Sennheiser SH230 Monaural Headset with Microphone

 (5 customer reviews)

I use this headset every day for work with my VOIP phone. I bought it after getting tired of my ear getting hot and burny from the regular handset, to say nothing of the neck cramps from trying to pull up things on the computer screen for vendors and customers to help them.

The sound quality is excellent, far superior to the regular phone handset. There are a lot of bottlenecks for sound quality in any phone system (including the phone system of whoever you're talking to!) and I would be very surprised if this headset turned out to be your bottleneck. Chances are you will notice an increase from any stock set you're using now, though because there are a ton of other barriers to perfect quality don't expect any headset to be able to make a phone call sound like you're in the same room as someone.

The headset itself is comfortable. I normally take it off between calls but not all the time. I've had it on for hours at a time and it doesn't develop any pain or...Read more

So I had a Plantronics M175C headset, which worked OK, but the mike was no good unless it was almost in my mouth. This SH-230 headset has a great mike, so that is no longer a problem. It also has a better earphone, so I can hear the conversation much better.

However, there are few downsides. First is that the side support is really flimsy. I dropped the headset ONCE, from about 2 feet off my desk, and the piece snapped off. Turns out that it is held on by about 4 mm2 of plastic. This appears to be a known problem by Sennheiser, because they sell replacement side supports, http://www.amazon.com/Acc-headsets-side-support-SoHo/dp/B00382BU1K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1281561671&sr=8-1. Search for TPS-03 to find other sources.

Second, the headset requires a Sennheiser amplifier or extension cable, since it only comes with the Sennheiser quick disconnect plug. I used the extension with a standard 3/32" headset plug:...Read more

For months, my clients complained they couldn't hear me when I was on headset. I went through several headsets, all of which plugged into the phone. No luck. I tried a Plantronics head set, with amplifier, which plugged in between the phone and hand-set. I took it back. I also changed phones several times with no luck. Finally, I got a Sennheiser UI760 amplifier. Due to the proprietary connectors, the easiest -- and perhaps only -- match is (Amazement! Shock!) a Sennheiser headset. Enter the SH230.

I've had this set-up for about a month, and I've had no more complaints. The headset is fine: good, clear Sennheiser sound, if a bit on the harsh and hissy side. The boom mike is well shielded, and the earphone is nicely padded. The headset's over-the-head piece is thin, springy steel which is comfortable enough, but looks cheesy. A headset this expensive should have better. Four stars for audibility, adjustability, clarity -- and a solution to an aggravating problem.