About the Company
In the last few years, we have noticed a steady shift towards smaller meeting spaces and huddle rooms that require something different from the traditional, bulky VC setups. Companies like EPOS are looking to address this with a lineup of speakerphones. These combine an ergonomic form factor and mid-tier pricing; with sophisticated features you’d expect from an enterprise-grade product.
In Q4 2019, Sennheiser launched the EXPAND SP 30 series – which includes three excellent speakerphones for personal to mid-sized meeting spaces. Today, we review EPOS’s EXPAND SP 30T variant in greater detail.
Inside EXPAND SP 30T
Let us quickly glance at the entire product lineup: the EXPAND SP 30T, 30+, and the 30.
The absolute vanilla variant (30) is optimised for UC and has a Skype for Business certification. The 30+ sports similar UC capabilities, but has a dongle out-of-the-box as well. On the other hand, the EXPAND SP 30T (our focus for this review) is optimised for UC and brings Microsoft Teams certification.
Here are its core features:
- Portability – The sleek design and form factor, with a diameter of just 4.72 inches, is ideal for carrying around in an office or in a WFH environment. We could imagine users switching from one room to another without having to lug around cumbersome cables, supported by the device’s stellar battery life. The EXPAND SP 30T weighs 314 grams, which isn’t too heavy. Importantly, you could also use it as part of a permanent VC system through wired connectivity options – which brings us to its next key feature.
- Battery life – The EXPAND SP 30T takes 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach full charge, which should keep it going for up to 18 hours of talk time. This means that a single charge can carry you through two full days of work, which adds to the portability factor.
- Connectivity – The EXPAND SP 30T offers more connectivity options than most speakerphones in its segment. Not only is there the traditional Bluetooth and USB functionalities, but you could also set it up via NFC if you have a compatible audio source. What’s more, it even has Bluetooth 5 technology that makes for faster audio transmission. And to make connecting the EXPAND SP 30T a little simpler, EPOS has included a USB-C to USB-A adapter right in the box. Finally, the 30T variant comes with the BTD 800 USB dongle for plug and play functionality.
- Audio quality – This is where the EXPAND SP 30T really shines. The device has an ultra-low distortion speaker, so you can hear every voice clearly, whether transmitting through a PC, mobile phone, or softphone. There are two mics on board; both feature EPOS’ proprietary Voice technology and echo cancellation. We should note that EPOS is a certified Sennheiser reseller and several of the companies’ products are co-branded.
- Device management – The device management aspect of the EXPAND SP 30T stands up equally well to personal and professional/bulk usage. For personal meeting rooms and home office setups, you can download the EPOS Connect app, which is a freeware for remote call control, settings management, and firmware updates. For IT personnel, EPOS has a SaaS-based Manager app that offers deeper functionalities – like centralised management and configuration of multiple EPOS devices.
Why EXPAND SP 30T Makes a Difference
The EXPAND SP 30T has two massive USPs.
First, it handles both music and voice audio equally well. The ultra-low distortion speaker, dynamic equaliser, and base enhancement together create a natural music experience. This is a big plus for personal users, as you might get away without investing in a separate listening device for your home office.
Next, it is designed for collaboration. The Teams button on the EXPAND SP 30T launches the Microsoft Teams app immediately, making it easier to initialise, join, and conduct conferences. Also, this speakerphone can connect up to eight participants on a single conference, converging audio from PC and telephonic calls on mobile.
What We Think
Three is denying that the EXPAND SP 30T is a powerful product – and this is compounded by an attractive price point. EPOS lists this at $259. Depending on your region, you might be able to get it for £152.40 (UK) or INR 20,990 (India). This investment gets you the speakerphone itself as well as the requisite adapters, a EPOS dongle, and a carry pouch not to mention two years of warranty.
For those looking to reinforce their home working experience, this is an excellent option.
