Block Out The Noise! Jabra Evolve 75 Wireless Headset

Hey guys…. Time for a little more Tech Talk w/TK!!!

Alright, now I realize I just published a post saying “Ditch the Headset!“, but let’s be honest, sometimes you need them.  If you’re like me and you work in a noisy environment from time to time, at home or in the office, having a good headset to block out the background noise for you and the folks listening to you is important.  That is where these guys come in, The Jabra Evolve 75’s.

These guys are great!  Like other Jabra products I have tested, I have found that the Evolve 75’s are perfect for use on a video & audio call.  While they won’t blow you away as headphones, as I noted in my review of the Jabra Speak 710, Jabra focuses on providing a great communication experience over entertainment.  The noise isolation of the microphone is great, and it allows you to be heard clearly on the other side.  The on-ear design is super comfortable, and the wired or wireless options are convenient.  I have used these guys in an open office environment and at home.  They are great at blocking out the noise around you from colleagues and kids alike.  Don’t believe me?  Check out the video below for a sample of how these things work.  Yeah, I realize that the music/noise sample is lame, the lighting could be better, and I say speaker not microphone a couple of times, but hey, go easy on me.  I’m no YouTube sensation 😊.

As you can see, the Evolve 75’s do a great job isolating your voice and blocking out the background.  I think these guys are pretty cool and I think you will too.  Here are some quick notes from my testing over the past couple of years:

The Good:

• Solid & comfortable design.  Unlike some of its competition or lower Jabra models, the Evolve 75 have a solid feel.  The padded headband and earpads are great.  I’ve kept them on all day at work with no issues.  Throw them in your bag in the slim hardshell case, and always have them with you when you need them.
• No more wires.  The Evolve 75’s are a wireless headset that can connect to your PC and phone via Bluetooth, at the same time.  They come with the Jabra Link 370 to allow for a USB connection to your PC and control through the Jabra Direct app.  They use Bluetooth 4.2 and allow for a range of up to 100 ft.  Great if you need to take a quick stroll for a bio break while on a call.  Just remember to mute your mic 😊
• Blocks out background noise on both sides.  Using Active Noise Cancellation in the headphones and a noise-canceling uni-directional ECM boom mic, you’ll be heard clearly and hear everyone, even in a noisy environment.
• Great battery life.  Specs say up to 18 hrs talk time,  17 hrs for music, and 15 hrs in stand by.  After using them for a while, I’d believe it.  I’ve never had to charge them during the day when using them actively.  Forgot to charge them overnight?  No problem, just plug them into your PC with the provided USB cable and use them while they charge.
• Show everyone you’re busy.  The integrated red busy light on both sides lets everyone around you know you’re on a call.  Not that that will stop your kids and colleagues from trying to talk to you, but at least it gives you something to point to 😊
• Easy mute function.  Don’t struggle to find the mute button when you’re on a call or video conference.  Simply flip the boom mic up, and you’ll get an audio prompt confirming you’re muted.  Great for when you need to mute yourself quick, like when your kids bust in singing unannounced.

The Not So Good:

• Make sure you charge them overnight!  The headset takes roughly 120 minutes to charge from a dead battery, which is pretty long.  No quick charge option like some headphone competitors (like Beats).  Thankfully, you can still use them while charging with the included USB cable.
• The boom mic doesn’t store all that well.  While Jabra includes a magnet in the mic to allow it to connect to the headband, it is a bit weak.  Over time, mine has stopped connecting altogether.  Would love to see a more integrated storage option in the headband, as they have on some of the over-ear models.  This would allow you to use them more as headphones if you were so inclined.
• Ok music quality.  As I noted before, while Jabra Evolve 75 does a great job with the calls as a headset, they make ok headphones.  They have a lot of clear highs and ok mids and lows.  The volume level is solid.  Unfortunately, you do not really have an interface to fine-tune the sound, besides the basics in the Jabra direct PC app.  Overall, these won’t replace a good pair of over-ear headphones for traveling and cranking some tunes.  But that is just my opinion, as I like a bit more bass.