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‘Finally, a boomless headset for the office’: How Jabra made headphones I’d take to a boardroom

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Jabra Evolve3 75

4 / 5

Very good

pros and cons

Pros

  • Streamlined, lightweight design
  • Exceptional call quality
  • Robust business features
Cons

  • Pricey
  • Best suited for indoor environments
  • Finicky wireless charging pad

more buying choices

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source headphones are one step down from the company’s most premium model, the Evolve3 85, and although they’re not cheap (regularly priced around $450), they come with a replaceable battery, a five-year warranty, and are more durable than they might appear.

I’ve been using the headset for a few weeks now. Although primarily marketed as a business headset, the device stands out as an adaptable hybrid pair with great call quality, solid audio, and a featherweight form factor. And yes, they even hold up on the subway here in New York. 

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Fit and build

I generally prefer a low-profile pair of headphones. I don’t like big, chunky earcups, and let’s be real, most business-minded headsets aren’t winning any awards for sleek design. But Jabra wants to challenge that stereotype with the Evolve3 75.

This pair has an excellent fit. Their compact build is minimal and streamlined without sticking out. They’re also very secure without feeling tight or restrictive, allowing for long-term wear, thanks to the 180g weight, which feels well-balanced. When I first picked them up, I remember thinking, “Finally, a boomless headset for the office.”

Also: The most comfortable pair of headphones I’ve tried isn’t made by Sony or Bose

However, I will say that the full coverage cloth earcups might feel warmer than other synthetic plastic or foam materials. If you prefer around-ear-style headphones, you’d be better off opting for the Evolve3 85 Jabra Evolve3 75

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The earcups’ textured cloth covering looks and feels good, but they’re a little hollow, as pressing down in the middle reveals the speaker. I also wonder about the material’s durability over time, particularly around the edges where the fabric typically starts to unravel. On the ears, however, the cups feel sufficiently plush, form a good seal, and hardly move or shift at all, even if you bend over.

Call quality 

The headset’s low profile is underscored by the lack of a boom mic, which is typically the biggest giveaway for a business device. Instead, the mics are located on the front sides of the earcups. In my testing, I found that the vocals were crisp and clear, if at times just slightly quieter than both the Logitech Zone Wireless 2 ES and the Epos Impact 500, both of which produce that exceptionally “close” audio quality you get with a mic inches from your mouth. 

That’s not to say that vocal quality suffered with the Evolve3 75, because it doesn’t. I routinely took calls while walking around Manhattan, and callers on the other end told me the audio was loud and clear. When I wasn’t speaking, there was silence; when I was, background noise was mitigated. 

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Another reason calls sound so good on the Evolve3 75 is Jabra’s sidetone, which passes your voice through the headphones so you can hear it, even with ANC on. It’s executed well: your voice sounds natural and subtle, not booming or overly processed, and you can control the volume in the app. The feature is also automatic; the user doesn’t have to fiddle with any settings, it just sounds good out of the box. 

Regarding music quality, sure, these headphones don’t match the all-encompassing audiophile quality of the Sony WH-1000XM6, but they sound great as an everyday pair for commuting. I will, however, say that they are best relegated to use in the office or on routine commutes. While you can wear them to the gym, the cloth earcups aren’t exactly moisture-wicking. 

Business features 

is a successful expression of the professional’s hybrid headset. The headphones have the build and hardware to function as a standard all-around pair of cans, but with business-minded features like dedicated call controls, encryption, and remote management. 

The light, compact form, coupled with the exceedingly thin carrying case and dual nature as an office and general-purpose device, makes them an excellent travel headset. Their ANC won’t completely block out your environment, but the trade-off is comfort you can wear for hours at a time.

Also: 3 simple tweaks that have made my headphones last years longer – Sony and Bose included

However, the Evolve3 75 aren’t cheap, regularly priced around $450

Source : ZDNet

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