The Jabra Evolve2 30, the latest product to join the Evolve2 range to enhance work productivity at the office or home, is a great value for money buy.
With video calls and conferences almost an everyday occurrence for most of us now, having the right headset helps to keep you focused and productive for longer periods of time. The Jabra Evolve2 30, is the entry-level model of the company’s second generation of professional headsets.
Available in two versions, the Evolve2 30 is the cheapest of the line at S$156 (stereo) and S$140 (mono), and only available in black, when you first get the headset you might get the impression that Jabra might have cut some corners.
The Jabra Evolve2 30’s packaging is much closer to a paper bag than a box, that contains a carry case and the headset itself. It is as simple (and probably sustainable) as you can get. However, we were pleasantly surprised that packaging aside, the quality of the headset wasn’t compromised.
Testing the stereo version, the headset is lightweight at only 125g, and really comfortable to wear for long periods with its built-in leatherette covered memory foam ear-cushions that follow your ear contours.
The headband and slider of the Evolve2 30 are assembled with stainless steel, which allows it to be flexible, and at the same time provide structural integrity. Although light, the headset hardly feels flimsy.
Only available in black, the Jabra Evolve2 30 looks simple, and professional. Its design doesn’t scream for attention and it’s perfect for zoom meetings where an understated, yet the professional look is preferred.
The Evolve2 30 has oval ear cushions, and an angled earcup help to block out environmental noise to help you concentrate and provide clear audio.
When on a call, the single-sided busylight turns on automatically to let others know that you’re unavailable at that time. The busylight can also be turned on manually to signal “do-not-disturb” to those around you.
Related: Jabra Evolve2 65 Review – A Great Home Office Upgrade
The Jabra Evolve2 30’s 2-microphone call technology captures voice clearly so that you can be easily heard and understood despite taking meetings in noisier settings.
I received really good feedback on the clarity of the headset when moderating and speaking on a couple of webinars. The audio capture is clear and precise.
You may sound a little robotic if you’re in a noisy environment and the headset is actively trying to cancel the noise around you which will result in cancelling some of the frequencies in your voice. However, this is only if you’re in a really noisy environment where the alternative would have been that they couldn’t hear you at all.
In terms of operating the headset, it is as easy as plug-and-play via USB. Simple. You can unmute and mute yourself instantly by putting down and raising the boom arm.
For fans of Microsoft Teams, the Evolve2 30 is also available in the Microsoft Teams certified variant, which comes with a dedicated button that allows you to jump in and out of virtual meetings with just one touch.
The Jabra Evolve2 30 also meets the Microsoft Open Office requirement, a strict test of how effective a headset microphone is at suppressing surrounding noise and office talk. The certification ensures that the headset is suited for any environment.
While not optimized for music, the headset handles most genres pretty well. However, if music is a priority, I would still recommend the Evolve 2 65 instead.
The Jabra Evolve2 30 is a great value-for-money headset that simply just gets down to work and gets the job done well.