I can still remember the first time I used a cordless telephone. It must have been 35 years ago; the sense of wonder was like seeing a color television set for the first time. I can remember that too! The sense of freedom that wireless communications create is truly liberating. No longer do you need to be tethered to a landline. Mobile phones took the concept even further so that now we can take calls and video chat almost anywhere in the world.
One area that wireless communications have yet to make a big impact yet is in call centers. So many call handlers still use wired headsets to take calls. Wired headsets are handy as they don’t have batteries that need recharging, they’re also cheap to replace and they work without support. However, now that more of us, including call center workers, are working from home, wireless headsets have become a more attractive proposition, enabling workers to choose where they work around the home and allowing them to multitask.
EPOS is a major manufacturer of audio headsets and a spin-off from Sennheiser, so the brand has plenty of pedigree when it comes to high-quality audio technology. The latest series of headsets from EPOS aims to bring wireless capability to the home-working market at a sensible price while delivering enterprise levels of performance.
The EPOS Sennheiser ADAPT 260 is one of four variants in the ADAPT 200 range and is a beautifully lightweight headset that looks like a pair of consumer headphones. The noise-canceling boom mic can be parked out of the way, hidden behind the headband so the user can pop outside and listen to music. The user can take a call by simply pulling the microphone boom arm back down from the headband, automatically unmuting the mic, making it ready to answer the call.
The ADAPT 260 has been developed specifically to meet the needs of a flexible workforce that wants high-quality audio for work calls rather than using a cheap old pair of earbuds that came with their smartphone. There are four variants in the new EPOS ADAPT 200 series suitable for various functions across the office, home, remote and travel environments thanks to a lightweight design and comfortable wearing style that can be personalized thanks to adjustments. The noise-canceling microphone can cut out persistent background noises for improved call clarity.
Because not all laptops have the circuitry to support Bluetooth profiles, EPOS supplies the headset with a special Bluetooth USB dongle (in USB-A or USB-C format) that can plug into a computer without the need for special drivers. The high-end dongle provides wide frequency voice quality no matter what the software whether than be VoIP or Microsoft Teams. The EPOS ADAPT 200 series is certified for Microsoft Teams.
The ADAPT 200 headsets can pair with up to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. For example, you could connect to the EPOS dongle as well as your smartphone, enabling calls from either source to be answered with ease. That’s a handy solution and could even be used for connecting to a smartphone for listening to music when not taking calls on the computer.
When it comes to comfort, the ADAPT 200 Series headset has soft and thick ear pads that can be replaced which ensure comfort throughout a long working day. Passive noise-damping helps to cut down on ambient noise spoiling the call. The lightweight design of the ADAPT 200 is ideal for anyone working in today’s more flexible workspaces.
The controls on the ADAPT 260 I tested are minimal. There’s a Microsoft Teams button, a rocker volume control, plus a Mute button for silencing the microphone when you need to confer with a colleague or even get the dog out of the room when you’re working from home. The headset is supported by EPOS Connect software which enables the firmware of the headset to be easily updated and can also be used to adjust the sidetone settings so that you decide how much of your voice you can hear through the earpieces.
Verdict: The new EPOS ADAPT 200 wireless headsets offer an affordable way to equip a hybrid workforce with a headset for wireless call handling as well as those who need to take part in video meetings using software like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. The battery life is good for more than a working day and can be easily recharged using the supplied USB-C cable. The sound quality is excellent. I particularly like how the headset sounds when playing music; an essential feature for those of us who like to listen to music between calls.
Pricing and Availability: The EPOS ADAPT 200 Series is available now. The ADAPT 260 headset that I tested is available now and costs £139 / $239 / €159.
More info: www.eposaudio.com
Features:
- Connectivity: USB-A Bluetooth (2 Devices Simultaneously)
- Wearing style: On-ear / binaural
- Certified for Microsoft Teams and Optimized for UC
- EPOS Voice Technology for clear listening
- Noise-canceling microphone
- EPOS ActiveGard Technology protects against audio spikes
- EU Noise at work limiter
- Thick, soft leatherette ear pads
- Boom arm folds into headband
- Earcups fold flat for easy storage
