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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 slim, low-profile headset that disappears inside a motorcycle helmet and plugs straight into your bike's 5-pin DIN intercom, choose iMC Motorcom HS-G130P; if you need a slim, comfortable on-ear headset for all-day desk phone or softphone calls in a call center or home office, choose PLT PLNHW720.
• iMC Motorcom HS-G130P — biggest strength: Purpose-built for motorcycle helmets, with slim 30mm speakers just 6mm thick and a detachable noise-canceling boom mic that fits modular, 3/4, and full-face lids.
• iMC Motorcom HS-G130P — biggest trade-off: It's a wired, 5-pin DIN system, so it only makes sense on bikes with that audio connection (Goldwing, Royal Star, Voyager and similar). It won't plug into a laptop or a cell phone.
• PLT PLNHW720 — biggest strength: A slim, featherweight call-center headset with leatherette ear pads, an extendable pivoting boom, wideband audio and a Quick Disconnect for walking away from your desk.
• PLT PLNHW720 — biggest trade-off: It's an office headset, not a riding headset. No helmet fit, no DIN connector, no motorcycle intercom use.
• Who each pick is for: Choose the iMC Motorcom HS-G130P if you ride a touring bike with a 5-pin DIN audio system and want helmet audio plus a mic. Choose the PLT PLNHW720 if you spend your day on calls and want a slim, comfortable wired headset for your desk.
The HS-G130P exists for one job: putting clear audio and a working microphone inside a motorcycle helmet. The core spec that matters is the speaker. These are 30mm dynamic drivers, and they're just 6mm thin. That slim profile is the whole point — it's what lets the speakers sit flat against the inside of a helmet shell without pressing into your ears or making the helmet feel tight. If you've ever tried to cram a bulky headset into a full-face lid, you know how much that thickness matters on a long ride.
Compatibility is broad within its niche. The headset is designed for the Honda Goldwing but also works with Yamaha Royal Star, Kawasaki Voyager, and other bikes that use a 5-pin DIN audio system. The connection is wired and the jack is 5-pin DIN, matching the bike's intercom and music system. Mount the headset in your helmet, run the coiled lower cord, plug into the bike — that's the setup. The two-piece design separates the upper headset from the lower coiled cord, which helps with flexibility and installation. There's also a detachable noise-canceling microphone, and the package includes a boom mic for open-face and modular helmets, so you're covered whether your visor flips up or your whole face is exposed.
PLT PLNHW720: Who It's For
The PLNHW720 is a different animal entirely. This is the Plantronics EncorePro 720 customer service headset — a wired office headset built for people who talk for a living. The design is slim and stylish with a satin finish, and it uses featherweight materials. That weight matters more than it sounds: when you wear a headset eight hours a day, a few grams off your head and leatherette ear pads instead of hard plastic are the difference between "fine" and "I forgot I'm wearing it."
The microphone is the standout feature. The boom is extendable and pivoting, so you can position it precisely near your mouth. That positioning is what makes the noise cancellation actually work — the mic picks up your voice and rejects the room around it, which is why the description emphasizes that customers hear every word. Wideband audio is the other headline: it delivers richer, clearer conversations and reduces listening fatigue over a long shift.
Then there's Quick Disconnect. This lets you unplug from the headset and walk away from your desk without taking it off, and it's compatible with Plantronics USB and desk phone audio processors and direct-connect cables. The connectivity is USB, and the sheet also lists Bluetooth as a wireless technology. Ear placement is over-ear with a single earpiece, and the enclosure material is leather.
I'd recommend this for call center agents, receptionists, remote support staff, and anyone on back-to-back desk or softphone calls who wants a slim, comfortable wired headset with a boom mic that actually stays where they put it. Skip it if you're shopping for motorcycle gear — nothing here is designed for a helmet.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for motorcycle helmet use → iMC Motorcom HS-G130P. Slim 6mm speakers, boom mic, 5-pin DIN, built for the helmet.
• Best for all-day desk calls → PLT PLNHW720. Featherweight build, leatherette pads, wideband audio, extendable boom.
• Best for riders with open-face or modular helmets → iMC Motorcom HS-G130P. It ships with a boom microphone specifically for those helmet types.
• Best for compatibility with office phone systems → PLT PLNHW720. Quick Disconnect works with Plantronics USB and desk phone audio processors and direct-connect cables.
• Best for long-distance touring reliability → iMC Motorcom HS-G130P. Two-piece construction and a 2-year warranty point to durability on the road.
• Best for walkaway convenience at your desk → PLT PLNHW720. The Quick Disconnect feature is made for stepping away without removing the headset.
• Best for slim on-ear comfort → it depends on the job, not the product. Both are slim by design; the HS-G130P is slim to fit inside a helmet, the PLNHW720 is slim and lightweight to sit comfortably on a head for hours.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the iMC Motorcom HS-G130P — but only because it does a job almost nothing else does well: putting genuinely slim speakers and a proper boom mic inside a motorcycle helmet on a 5-pin DIN bike. That 6mm speaker thickness is the spec that sells it for me. If your calls happen at a desk instead of on a Goldwing, I'd take the PLT PLNHW720 without hesitation; its wideband audio, extendable boom and Quick Disconnect are exactly what a long day of talking requires. Match the headset to where you actually sit, and either one will serve you well.
are on ear headphones good
Yes, for the right job. On-ear designs like the PLT PLNHW720 are light, easy to wear for long periods, and let you stay aware of your surroundings — which is why they're common in offices and call centers. If you need deep isolation or heavy bass, over-ear or in-ear models usually suit better.
are on ear headphones comfortable
They can be very comfortable when they're built light and use soft pads. The PLNHW720 uses featherweight materials and leatherette ear pads, a combination designed to reduce pressure over a long shift. Fit still varies by head shape, so pad material and weight are the two specs worth checking.
what are the best open ear headphones
That depends on your setup. For motorcycle helmets, the iMC Motorcom HS-G130P is designed to sit slim inside a helmet and includes a boom mic for open-face and modular lids. For desk work, the PLT PLNHW720 keeps one ear open to the room with a pivoting boom for clear speech. Match the headset to your environment rather than chasing a single "best."
are headphones less harmful than earphones
Volume and listening time matter far more than the style. Headphones that sit outside the ear canal, like the PLT PLNHW720, don't push sound directly into the canal the way some earphones do, and wideband audio is designed to reduce listening fatigue. Keep levels moderate and take breaks either way.
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See also: PLT PLNHW720 vs Hemobllo Noise Reduction Gaming: Slim on Ear, PLT Poly Blackwire 5220 vs GREYOLK Open Ear Headphones, Gneinour QC35 vs Koiiko One Ear Headset