One of the best headsets I ever used is the Jabra Evolve2 75 It’s not a cheap piece of tech so I was interested to see that Cyber Acoustics has just announced an affordable clone of the Jabra’s flagship model, but for half the price. So, I thought I would get one in to see if the HS-1500BT II could be a worthy challenger.
The Jabra Evolve2 75 has Active Noise Cancellation and is certified for Zoom and Microsoft Teams. It comes with its own high-quality USB Bluetooth dongle and a boom microphone that can be placed on the left or right. The headset has a built-in rechargeable battery and can connect with two smartphones simultaneously via Bluetooth.
The Cyber Acoustics HS-1500BT II has all those features as well as the same ultra-soft bio-leatherette ear cushions for comfortable day-long wearing. Weighing just 157g, the headset is light enough for call center operatives to wear it for a full eight-hour working day.
The HS-1500BT II has two types of noise-canceling technology. Firstly, there is Active Noise Cancelation which reduces ambient background noise. Secondly, there is AI-powered Noise Cancelation that reduces the background noises like airport sounds, barking dogs, crying babies and air-conditioning units picked up by the headset’s microphone.
Active Noise Canceling
ANC is an essential feature for anyone making and taking calls in a bustling office, a coworking space, a coffee shop, an airport or when at home if the kids are back from school. The headset has two microphones that monitor and pick up background sounds before subtracting them from the audio signal to make communications clearer and less noisy.
The HS-1550BT can connect via regular Bluetooth with a smartphone or other device. Alternatively, for higher-quality audio, the headset ships with the same type of USB-C Bluetooth dongle that ships with the Jabra Evolve. The dongle makes easy work of connecting with Windows, Mac or Linux computers and doesn’t require any drivers. The dongle appears as both independent input and output options of the host computer.
Multipoint connectivity with smartphones provides for seamless switching between two smartphones with the option to disable Bluetooth and use the HS-1550BT II as a wired headset with a USB-C cable. The headset can be used for calls while the battery is charging by using the supplied USB-C charging cable. A full charge of the headset’s battery can deliver up to 20 hours of talk time when used in Bluetooth mode.
Although it isn’t officially certified for platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the HS-1550BT II headset works fine with all the usual comms platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype and Google Meet. The boom microphone can be stowed in the upright position where it automatically mutes itself. Flipping the boom down unmutes the mic and answers a call.
The HS-1500BT II can be used with the boom mic on the left or right side of the user’s head. A cluster of four buttons on one of the ear cups has buttons for answering and ending calls. Another control is a multifunction button that also turns the ANC feature on and off. Two buttons are used for increasing or lowering volume levels.
Incidentally, there’s no sidetone on the HS-1500BT II. Sidetone is when you can hear your voice amplified in the earpiece. The purpose of sidetone is to stop you from speaking too loudly when on a phone call so your speech sounds more natural. That’s probably the only serious omission on this headset.
Other features include a solid build quality, soft bio-leatherette earpads, padded headband and rotating ear cups that enable the headset to be stowed away flat in the supplied carry case for easy travel and storage.
Pricing and Availability:
The Cyber Acoustics Essential Wireless Headset HS-1500 BT II is available now from Amazon and is priced at $129.99 / £99.99.
Tech Specs:
- Model Name HS-1500BT II.
- Connectivity technology: Bluetooth, USB.
- Charging time: 2 hours.
- Battery life: 20 hours.
- Battery Life 20 Hours
- Dimensions: 160 x 55 x 190mm.
- Weight: 157g.
- Accessories: USB C Bluetooth dongle; USB C charging cable; storage pouch, user guide.
