Plantronics MX10 Universal Amplifier for Headsets

Plantronics MX10 Universal Amplifier for Headsets Features:

• Adapts almost all telephones for use with a variety of Plantronics headset styles
• Easy to install and use
• Separate controls allow independent adjustment of outgoing and incoming volume
• Switch between headset and handset with a single button
• Near-universal compatibility with single- and multi- line telephones

Customer Reviews:

• It does work, but not much excitement: I just bought an MX10 a few days ago. The good news it works. Another good news it came with an AC power adaptop, so I don't need to replace batteries anymore.
  
  Here is what I don't like:
  
  1. Price. If you look at this device and at it's price tag, they don't seem to be a good fit.
  2. Proprietary head speakers. The amplifier will work with pretty much any desk phone, but it requires proprietary Plantronics head speakers and they are way more expensive then competitors.
  3. You can feed one input from the phone and the other one from the computer. You can also let your phone party listen you computer music when you put your phone on mute. But you can't mix 2 signals. You can't talk over your computer signal and let the person on the phone listen to both. Also, you can't feed your phone signal into the computer. Adding an ability to mix signal would allow you to record/replay sound from the computer/phone.
  
  Overall, this amplifier does basic functionality ok, it might meet your expectations but unlikely will exceed.
  
• An expensive piece of garbage: I bought this thing becuase I use voice recognition with my computer and I'm on the phone quite a bit. it was supposed to eliminate the need to for two head sets. With the amplifier and the plantronics headset to go with it The total cost came to around $200. Yay!
  
  The amplifier has a strong hum when used through the phone and when I use it witht eh computer it has such poor sound quality that it doesn't work with my voice rec. software. I called customer service and they said I should send the unit to them and they would send me a new one. Funny, I have read that in a few places online.
  
  I went out and bought the Labtec equivelent, the dialog-301 at a whopping $15 (headset included, the head set is cheap though) and it is chrystal clear for both the phone and my computer. Plus if you want to upgrade the head set you can buy any analog computer headset.
  
  Save yourself $185 and just buy the dialog-301 you will be happy.
• Would be 5 stars except.....: This is a very useful SOHO headset amplifier. It allows you to switch between the telephone and your computer's audio (voip) or Messenger audio etc.) using the same headset.
  
  It should be noted that you must use one of the professional Plantronics telephone system headsets and not a PC headset or cordless/cellular headset. The Plantronic headsets are very good but have different connectors than standard cordless/cellular headsets.
  
  Only problem is, this unit has had a slight humming line noise when used with the telephone since it was new. Since my phone wasn't on the official Plantronics compatibility list, I assumed that my low cost phone was probably to blame.
  
  I just replaced my old phone with a two line AT&T 992 SOHO phone that should be compatible - it's not on Plantronic's compatibility list, but there are SO many phones out there I don't know how they could possibly check all phones on the market (or even a fraction of them). After all, it's nearly impossible to look at the compatiblity list and try to buy a phone that meets your needs and is also on the list. The MX-10 is supposed to have "near universal compatibility".
  
  This new phone has the same line hum as the old phone (both are AT&T phones).
  
  I sent for a replacement MX-10, so we'll see if there's a problem with the amplifier or a compatiblity issue with both of my AT&T phones.
  
  The headset is crystal clear when used through the soundcard of the computer in all of the audio programs that I use.