Poly - Sync 20 Personal USB/Bluetooth Smart Speakerphone with Noise and Echo Reduction - Gray

The Poly Sync 20 is a versatile full duplex speakerphone for meetings that doubles as a battery bank and personal speaker. Simple and streamlined, with capacitive touch buttons and intuitive design, you won't really need instructions on what each thing does (but please still read). Larger than your favorite phablet and as thick as your favorite mechanical keyboard, it easily fits into my laptop bag and goes with me everywhere. The included case is nice and keeps everything together and protected between meetings. It is IP64 dust and water-resistant, so you don't have to be so fragile with it. Take it where you need to go instead of your phone or device. The kit includes a lanyard and USB-A to USB-C adapter, which fits in the neoprene-like canvas hybrid sleeve. The sound clarity is exceptional, but the soundstage feels tiny, in my opinion. It would be nice to hear a room-filling sound, but that is me being a sound snob. The microphone picks up voices up to 7-8ft, so the speaker is designed for small rooms under 13'x13', so keep that in mind. It utilizes Bluetooth 5.1 for excellent stability and sound quality; it will be an instant upgrade in audio quality compared to your cell phone, laptop, or tablet. The app I could find that works on android is the Plantronics Hub app. There is a firmware update needed, so get that done ASAP. The overall speaker volume is too low, under 50%, with the steps in sound increments not noticeable until you reach maybe 75%. The microphones are smart and switch to the closest speaker for the best sound quality. The battery is rated up to 20hrs, which is more than enough to get through a meeting-packed workday. You have extra juice to recharge a phone or Bluetooth earbuds using the USB-A port with the charging cord of your choice. The added functionality of being a battery bank is helpful when your phone is dying, and you need a little extra juice to make it through a call. As a portable personal speaker, it is easier to keep around in my laptop bag since it can serve more than one purpose. I plug it into my laptop, and it works as a teleconference device should. Connect it to Bluetooth on the laptop, and it works - just wireless. The Rocket button is programmed in the Plantronics Hub, but the Microsoft Teams button I could not get to work, whether USB or Bluetooth. That is fine since I already have my meeting on my PC, so I don't have to worry about one touch of Microsoft Teams. It is all about options; the business professional will see the value here. We use Zoom and GoTo Meeting at work, so it isn't a big deal for me. This works for any platform without software. You can add software for a different experience. This speaker is exceptional at voice reproduction and keeping things business-focused. Still, I would say this isn't getting any awards for music playback as it sounds too small and lacks meaningful bass and low-end frequency reproduction. There must be a way to block or disable touch buttons while in a call to avoid accidental touches when moving the speaker. I don't remember how often a button would be accidentally touched while grabbing it. Aside from those recommendations, this is an excellent speakerphone with great voice reproduction. This is a winner in my book if you are in the business of calling or doing lots of speakerphone calls. You'll get value because it is also a battery bank to save you in a pinch with a dead phone. You also get an instant upgrade over any tech built-in to your laptop, phone, or tablet. Add a kickstand, wireless charging capabilities, and a USB-C port for the all-time perfect device.

Working for a technology company as a software engineering manager and spending most of my time on online Team/Skype meetings, this little device is a life saver for work meetings with great audio without the background noise and echo. Had used different mobile adapter from leading competitor but was looking for one that can be portable that can also use as a Bluetooth speaker to listen music when not working and this one checked all the list and very pleased with the purchase. What is in the box: Travel/Carry case, Speakerphone, User manual, lanyard, USB-A to USB-C adapter and user manual. Poly Speakerphone is a flat rectangular shaped with curved edges, measuring 1.3 in x 3.7in x7.2in. It has compact design that got a wraparound USB-A cable (rolls underneath the device) to plug in to the laptop (plug and play) or for device charging. It connects wirelessly to laptop or smartphone devices via Bluetooth V5.1 or directly with the USB cable. Its slim and portable (weighs 360grams) with its stunning mesh cloth design and is compatible with Windows or Mac OS and has great UI features. On the front it has got touch sensitive controls for call/ answer, Mute, Volume +/-, Programmable function button for Teams only. On the side there are push buttons for power on/off, Bluetooth pairing and a USB port that can be used as power bank to charge mobile phones as required. It has got highly visible status light bar that give visual representation of the status like mute or call active. Call quality on Zoom or online meetings are crystal clear without any echo or background noise. Great battery life of around 20 hours on a single charge when used for meetings. It takes roughly 4 hours to charge fully from zero percent to 100% battery. This device is compatible with most popular voice platforms like zoom, google meet, zoom, skype, google voice, Avaya, cisco and many more. It also supports various Bluetooth profiles like A2DP, HFP, BLE, HFP, AVRCP and has got three microphone steerable array for great pickup range (up to 7 ft). This device reduces echo cancellation and background noise so that the other person on the online meeting is not distracted with background noise when working from home where kids tend to disturb sometimes. Setup connection is simple plug and play. No drivers are required. Tested with music from smartphone and the audio is loud and better that smartphone speakers. Travel case pouch is soft and attractive with its elastic enclosure that lets you carry the device in ease during travel and takes very little space. Overall, very happy with this device and highly recommend for conference calls if you are looking for clear audio communication on your online meetings and for quick all-in-one connectivity.

Verdict. The Plantronics Sync 20 mic/speaker system is an excellent piece of professional kit. It is small yet versatile, powerful, and extremely convenient for conference calls from a Bluetooth-capable cell phone or video calls from a laptop. It raises normal amateur conferencing to professional quality audio for conference calling. First Impression. The Plantronics Sync speaker arrived in a very nice carrying case, which can be used to keep the dust off your speaker when not in use, but most importantly, so that you can travel with it with more confidence. The speaker looks very nice. It has prominent volume, mute, and answer/hang-up buttons on the top, and buttons for power and Bluetooth connection on the side. The cable for charging and for corded setup is integrated on the underside of the speaker, and can be unspooled for more range if needed. Also included is an adapter to convert USB-A to USB-C, and a lanyard. By the way, the case actually has a small pocket for the adapter… nice! Setup. The Bluetooth setup with a smart phone was very easy, and as expected: hold the Bluetooth button until the speaker is ready for pairing, then connect to Plantronics Sync from your phone’s Bluetooth menu. The corded connection actually took a little longer to activate. After using the adapter to connect the speaker to a computer with a USB-C connector, I couldn’t get the sound and mic to work. I checked the computer settings and realized that I had to select the Plantronics Sync for sound and for speaker on the computer. Once I did this, I could use the Plantronics Sync for excellent audio during a video conference call. Features. The Plantronics Sync speaker features multiple microphones to isolate the voices you want to hear and minimize ambient noise. Voice clarity on conference calling is excellent. The speaker also features 20 hours of battery life, and has a dedicated charging port to charge a smart phone on the go. The speaker is also dust and water resistant. In addition to being a great conferencing speaker, the Plantronics Sync speaker can also serve as a normal music speaker that performs well. The sound is full and balanced, but it’s worth noting that the speaker doesn’t get very loud for music. I think that’s a good thing though, because I wouldn’t want to compromise the conference quality because I played music too loud and blew out the speakers. Using the speaker. There are things you didn’t know you needed until you try them. We were previously content just using a phone on speaker for conference calls, or using the built-in mic/speakers on a computer. Once I started using the Plantronics Sync 20 mic/speaker system, I realized how much better conference calling could be. The speaker makes it easier to communicate with others, which can make an enormous difference when pitching clients. It’s light to carry, quick to setup, and easy to use. We really love it! Things I love: - Sleek-looking speaker - Easy to use button - Integrated cord with a spooling area under the speaker - Very nice travel case - USB-A to USB-C adapter included - The travel case has a small pocket to store the adapter - Excellent microphone performance, and great speaker sound - Great overall package for high-quality conferencing - It can charge a smart phone! Things I don’t love: - A plug adapter is not included. This is not a significant issue for me, but buyers should be prepared to use a plug adapter they already own, or charge the speaker using a computer. Overall, this is a very compelling mic/speaker package for excellent conferencing in the office and on the go. It offers connection versatility through Bluetooth, USB-A, and USB-C (with the adapter). Performance and call quality is excellent, and far surpasses using a smart phone on speaker, or using the built-in mic and speaker on a computer. This a speaker we will use daily at the office and while traveling for any conference-calling needs.

This Plantronics Sync 20 BT/USB personal speakerphone a fantastic device. First of all, the quality is excellent, and the features and sound quality are just what I needed. This is a portable speaker, portable charger, and portable speaker all in one device. (Up to 20 hrs. of battery life) It has a self-contained USB cord (Nice length I might add), or Bluetooth connection options. It comes with a lanyard a storage case and USB A to USB C adaptor for those with no USB A option. (Like my laptop), unfortunately, there is no onboard storage for this adaptor. Super easy set up. My set up was plug and play for my work computer using the USB, then I also connect my cell phone using the Bluetooth connection to listen to music. It seamlessly switches between the two. The music quality is quite good for the size of the speaker. I am impressed. During a call the sound is great for both me and the caller. Could not ask for better. Top buttons (and comments): -Rocket Button - Touch the Rocket Button is a Play /Pause button by default. This button is programmable if you download Poly App. Options; Redial (Mobile only), VPA (Voice Assistant), Clear Trusted Device List, Status, Hold/Resume call. I left it as default (Play/Resume) and with no music connection it provides status of device with 1 touch. -TEAMS Button - I love the dedicated Teams Purple button. Simply touch this anytime and it pulls open your Microsoft Teams software. So convenient for me as a daily Microsoft Team user. Note, this button only worked with USB connection to my computer. Did not work for USB to my Android, or any Bluetooth connection. -Volume + and – -Mute -Phone – Answer / End calls --Side of unit - you have a Bluetooth pairing button and USB connection. This USB is to Charge your connected devices. The Poly App you can download to your computer offers the following: In-app customization for personal device settings Built-in notices for software availability Stay healthy at your desk with gentle wellness reminders I have used the software to update the device software and change the volume alert from a tone to voice. So when I reach Max or Min volume you get an audible voice indicating this. They state on the website that the mobile app is coming soon, but I noticed my Plantronics Hub App does recognize the device and sees all the device settings. This is truly an All-in-One device for people on the go and a great addition to your home office. This is hands down the best speakerphone style device I have used to date. Highly recommend.

From the time I opened he package, I was impressed with the look and feel of this portable speaker. I has a solid feel to the construction and very thoughtful placement of the cord with a place to store it. My previous portable speaker worked well until it started overheating - I notice the cord had become frayed from being exposed to too much movement. This Poly should not have that problem. Speakers are all about sound and the sound of this speaker is excellent for its size. The treble is crisp, and voices are clear. The bass is just OK, so I recommend this as a music speaker of last resort. Connectivity was extremely easy. The USB connection was recognized immediately by my PC. .The same goes for the Bluetooth pairing with my cell phone. This speaker comes with some nice accessories like the carrying case and the USB-C to USB-A convertor. It also has an additional USB-A port for charging mobile devices when you have at least a 50% charge on the internal battery. The Mute button is right in the middle and the large light turns red when muted. Overall, this is an excellent addition to my portable office. I will have to use it for a while before I can confirm the battery life which is claimed to be 20 hours. If you use Teams, there is an easy connect button. I do not use Teams, so I have not tried it.