Congrats, VMX Office. 2008 Product of the year!
“The VMX Office is a versatile solution for the traveling professional who must divide their time between the office and the road, as it connects with all of the business communications applications they rely on,” said Eric Stubbert, industry team manager for the consumer electronics and telecommunications divisions at Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. “We’re pleased that Customer Interaction Solutions has named it Product of the Year.”
The 11th Annual Product of the Year Award winners were featured in the January 2009 issue of Customer Interaction Solutions magazine. This is a popular magazine among CRM, call centers and teleservices companies. I personally have been touting the VMX Office since it’s debut, so I feel a bit like a proud mama. Way to go, little VMX! You deserve the recognition.
| 3.3 |
Call alerts on the VMX Office Bluetooth Headset
This is probably the only limitation of the Sennheiser BW900 headset. When the BW900 is in use, you’ll only know if you’re getting an incoming call from another device (e.g. cell phone, desk phone, PC) if you’re near the device and can hear it ringing or see the alert. To switch to the other device, press and hold the hook button on the headset until the call is connected. Sennheiser improved this with the new VMX Office.
The VMX Office has probably the prettiest chime alert I’ve ever heard. No wait, it definitely has the cutest little chime on any headset. Ever. You’ve got to hear it! The pleasant tone sets you up to have a smile on your face as you answer your call. How nice! Thanks again, Sennheiser. It seems you’ve thought of everything. 
| 3.3 |
VMX Office versus GN Netcom 9350
Having trouble deciding between Sennheiser’s latest innovation, the Bluetooth VMX Office and the GN Netcom 9350 wireless headset? In this post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each system so you can make the best decision for you personal use. Let the battle begin!
Microphone Sound Quality
VMX Office Sounds Great to My Callers
I work in a busy call center, with hundreds of wireless and Bluetooth devices in the office. Normally, this abundance of devices will slightly shorten the wireless range of our headsets, limiting us to the water cooler nearest to our desks, otherwise we’ll sound a bit scratchy. This simply doesn’t happen with the VMX Office. My callers never complain about how I sound, which is super. The Class 2 Bluetooth technology in the base enables me to roam up to 100 feet from the base, with great sound quality all the way. A win!
GN Netcom 9350 Sounds Just Fine
I used the GN 9350 for about 8 months straight, and I never once had to adjust the microphone volume. Every single caller I spoke with said I sounded fine as rain. The range is listed as ‘360 ft.’, however; in this office, with so many headsets running on the 1.9 GHz frequency, I get about 300 before I start cutting out. Still, excellent range on this headset. I find a slightly longer range than my Plantronics wireless headsets (the CS361N and CS55). For all accounts, the GN 9350 offers great sound.
Incoming Sound Quality
VMX Office Sounds Clear!
Clear as crystal. I find that I toggle on my speaker volume rocker more than with other headsets, however; I’m always able to find an acceptable volume setting for listening to my callers. The sound quality is excellent, all the way up to the 100 foot range from the base.
GN Netcom 9350 is better for quiet offices
I never was able to make my GN 9350 loud enough for my use. I’m in the lobby of a very busy building and even with an additional amplifier connected to my headset base, it just wasn’t loud enough at times. I use an Avaya 4612D+ and haven’t had any issues with other headsets in terms of incoming sound levels. The addional amplifier I used was the HA-40 Headset/Handset amplifier, which has a powerful 40 amp boost. Since that didn’t work, I have a feeling the sound may have just been quiet on my particular headset system. My supervisor still has the GN 9350 at her desk, with no complaints whatsoever. I’ve answered her phone for her a few times, and the incoming sound is quiet, but toggling up on the volume dial always worked on her headset system. Hmm…
Versatility
VMX Office is the workhorse of the headset industry
Really, what can’t you do with the VMX Office? It does everything but your taxes. Use it with your cell phone, your office phone, and your computer for VOIP calls. Need a headset for all three? No room on your desk? Want to look cool while wearing your headset? Done, son. This is the only headset system on the market that does all this, with you looking cool as Fonzie.
GN Netcom 9350 works nicely for office phones and computers
The GN 9350 does two out of three — it works for office phone calls and VOIP computer calls, but it doesn’t work for your cell phone. It would be a big honkin headset to try to use walking down the street anyway.
Fit
Nothing beats the VMX Office
I can wear the VMX, with glasses, all day, all night, whatever. There simply is no better headset for my tender-ears.Yes, I forget it on and walk all over the place with it on. That’s okay, no matter where I am I have a phone near me that works with my VMX, so if one rings, I’ll know!
GN Netcom is comfortable for a couple of hours
Personally, I could only wear the 9350 on my ear for about 3 hours before feeling that painful throbbing in my ears. I have rather sensitive ears and headsets worn over the ear are usually a problem for me. I prefer to wear the 9350 with the over-the-head band, which makes the headset pretty comfortable for all day use. Headbands evenly distribute the weight on your head so there isn’t usually undue pressure on your ear.
Alright, back to your corners. Who won this battle? Perhaps I’m a little biased toward the VMX Office, but I will say this. If you like your headsets worn over the head, or if you will only use the headset for office phone calls and VOIP calls, and you need 200-300 feet for your range, then the 9350 is the headset for you. Otherwise, I’m positive you’ll be pleased with my favorite little VMX Office. It’s a small system that packs the biggest punch!
| 3.3 |
FREE 60 Day Trial at officerunner.com
Officerunner is a great site to get a free 60 Day trial of the Sennheiser VMX Office Bluetooth headset system. It comes with a one year replacement warranty (just email them and they send a replacement out) and they offer support via phone and email as well.
You already know the VMX Office is THE mobile headset, complete with VOIP capabilities, Class 2 Bluetooth for your office phone (100 foot range) and compatibility with your Bluetooth cellphone. With a free 60 day trial, you can see how much you love it. You may love it as much as I do! The point is, you get to be the judge. Isn’t it always nice to be the one in charge? 
| 3.6 (1 person) |
Headset Battle: The VMX Office vs. The Plantronics Voyager 510s
So here we are. The Sennheiser VMX Office System and the Plantronics Voyager 510s are both Bluetooth Headset Systems that enable you to use one headset for both your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone as well as your corded land-line phone. Which is better? I’ll go over the similarities and differences, pros and cons of each system in this post.
Microphone Sound Quality
The Plantronics Voyager 510 Is Great For a Bluetooth Cell Phone Headset
The Plantronics 510s uses the Voyager 510 for its Bluetooth headset. This headset is great as far as Bluetooth is concerned, however; I find it lacking when used for my landling phone. I’m used to using wireless headsets that operate on a 900 MHz or 1.9 GHz frequency and offer a 300 foot range. So, if a Bluetooth headset is going to try to come into the office and handle both my cell phone calls as well as my office phone calls, it has to be far superior to any other Bluetooth headsets around. The Bluetooth frequency and the shortened range of this headset make the microphone sound a bit choppy more often than not. Overall it was good, but not good enough for me to give up my trusty wireless headsets.
The VMX Office Sounds Superb
The noise-canceling on the VMX Office makes me forget I’m using a Bluetooth headset. The difference here between the 510 and the VMX is as huge and gaping as the Grand Canyon. Though the microphone boom is longer on the 510, the noise-canceling is better in the VMX Office. Plus, you can angle the microphone toward your mouth to get better noise canceling, like I showed you in my video review.
I actually have replaced my wireless headset with the VMX Office–partly because I write a blog on this headset system, but also because it does its job so well. I’m hooked on this headset. It’s a perfect match for the office and I think it may be the Class 2 Bluetooth technology in the charging/amplifying/transmitting stand. It offers a 100 foot range instead of the usual 33 feet, which means that in an office with a lot of wireless and Bluetooth equipment, I’m going to actually be able to use my headset.
Incoming Sound Quality
The Voyager 510 Provides Decent Incoming Sound Within A Short Range
I noticed that in this office, it’s best to be right at my 510s base for the best experience. We have about 50 wireless devices and some Bluetooth devices here, and I find that it shortens the range on our devices a little. When the range is only “up to 33 feet” in the first place, there isn’t much room to shorten the range further. Within range, the incoming sound quality is pretty darn good. Having an ear bud inside your ear brings the sound in loud and clear. That said, I obviously wanted more range. I got about 15 feet from my phone base before the sound started getting choppy.
The VMX Office Is Clear As A Bell
I’m thoroughly impressed with the VMX Office speaker sound quality. It’s loud enough, it has clear sound, and it’s long-range (I get about 70 feet of range before the sound gets choppy in this busy office). I’ve been using the headset as my main headset with my Avaya 4412D+ and my LG Voyager VX10000 and I have nothing but praise for the incoming sound quality. I know that some users have said the sound could be louder, and I find that if you move your triangle/square switch to the square position, you’ll get louder sound.
Versatility
Everyone knows about the Voyager
The great thing about the Voyager headset is that it’s super popular and it’s been around a long while, so you can find chargers at lots of vendors, as well as eartips or foam mic covers. Versatile indeed, you can purchase a car charger, USB charger, or an extra wall charger and take this headset with you wherever you go.
The VMX Office Goes One Better, Then Another
Another neat thing about the VMX Office is that it comes with all that stuff. For free. Thanks, Sennheiser! The VMX gets 10 more points (was I awarding points?) for being the first pocket-friendly Bluetooth headset. It’s pretty flat when laid on its side, with no jutting parts or pieces. You simply unfold it to turn it on and fold it back to turn it off, so you can stuff this headset back into your pocket after using it and we won’t knock you for it. But, if you are more meticulous about your belongings, you can always purchase the carrying case from a vendor that sells it.
One thing we haven’t gotten into yet is the fact that the 510s only works for your cell phone and your office phone. What else is there? Why, computers of course. The VMX Office also works with VOIP software like Skype, so you can use this headset with your VOIP software. All you need is a VOIP cable to run to the VMX Office charging base and you’re set.
Fit
If You’re Okay With Earbuds, You’ll Like the 510s
I wear glasses and I find the Voyager 510 headset really comfortable. I forget it’s there, and that’s key for me. I don’t want to feel a headset in my ear all day. I use the medium ear-gel and I prefer that to the ear-tip. The gel is more pliable and molds to your ear, allowing for a more comfy fit. I like the way the 510 fits because it fits well, but it’s big, bulky, and it really sticks out far from your face. It’s so 1990’s.
It Simply Can’t Get More Comfortable Than The VMX Office
It’s completely adjustable, for any ear. I haven’t heard any feedback that the VMX Office was uncomfortable. If it pinches your ear, open it up a bit more. If it feels loose, close it a bit more. I wear headsets on my right ear, and I angle the mic on my VMX so that it points more towards my mouth. I could wear this headset to sleep if I wanted to. It’s just that comfy.
Alright headsets, back to your corners. This battle is over. The clear winner for me is the VMX Office. It works with all my devices, it offers the best range, and it offers the best sound quality on both ends of the call. It fits comfortably on my ear and it looks nice, too. My money is on the VMX Office to be the big headset of 2009.
| 3.1 (2 people) |
What the heck is that little triangle switch?
Congratulations! You found it–the secret switch on your VMX Office base. Now. What does it DO?? Does it launch missles on some random country on a planet in a parallel universe somewhere? Fans of quantum mechanics will know…that did just happen in a parallel universe somewhere….alas, I digress. Back to the switch on the bottom of your VMX base that has the little triangle and square. What does it really do, you ask?
So..it’s all about Europe here. Americans really can simply ignore the switch altogether. Unless — you care about your hearing capability as you age. They’ve done some tests on the safety of noise in the workplace and came up with an EU (European Union) Directive to limit noise on workers as a safety precaution. So, they decided that 85 dB per day, as a time-weighted average value, is a safe volume maximum without any hearing protection of any kind. If you’d like to use this setting on your VMX, simply keep the switch on the triangle setting and your ears will be nice and protected.
If you’re like me and you love rock concerts, have trouble hearing already, and really don’t care if you wear hearing aids or full-on headsets when you’re old, then by all means rock out on the square setting. Ha! Huey Lewis would be proud - it’s finally hip to be square.
| 3.9 (2 people) |
What is that A B C switch for?
There’s a switch at the bottom of the VMX Office stand marked with A, B, and C. Exciting, huh? Meh, not really. It’s just a compatibility setting. Now that you know what it is, you probably guessed that ‘A’ is usually the best setting, right? Well, maybe it’s just a headsetter thing. The old headsetter logic says that compat settings are usually best on A or 1, if provided. If the sound isn’t the best, feel free to run through the other settings. This is a bit like a radio dial that needs tuned to the proper frequency to sound good, otherwise you get that scratchy static.
That’s that! No mystery there. Sennheiser did a great job making this headset system so easy you barely even need the user guide.
| 2.2 (3 people) |
VMX Video Review - a quick look at the VMX
| 2.3 (7 people) |
Here it is! The VMX carrying case…
Patience is a virtue, they say, and your patience is rewarded with a pic of the VMX carrying case. It’s just under 3 inches in diameter and just over half an inch thick. On a personal positive note, I guessed these measurements before I got the ruler out and it seems that my guesses are pretty darn accurate. Yay me!
| 1.8 |
VMX Carrying Case….yes you can have one!
Who knew? You can special order a VMX Office carrying case made by Sennheiser. It retails for $12.95 and the Part number is 502314. You can call over to Headsets.com (1-800-HEADSETS) to get one. They didn’t have a picture of one, but I have one on order, so I’ll follow up with a pic once I get that bad boy.
| 1.8 |
