course work with your computer's native Bluetooth, albeit not necessarily with all the smart sensor support and other features.

That's a shame, because the smart sensors turned out to be surprisingly useful. You can have the Voyager 5200 automatically answer an incoming call when you put it on, no button-presses required, or transfer an ongoing conversation to your phone when you take it off. If you're listening to music or an audiobook, taking the headset off will pause them.

Alternatively, you can use the new multifunction button on the boom for control. Exactly what it does depends on the situation: it'll answer a ringing phone, mute an ongoing call, play/pause streaming A2DP audio (though I had issues getting it recognized by Spotify on iOS), or trigger whatever virtual assistant – Siri, Cortana, or Google Now – your smartphone supports.

How valuable that is depends on how much use you make of those assistants, though it's undoubtedly helpful while driving to be able to request directions and have the instructions discretely whispered into your ear.

Plantronics' competition in the premium Bluetooth headset space keeps shrinking, and you could forgive them for scaling back their own roadmap pace accordingly. On the contrary, the Voyager 5200 has plenty of neat features beyond the solid audio performance: the P2i splash-proof coating which means rain needn't be a barrier to conversation, for instance.

Still, there are a couple of areas I think are due some attention all the same. As an increasing number of high-end laptops move from the regular USB port to USB-C, the BT600 dongle starts to get unwieldy when plugged in via an adapter; I've a feeling the ultra-mobile target audience at which the Voyager 5200 is aimed at are also those who will embrace USB-C the soonest, too.

Plantronics tells me it's looking at USB-C, though has nothing to announce yet. For the moment, the easier option for those with a 12-inch MacBook or one of the latest breed of Windows ultraportables that lack USB Type-A is using the native Bluetooth, even if you miss out on some features along the way.

Similarly, though the Voyager 5200 can save pairing details for up to eight devices, only two active connections can be held simultaneously. Plantronics tells me I'm in the minority for wanting more than that, but I suspect those carrying a laptop, phone, and tablet might argue differently.

Nonetheless, if you're looking for a pro-quality Bluetooth headset with little compromise on noise quality and battery life, there's a lot to like about the Voyager 5200. It's lightweight but sturdy, comfortable over extended periods, and the various active and passive noise-cancelation systems add up to excellent sound.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is available now, priced at $119.99, with the charging case $39.99 and the BT600 another $59.99. Alternatively, there's a Plantronics Voyager 5200UC bundle – the "UC" stands for "universal communications" – which includes all three for $219.99.

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• Plantronics Voyager Edge vs Plantronics Voyager Legend

Product Comparison: Plantronics Voyager Edge vs Plantronics Voyager Legend

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• True Wireless
• Stand-By Time
• Maximum Talk Time

• Noise cancellation helps clarity of voice for the callee.
• Talk Time (6 hours at full charge, I get all day talk time out of the device).
• The range is OK, I think I've gotten about 20 feet from my phone before it starts cutting out.
• Wind Noise Resistance was poor (fixed with firmware update).
• Noise cancellation is poor (my girlfriend complained of wind noise while I was walking down the street).
• Noise cancellation works well indoors but is not really effective against wind noise.
• The headset itself is great and the noise cancelling is amazing. I work in a data center with so much noise I can barely hear myself, but people on the other end can't even hear the noise. Its amazing to be honest.
• Unlike the Plantronics E50 and Plantronics M70, it actually DOES have some background wind/noise cancelling ability (and costs twice as much).
• Boom and over-the-ear connector rotate easily to adapt to Left or Right ear placement or to flatten to fit in the pocket
• Amazing noise canceling! This is a great headset for taking calls while driving. I've used it extensively while doing rideshare. People hear me nice and clear. The battery life is great as well.
• Battery seems to last a long while (Advertised to be 7 hours, but I have not used until it was dead yet)
• Sound Isolating
• Minimum Frequency Response
• Maximum Frequency Response
• NFC for easy pairing (to a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in my case).
• Dedicated, tactile buttons for primary functions.
• Plantronics Hub App provides a significant level of feature customization.
• Caller ID - Great when the phone is in the pocket or out of reach.
• Automatically switches audio when taking the headset on/off one's ear, creating a smooth transition when switching between BT audio source.
• Delayed pairing when turning on. Sometimes it's immediate, sometimes you have to turn it off & on a few times.
• Looses the connection easily.
• The extra buttons make accessing various features relatively simple.
• One feature that I REALLY like is the charging wire. It has a magnetic coupling so there is no inserting a mini usb into the device.
• While using gps navigation like apple maps or google maps it does not properly communicate with Iphone6 so voice instructions do not transmit (this is never a problem with the E50 or M70) which defeats the feature of hands-free driving.
• The voice command features I didn't expected would mean not much to me, but they prove to be very convenient if you are already wearing the headset.
• The Voyager Legend doesn't skimp on other features, either. You have access to a completely hands free device at all times. When a call comes in, you will be told who is calling and then asked if you want to answer the call.
• Fast Charging
• Battery Capacity
• Charging Time
• The battery lasts a very long time, usually around 6 hours (it tells you how many hours remaining) and I've spoken on it for several hours after it being in stand-by mode for several hours.
• The battery life seems good, and the included charging case is super handy.
• The device was easy to pair with my iPhone 6, and the phone shows the battery level of the headset when connected.
• Charging Case too bulky for pockets
• Awful battery life. It'll say it has 3 hrs/60% life then will be dead in the next 30 mins of standby use.
• Charging - the proprietary new charging connector by Plantronics may send a lot of loyal customers in the opposite direction. But I genuinely believe they did this out of consumrs best interest cos of the really tiny usb ports.
• I would strongly recommend buying the charging case with it. I charge the case up once a week (for couple hours) and then it will charge the headset every night when I put up for the night, with out being plug in.
• Percentage charged is shown on your notification screen on phone.
• Need a special adapter/cable OR charging case to charge. Does not use Micro USB by default.
• I've owned this for about 8 months and already am unable to get more than 2 hours of talk time between full charges.

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• 1 newer Bluetooth version ? 4 vs 3
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Why is Plantronics Voyager Legend UC better than Jabra Motion?

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