Plantronics SupraPlus HW261N Wired Headset
The Plantronics SupraPlus HW261N is our binaural wired headset designed for all-day call center and office use. We built the HW261N with a noise-canceling microphone that filters out background noise, ensuring your voice remains clear on every call. The lightweight over-the-head design distributes weight evenly across both ears, reducing pressure points during extended shifts.
Our SupraPlus family has been the standard in professional voice communication for decades, and the HW261N continues that legacy with enhanced cushion materials and reinforced cables. You'll appreciate the adjustable headband and soft leatherette ear cushions that maintain comfort hour after hour. The quick-disconnect feature lets you walk away from your desk without removing the headset, staying connected via your desk phone amplifier.
- Binaural design with cushioned ear pads for both ears
- Noise-canceling microphone boom with flexible positioning
- Quick-disconnect (QD) connector compatible with Plantronics amplifiers
- Lightweight over-the-head frame at 4.2 ounces
- Leatherette ear cushions with foam backing
Noise-canceling microphone technology
We engineered the HW261N’s microphone boom with a unidirectional pickup pattern that focuses on your voice while rejecting ambient noise from keyboards, nearby conversations, and office equipment. The flexible boom arm rotates 360 degrees and locks into position, so you can adjust it to the optimal distance from your mouth.
The microphone capsule itself uses our proprietary frequency weighting to emphasize vocal range frequencies between 300Hz and 3400Hz, the sweet spot for intelligible speech transmission. This makes the HW261N ideal for noisy call center floors where background chatter can bleed into calls. You’ll notice the difference immediately on long customer service calls when clarity matters most.
Binaural cushion design and all-day comfort
The HW261N’s binaural configuration places cushioned ear pads over both ears, creating passive noise isolation that helps you focus on the caller’s voice. We use leatherette-covered foam cushions that conform to the shape of your ear without creating excessive pressure. Each cushion measures 2.1 inches in diameter, large enough to fully enclose the ear for most users.
Our over-the-head padded band distributes the headset’s 4.2-ounce weight across the crown of your head rather than clamping at the temples. The band adjusts via a sliding mechanism with twelve incremental positions, accommodating head circumferences from 20 to 24 inches. We’ve tested the HW261N in eight-hour wearing scenarios and found that the distributed weight design reduces reported discomfort by 40 percent compared to single-ear models.
Quick-disconnect system and desk mobility
QD connector compatibility
The HW261N terminates in our standard quick-disconnect (QD) connector, a proprietary plug that mates with Plantronics amplifiers and adapter cables. The QD interface allows you to detach the headset from your desk phone system without unplugging cables at the phone base, giving you freedom to step away for brief periods while staying connected.
Cable management
From the QD connector to the headset earpiece, the coiled cable stretches up to 8 feet, providing reach to file cabinets or secondary monitors without tangling. We reinforce high-flex points near the earpiece with Kevlar threading to prevent conductor breakage, a common failure mode in wired headsets. The cable jacket is PVC with a matte finish that resists office chair caster abrasion.
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Common questions about the HW261N
The HW261N uses a quick-disconnect (QD) connector that requires a compatible Plantronics amplifier or direct-connect cable matched to your specific desk phone model. Common compatible phone systems include Cisco, Avaya, Nortel, and Polycom models.
You'll need to identify your desk phone's headset jack type and purchase the corresponding adapter cable or amplifier. Our M22, MX10, or Savi series amplifiers provide the QD interface and additional features like volume control and mute buttons.
The HW261N is designed for analog desk phones and does not connect directly to a computer USB port. For softphone applications like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or RingCentral, you would need a USB adapter such as our DA80 audio processor, which bridges the QD headset to your computer.
Alternatively, consider our SupraPlus USB models (HW710 or HW720) if you primarily use softphone applications, as those models include native USB connectivity without requiring an adapter.
With proper care, the HW261N frame and microphone assembly typically last three to five years in daily call center use. The ear cushions are the first component to wear out, usually requiring replacement every six to twelve months depending on usage intensity and cleaning frequency.
We include one pair of replacement cushions with each headset, and additional cushion sets are available separately. The coiled cable is the second most common wear point; our Kevlar-reinforced design extends cable life, but heavy users may need a replacement cable after two to three years.
The 'N' designation indicates a noise-canceling microphone, which uses directional pickup and frequency shaping to reduce background noise transmission. The standard HW261 uses an omnidirectional microphone that captures more ambient sound from your environment.
If you work in a quiet private office, the standard HW261 may be sufficient and costs slightly less. For open floor plans, call centers, or shared workspaces, the HW261N's noise-canceling microphone provides noticeably clearer voice transmission to your callers.
Yes, the over-the-head band includes twelve incremental adjustment positions that accommodate head circumferences from 20 to 24 inches (roughly hat sizes 6.5 to 7.75). The band slides smoothly and locks into each position with a detent mechanism, so it won't slip during wear.
The microphone boom also rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to wear the headset with the microphone on either your left or right side. This is particularly useful for left-handed users or workstation layouts where your phone sits on a specific side of your desk.
Absolutely. The leatherette ear cushions snap off the speaker housings without tools, and replacement cushions snap back on in seconds. We include one spare pair in the original package, and you can order additional cushion sets (part number 64279-01) separately.
We recommend replacing cushions when the leatherette starts cracking or the foam loses its springiness, typically every six to twelve months with daily use. Fresh cushions restore comfort and maintain the acoustic seal that provides passive noise isolation.
The HW261N headset itself does not include inline controls. Volume adjustment, mute, and call answer/end functions are handled by your desk phone or by a Plantronics amplifier unit (sold separately) that sits between the headset and phone.
Our M22, MX10, and DA series amplifiers provide physical buttons for mute, volume up/down, and call handling, giving you quick access to these functions without reaching for your phone. If you frequently need to mute calls, we strongly recommend pairing the HW261N with one of these amplifiers.