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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Plantronics EncorePro HW545 — biggest strength: a purpose-built office headset with an enhanced noise-cancelling microphone, an aluminum over-ear build, a 40 mm dynamic driver, and a wired USB connection that never needs charging. The included DA80 USB adapter is part of the package.
• Plantronics EncorePro HW545 — biggest trade-off: it's a wired, desk-bound tool. There's no Bluetooth, no foldable travel design, and no music-first tuning — the frequency range tops out at 6,800 Hz, which is voiced for speech, not for bass-heavy listening.
• EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: 45 dB active noise cancelling, a 40 mm Hi-Fi dynamic driver, Bluetooth 6.0 with dual-device connection, a foldable over-ear frame, and up to 78 hours of playback per the product name.
• EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: it's a general-purpose consumer headphone, not a dedicated desk-phone headset. It relies on a built-in microphone rather than a boom mic, and its battery will eventually need charging — wired USB desk use isn't its native mode.
• Who each pick is for: the Plantronics is for people who live on calls at a fixed desk; the EOKIO is for people who move between the office, home, and travel and want one pair for both music and calls.
The EncorePro HW545 is an office headset first and everything else second. It's built around an enhanced noise-cancelling microphone, which is the detail that matters most if your job is talking. In an open-plan office, a call center, or a home office with a partner on their own calls, the mic is what the person on the other end actually hears — and this headset is designed to prioritize that. The wired USB connection with the included DA80 adapter means you plug in and it works, with no pairing, no charging, and no dropouts mid-sentence.
The physical design supports all-day wear. It's an over-ear headset with aluminum enclosure material and a headband, weighing in around 5.3 ounces on its own, with a 40 mm dynamic driver covering 20 Hz to 6,800 Hz. That range tells you something useful: it's tuned for intelligibility, not for thumping bass. Voices come through clearly, which is exactly what you want on a nine-hour day of meetings.
It also has built-in call control via push-button controls, so answering, hanging up, and managing the call happens on the headset rather than through software menus.
Who should skip it: if you want to walk to the kitchen while still on a call, or if you want one pair that also sounds great for music and movies on a plane, this isn't that product. It's wired, it's desk-anchored, and it's voiced for speech. If wireless freedom is a hard requirement, look at the EOKIO instead.
EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling: Who It's For
The EOKIO H9 is the opposite philosophy: one pair of headphones that tries to cover music, calls, travel, and office noise in a single wireless package. The headline number is 45 dB of active noise cancelling, which the spec sheet says is aimed at blocking traffic, office chatter, and airplane hum. If your problem is the noise around you rather than the clarity of your own voice, that's the feature doing the heavy lifting.
Underneath that is a 40 mm Hi-Fi dynamic driver, which the manufacturer describes as delivering clear treble, rich bass, and a balanced midrange. Combined with Bluetooth 6.0 and dual-device connection, you can stay paired to a laptop and a phone at once and switch between them — the spec notes audio plays on one device at a time, but you can take a call from your phone while watching something on your computer without re-pairing. That's genuinely convenient for hybrid work.
The design is built for movement: soft breathable over-ear cushions, an adjustable headband, and a foldable frame that packs into a backpack. The stated battery life is 78 hours, which is the kind of figure that means you can take a work trip and not think about the charger. There's a built-in microphone for calls with push-button controls for play/pause, volume, answer/hang up, and ANC mode switching, plus voice assistant activation. In the box you get the headphones, a USB-C charging cable, a 3.5 mm audio cable, and a user manual — so you can go wired when the battery is flat or when you're on a plane with a seat-back jack.
Who should buy it: commuters, travelers, students, and hybrid workers who want one wireless pair for music, movies, and occasional calls, and who value noise cancelling and battery life over desk-call ergonomics.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for all-day call clarity → Plantronics EncorePro HW545. The enhanced noise-cancelling microphone and speech-tuned 20 Hz–6,800 Hz driver are the point of this headset.
• Best for blocking office chatter and travel noise → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. 45 dB of ANC is a fundamentally different approach: it removes the noise instead of just capturing your voice cleanly.
• Best for battery life → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. Up to 78 hours of playback, and no battery at all is needed on the Plantronics because it's wired USB.
• Best for music and media → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. A Hi-Fi-tuned 40 mm dynamic driver and Bluetooth 6.0 streaming versus a headset voiced for speech.
• Best for never charging, never pairing → Plantronics EncorePro HW545. Wired USB with the DA80 adapter included — plug in and talk.
• Best for portability → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. Foldable over-ear design with a carry-friendly frame and a 3.5 mm cable for non-Bluetooth devices.
• Best for multi-device switching → EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling. Bluetooth 6.0 dual connection lets you move between phone and computer; the Plantronics is a single wired connection to one machine.
• Best for a fixed desk setup → Plantronics EncorePro HW545. Aluminum over-ear build, push-button call control, and a design meant to stay put.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on which problem you're actually solving. If your job is being on calls and being understood, I'd buy the Plantronics EncorePro HW545 — the enhanced noise-cancelling mic, the wired USB reliability, and the speech-tuned driver are exactly what a desk worker needs, and you never think about charging. If your problem is the noise around you and you want one pair for music, travel, and occasional calls, I'd buy the EOKIO Active Noise Cancelling — 45 dB ANC, Bluetooth 6.0 dual connection, a foldable frame, and up to 78 hours of battery make it the far more versatile everyday headphone. Buy for the job you actually do.
FAQ
what is noise cancelling headset
A noise cancelling headset is a headset designed to reduce unwanted sound so you can focus on audio or conversation. There are two common forms: active noise cancelling, which uses electronics to counteract ambient noise like traffic or office chatter (the EOKIO lists 45 dB ANC), and noise-cancelling microphones, which reduce background noise picked up on your voice so the person you're calling hears you more clearly (the Plantronics EncorePro HW545 uses an enhanced noise-cancelling mic). Some products, like the EOKIO, combine ANC with a built-in mic for calls.
No. The EncorePro HW545 is a wired USB headset with the DA80 adapter included. There's no Bluetooth or wireless technology in the spec sheet — the connection is a USB jack. That's a feature for desk use, not a limitation, because it means no pairing and no charging.
Yes. It connects via Bluetooth 6.0 and also includes a 3.5 mm audio cable in the box, so you can use it wirelessly with a PC or tablet, or wired with devices that have a headphone jack. The dual-device connection lets you stay paired to a phone and a computer at the same time, though audio plays on one device at a time.
For blocking the noise around you, the EOKIO with its 45 dB ANC is the stronger choice. For making sure your own voice is heard clearly on calls despite office noise, the Plantronics EncorePro HW545 and its enhanced noise-cancelling microphone is the better fit. If you do both — long calls in a loud office — you're choosing between protecting your ears and protecting your voice quality.
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