The Jabra Evolve 40 is a corded headset from one of the top brands on the market. Available in both mono and stereo, along with UC and MS options, there's a choice to suit everyone. But is it worth your money? We put it to the test in another of our in-depth reviews. Read on to find out what our experts thought of it!
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Design & build
Jabra are known for their well-built headsets, and the Evolve 40 is no exception. This corded model has a similar design to the rest of the original Evolve line, with soft leather earcups and foam padding on the headband for additional comfort. The Evolve 40 has a decent amount of weight to it; not to the point where it is uncomfortable, but enough to make it a lot more durable than a cheap USB headset.
During testing, we found the Evolve 40 was comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Unlike earbuds, the over-the-ear style means your ears don't get tired after a while- ideal if you spend a big chunk of your day on calls. Alternatively, it's also a great pick to use as headphones, too. In this case, the boom mic folds away into the headband when not in use, so it doesn't get in your way.
Lastly, we should mention that this corded headset comes in both mono and stereo variants. The mono version is a little less expensive, but not dramatically so. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference; whether you want to be fully immersed in the audio from your headset, or leave one ear free to hear what's going on around you.
Set-up
Like most corded headsets, setting up the Jabra Evolve 40 is incredibly simple- it's just a matter of plugging it into your computer. The standard version includes both USB-A and 3.5mm connectivity, so you can use it with both a PC and mobiles. That makes the Evolve 40 a great little all-rounder! It even comes with a soft carry pouch to take full advantage of its portable capabilities.
Sound quality
Sound quality is the most important aspect of any headset. If this isn't up to scratch, then all the extra features in the world won't make up for it. Thankfully, the Jabra Evolve 40 lives up to the company's reputation for high-quality audio. With best-in-class speaker technology, the Evolve 40 sounds just as good as headsets which come in at double the price.
Noise-cancelling
The stereo version of the Jabra Evolve 40 offers passive noise cancellation, to help you keep focused by blocking out noises around you. In practise, this works well. It doesn't block as much sound as active noise cancellation, but still does a solid job of blocking out low-level background noise- and it helps to keep the cost of this headset low. What really excels, though, is the microphone. This uses DSP technology to cancel out echo and background noise, ensuing the person on the other end of your call hears you loud and clear.
Jabra Evolve 40: The Verdict
The Jabra Evolve 40 is an excellent corded headset with seriously impressive sound quality. What's more, the versatility of both USB-A and 3.5mm connectivity makes it a very flexible choice suitable for both PC and mobile use. While it lacks the benefits of a wireless headset like the Evolve 65, it's still a great choice. For such high quality at this sort of price, you really can't go wrong!
