Plantronics WH500 Over-The-Head Headset
We designed the Plantronics WH500 for professionals who need reliable audio and all-day comfort without the bulk of a binaural headset. This monaural over-the-head design keeps one ear free for situational awareness while delivering crystal-clear conversations through a noise-canceling microphone and wideband audio speaker.
The leatherette ear cushion and adjustable headband distribute weight evenly across hours of wear, and the quick-disconnect feature lets you step away from your desk without removing the headset. Whether you’re managing a busy call queue or coordinating a remote team, the WH500 brings professional-grade audio to your daily workflow.
- Monaural over-the-head wearing style for one-ear coverage
- Noise-canceling microphone reduces background distractions
- Wideband audio speaker for clear, natural voice reproduction
- Leatherette ear cushion with foam padding for extended comfort
- Quick-disconnect cable for walk-away convenience
Monaural design for open-ear awareness
The WH500 covers just one ear, leaving the other free to monitor your immediate surroundings. This monaural configuration is ideal for environments where you need to stay alert to colleagues, door chimes, or ambient cues while maintaining focus on your call.
Unlike binaural headsets that isolate you completely, the single-ear approach balances audio clarity with situational awareness. The padded leatherette cushion forms a gentle seal around your ear without creating pressure, and the adjustable headband keeps the speaker positioned exactly where you need it. We’ve found this design particularly popular with receptionists, retail coordinators, and team leads who toggle between phone conversations and in-person interactions throughout the day.
Noise-canceling microphone and wideband audio
Our noise-canceling boom microphone filters out background chatter, keyboard clicks, and HVAC hum so the person on the other end hears your voice clearly. The microphone arm rotates 300 degrees and locks into place on either side of the headband, accommodating left- or right-side preferences.
Wideband audio extends the frequency range beyond traditional narrowband telephony, reproducing the natural timbre of human speech and reducing listener fatigue. This same wideband technology appears across our enterprise lineup, including the CS540 wireless DECT headset and multi-device models, ensuring consistent call quality whether your team uses corded or cordless systems. The WH500’s speaker driver delivers frequencies up to 6800 Hz, capturing vocal nuance that standard phone handsets miss.
Quick-disconnect convenience
The WH500 terminates in a quick-disconnect (QD) plug that pairs with our bottom cables and amplifiers. Unplug the QD connector and walk away from your desk while leaving the headset on your head—ideal for grabbing files, conferring with a colleague, or stepping into a quick huddle.
When you return, reconnect the cable with a single click and resume your call without fumbling with headband adjustments or repositioning the microphone. The QD system is a Plantronics standard, so the WH500 works seamlessly with M22 and MX10 amplifiers, H-series bottom cables, and legacy Plantronics accessories you may already own. This modularity also simplifies replacements: if a cable wears out, swap it without replacing the entire headset.
Wireless and corded headsets for every workspace
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Common questions about the WH500 headset
The WH500 requires a Plantronics bottom cable or amplifier to connect to your desk phone. We offer phone-specific H-series bottom cables for Cisco, Avaya, Polycom, Mitel, and other major brands. If you’re unsure which cable you need, check your phone’s make and model—our compatibility chart on the accessories page lists the correct cable for each system.
For softphone or unified communications use, pair the WH500 with an M22 amplifier or a DA series USB adapter. Both options provide plug-and-play connectivity with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex.
Yes. The microphone boom rotates 300 degrees and locks into place on the left or right side of the headband. Simply lift the boom, swing it over the top of the headset, and snap it into the opposite position. This flexibility accommodates personal preference and desk layout—you can position the microphone away from computer monitors, keyboard trays, or neighboring workstations.
Wipe the leatherette ear cushion with a damp cloth or a disinfectant wipe designed for electronics. Avoid soaking the cushion or using harsh solvents that can break down the leatherette coating. For shared headsets in call centers or hot-desking environments, we recommend a quick wipe-down between users.
The cushion is replaceable if it eventually wears out. Replacement cushions are available separately and snap onto the speaker housing without tools.
The WH500’s fixed cable runs approximately 10 inches from the headset to the quick-disconnect plug. The total reach from your head to the phone depends on the bottom cable or amplifier you pair it with—most Plantronics bottom cables add another 8 to 12 feet of coiled cord.
If you need additional length, use a Plantronics QD extension cable. These extensions preserve audio quality and maintain the quick-disconnect functionality, so you can still walk away from your desk without removing the headset.
No, the WH500 is a corded headset designed for use with bottom cables and amplifiers. It does not connect to wireless base stations or DECT transmitters. If you need wireless mobility, consider the CS540 convertible headset or the Savi 8200 series, both of which offer over-the-head wearing styles with wireless range up to 350 feet.
The quick-disconnect (QD) plug is a small connector between the headset cable and the bottom cable or amplifier. Press the release tab on the QD plug and pull gently to disconnect. The headset stays on your head while you step away, and you reconnect by pushing the plug back together until it clicks.
This system lets you walk to a filing cabinet, confer with a colleague, or grab a printout without ending your call or removing the headset. When you return, the audio resumes instantly—no need to readjust the headband or reposition the microphone.
Wideband audio reproduces frequencies from 150 Hz to 6800 Hz, compared to narrowband telephony’s 300 Hz to 3400 Hz range. This extended frequency response captures the natural highs and lows of human speech, making voices sound fuller and reducing the fatigue that comes from straining to understand clipped, tinny audio.
The WH500’s wideband speaker works with compatible phone systems and VoIP platforms that support HD voice codecs. If your system uses narrowband, the headset still performs well—it simply operates within the narrower frequency limits.