‘Finally, a boomless headset for the office’: How Jabra made headphones I’d take to a boardroom

pros and cons

Pros

• Streamlined, lightweight design
• Exceptional call quality
• Robust business features

Cons

• Pricey
• Best suited for indoor environments
• Finicky wireless charging pad

more buying choices

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Jabra's latest premium office headphones line, the Evolve3 series, comes with a redesign: they ditch the foam earcups for fabric, and completely do away with the boom mic. I know this approach might be considered blasphemy for a business headset, but the trade-off is a sleek, lightweight build that works very well as a hybrid pair you can actually wear out of the office. 

Also: Are work headsets a gimmick? I tested a pair, and it actually made calls more enjoyable

The Evolve3 75 headphones are one step down from the company's most premium model, the Evolve3 85, and although they're not cheap (regularly priced around $450), they come with a replaceable battery, a five-year warranty, and are more durable than they might appear.

I've been using the headset for a few weeks now. Although primarily marketed as a business headset, the device stands out as an adaptable hybrid pair with great call quality, solid audio, and a featherweight form factor. And yes, they even hold up on the subway here in New York. 

Fit and build

I generally prefer a low-profile pair of headphones. I don't like big, chunky earcups, and let's be real, most business-minded headsets aren't winning any awards for sleek design. But Jabra wants to challenge that stereotype with the Evolve3 75.

This pair has an excellent fit. Their compact build is minimal and streamlined without sticking out. They're also very secure without feeling tight or restrictive, allowing for long-term wear, thanks to the 180g weight, which feels well-balanced. When I first picked them up, I remember thinking, “Finally, a boomless headset for the office.”

Also: The most comfortable pair of headphones I've tried isn't made by Sony or Bose

However, I will say that the full coverage cloth earcups might feel warmer than other synthetic plastic or foam materials. If you prefer around-ear-style headphones, you'd be better off opting for the Evolve3 85 — the brand's highest-tier device with a more premium design (and price point to match, starting at $500 on sale). 

The Evolve3 75 headset is also very portable. The included travel pouch, while not the highest quality, is crazy thin, measuring just a little over an inch in thickness. When I first saw it, I thought the case was empty and needed to be expanded, but sure enough, the headset was folded up inside. This feature alone makes the device one of the best business headsets to travel with that I've ever tried.

The earcups' textured cloth covering looks and feels good, but they're a little hollow, as pressing down in the middle reveals the speaker. I also wonder about the material's durability over time, particularly around the edges where the fabric typically starts to unravel. On the ears, however, the cups feel sufficiently plush, form a good seal, and hardly move or shift at all, even if you bend over.

Call quality 

The headset's low profile is underscored by the lack of a boom mic, which is typically the biggest giveaway for a business device. Instead, the mics are located on the front sides of the earcups. In my testing, I found that the vocals were crisp and clear, if at times just slightly quieter than both the Logitech Zone Wireless 2 ES and the Epos Impact 500, both of which produce that exceptionally “close” audio quality you get with a mic inches from your mouth. 

That's not to say that vocal quality suffered with the Evolve3 75, because it doesn't. I routinely took calls while walking around Manhattan, and callers on the other end told me the audio was loud and clear. When I wasn't speaking, there was silence; when I was, background noise was mitigated. 

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Another reason calls sound so good on the Evolve3 75 is Jabra's sidetone, which passes your voice through the headphones so you can hear it, even with ANC on. It's executed well: your voice sounds natural and subtle, not booming or overly processed, and you can control the volume in the app. The feature is also automatic; the user doesn't have to fiddle with any settings, it just sounds good out of the box. 

Regarding music quality, sure, these headphones don't match the all-encompassing audiophile quality of the Sony WH-1000XM6, but they sound great as an everyday pair for commuting. I will, however, say that they are best relegated to use in the office or on routine commutes. While you can wear them to the gym, the cloth earcups aren't exactly moisture-wicking. 

Business features 

Despite their hybrid appeal, these cans ultimately are business headphones designed for the office first. They come with a USB-A dongle, which guarantees the device will work with any computer you have, regardless of how out-of-date its Bluetooth codecs are. Crucially, the headset also supports multi-point connectivity, meaning you can switch seamlessly between your computer and your smartphone, a requirement for any hybrid pair. 

For business consideration, the device offers a host of enterprise-specific features, including remote management that allows IT teams to deploy and troubleshoot dozens of working pairs simultaneously. On-device encryption provides enhanced security at the enterprise level. 

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The cans also come with a dedicated Microsoft Teams button on the right earcup for users who benefit from that kind of hotkey, and a USB-C port for charging or, if you prefer, a wired connection or wired charging. 

Battery and charging

The Evolve3 75 comes with its own wireless charging stand that connects to the headset's left earcup, offering a place to store and charge the device. Unfortunately, however, the stand is not the easiest to use as you have to place the headphones just right on the charging pad, or the headset will tip over. 

Battery life is fantastic overall, though. Jabra says you get 22 hours of battery life for calls and 110 hours of music playback, with five hours of power from just five minutes of charging. I haven't been able to verify the 100 hours of audio playback, but I can attest to very good battery life, on par with, and slightly better than, its competitors. 

ZDNET's buying advice

Jabra's Evolve3 75 is a successful expression of the professional's hybrid headset. The headphones have the build and hardware to function as a standard all-around pair of cans, but with business-minded features like dedicated call controls, encryption, and remote management. 

The light, compact form, coupled with the exceedingly thin carrying case and dual nature as an office and general-purpose device, makes them an excellent travel headset. Their ANC won't completely block out your environment, but the trade-off is comfort you can wear for hours at a time.

Also: 3 simple tweaks that have made my headphones last years longer – Sony and Bose included

However, the Evolve3 75 aren't cheap, regularly priced around $450, which is essentially the same price as the aforementioned baseline for audiophile headsets, Sony's WH-1000XM6. 

If you need the absolute lightest, coolest pair of business headphones out there, I recommend the Epos Impact 500, but keep in mind they have a boom mic. If you want a more affordable business headset, check out the Logitech Zone Wireless 2 ES. 

Why the Jabra Evolve3 75 gets an Editor's Choice award

We awarded the Evolve3 75 headset an Editors' Choice award for its successful execution of a hybrid business headset that works well outside the office. Although its price point demands commitment to the form factor, it has the features business users will find valuable, along with solid ANC, great battery, and a svelte form factor. It's not a headset you go jogging with, but it's just as good in the office as it is on the commute home.