I would have thought that after the pandemic, the demand for headsets would drop or that I would not need to use them as often. On the contrary, many companies have implemented hybrid work arrangements, which means not everyone will be at work at any one time, and that means online meetings are here to stay. What’s more, it is a lot easier to arrange online meetings instead of the hassle of booking a meeting room, not to mention traveling time to the location. With hot-desking, you may end up sitting next to a noisy co-worker.
For the budget conscious, there are plenty of affordable wired headsets that you can plug to your computer, like the Creative Chat. When you are on the go, you can use your usual true-wireless earbuds or audio headphones. So far, only a few wireless headphones can provide the demanding mic quality that make calls clear and effective. The Technics AZ60 have one of the best noise-cancelling mics in the market. My go-to headphones for office calls is the Technics A800, as it supports multipoint connection so I can connect to both my personal smartphone and my work mobile. They are also comfortable to wear.
But if you are looking for just one multi-purpose wireless headset to listen to music during commute, handle meeting calls in open office environment, wear it for long hours comfortably, pack in your small bag and carry around easily, I have just reviewed the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex and it certainly can do everything. This professional-grade portable wireless headset retails in Singapore at S$518 with 2-year warranty and a 100-day money back guarantee return policy. I enjoy using the headset a lot and I’m delighted to share my experience with you in this review article.
Jabra built their brand since 1983 as specialists in headset technology, and later extended successfully into the stereo audio market after being acquired by GN Audio, a Danish company of over 150 years (I have reviewed many of their products since 2012). Their Evolve series office headsets are outstanding and enables the user to focus on their work while delivering clear voice to the other party. In recent years, they have released many products that do not look too “call-centre”-like, that is, the boom mic. But it is always good to locate the mic close to the mouth to ensure the user can speak clearly without raising their voice.
The Evolve2 65 Flex is a pair of on-ear headphones, where the ear pads are pressed against the ears instead of around it. The clamping force is rather light and because the headphones are lightweight, they stay on the head and would not slip off under normal wearing conditions. They fold easily and occupies little space in your bag, and the included carrying bag is well-designed, thanks to a smooth inner liner to protect the headphones with a rougher outer fabric to be resistant to abrasions.
There are many buttons lined on both ear cups. On the left, there is a power/Bluetooth button that is almost hard to reach, so that you are highly unlikely to press it accidentally. The ANC/HearThrough button located hear the headband is more accessible. On the right ear cup are the playback and volume controls, a mute button who is almost redundant, and a large button to conveniently answer phone call. The boom mic arm flips down to unmute the mic and to answer call at the same time. Flip up to mute any time.
The headset can last for 15 hours of continuous talk time with ANC and the LED busylight enabled. You can charge it fully within 2 hours with the USB-C cable. There is a retail option to include the wireless charging pad, which is useful to let you charge the headset at your desk when you get a break in between calls, but any Qi wireless charger can work too.
It also supports multi-point pairing of up to 2 Bluetooth devices, so I always pair it with my work phone and my work laptop (via the Jabra Link 380 USB adapter), and then when I leave office, I would disconnect from the laptop and connect to my personal mobile. This allows me to be always ready to jump to a work call when I am enjoying my personal music playlist on my personal mobile.
Call Quality
Needless to say, the mic quality is outstanding. Everyone in the meeting was pleased with my vocal clarity, I did not recall a moment when someone had to ask me to repeat what I have said. I am also less inclined to speak loudly because the Evolve2 65 Flex mic is sensitive and clear yet the ambient noises are suppressed. This allows me to be truly expressive with my tone and not having to raise my voice just to be heard.
I also do not face any issues hearing other parties. They sound loud and clear, even when I am picking the calls in the train. The ANC is effective in suppressing ambient sounds leaving only light high-pitched noises. The HearThrough mode is also not too open-sounding, so I am happy to turn it on at the office as long as the colleagues are not too noisy.
Audio Quality
For the first few days of review, I used the Evolve2 65 Flex mainly for online meetings. When I started to wear it during my daily train commute to listen to music, I was pleasantly delighted. Firstly, the headphones are light and compact, they do not shout for attention. Secondly, the ANC is good enough for me to block train noises. Thirdly, they deliver impressively powerful audio. Jabra audio products are always tuned with superlative bass response and sparkling treble which does not sound faithful at all to the original frequency response curve. But, if music is for enjoyment, then the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex is a joy to listen to. At low volumes, the sound might be a tad too heavy at the low frequencies, but as you listen at higher volumes, the treble brightness balances up with the rumbling sub-bass intensity.
Overall Experience
I really enjoy reviewing the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex. It fits into my current lifestyle, where I need a reliable headphones to conduct online meetings and phone calls from home, at work, and sometimes outside. The audio quality is also good enough for me to enjoy music with deep bass and sparkly treble while the ANC keeps noises out. This headphones is lightweight, stores into a compact case that does not take up space or weight. I can also wear around my neck when I’m not wearing them on my ears. When I fold the boom mic, it looks just like a normal headphones. Battery lasts for about 3-days for not-so-busy days, or a full work day up to 15 hours without the need to charge halfway.
There is also a smartphone app, Sound+, that works with most Jabra audio products. You can customise your headphones in it, including adjusting ANC and HearThrough levels, set the call preferences, tune the headphones to fit your personal listening preferences.
Having said all these, it is rather hard to convince my work colleagues to get this headset that costs S$518. The Evolve2 65 Flex truly shines only if you need to hold meetings at noisy areas. For the most of us, a headphones with boom mic will give you sufficient quality. True wireless earbuds are not ideal at all unless you use it in a quiet environment.
Verdict
The Evolve2 65 Flex are designed to allow the busy executive to carry the headset around convenient to handle online meetings over bustling office work space. A professional-grade headset like Evolve2 allows you to let others hear you clearly. You can also immerse in the discussion better without background distractions with ANC and quality audio drivers. The Evolve2 65 Flex looks discreet enough for me to use outside work, thanks to the foldable boom mic and enjoyable audio quality. If you need only one good headset for work, then get the Evolve2 65 Flex. Your success at work is worth the small price.
