Tag: meetings

Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC Review

Having reviewed audio gear and office headsets for over 10 years, I’ve tested a wide range of Poly (formerly Plantronics) products — from dependable Bluetooth models to enterprise-grade headsets. The Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC is positioned as a premium, business-focused option for hybrid professionals who need comfort, clarity, and seamless connectivity across devices.

Design and Comfort

The Voyager Surround 80 UC is an over-the-head model featuring an ergonomic gap at the top of the headband to reduce pressure points. At 275 grams, it feels comfortable and balanced even during long meetings. The artificial leather ear cushions are soft and breathable, providing a pleasant wearing experience throughout the day.

The overall construction feels solid and businesslike, with subtle branding and a Teams logo for those in Microsoft environments. While the button layout is intuitive for right-handed users, left-handers might find the positioning less natural. Still, it’s a well-designed, durable headset suited to daily professional use.

Controls and Connectivity

Poly combines touch and button controls to handle calls, music playback, and volume with ease. Touch gestures manage playback and volume, while physical buttons cover mute, power, and Bluetooth pairing. 

Connectivity is excellent, with support for Bluetooth 5.3, the included BT700 USB-C adapter, and optional USB-C to 3.5 mm cable for wired use. Pairing with Windows 11, Android, and macOS devices was quick and stable. The headset supports dual-device connectivity, making it easy to switch between laptop and phone without interruptions.

 

What’s in the Box

  • Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC headset
  • Premium carry case with zip pocket for accessories
  • BT700 USB-C Bluetooth adapter
  • USB-C to USB-A adapter 
  • USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable 
  • USB charging cable 
  • User guide

 

The carry case deserves special mention — sturdy, compact, and well thought out, making it ideal for professionals commuting between office and home.

Setup & Software (Poly Lens)

The Voyager Surround 80 UC can be used straight out of the box via Bluetooth, connecting instantly without requiring additional software. However, downloading the Poly Lens app unlocks a range of useful customisation and management options.

With Poly Lens, users can: 

  • Customise headset controls and button functions
  • Enable smart sensors that detect when the headset is worn or removed
  • Automatically pause or resume media, or mute/unmute calls
  • Manage firmware updates and battery monitoring
  • Access Poly Lens Cloud for centralised device management (ideal for IT teams)

The software is well designed and adds real value, particularly for business users who want to tailor their experience or manage multiple devices.

 

Features

  • Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) to reduce distractions
  • Six built-in microphones for clear, boomless voice pickup
  • Dual-device Bluetooth connectivity for laptop and phone pairing
  • Touch and button controls for calls, playback, and volume
  • Up to 21 hours talk time / 24 hours listening time
  • DeepSleep mode conserves power when inactive
  • Teams and UC certified for professional collaboration platform
  • Poly Lens integration for software customisation and management
  • 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty for peace of mind

 

Sound and Microphone Performance

Audio performance is impressive for professional use. The six microphones deliver crisp, natural voice pickup and handle background noise effectively through adaptive ANC. The boomless design keeps things tidy while maintaining excellent speech clarity.

During testing across Teams, Zoom, and Android phone calls, the overall audio quality was faultless. Voices were clear, background noise was minimal, and the headset performed reliably across multiple devices.

However, one noticeable drawback was that while mute and volume controls worked correctly on the headset, these actions didn’t always visually reflect in Microsoft Teams across different laptops. The headset muted and adjusted sound as expected, but Teams’ on-screen indicators didn’t always match the headset’s status — a minor but noticeable usability issue.

On Android, by contrast, everything worked seamlessly: media playback, track skipping, and volume control all responded perfectly.

Battery and Power Management

Battery life remains a major strength, with up to 21 hours of talk time or 24 hours of listening time. The DeepSleep mode automatically conserves energy after 24 hours of inactivity, and charging via USB-C is quick and convenient. It’s an ideal companion for long workdays or travel without needing to worry about frequent recharging.

Real-World Experience

In practical use, the Voyager Surround 80 UC delivers exactly what professionals need: reliable connectivity, consistent audio, and all-day comfort. The dual-device connection works flawlessly, allowing smooth transitions between phone and laptop calls.

While the Teams visual feedback issue is worth noting, it doesn’t affect actual functionality or audio performance. The headset remains a dependable tool for business calls and virtual meetings.

Verdict

The Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC is a high-quality, professional headset built for hybrid workers who spend much of their day in virtual meetings. It offers excellent microphone clarity, strong noise cancellation, long battery life, and a well-designed carry case that makes it easy to travel with.

While it commands a premium price, it’s backed by solid engineering, reliable connectivity, and a two-year warranty. The only minor frustrations lie in the Teams visual control sync issue and sensitive touch controls, but overall, this is a polished, professional headset that performs consistently where it matters most — in call quality, comfort, and usability.

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Jabra’s Study at the LSE Behavioural Lab Highlights Critical Role of Technology in Boosting Collaboration in Meetings

Globally, there are over 572 million knowledge workers*, and each week, billions of hours are spent in online meetings. Yet many of these meetings are held in settings that are not at all supportive for collaboration or productivity. In Jabra’s recent Hybrid Ways of Working 2023 Global Report, only 15% of employees say that all of their office’s meeting rooms are equipped with video cameras for online meetings, and around 60% of knowledge workers still rely on built-in laptop cameras and microphones. This begs the question: how much is the technology we’re using impacting our behaviour in meetings and our ability to collaborate effectively?

Answering that question has taken over a year of work by Jabra using state-of-the-art facilities to study human behaviour in a controlled environment at the Behavioural Lab at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The study, ‘Meeting Great Expectations: Behaviour, Emotion and Trust’, sought to understand the biopsychological impacts of the technology we use in our day-to-day work, and how it affects collaboration and inclusion in meetings.

Professional meeting technology is key to meeting equity

Meeting experiences are holistic and need to factor in all participants. When we first made the shift to remote work during the pandemic, most organisations provided employees with headsets and webcams for online meetings. However, the quality of this technology varied and was oftentimes inadequate. In fact, only 19% of knowledge workers** are using a personal, professional webcam.

Looking into how technology impacts the quality each person can access a meeting, and how much an equal playing field impacted everyone’s overall collaboration perceptions, the study observed significant improvements when everyone in a meeting uses professional Jabra equipment, when compared to using the nearest competitor’s video bar or built-in laptop audio and video. There was a 27% increase in clarity, 16% more trust, 35% greater expressiveness, and a 47% perceived improvement in the quality of input.

Additionally, remote workers often face the greatest challenges with technology in hybrid meetings. When armed with professional headsets and cameras, the research saw overall call clarity improved by 18% among remote workers, while meeting room participants also rated remote users 32% higher in terms of expressiveness. Meeting room participants also showed nearly twice (84%) the perceived level of engagement when comparing hybrid workers using professional equipment with those on laptop with built-in hardware. Furthermore, remote participants also trusted others joining remotely 22% more when using professional technology. These findings highlighted the increased levels to which remote workers can show up and contribute to hybrid meetings, and the advantages technology can provide them.

Meeting room equipment directly improves remote users meeting experience

We’ve all been in that situation where we join a meeting remotely while everyone else is in the office. It can be frustrating – you might struggle to hear what’s being said, not be able to see everyone in the room, and sometimes feel overlooked. But what if having the right tools could make you feel more present and included?

The study found that when people used professional technology both in the meeting room and remotely, those joining remotely reported a 56% improvement in the quality of conference room contributions. While nothing can quite replace face-to-face interaction, the second-highest ratings for collaboration, right after in-person meetings, came from remote participants rating conference room users equipped with professional video gear.

These findings highlight that technology can bridge the gap between meeting participants separated by physical distance. In summary, it’s clear that high-quality in-room technology significantly enhances the experience for remote participants. Any business aiming for inclusive meetings should prioritise updating their meeting spaces to support fair collaboration.

Holger Reisinger, SVP at Jabra said, “High-quality technology has a profound impact on the effectiveness of remote collaboration. Our research demonstrates that when businesses invest in professional equipment for both in-room and remote participants, they can achieve remarkable improvements. These findings underscore the pivotal role of technology in optimising meeting experiences and fostering successful hybrid collaboration.”

Dr Simon Noyce, British Chartered Psychologist, Lead Project Researcher said, “In today’s world of hybrid meetings, bridging the gap between in-person and remote collaboration has never been more important. Our aim is to encourage businesses to harness this technology to enable meaningful interactions that come as close as possible to the richness of face-to-face engagement.”

Download a copy of the full report here: jabra.com/lse

*Jabra’s Global Knowledge Worker Survey, 2023

**Jabra U&A Collaboration Study, 2022

Why Multi-Camera Conferencing Represents The Next Generation Of Video Meetings

In an age of video bars and webcams more and more organisations are adding a dynamic new dimension to their remote meetings, by taking a multi-camera approach.

That’s the experience of hardware manufacturer, Boom Collaboration, which has seen growth in ‘live events’ and more intuitive conference calls, rise by over a third so far this year.

The Texas-based company is witnessing a significant acceleration in demand for multi-camera conferencing which it views as an exciting new era for larger remote gatherings, transforming standard meetings into more engaging and powerful customer experiences.

International appeal

Founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett believe new technology is helping blur the lines between traditional video calls and once complex AV production broadcasting.

Church ceremonies, court rooms, auction houses and healthcare training are some of the most popular sectors so far – as deployments continue to diversify. Industry trade shows are attracting remote visitors where panel debates and live presentations are all benefitting from a multi-angle approach.

Equally larger traditional conference rooms are adding additional cameras for a more intuitive life-like experience – according to the company which has seen a 35% surge in multi-camera sales so far in 2023.

“There’s no doubt we are seeing major growth in live events and remote communication on an international scale across a growing number of sectors,” says Hörnkvist.

“Many of today’s popular software-based meeting apps have the option to share multiple cameras and it’s clear this type of technology adds a new edge to traditional meetings, presentations and live shows.

“Healthcare training for example, is an area where lots of students can witness heart surgery remotely, rather than all being crammed into an operating theatre which wouldn’t be viable. They can view and learn clearly from various camera angles, from anywhere in the world.”

He continued: “Equally there are many conferences, trade shows and industry events that can sell more tickets by having a remote element too. There’s one price to attend in-person plus an online pass option.”

Multi-dimensional meetings

Hörnkvist highlighted: “There are many things to consider when planning a remote gathering. The first is identifying a suitable location with good lighting and audio dynamics. Next is considering camera angles and decor plus how many actual cameras will be used. Technical knowledge is crucial too. Who is going to act as a producer and switch between cameras? How is content going to be shared? Do you need outside expertise? Also, how long will the event last is another factor. You don’t want people becoming bored and losing interest. Interaction is crucial.”

He feels advances in technology open the door to easier management of multi-dimensional meetings – creating more opportunities to enhance the overall customer experience.

“It’s often been a complex and technical process in the past. But advances in technology are inspiring greater user confidence and expertise,” he notes.

“Power and electricity supply capacity can be a challenge. We often recommend using cameras that have a PoE capability. This makes it easier to deploy devices on the same network and improve room aesthetics, without unsightly cables everywhere.”

He says overall appeal will be further enhanced by new solutions such as Boom’s GOJO camera controller, which can manage over 250 devices, if required.

New era

For Hulett the use of high performance 4K PTZ cameras and expandable audio is essential; insisting ‘quality counts’.

She explained: “High quality PoE cameras, expandable audio and easy to use camera controllers/mixing desks are some of the key ingredients for a successful remote experience. Don’t overlook the importance of audio compared to video. If people can’t be heard clearly, then the show is over.”

Hulett began the business with co-founder Fredrik Hörnkvist in 2020, with Boom now embarking on a global expansion drive including the UK and Europe.

She advises: “To overcome some of the fundamental room challenges we always suggest putting the main camera at eye level on the same wall as the display so that it’s natural and easy to engage directly with people. 

“We feel something like a 360 degree camera is actually counter intuitive to the way we communicate as it doesn’t promote natural eye contact and reading of body language cues. Also because more people are using video calls now they are more aware of their physical appearance while on screen. This further enforces the need for high calibre cameras that make the most of a variety of meeting conditions.’

Hulett concluded: It’s about creating a space that goes beyond the traditional video conference room by facing cameras in multiple directions, for more fluid and engaging experiences. We expect these trends to continue to expand and diversify, as a new era and the next chapter in video conferencing begins to unfold.”

Exclusion epidemic: Jabra research reveals Millennials feel most ostracised in hybrid meetings

After years of resisting, many workers are now back in the workplace , bringing with them the return of in-person meetings. In fact,58% of all meetings are now held in meeting rooms, with roughly half of them involving online participants. The rise of hybrid work has resulted in new challenges in terms of inclusivity and the understanding of meeting room technology according to Jabra’s 2023 edition of its Hybrid Ways of Working Global Report conducted amongst 304 UK respondents (1,845 people in the total of six key markets worldwide).

Jabra’s new report uncovers the state of meetings in hybrid work, including the largest barriers and opportunities for employees and organisations. As hybrid work continues to impact employees’ habits and behaviours, leaders need to rethink their overall working models to ensure effective collaboration.

Bridging the generational gap in hybrid meetings

We are currently living in an era of a multi-generational workforce with very different life experiences and perspectives. Whilst technology and autonomy can go a long way in enabling inclusive, productive, and creative meetings, there are still other dynamics to look out for which can cause people to feel left out. 

According to Jabra’s research, when asked how often they feel left out of the conversation in online meetings, Millennials were over 4 times as likely as Boomers to say they feel this way. Similarly, Gen X and Boomers were more than two times as likely to say they never feel left out of a conversation. 

Although Millennials are “digital natives”, they are also some of the youngest and least experienced employees, meaning they may lack the confidence to speak up in meetings. Leaders must be mindful of these intergenerational dynamics and effectively use meeting technology to create a more inclusive hybrid meeting culture. This gives each employee the confidence to share fresh ideas and actively participate in discussions in a way that best suits them.

Using video in meetings can have a positive impact on your career 

Should you have cameras on or off in an online meeting? When it comes to presenting ourselves as professionals in online environments, the verdict from employees is clear: using video can have a positive and empowering impact on your career. 

Jabra’s research found 55% of employees believe that using video impacts how they perceive their colleagues in meetings. They agreed that their colleagues using video seem more competent, more engaged, and more trustworthy in meetings than those who do not. However, similar to the way that Millennials feel left out in online meetings, the research also found that they feel pressured to have their cameras on. 

When employees can’t join a meeting in a way that works for them, remotely or in-person, employers run the risk of exacerbating existing issues within their teams, such as inequalities or negative social dynamics. Therefore, before leaders create mandatory video use policies, they must first be aware of the challenges that those policies can create.

Accessibility and training can drive meeting room technology adoption

At the beginning of the pandemic, employees all over the world were forced to adapt overnight to fully remote meetings. Even though employees are increasingly returning to the office, there is still at least one person joining from a remote location. 

According to the research, not enough has been done to support those returning to the office to get familiar with meeting room technology. In fact, 45% of employees say they’re hesitant to take meetings in a meeting room because they’re less comfortable with the technology compared to just using their own laptop.

As organisations around the world continue to upgrade their office meeting rooms, it’s essential that comprehensive training and guidance for employees is provided. By ensuring employees can use the technology, business leaders can maximise the benefits of their enhanced meeting rooms and foster a seamless transition into the hybrid work environment.

Holger Reisinger, SVP at Jabra said, “As we all know, hybrid work is now the norm for millions of knowledge workers worldwide, bringing with it new challenges to the way we collaborate with one another. While employees speak to the well-being benefits of flexible work, many employers have struggled to lead widely distributed teams. Moving forward, it’s essential that leaders give employees the tools they need and allow them to join meetings from where it best suits them. This will instill trust, empower decision-making, and allow the best ideas to rise to the top.”

 

Download a copy of the full report here: https://www.jabra.com/hybridwork/2023 

First Look – EMEET Meeting Capsule 360° Video Conference Camera with 8 Mics, Hi-Fi Speaker

When it comes to having meetings be in the office or at home there is plenty of technology out there now to help make life easier and EMEET is a brand that is doing so with their products now on offer and one of their latest one certainly has plenty on offer here which is ideal for those who are working both at home or in office and so on and this caters for more than one person with 5 video modes and AI thrown into the mix too which is now something we see quite a bit in our gadgets today.

Crafted for Hybrid Collaboration

All-In-One conference room camera for teams features a 360° 1080P camera, 8-mic array, 10W/90dB Hi-Fi speaker, and exclusive AI-powered audio and video algorithm, providing 5 video modes to create immersive meeting experiences for multiple scenarios.

Optimized 360° Audio and Video Coverage

360-degree 1080P conference room camera spots every detail within a radius of 13ft (4m). 8 omni-directional beamforming microphones pick up every word within a radius of 18ft (5.5m) with high fidelity. 10W/90dB Hi-Fi speaker allows every participants to hear clearly. Everyone’s involved in an immersive collaborative experience.

Be seen and heard

A 360° conference camera sweeps all the details within a radius of 13ft (4m) in sharp HD 1080P, covering the whole conference room without any blind spot. 8 intelligent omni-directional microphones pick up voices from all angles within a radius of 18ft (5.5m), taking your voice quality to a higher level.

Today we take a quick first look and soon we will have a full review, any questions you know the drill..

Features

  • Includes everyone: 360° panoramic 1080P HD camera, 8 mics and 90dB Hi-Fi speaker.
  • AI-powered autofocus: Intelligent multi-modal algorithm autofocuses on active talkers responsively.
  • 5 video modes: Swivel lens with 5 video modes on your command for various scenarios.
  • Optimized voice pickup: Exclusive VoiceIA® DSP algorithm features noise reduction, human voice enhancement and full duplex.
  • Plug and play: Launch meetings instantly without the need for cell phones or WI-FI.
  • Smart coverage: Extend coverage from 18ft to 36ft when daisy chained with our signature speakerphone M3.

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