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Although Cisco Systems performs some internal testing of third-party headsets for use with the
Cisco
Unified IP Phones, Cisco does not certify or support products from headset or handset vendors.
Because of the inherent environmental and hardware inconsistencies in the locations where
Cisco
Unified IP Phones are deployed, there is not a single “best” solution that is optimal for all
environments. Cisco recommends that customers test the headsets that work best in their environment
before deploying a large number of units in their network.
In some instances, the mechanics or electronics of various headsets can cause remote parties to hear
an echo of their own voice when they speak to Cisco Unified IP Phone users.
Cisco Systems recommends the use of good quality external devices (headsets) that are screened against
unwanted radio frequency (RF) and audio frequency (AF) signals. Depending on the quality of these
devices and their proximity to other devices such as cell phones and two-way radios, some audio noise
may still occur.
The primary reason that support of a headset would be inappropriate for the Cisco Unified IP Phone
is the potential for an audible hum. This hum can either be heard by the remote party or by both the
remote party and you, the Cisco Unified IP Phone user. Some potential humming or buzzing sounds
can be caused by a range of outside sources, for example, electric lights, being near electric motors,
large PC monitors. In some cases, a hum experienced by a user may be reduced or eliminated by using
a local power cube or power injector.
Audio Quality Subjective to the User
Beyond the physical, mechanical and technical performance, the audio portion of a headset must
sound good to you (the user) and to the party on the far end. Sound is subjective and Cisco cannot
guarantee the performance of any headsets or handsets, but some of the headsets and handsets on the
sites listed below have been reported to perform well with Cisco Unified IP Phones.
Nevertheless, it is ultimately still the customer’s responsibility to test this equipment in their own
environment to determine suitable performance.
For information about headsets, see:
http://www.vxicorp.com/cisco
http://www.plantronics.com
http://www.jabra.com
