01732 759725
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
24
The only headset
you will ever need
Sennheiser MB 660
Technology Reseller
asks Sennheiser’s Brian Brorsbøl what he likes most about the MB 660
noise-cancelling headphones like the
new Sennheriser MB 660. This premium
Bluetooth headset is so packed with
technology that it is the only headset
a knowledge worker will need, however
varied and diverse their workload or the
environments they choose to work in.
Perfect for collaboration via unified
communications, for blocking out noise,
for making calls from a noisy café or
shared workspace or for playing music,
the MB 660 combines the features of a
business-grade UC headset and music/
entertainment headphones in one device.
Through smart technology and clever
product design, it satisfies three key
demands of knowledge workers:
1
The ability to block out distractions for
focus and concentration;
2
Business-grade communications with
clear sound in all environments, reliable
talk-time and compatibility with UC
systems; and
3
Good quality audio for listening to
music or movies.
An office chair for your head
The first thing to note about the MB 660 is
its design, which, uniquely in Sennheiser’s
contact centre & office (CC&O) range, has
more in common with music headphones
than office headsets. This and the use of
soft black leather, brushed metals and
generous padding on the headband and
ear cups give an impression of luxury and
comfort.
Closer inspection reveals clever design
details, like the rotating ear cups that turn
the headset on and off and allow the MB
660 to be folded for easy storage; the
flat-sided ‘cans’ incorporating a touchpad
for call, volume and music control;
and switches offering a choice of noise
cancellation settings and pre-set audio
effect modes.
The problem
of noisy
offices just
won’t go
away. Steelcase
research shows that
distractions cost workers 86 minutes
every day and, according to the
Leesman
Index 2014
, only 28% of workers are
satisfied with acoustic conditions at
work.
Larger organisations with deep pockets
can address the problem by installing
sound-masking/blocking solutions
and by creating a greater diversity of
work environments, including areas
for collaboration, concentration, team-
work and relaxation. But what about
smaller organisations that don’t have
the resources to spend on an office re-
design? What can they do to overcome the
problem of noise and distractions?
One option might be to invest in
TR
: You have crammed a lot of
technology into the MB 660. In your
view, what is the one feature that really
stands out?
BB:
For me, it’s the MB 660’s
adaptability. This increases user
comfort, which is really important
for people in business – if you are
going to be wearing a headset
for a long time you need it to be
comfortable.
The three main elements
of the Sennheiser experience
are leading sound quality – for
communication in both directions
and for listening to music; the user focus,
which is where adaptability and flexibility
come in; and design quality. Achieving the
right mix of these qualities is what gives
you the Sennheiser experience.
Adaptive ANC brings a new dimension
to the user experience. Some people
can get a little dizzy with ANC – they
appreciate its benefits but might not want
it on all the time. The ability to adjust the
noise level at which you want ANC to kick
in gives real flexibility and lets the MB 660
accommodate users’ different preferences
and different needs in a really flexible way.
TR
: Do you think ‘cans’ are an appropriate
feature for an office headset?
BB:
The younger generation coming into the
workplace is technology-driven and expects
to use these kinds of device at work.
Ultimately, the design of any product has
to meet the expectations of the user. There
is also the question of video collaboration;
people don’t want solutions that make
them look silly; they want to look good. So
it is important for us to have these kinds
of versatile, stylish options in our CC&O
(Contact Centre & Office) portfolio.
Organisations today have different user
types with different needs, which is why we
have a full line-up of products. They will not
choose one or two models of headset; they
will choose a whole range to suit different
user profiles. It is really important for
customers to find out what their needs are
and we will help them do this. It’s not just
about selling headsets; it’s about selling
the right headset to the right person, so
that everyone in the organisation gets that
Sennheiser experience.
TR
: Do you think employers will want
to spend £400 or so on what could be
perceived as an entertainment solution?
BB:
Unified communications are being
deployed in more and more organisations,
from large enterprises to SMEs. If they can
choose a product that meets user needs
in their entirety, so they don’t have to buy
one headset for music and another for
communication, so much the better.
If your employees complain about
noise, about getting interrupted, about
finding it hard to concentrate, consider
what you pay them and compare that to
the cost of an MB 660. I don’t believe this
device, which addresses so many of the
challenges of work today, is an expensive
solution. I believe it is very good value for
the flexibility it offers.
Brian Brorsbøl,
Director of Product
Management,
Sennheiser
Communications
The MB 660 comes
in a protective case
which includes the
Bluetooth dongle,
charging cable,
headset jack and
adapter for airline
audio systems.
Flexibility and choice
Continued...
EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
SENNHEISER MB 660
