This Jabra professional headset drowns out the crowd, but the spotlight’s on its mics
We reviewed the wireless Jabra Evolve2 75 on its comfort, fit, music, call quality, microphones, and video calling features.
I’ve never been a fan of over-ear headphones for one reason: they’re too heavy to wear for long periods of time. But when I got to test out the Jabra Evolve2 75, I was pleasantly surprised by how light the 197g headset was.
On top of that, its dual-foam leatherette earcups were soft and cushiony, with enough ventilation that didn’t leave my ears sweaty when I took them off after an hour of wearing them.
My colleague did comment though that because this headset doesn’t have the traditional “donut hole” design for its earcups, she found that wearing the headset for several hours without a break would leave her ears aching a bit.
The same padding also lines its headband, which is adjustable to sit snugly atop your head when you wear it. And just like other Jabra products we’ve previously reviewed, spoiler alert: this set did not disappoint.
Sounds exceptional
The Jabra Evolve 75 has been said to be a fan favourite for its rich sound quality and comfort.
While we didn’t get our hands on the 2017 model for comparison, reviewers online have said that the second generation, the Jabra Evolve2 75, has made strides in improvements.
Testing out the headset I received in Black, I found the Jabra Evolve2 75’s sound quality pretty standard for what I know Jabra is capable of, based on my experience with their earbuds.
Look at how cushiony the padding isWith bright vocals, crisp highs, and deep basses, it made my listening experience to my usual pop music and musical genres an immersive one.
Through the Sound+ app on mobile or the Jabra Direct app on PC, you could also adjust your music’s EQ for more customisation. But as with my usual use of Jabra’s devices, I found the neutral setting most satisfying.
Since I was also testing out the headset over a workation with chatty colleagues around me, its Active Noise-Cancellation (ANC) feature was a godsend to tune them out and focus on work.
Like most Jabra devices, HearThrough is also a function present in the Jabra Evolve2 75, toggled on/off with a button.
The headset comes with an auto-pause feature when you take it offAlthough HearThrough is supposed to let you keep your music playing as you have a conversation with someone, I saw little use for it. Granted, I’m someone who finds it difficult to focus on a conversation if there’s music in my ears.
Another feature I appreciated on the Jabra Evolve2 75 was the auto-pause function that stops your music when you take off the headphones.
But other than Jabra’s expected performance with its superior audio quality, what the Evolve2 75 was actually designed to do is excel in virtual meetings.
Great call
The Jabra Evolve2 75 uses eight microphones, with four of them enabled when ANC is on. It’s meant to provide better audio quality from the speaker.
During our usual virtual meetings in the past, my colleagues would always struggle to hear me clearly due to my soft voice and noisy background. Those complaints soon disappeared once I used the Jabra.
When put to the test, my caller reported that they could hear me clearly, and I reported the same to them. To test out its voice isolation capabilities, I turned on a nearby tap at full blast, which my caller said they couldn’t hear at all, though my voice did sound a little crackly.
The microphone boom arm is short and doesn’t get in the wayFor the convenience of those who are always on calls, Jabra has also provided a neat feature with the microphone boom arm. If you lower it, it automatically accepts a call or unmutes you (if you’re already on a call), and if you raise it back into its resting position, it ends a call or mutes you.
One of the Jabra headset’s selling points is that it is a Unified Communications (UC) certified device, which means it is a professional grade product that has undergone rigorous testing and is certified to work optimally with UC platforms.
Dictionary Time: Unified Communication is a system that allows for collaboration with multiple functions including chat, video, voice, and conferencing. UC platforms include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
SangomaThe Jabra Elite2 75 also comes in a Microsoft Teams variant, where a dedicated button allows you to answer any calls coming through the platform.
The red LED light indicates someone is on a callAdditionally, Jabra has added a nice touch to the headset’s functions, where there is a visible busy light feature that turns red on each side when you’re in a call. For those who work at home with busybody family members, this is a good way to tell them, “Please don’t disturb me, I’m busy” without even needing to say it.
Gives you the right connection
The Jabra Evolve2 75 comes with a USB-C dongle to link the headset to your computer. Otherwise, you could also connect the device via Bluetooth to pair up to eight devices, and up to two simultaneously.
One thing I have noticed about the connectivity though, is that it’s better to link the headset to your devices via the dongle. Audio quality this way was better and more steady, with a reliable connection, and a longer wireless range.
Physical buttons to control your volume or mute your voice on callsIn terms of battery life, Jabra claims that the Evolve2 75 can provide up to 24 hours of talk time, and up to 36 hours of listening time. Though I’ve not put this claim to the test, I can assert that its battery was more than enough to last me through a whole day of work.
Verdict
While I am coming from a place of inexperience when it comes to reviewing over-ear headphones, I can safely say that Jabra’s Evolve2 75 is a solid and reliable pair of professional headphones.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the pair I reach for when it comes to watching videos or listening to music on the go. You see, I often use just one earbud to watch my videos while lying down on one side, and due to the nature of headphones in general, I physically can’t.
However, the Jabra Evolve2 75 would be my go-to if I plan to sit at my desk all day to focus or be on virtual calls, especially due to its thoughtful design that keeps user convenience in mind.
Learn more about Jabra Evolve2 75 here.Read more VP Verdict articles here.VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.