There are a lot of headsets on the market, but how do you determine which one is the right one? You can judge a headset by eight factors: comfort, high-quality audio input and output, sturdy construction, ease of use, strong vendor heritage, price point, in-line controls, and UC platform certification and optimization. We’re going to break down some of the terminology you’ll see when shopping for headsets.
Consumer vs. Business Use Headsets
Consumer headsets, beyond the basic generic headset, specialize into three types: fashion headsets, audiophile headsets, and gaming headsets.
Fashion headsets are attractive, expensive, and purchased more for the brand name than any real audio quality. Think of Beats, Skullcandy, and Urbanears—these are examples of highly fashionable but highly expensive headphones with mediocre sound quality.
Audiophile headsets are for true music connoisseurs. What makes a good audiophile headset is far beyond the scope of this article, but rest assured that they’re handcrafted, very expensive, and only really worth it if you’re spinning vinyl.
Gaming headsets may have some overlap with business headsets. Gaming headsets are designed for home entertainment use, tend to have a lot of in-line features, are comfortable for long-term use, and have a microphone. They may be more expensive than what you’re looking for, but if you’re even a casual gamer looking for something that’s also good for Zoom calls, a gaming headset might be a worthwhile investment.
Connection Types
Wired connections are those using a 3.5mm jack, USB-A, USB-C, or QD Coil Cord (i.e., for a desk phone). The advantage of a wired connection is that it is easy to use, reliable, and you don’t have to worry about battery life or complicated pairing with your laptop or tablet before a call. Just plug it into your laptop and it will work. Of course, given that new generations of phones and laptops are phasing out the 3.5mm jack and moving to USB-C, pay careful attention to the connection type when purchasing headsets.
Wireless connections use Bluetooth or DECT technology to connect to your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Some wireless models even have a wireless range of almost 100 metres, so you can leave your desk while on a call. Most models connect to multiple devices at the same time, letting you easily switch between making calls on your smartphone or work PC. Some are equipped with a special base and a touchscreen that lets you manage your calls.
With a Bluetooth or other wireless headset, you can leave your phone in your pocket and even keep your hands free while on a call without having to awkwardly sandwich the phone between your ear and shoulder. Commonly used functions—such as picking up calls—can be done directly from the headset.
Headset Designs
Monoaural headsets are one-sided headsets, as in there is only one ear cup. The benefit of this design is that it leaves one of your ears free to listen to your surroundings. Also note that some people are just more comfortable keeping one ear open, so to speak.
On-ear headphones have a lightweight headband and padded speakers that sit gently on your ears. They’re extremely comfortable to wear, and you don’t have to wonder whether they’ll fit. Because they don’t fully cover your ears, you’ll still hear what’s going on around you, which can be important in traffic. They are in between over-ear and in-ear headphones. On-ear headphones are also a lot smaller than over-ear headphones.
Over-ear (or stereo) headsets have cups that cover both your ears. The benefit of stereo headsets is that they will block out background noise and let you focus on your task or calls. Stereo headsets also have better audio quality as sounds are played back, usually in dual channel instead of one channel. Over-ear headphones have soft cushions that completely enclose your ears, making sure that very little noise gets through. These are perfect for when you need to shut out street noise, other passengers on the airplane, the hum of air conditioning, or the distraction of the office. When it comes to audio quality, blocking external noise, and comfort, over-ear headsets are great.
In-ear headsets are often referred to as earbuds. They are discreet, light, and do a great job of isolating outside noise by fitting snugly inside your ear canal. Some even come with ear gels so you can find just the right fit for your ears. The main advantage of these is their extreme portability.
Bluetooth car kits are easy to overlook if you aren’t a road warrior. Bluetooth car kits, or in-car speakerphones, let you make calls while driving without taking your hands off the steering wheel. They connect wirelessly to your smartphone. If there are more people in the car, they can all participate in the conversation. Car speakerphones are designed to filter out road noise, so that the person you’re talking to can hear you clearly. You can also use them to play your music or stream GPS directions. All models clip to your car’s visor and stay tucked neatly out of the way.
Portable conference speakers are portable speakers that you can take anywhere you go. They let you have a conference call that others in the room could participate in. All models make sure that both sides of the call hear each other clearly and without distortions.
The basic models are great for small rooms and connect to your laptop, tablet, or phone via USB or 3.5mm cable. Mid-range models add the option to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth. The high-end models can handle large meeting rooms with around fifteen participants. High-end models also have special ZoomTalk microphones that isolate the voice of the person speaking.
Advanced Headset Functions
When you’re shopping for headsets, it’s worth looking for these advanced features.
Active noise-cancelling headsets play noises to cancel out your surrounding sound. Basically, they emit sound waves of the same amplitude but inverted phase of the sound they’re cancelling. Here’s a deeper explanation.
Passive noise-cancelling is just stuff like padding, a snug fit, and other physical barriers to sound.
UC headsets are headsets optimized for unified communications. In fact, they’ll be marketed as UC Certified.
A busy light is a handy feature if you’re working around others; it lets them know that you’re on a call and should not be disturbed.
Multi-device compatibility means the headset not only works with multiple devices, but the headset can also switch between different devices at a moment’s notice. So, you could be taking a call over your phone, hang up, then seamlessly switch to a Zoom call on your computer.
Making Choices
As we’ve said, you can judge headsets by comfort, high-quality audio input and output, sturdy construction, ease of use, strong vendor heritage, price point, in-line controls, and UC platform certification and optimization. Make a list of the most important to the least important features and then judge your potential choices. Sure, there are trade-offs, but after the lowest price point, you should expect a certain level of quality from your headphones.
