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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 wireless stereo headset you can roam with and charge on a stand, choose PLT Poly; if you need a wired stereo headset that plugs into nearly anything you own, choose Plantronics Poly Blackwire 5220.
• PLT Poly's biggest strength: true wireless freedom — Bluetooth 5.2, a BT700 adapter for your computer, and up to 24 hours of average battery life with a charge stand.
• PLT Poly's biggest trade-off: it leans on wireless and a dual-mic boom, so there's no 3.5 mm plug for a quick analog hookup.
• Plantronics Poly Blackwire 5220's biggest strength: plug-and-play versatility — a USB-C cord with a tethered USB-A adapter plus a 3.5 mm plug for mobile or tablet.
• Plantronics Poly Blackwire 5220's biggest trade-off: it's wired, so you're tethered to whatever device you're plugged into.
• Pick PLT Poly if you move between home and office and want a wireless stereo headset with Teams integration.
• Pick the Blackwire 5220 if you want one wired stereo headset that works across PC, Mac, mobile and tablet.
PLT Poly is built around mobility. The headline spec is the wireless story: Bluetooth 5.2 with a rated range up to 50 meters, plus a BT700 Bluetooth adapter so you can connect to a computer. It's also listed as an Intel Evo compliant accessory for native Bluetooth on supported laptops. In practice that means you can pair it to your phone and your PC and move around a room without unplugging anything.
Audio and comfort are aimed at the hybrid worker. The dual mic uses Acoustic Fence technology to block surrounding noise, and it sits on a flexible boom you can position. The headset is a lightweight stereo on-ear design with passive noise isolation and an adjustable padded headband. It also carries a dedicated Microsoft Teams button for the full native Teams experience, which matters if your day runs on that platform. Battery is rated at up to 24 hours of average life with a 1.6-hour charge time, and the package includes a charge stand.
In my opinion, this is for the person who splits time between a home desk and an office desk and wants one wireless stereo headset to carry between them. You should skip it if you need a physical 3.5 mm plug — this one connects over Bluetooth and USB, not a headphone jack.
The Blackwire 5220 is the opposite philosophy: one headset, every port. It ships with a USB-C cord, a tethered USB-A adapter, and a 3.5 mm plug for mobile or tablet. So whether you're on a newer laptop, an older one with USB-A, or a phone with a headphone jack, you can plug in and go. No pairing, no charging routine.
Comfort is the other theme. It's an on-ear design with ultra-soft leatherette ear cushions wrapped around memory foam, and it folds up for portability in the included carrying case. The boom microphone is tuned to mask nearby conversations, and the controls cover Call/Answer/End, Mute and Volume right on the earpiece. At 5.76 ounces it stays light on the head, which matters on long conference calls.
This is for the desk-bound professional, the call-center-style worker, or anyone who juggles a laptop, a desktop and a phone in the same day. You should skip it if you need to walk away from your desk mid-call — it's a wired headset, so you're connected to the device you're plugged into.
• Best for wireless freedom → PLT Poly. Bluetooth 5.2 with up to 50 meters of rated range and a BT700 adapter.
• Best for device flexibility → Plantronics Poly Blackwire 5220. USB-C, USB-A and 3.5 mm all in one package.
• Best for battery life → PLT Poly. Up to 24 hours of average life and a 1.6-hour charge time.
• Best for zero-charge, zero-pairing simplicity → Blackwire 5220. It's wired, so there's no battery to manage.
• Best for Microsoft Teams users → PLT Poly. A dedicated Teams button gives you the native Teams experience.
• Best for long conference calls on a fixed desk → Blackwire 5220. Memory-foam leatherette cushions and on-earpiece controls.
• Best for travel and portability → Blackwire 5220. It folds up into the included carrying case.
• Best for hybrid home-and-office work → PLT Poly. Connect to your computer via the adapter and your phone via Bluetooth.
My Verdict
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the PLT Poly. In my opinion, the wireless stereo experience — Bluetooth 5.2, the BT700 adapter, up to 24 hours of battery and a charge stand — is the more useful package for how most people actually work now, moving between rooms and devices. The dual-mic Acoustic Fence boom and the Teams button round out a headset built for calls on the go. That said, if you want one headset that plugs into literally everything and never needs charging, the Blackwire 5220 is the smarter pick for a fixed desk.
how to connect wireless stereo headphones
For a wireless stereo headset like the PLT Poly, you connect by Bluetooth. Pair it to your phone or laptop directly, or use the included BT700 Bluetooth adapter to link it to a computer. Once paired, it reconnects automatically when it's in range.
how to connect celly wireless stereo headphones
"Celly" is just shorthand for cell phone. Pair the headset in your phone's Bluetooth settings, then select it as the audio device. The PLT Poly supports Bluetooth 5.2 with a rated range up to 50 meters, so you can set the phone down and still stay connected.
how to use celly wireless stereo headphones
Pair once, then use the on-headset media controls to play, pause and take calls. The PLT Poly adds a dedicated Microsoft Teams button, and its dual mic with Acoustic Fence technology keeps your voice clear of background noise on calls.
how to connect anc wireless stereo headphones
The PLT Poly and Blackwire 5220 both use passive noise cancellation rather than active ANC, so there's no ANC switch to toggle. Connect the PLT Poly over Bluetooth or the BT700 adapter; connect the Blackwire 5220 with its USB-C, USB-A or 3.5 mm plug.
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See also: Plantronics Poly Blackwire 3320 vs Yealink BH74, Wantek Cell Phone Headset vs PLT Poly Blackwire, Plugfones Sovereign Duo vs PLT Poly: True Wireless Earbuds