Plantronics Savi 440 As I mentioned previously, there are two types of wireless technology: Bluetooth and DECT. The former is commonly used for those tiny earpieces that people use with cell phones. Free download Plantronics Savi W440 Driver on a Personal Computer: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP 32 and 64-bit, Mac and Linux Operating System. Step-by-step guide. Software and Driver Update.
Plantronics Savi 440
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Pros
- Stellar sound quality.
- Comfortable to wear.
- Extra-long range.
- Comes with many different ear tips, hooks, and headbands.
- Includes a convenient charging dock with a weighted base.
- Can hot-swap batteries (although only one is included in the box).
Cons
- Huge USB dongle.
- Subpar external noise suppression.
- Expensive.
Bottom Line
The Plantronics Savi 440 is a well thought out enterprise-grade headset with a comfortable design, great sound quality, and numerous nods toward IT deployment and management.
The Plantronics Savi 440 is a business-grade, wireless
Features, Design, and Fit
There are actually two models of note here: the company’s higher-end Savi 700 lets you seamlessly switch or swap calls between a PC, a cell phone, and a desk phone. The Savi 440, the subject of this review, is best used with just a Windows PC; while it works on a Mac, you won’t be able to answer or end calls with the multi-function button, and none of Plantronics’ available software works on OS X. Catering to enterprise markets, Plantronics also distributes the free UC ToolKit, a package of online tools, training materials, and survey templates that let IT departments design, deploy, and manage unified communications.
The Savi 440 is made entirely of plastic, with a black gloss finish and some thin chrome accents. With the mid-size ear hook attached, it measures 5.4 by 2.2 by 1.0 inches (HWD) and weighs 0.7 ounces. That would be a little heavy for a tiny Bluetooth headset, but for something this size, it feels light and well balanced. The USB wireless dongle is hinged, and folds upward like a cellular modem; an LED backlit stripe around the edge lights up green when it’s working, and red when there’s no connection to the headset. The dongle looks good, but it’s definitely on the large side for laptop users; at least the fact that it folds upward means you’re less likely to snap it off by accident.
You won’t have a problem getting comfortable with the Savi 440 itself. The bundled “fit kit” includes four gel ear tips, three different size ear hooks, a felt pad you can use on any of the hooks to cushion it against your ear, and two headbands (one with a mono headphone pad, and one plain wire). All of the pieces lock into place on the little plastic nub behind the headset; they don’t just pop off and pop on the way they do on regular mono Bluetooth models. The included magnetic docking station features a weighted base; the headset snaps in with a satisfying click to charge, and is easily removable once done. There’s also a USB charging kit in the box, which is much smaller and more useful for traveling.
Sound Quality and Noise Suppression
The DECT-compatible Savi 440 is designed to eliminate interference from nearby wireless devices. It also contains an additional mic to aid in suppressing ambient noise. Voice quality was simply spectacular. Through the earpiece, voices sounded clear, crisp, and loud. My own voice transmissions sounded clear through the microphone. There was the slightest touch of background hiss, and a slight computery tone to my recordings, but both were minor issues.
Interestingly, Plantronics builds significant digital signal processing into the Savi 440, for several purposes: to improve sound quality; to automatically limit sound levels to 118 dB; to also detect and cap any sudden, large increase in sound level; and my favorite, a time-weighted average that prevents the overall average noise level from exceeding 85 dB during the length of a call. Loud sounds can damage hearing in short order, but lower (but still loud enough) volumes can cause hearing damage over a longer period of time; it’s great that Plantronics compensates for this with the Savi 440.
Noise cancellation performance was less impressive, though. I performed another series of voice mail tests when standing about five feet away from an office fan, even when not in its direct path, you could hear considerable wind buffeting around my voice. Once I stepped into the fan’s path and walked a little closer, the wind sounds completely obliterated anything I was saying. An
Plantronics Savi 440 Driver
Range, Battery Life, and Conclusions
Plantronics claims 300 feet of range, which is nearly ten times the theoretical maximum of the average Bluetooth headset. I didn’t experience quite that much; I walked from one end of my house to the other, through several rooms; by the end of about 60 feet, recordings of my voice began to sound a bit choppy, although you could still easily understand me. In a wide-open office with low cubicles, or outdoors, range should improve somewhat further.
Battery life is about seven hours of talk time on a full charge, but the battery itself is removable; you can hot-swap it during a conversation, replace it with a second battery, charge the first one, and have essentially unlimited talk time at your desk as a result. Plantronics sells a $54.95 desktop dock and $49.95 mobile charger, each of which come with an extra battery.
Plantronics Savi 440 Software Machine
As you can probably tell by now, the Savi 440 isn’t really aimed at the average consumer. Most people would do fine with a simple Bluetooth headset for Skype calls, assuming their PC or laptop has Bluetooth; the
Plantronics Savi 440 Software Mac Pro
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