Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 vs PLT Plantronics Poly at a Glance
• Microsoft Surface Headphones 2: Over-ear Bluetooth listening, touch controls, and 13 levels of adjustable noise cancellation; the trade-off is that the product information does not describe a sport-specific fit.
• PLT Plantronics Poly: A USB-connected webcam and wired stereo headset bundle for video calls; its trade-off is that it is designed for a workspace, not wireless listening or basketball.
• Choose Surface Headphones 2 if you want personal music listening, adjustable noise cancellation, and Bluetooth connectivity.
• Choose PLT Plantronics Poly if your priority is a webcam, a wired headset, and a straightforward home-office conferencing setup.
• For basketball, Surface Headphones 2 is the only plausible match of the two, though the listed details do not establish that either product is made for sports.
Surface Headphones 2 are over-ear Bluetooth headphones for someone who wants one device for music, shows, and calls. Their listed audio range is 20Hz–20,000Hz, and the product description highlights Omnisonic sound. More practically, the key differentiator is adjustable active noise cancellation with 13 levels. That gives listeners a way to change how much outside sound is reduced, rather than treating noise control as a simple all-or-nothing feature.
The ear pads are described as soft, breathable, and lightweight, while touch controls handle track changes, calls, and hands-free assistance. The product information lists up to 20 hours of battery life; the description also gives up to 18.5 hours for music listening and up to 15 hours for Microsoft Teams voice calls under specified test conditions. A five-minute charge is described as providing almost an hour of music. Those figures make the headphones suitable for a workday or a long stretch of listening, though actual battery life can vary with settings and use. A 3.5 mm jack is also listed alongside Bluetooth, giving the buyer a wired connection option.
For basketball, these are the more relevant choice compared with a webcam-and-headset kit: they can play music wirelessly and have touch controls. But the data does not describe a secure athletic fit, sweat resistance, or water resistance. I would treat them as over-ear headphones for listening around basketball activities, not assume they are built for intense play. They are also a plausible fit for someone who wants the same headphones for commuting, entertainment, and calls.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Who should skip them: Skip Surface Headphones 2 if you need a headset specifically described as sport-secure, water-resistant, or designed to stay in place during active play.
PLT Plantronics Poly is a bundle: a Poly Studio P5 webcam paired with a Blackwire 3325 wired stereo headset. Its purpose is clearly different from everyday Bluetooth headphones. The webcam provides 1080p video, digital zoom up to 4x, autofocus, and automatic low-light compensation. There is also an integrated privacy shutter, which lets someone physically cover the camera when it is not in use. For a home-office setup, those are concrete conveniences: clearer video framing, help in dimmer rooms, and a simple way to block the lens between calls.
The headset is described as a two-ear wired model with stereo audio and noise-cancelling headset microphones. The USB-connected design is intended to work with PC and Mac and with services including Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Plug-and-play setup is listed, as is a tripod-ready webcam design. The Poly Lens desktop app can be used for personal settings and updates, with wellness reminders also mentioned. Taken together, the kit fits someone who wants to add both video and headset audio to a desk rather than assemble those pieces separately.
That desk focus is also its central limitation for the basketball question. This is a wired headset bundled with a webcam, not a Bluetooth listening product. The supplied details do not identify it as a neckband, a clip-on earbud set, or sports equipment. Even though the headset has two-ear audio, the product’s stated use is personal workspaces and video conferencing. It makes sense for meetings, not for carrying around a court or choosing music headphones.
Who should skip it: Skip the Poly kit if your main goal is wireless music listening, basketball use, or a portable headset without a webcam.
• Best fit for wireless music → Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. Bluetooth connectivity and over-ear construction make it the clear choice for standalone listening.
• Best fit for adjustable noise control → Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. Its 13 levels of active noise cancellation are useful when you want to adjust how much surrounding sound is reduced.
• Best fit for touch controls → Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. The listed controls cover track skipping, calls, and hands-free assistance.
• Best fit for basketball-related listening → Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. It is the only one of these two products described as a Bluetooth headphone for music. That does not make it a verified sports headset.
• Best fit for video meetings → PLT Plantronics Poly. It combines a 1080p webcam with a wired stereo headset and supports common conferencing services.
• Best fit for a camera privacy cover → PLT Plantronics Poly. Its webcam has an integrated shutter, a feature the Surface headphones do not address.
• Best fit for long listening between charges → Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. The listed battery information includes up to 20 hours of battery life, though the music and call figures vary by use.
• Best fit for a desk bundle → PLT Plantronics Poly. The webcam and headset are designed to work together over a USB-connected setup.
The phrase “bluetooth clip on earbuds for basketball” describes a different product category from either option here. Surface Headphones 2 are over-ear headphones, not clip-on earbuds. The Poly headset is wired and bundled with a webcam. Likewise, neither product is described as a neckband headphone for basketball. If that particular wearing style is essential, these two products do not meet that stated need.
The same caution applies to searching for the “best touch control headband headphones for basketball.” Surface Headphones 2 offer touch controls, but their listed form is over-ear, and the information does not establish a sports-oriented headband or secure fit. The controls are a convenience for ordinary listening and calls; they should not be mistaken for proof that the headphones are suited to vigorous play.
Start with the job you need the product to do. If you want music, Bluetooth, and adjustable noise cancellation, Surface Headphones 2 match that brief. If your priority is clearer video calls from a desk, the Poly kit makes more sense because the webcam and wired headset are packaged as one conferencing setup. Choosing between them is less a contest between two similar headphones and more a choice between personal audio and workplace video equipment.
For basketball, consider how you plan to use headphones. Surface Headphones 2 have the more relevant audio features, but the supplied information does not specify water resistance or an athletic retention design. The Poly headset is not wireless and is listed as not water resistant. Neither set of details supports treating either product as a dedicated sports solution. If secure fit or resistance to sweat matters, look for those properties explicitly rather than inferring them from touch controls or stereo audio.
Also consider how you connect. Surface Headphones 2 support Bluetooth and list a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The Poly kit is described as USB-connected and intended for PC and Mac conferencing. Its Bluetooth compatibility field does not change the stated wired-headset design. For shoppers comparing value, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s price button, then weigh that against the features you will actually use: adjustable listening controls and battery operation, or a webcam with a wired meeting headset.
I would choose Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 because they are the only one of these two options built around Bluetooth music listening, touch controls, and adjustable noise cancellation. For basketball, they are the more relevant pick, but I would not call them sport-specific based on the available details. The Poly kit is the more sensible choice for a home-office webcam and headset setup. These products solve different problems, and the right decision comes down to whether your priority is personal listening or video conferencing.
Surface Headphones 2 are the more relevant option because they are Bluetooth over-ear headphones intended for music and calls. The Poly product is a wired headset-and-webcam kit for video conferencing. Neither product’s listed details establish a sports-specific fit.
No. The product information identifies them as over-ear headphones with Bluetooth and touch controls. It does not describe clip-on earbuds or a neckband design.
Yes. The kit combines a 1080p webcam with a wired stereo headset and is listed as compatible with PC and Mac and services such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Its camera also includes autofocus, low-light compensation, and a privacy shutter.
Surface Headphones 2 are the battery-powered option. The listed information gives up to 20 hours of battery life, with separate figures for music and Teams calls; the Poly headset is described as wired.
• Xmenha Out vs MWIRB AI Translation Earbuds
• TCL Mtro200 vs okcsc Classic On-Ear Headphones
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.