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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired headset with an on-ear, binaural fit, stereo sound, a voice-tube boom mic and a quick-disconnect setup for desk phones or softphones, choose HP Poly EncorePro 520V; if you need a USB-connected over-the-head headset with a boom mic, foam ear cushions and a longer cable for PC-based softphone work, choose Jabra Biz 2300.
• HP Poly EncorePro 520V — biggest strength: A compact wired binaural headset with a voice-tube microphone, 20 Hz–10 kHz frequency response, stereo sound mode and a quick-disconnect design that suits hot-desking, shared desks and desk-phone setups.
• HP Poly EncorePro 520V — biggest trade-off: The 2.58 ft cable is short. If you like to stand up, pace or move between desks, that length will feel restrictive unless you add an extension or quick-disconnect cable.
• Jabra Biz 2300 — biggest strength: USB connectivity, a 7.71 ft cable, a noise-cancelling boom microphone and foam ear cushions make it a natural fit for all-day softphone and PC-based calling.
• Jabra Biz 2300 — biggest trade-off: It's a PC-first headset. With USB as the listed connector, it isn't the pick for someone who mainly wants to plug into a traditional desk phone jack without the right adapter.
• Who each pick is for: Choose the EncorePro 520V if you want a lightweight on-ear stereo headset with a voice-tube mic and short-cable desk setup. Choose the Biz 2300 if you want USB plug-and-play, a longer cable and foam cushions for long softphone shifts.
The HP Poly EncorePro 520V is a wired, binaural, on-ear headset built for voice work rather than media consumption. It's a stereo headset with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 10 kHz, so it's tuned for speech intelligibility and call clarity first. The over-the-head, on-ear design with faux leather earcups keeps it compact, and at 6.4 ounces it's a substantial but not heavy piece of kit — the kind of thing that sits on your head for a full shift without demanding much attention.
The headline feature here is the voice-tube microphone paired with quick disconnect. A voice tube picks up your voice directly at the mouth and is a common design in office and contact-center headsets because it's simple, replaceable and doesn't need a big boom arm. Quick disconnect matters more than people realize: it lets you unplug the headset from the cable without crawling under the desk, which is exactly what you want on a shared desk or in a hot-desking office where one headset gets passed around. The 3.5 mm mini-phone jack is the other practical detail — this is a headset that plays nicely with desk phones, softphones and anything with a standard headset port, provided you have the matching connection.
Who should skip it? If you need USB plug-and-play with no adapter thinking, or you want a cable long enough to let you stand and stretch, the 2.58 ft cable and 3.5 mm jack are the two things that will bug you. Also skip it if you want a headset primarily for listening to music — the 10 kHz ceiling tells you this is voiced for the human voice, not for bass-heavy tracks.
Jabra Biz 2300: Who It's For
The Jabra Biz 2300 is a wired, over-the-head, binaural headset with USB connectivity and a boom microphone. It lists a frequency response up to 16 kHz, which is a wider top end than the EncorePro 520V and gives it a bit more headroom for general audio as well as speech. Impedance is 32 ohm, so it's an easy load for a PC or laptop headset port. The cable runs 7.71 ft — nearly three times the length of the Poly's — which is the single most practical difference between these two headsets in daily use.
The feature set is squarely aimed at softphone and PC calling. There's a noise-cancelling boom microphone, and the design description calls out noise cancellation to cut outside noise and reduce distraction. The earcups use foam cushion material, which tends to feel lighter and more breathable than plain faux leather over long stretches, and the headset weighs 4 ounces — light enough that you'll forget it's there. Controls are handled remotely, with volume control called out as part of the design, so you're adjusting levels on the cable rather than fumbling for the earcup.
The ear placement is listed as over ear with an over-the-head earpiece shape, so expect a fuller seal than the Poly's on-ear fit. That's a real difference: more isolation and less leakage, at the cost of a slightly bulkier feel on the head.
Who should buy it? I recommend the Biz 2300 for anyone who lives on a softphone — customer support, sales, remote work, reception — and wants USB plug-and-play, a long cable and a noise-cancelling boom mic. It's also the better pick if you want to listen to music between calls, since the wider frequency range and foam cushions make general listening less of a compromise.
Who should skip it? If your setup centers on a traditional desk phone with a standard headset jack and you don't want to deal with USB, this isn't the simplest choice. And if you specifically want a voice-tube mic or quick-disconnect for shared desks, the Poly design is the more natural fit.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for desk-phone and shared-desk setups → HP Poly EncorePro 520V. The 3.5 mm mini-phone jack plus quick disconnect is built for hot-desking and quick hand-offs.
• Best for softphone and PC-first work → Jabra Biz 2300. USB connectivity means plug in and go on a laptop or desktop.
• Best for voice-tube mic fans → HP Poly EncorePro 520V. The voice-tube design is the defining trait of this headset.
• Best for wider audio range → Jabra Biz 2300. Up to 16 kHz versus 10 kHz on the Poly, which helps if you also listen to music or media.
• Best for lighter weight → Jabra Biz 2300. 4 ounces versus 6.4 ounces — noticeable over an eight-hour shift.
• Best for compact on-ear fit → HP Poly EncorePro 520V. On-ear, over-the-head build with faux leather earcups if you dislike a full over-ear seal.
• Best for long-call comfort with breathable cushions → Jabra Biz 2300. Foam ear cushion material is the more forgiving choice for marathon call blocks.
If I had to pick one for the way most people actually work in 2026 — softphone on a laptop, calls all day, occasional music between them — I'd buy the Jabra Biz 2300. The USB connection, 7.71 ft cable, noise-cancelling boom mic, foam cushions and 4-ounce weight add up to a headset that gets out of your way for a full shift.
That said, I'd genuinely choose the HP Poly EncorePro 520V instead if my day runs through a desk phone or a shared workstation. The quick disconnect, 3.5 mm jack and voice-tube mic are purpose-built for exactly that environment, and nothing in the Jabra sheet replaces them.
Not universally. The Biz 2300 is better for USB softphone work thanks to its longer 7.71 ft cable, 4-ounce weight, foam cushions and 16 kHz range. The EncorePro 520V is better for desk-phone and shared-desk use thanks to its 3.5 mm jack, quick disconnect and voice-tube mic. It comes down to which environment you're in.
Which headset has the longer cable, the Biz 2300 or the EncorePro 520V?
Both data sheets list active noise cancellation, and the Jabra also specifically calls out a noise-cancelling boom microphone. The Poly sheet lists active noise cancellation with touch control. Neither listing includes lab measurements, so treat noise performance as a design feature rather than a guaranteed number.
The Jabra Biz 2300. USB connectivity plus the longer cable and lighter 4-ounce build make it the more natural fit for laptop-based softphone calling. Pick the HP Poly EncorePro 520V instead if you need a standard 3.5 mm headset jack or quick-disconnect for a shared desk. Before deciding, check the current price on Amazon for each — this page has a button for that.
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