Plantronics T20 Corded 2-Line ConverConvertible Headset Telephone

I like the fact that this headset has a dialing pad. The volume is not loud enough, I use this phone for work where I am conferenced in(3 way) and I sometimes have difficulty hearing the 3rd person and I cannot increase the volume. I have not figured out how to use the 3 earpieces accessories and there is no instruction for it. Could Have done better.

Plantronics T20: 90% PERFECT, 10% DEADLY
This would be the perfect headset phone if not for a few deadly missteps that led me to return mine.

Perfect:
--Quality build (solid), the right size, the right features (buttons for mute, hold, redial, conference, and flash, plus volume and tone controls). And the mute has a red indicator so you don't forget (although I'd prefer an indicator that flashed like on the Polycom conference phones).
--Also, high quality sound in the headset - I could hear the other party perfectly, with only a faint background hiss.

Deadly, starting with the most serious:
--The people I talked with said that I sounded distant. It appears that the microphone doesn't come forward far enough to pick up my voice well.
--The headset cord is not shielded and picks up noise from the computer. In particular, I had to be careful to route the cord so that it avoided the keyboard or it picked up a loud tone both parties hear.
--The headset cord is very thin and I worried that a minor mistake (such as catching it in a closing a desk drawer) would seriously damage it.
--There is no headset for the T20 that covers both ears (binaural). I called them to verify this. (Although the headset jack in the base is physically compatible with the binaural headset from my M12, the headset from the M12 does not work with the T20.)

Actually, it sounds like they could make this the perfect phone for me just by making a quality binaural headset. But until then...

PS - There was always a low hiss in the headset. In looking into noise-canceling technology, I learned that these systems typically introduce a hiss of their own. In a noisy environment, you don't notice the hiss because the noise the technology takes out is much greater than the hiss it adds. But in a quiet environment like mine, there is no benefit to the noise-canceling feature and you hear the hiss. I can't guarantee that this was the source of the hiss I heard, but it seems likely. (There is no way to disable the noise-canceling circuitry.) I don't think the listing mentions the noise-canceling feature of this phone, but it's on the box.

It worked really well for me. Eliminated background noise like the box says. However, after about 2 months of use I realized that I was no longer able to dial out. I am not really upset because I don't need it anymore. I just wish it would've stopped working within 30 days of my purchase.

Excellent phone. This is my second in a number of years.
Clear, easy to use and hands free..

As I read the reviews here before purchasing, I saw that many people said callers could not hear them. One reviewer said, "No problem. Just get a different headset." So I ordered.

Well, that was an old review and the phone must have changed since then. Once I received the phone, I found that callers could not hear me well, as expected. But, the plug that connects the headset to the phone is not the typical plug you see on most headsets (2.5 mm jack). Instead, this was an "RJ9" plug (like a mini telephone jack plug). NOBODY makes a headset with this type of plug and Plantronics only makes one headset with an RJ9 plug - this one that doesn't work.

I also searched in vain for an adaptor that could enable me to connect a regular headset to this phone.

I loved everything else about this phone, but if people on the other end of the line couldn't hear me, it's not usable. I had to return it.

It works as specified. It would be nice if the line lights would light whenever the line is in use by another phone. That way you would not intrude on someone else's conversation.
Some of my contacts had difficulty hearing me when first installed. It would also be helpful if the there were an amplification volume control on the microphone so that the party on the other end could hear more easily.

Excellent quality, requires little space. As good as the headset I use at work.

I've used Plantronics headsets for years. I was surprised that there was no volume adjustment for the Mic -- every other Plantronics headset I've used had one. I must have had a dozen people tell me they could hardly hear me in 3 days of use. No amount of adjusting the headset position on my head solved the problem.. I had to pull the mic nearly into my mouth for people to hear me easily.

Pity - other than that, it was perfect. I'm returning it.

I've had this phone for about a year and have been unhappy with it from day one. I should have returned it when I realized that the flash button didn't work but now I'm back to buy another phone that actually works. The listening sound quality is okay, however, callers often tell me they can't hear me unless I jockey the headset microphone right to my lips and speak loudly. Having to locate the headset to answer a call is a real pain. I don't think the description adequately explains the fact that you cannot answer the phone without locating the headset, untangling it and putting it on your head first to speak. Also, the dialing tones hurt your ears when you dial with the headset on. Other than that, it's great. :)

You should be aware that this phone is "headset only". It is a simple hookup that allows for two lines using either an "expanded" modular plug to a single wall jack or two separate plugs to two wall jacks. There are handy volume and tone adjustments. The buttons are large and convenient. You can initiate a conference call if you have two lines. The only pitfall is the boom microphone which tends to pop off of the headset. It snaps back in, but it can be an annoyance. Plantronics offers headset upgrades (available at Staples, etc), or you can go with a competitor's headset that uses a standard 3.5mm single jack.

This phone works well for what I need -- but I've gone through two headsets in two years! The first one just quit working -- the second was destroyed when my son stepped on the cord and it broke off at the jack. So be sure to have a warranty or a replacement plan ... and of course, it's the headset, not the base, that's the expensive part.

Since this product is still being sold and preceding reviews were some time ago, I'll share my recent experience with the product. It's stylish and solid. The volume and tone controls are accessible and effective. Received audio (ear speaker) is clear and rich. Transmit audio (microphone)is adequate, but could use a gain control.

Disappointments: Line and mute controls are very close together, occasionally leading me to disconnect a line when I reach to mute it. No memory functions other than 'Redial', which doesn't seem to work on the second line.

GLARING INADEQUACY: The BLARING touch tones generated by dialing and navigating through interactive phone systems are way too loud, even at the lowest volume settings. Bad idea, bad design, bad Plantronics. Bad, bad, bad.

I would like have one but it is out of stocks. When
you can have it on sale. And can you ship to Taiwan?

Thanks...

I LOVE the style of this phone! I love how the top lights up BRIGHT RED when I'm on the phone. I love how the mute lights up when enabled. I love the tone and volume controls and the fact that it handles two lines beautifully--each lighting up green when active, red when ringing. Even the headset is stylish AND convertible (over-the-ear or over-the-head)!

If only I loved the QUALITY!! :-( The sound is HORRIBLE. When dialing, the tones are deafening--to the point of pain. Seriously.

There is also an irritating noise. It's sounds like an auto-gain control (maybe the noise-cancellation) that induces a hiss ONLY when someone is speaking. If there is silence on the line, it is silent. When someone speaks (me or the caller) the hiss joins in. Fortunately, the callers can't hear it.

Also, people say they can't hear me very well. They say it sounds very thin compared to my cordless phone.

I'm really sad that this beautifully designed phone fails to perform. If I can get over the BLARING TONES and the ANNOYING HISS and the POOR SOUND QUALITY, I'll keep it. Otherwise, I'm taking it back.

If this product were only as pleasing to the ear as it is to the eye! But it's not. After more than a quarter century of engineering headsets/amplifiers one would think that Plantronics would get it right. Wrong!!

If I hadn't destroyed the plastic package in which it came I'd have returned this product without a moments hesitation.

I couldn't disagree more with the previous comment. I purchased this phone from amazon and couldn't be happier. The volume, tone and quality is wonderful. The phone is logically laid out and very easy to use with its large oversized contoured buttons. If you have two lines and want a headset phone... this is the one for you.

When you pick up the T20, your are immediately impressed with its attractive styling, solid feel, and quality construction. Unfortunately, after you plug it in, you will not continue to be impressed. Dialing a number is painful, to your ear. Even with the volume turned completely down, the dialing tones are excruciatingly, and unnecessarily, loud, and the ringing you hear for the next few minutes won't be an incoming call. The microphone is a failure in design. It only extends part-way down your cheek, not to your mouth, leading to comments like "You sound like your sitting across the room from a cheap speaker phone." That is if they can even hear you, and don't hang up. Plantronics really needs to consider revising the design to incorporate a voice tube... This should have been a great product, but based upon the two significant shortcomings I mentioned, I cannot recommend it for purchase.