‘Finally, a boomless headset for the office’: How Jabra made the headphones I’d take to the boardroom

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Jabra’s latest premium office headphone line, the Evolve3 series, comes with a new design: they ditch the foam earcups for fabric, and remove the boom mic altogether. I know this approach might be considered blasphemous for a business headset, but the trade-off is a sleek, lightweight construction that works very well as a hybrid pair you can actually wear outside the office.

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developed3 75 The headphones are a step down from the company’s most premium model, the Evolve3 85, and though they’re not cheap (regularly priced around $450), they come with a replaceable battery, a five-year warranty, and are more durable than they look.

I’ve been using the headset for the past few weeks. Although primarily marketed as a business headset, this device turns out to be an adaptable hybrid pair with great call quality, solid audio, and a featherweight form factor. And yes, they also stop on the subway here in New York.

fit and construction

I generally prefer a low-profile pair of headphones. I don’t like big, chunky earcups, and to be honest, most business headsets aren’t winning any awards for their sleek design. But Jabra wants to challenge that stereotype with the Evolve3 75.

This pair is a great fit. Their compact construction is minimal and streamlined with no sticking. They are also very secure without feeling tight or restrictive, allowing for long periods of wear, thanks to the 180g weight, which feels well balanced. When I first picked them up, I remember thinking, “Finally, a boomless headset for the office.”

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However, I will say that full-coverage cloth earcups may feel warmer than other synthetic plastic or foam materials. If you like around-ear-style headphones, you would be better off choosing this developed3 85 – The brand’s highest-tier device with a more premium design (and the price to match, starting at $500 on sale).

The Evolve3 75 headset is also very portable. The included travel pouch, although not the highest quality, is very thin, measuring just over an inch in thickness. When I first saw it, I thought the case was empty and needed to be expanded, but sure enough, the headset was folded inside. This feature alone makes the device one of the best business headsets for traveling that I’ve ever tried.

The textured fabric covering of the earcups looks and feels good, but they’re a bit hollow, as pressing in the middle reveals the speaker. I also wonder about the durability of the material over time, especially around the edges where the fabric usually starts to unravel. However, on the ears, the cups feel plush enough, form a good seal, and barely budge or move, even if you bend over.

call quality

The headset’s low profile is underlined by the lack of a boom mic, usually the biggest giveaway to a business device. Instead, the mics are located on the front of the earcups. In my testing, I found that vocals were crisp and clear, sometimes a little quieter than the Logitech Zone Wireless 2 ES and the Epos Impact 500, both of which produce exceptionally “close” audio quality compared to what you get with a mic inches from your mouth.

This doesn’t mean that the tone quality has suffered with the Evolve3 75, because it hasn’t. I regularly took calls while walking around Manhattan, and callers on the other end told me that the audio was loud and clear. When I was not speaking there was silence; When I was, the background noise was reduced.

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Another reason the sound is so good on the Evolve3 75 is Jabra’s SideTone, which sends your sound through the headphones so you can hear it even with ANC on. It’s well-implemented: your voice sounds natural and subtle, not loud or overly processed, and you can control the volume in the app. This feature is also automatic; The user doesn’t have to mess with any settings, it just looks good out of the box.

In terms of music quality, sure, these headphones don’t match the ubiquitous audiophile quality of the Sony WH-1000XM6, but they sound great as an everyday pair for the commute. However, I would say that these are best used in the office or on a regular commute. Although you can wear them to the gym, cloth earcups are not exactly moisture wicking.

Professional Features

Despite their hybrid appeal, these cans are ultimately business headphones designed for the office. They come with a USB-A dongle, which guarantees that the device will work with any computer you have, no matter how old its Bluetooth codecs are. Importantly, the headset also supports multi-point connectivity, meaning you can seamlessly switch between your computer and smartphone, which is a requirement for any hybrid pair.

For business consideration, the device offers a number of enterprise-specific features including remote management that allows IT teams to deploy and troubleshoot dozens of working pairs simultaneously. On-device encryption provides advanced security at an enterprise level.

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The cans come with a dedicated Microsoft Teams button on the right earcup for users who benefit from that type of hotkey, and a USB-C port for charging or, if you prefer, a wired connection or wired charging.

Battery and Charging

The Evolve3 75 comes with its own wireless charging stand that attaches to the left earcup of the headset, providing a place to store and charge the device. Unfortunately, however, the stand isn’t the easiest to use as you have to place the headphones properly on the charging pad, otherwise the headset will tip over.

However, battery life is great overall. Jabra says you get 22 hours of battery life for calls and 110 hours of music playback, with just five minutes of charging yielding five hours of power. I haven’t been able to verify 100 hours of audio playback, but I can confirm very good battery life, on par with its competitors and a little better than them.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

Jabra’s Evolve3 75 A successful expression of the professional’s hybrid headset. The headphones have the build and hardware to function as a standard all-around pair of cans, but with business-minded features like dedicated call controls, encryption, and remote management.

The lightweight, compact form, combined with the ultra-thin carrying case and dual nature as an office and general purpose device, makes them an excellent travel headset. Their ANC won’t completely block out your environment, but the solution is comfort that you can wear for hours at a time.

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However, the Evolve3 75 are not cheap, their prices are regularly around $450Which is basically the same price as the above baseline for an audiophile headset, Sony’s WH-1000XM6.

If you need the lightest, best pair of business headphones, I recommend the Epos Impact 500, but keep in mind that they have a boom mic. If you want a more affordable business headset, check out the Logitech Zone Wireless 2 ES.

Why does the Jabra Evolve3 75 win an Editor’s Choice award?

We awarded the Evolve3 75 headset an Editor’s Choice award for its successful execution of a hybrid business headset that works well outside the office. Although its price point demands a commitment to the form factor, it has features business users will find valuable, including solid ANC, great battery, and a wide form factor. This isn’t a headset you go jogging with, but it’s just as good at the office as it is when commuting home.