Wired USB Headset Noise Canceling and Voice Quality Test (Poly, Jabra,

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When evaluating a wired USB headset for business calls, one factor consistently rises to the top: microphone sound quality. No matter how comfortable or professional a headset looks, if your voice doesn’t come through clearly, the experience suffers.

Clear audio isn’t just about sounding good. It directly affects productivity and how customers perceive your business. If callers struggle to hear you, conversations take longer, details get missed, and frustration builds.

Sound quality also isn’t limited to voice tone alone. It includes how effectively a microphone removes unwanted background noise. A headset might sound rich and full in a quiet room, but the real test is how it performs when office chatter, keyboard noise, or other distractions enter the picture.

In our recent Headset Advisor YouTube video, we selected five popular wired USB headsets representing different price points, and put them through a controlled microphone sound quality and noise canceling test. The goal wasn’t to declare a universal winner, but to help you hear how each model performs in both quiet and noisy environments.

Here are the headsets we tested:

Poly Blackwire 3320
Poly Blackwire 8225
Jabra Engage 50 II
EPOS Impact 700
EPOS Impact 800

If you’d like to skip reading this blog, and go right to watching the video, check it out below.

Each headset was tested in two ways:

Quiet environment microphone test
Background noise simulation including:

Office noise
Crying baby sounds
Keyboard typing noise

Testing in a quiet setting allows you to hear the natural richness and tone of the microphone without interference. This lets you know how you’ll sound when using it. Introducing background noise helps evaluate how effectively each headset isolates your voice from competing sounds.

Why Sound Quality Matters More Than You Think

Clear audio isn’t just about sounding good. It directly affects performance and perceptions in real-world business environments.

Poor microphone clarity can lead to:

Repetition during calls
Longer call times
Frustration for both parties
Reduced productivity
Negative customer impressions

Less noise means fewer distractions. Fewer distractions mean better focus. Better focus leads to more productive conversations.

Sound quality does have a subjective element. What sounds excellent to one person may sound average to another. However, in our tests, certain models clearly stood out.

Poly Blackwire 3320

The Poly Blackwire 3320 is an entry-level wired USB headset designed for basic business use.

Top 3 features:

Lightweight and affordable
Plug-and-play USB-C connectivity with inline controller
Noise-reducing flexible microphone design

In our background noise testing, the 3320 removed less of the competing noise compared to the other models. While it performs adequately for quieter environments, it struggled more in our higher-noise simulations.

For users in low-noise offices or budget-focused deployments, it remains a practical option, but it does not lead this group in noise isolation.

MSRP - $63.95

Poly Blackwire 8225

The Poly Blackwire 8225 is positioned as a more advanced wired headset with enhanced noise management features.

Top 3 features:

Active noise canceling for the user for enhanced concentration
Flexible microphone boom, and noise canceling microphone
USB-C + A connectivity with inline controls

The 8225 performed noticeably better than the 3320 in noise removal. It did a solid job at reducing the background noises. Overall microphone quality was respectable, though not the richest in tone among the models tested. Still solid, and professional which is something most have come to expect from Poly products.

MSRP - $218.95

Jabra Engage 50 II

Image of the Jabra Engage 50 mark II double ear wired USB headset shown with inline controller

The Jabra Engage 50 II is built specifically for contact centers and professional call environments.

Top 3 features:

Advanced 3-MEMS noise-canceling microphones
USB-C+A connectivity and 3-year warranty
Durable design for high call volume use, and super lightweight at 2.3 ounces for the duo model, and 1.6 ounces for the mono.

In our testing, the Engage 50 II delivered strong background noise reduction. It handled competing sounds effectively and maintained clear voice quality. It’s well suited for busy offices/call centers and structured workspaces.

MSRP - $374.00

EPOS Impact 700

The EPOS Impact 700 stood out immediately in the quiet microphone test due to the quality of the voice audio.

Top 3 features:

Rich, natural microphone sound quality via 3 beamforming mics and EPOS ai
Advanced noise filtering
Inline controller and 3-year guarantee

In quiet conditions, the Impact 700 produced a fuller, more natural tone compared to the other models. During background noise simulations, it performed as well as, or better than, its competitors in isolating the speaker’s voice while suppressing the unwanted background noise.

MSRP - $209.00

EPOS Impact 800

The EPOS Impact 800 builds on the strengths of the 700 with additional refinements.

Top 3 features:

Exceptional microphone clarity via EPOS ai with beamforming mics
Strong background noise suppression
Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation for enhanced worker focus

In our comparison, the Impact 800 delivered the richest sound quality of the group while maintaining excellent background noise removal. It handled office noise, keyboard sounds, and crying baby simulations with impressive consistency.

If I had to choose. If casting a vote based strictly on microphone quality and noise isolation, the EPOS Impact 700 and 800 models would be our top choices. The audio sounded more natural and professional, while still aggressively reducing competing sounds.

MSRP - $249.00

Adding Another Layer of Noise Reduction

Even the best wired headset can benefit from intelligent software support.

neep ai noise canceling software works with any audio device to enhance call quality. neep learns your voice and isolates it from competing background noise. It also removes unwanted noise from both ends of the call, creating a cleaner and more distraction-free conversation.

When less noise reaches your ears and your caller’s ears, conversations become clearer and more productive. Reduced distractions improve focus, and improved focus leads to better performance.

In dynamic environments where background noise fluctuates, combining a high-quality wired headset with advanced noise canceling software can significantly improve overall communication quality.

To learn more about neep ai noise canceling software, or to arrange for your free trial, just go to neep.com

Choosing the Right Wired Headset Can Be Complicated

a close up of a woman working at a computer while wearing a headset on a call, and smiling

There are dozens of wired USB headsets on the market. They vary in microphone design, compatibility, build quality, comfort, warranty length, cost and noise-canceling performance, to name a few.

Selecting the wrong headset can result in:

Compatibility problems with softphones or computers
Poor audio performance that can be costly
Frustration during calls
Time-consuming and costly returns

Audio quality also impacts how customers perceive your business. Clear, professional sound builds credibility. Distracting audio can subtly undermine confidence.

With over 30 years of experience helping businesses with their communication needs, Headset Advisor understands how important compatibility and sound quality are in real-world environments.

If you have questions about the Poly Blackwire series, Jabra Engage 50 II, EPOS Impact 700 or 800, or need help selecting the right wired headset for your setup, contact us for free headset assistance. We’ll help you identify a compatible solution that fits your devices, software, and work environment.

There are many other headset options available to choose from, and we're here to help you find the one that's right for you.

Clear audio supports better conversations. Better conversations drive better results.