Do you want the best headset? 
If you’re someone who works from home, and suddenly find yourself in need of a new headset for your calls and meetings, you may find the task of shopping a bit challenging.
Not only are there countless business headset options to choose from, but other types of headsets like gaming or entertainment models can find their way into the mix. This only serves to further complicate things as you try to sort through it all.
You know you want a few things in the headset you’re looking for. Things like comfort, professional sound quality, noise reduction, compatibility with your setup, and of course you need it to be affordable. With all the available models to choose from, how do you select the one best suited for your needs?
- Which brand is good?
- Will it sound good?
- Is it reliable?
- What features should I be looking for?
- What support can I expect to receive
- Is it comfortable?
- Will it work with my computer, phone or mobile phone?
These are just a few of the questions you may need to get answers to before you can confidently move ahead with a purchase.
The good news is Headset Advisor is here to help. We’ve assisted customers with their communication needs for over 30 years. So if you have questions, rest assured we have answers. Contact us today and let one of our Advisors help you sort through all the noise.
In this blog, I’ll cover the main things to look for when shopping for a new work from home headset. I think you will find this information helpful in getting you pointed into the right direction so you can make the best buying decision for your specific needs.
Rather Watch A Video Instead?
If you’re like many people today, who prefer to watch video content over reading it, then make sure to check out our informative video below. Drew concisely presents the information you need to be an informed shopper which can help you to avoid some of the pitfalls that can happen when shopping for new headsets. You’ll also get a microphone sound quality, and noise cancellation test so you can better understand the value of a good noise canceling headset. So make sure to check it out below.
Things To Consider
When you’re browsing online looking at the different headsets, you’ll want to keep a few key points in mind:
- What wearing style do you prefer?
- How much noise do you have in your work environment?
- Do you foresee any upcoming technology changes within your company?
- What devices do you need the headset to connect to?
- Do you have sensitivities? (can’t wear things over your head, sensitive ears etc)
Wearing Styles
Most people have a preference when it comes to the wearing style of a headset. This might be one that’s worn:
- Over the head - like the EPOS Impact 1000 or Yealink BH74
- Over the ear - like the Yealink BH71 Pro or WH63
- Or behind the neck - like the Opencomm2 UC
There are many different ones to choose from, but the examples above can give you an idea of the different ways headsets can be worn. And if you’re someone who’s on long calls, choosing the right headset that fits well, and comfortable is important.
Noise That Annoys
Most of us contend with noise. That can be noise from our coworkers, noise from a cafe or the unique sounds when working from home like the sound of our children or family pets. When noise gets cooking, it's easy for you, and your caller's to lose focus which can cause you to be less productive.
The thing to consider here is how loud and distracting is your noise, and is it something that's a regular thing? If so, then a headset with a good noise canceling microphone is a must have feature. It's important to note that noise canceling headsets vary in their ability to remove unwanted noise. Some excel, while others fail at eliminating unwanted noise. Just because it says it has a noise canceling microphone, that isn't a guarantee it will meet your need for noise removal.
One way to know if your headset of interest is up to the challenge is to request a free trial. Trying it out ahead of time in your specific workplace will quickly tell you if it's able to filter out enough background noise. If the vendor won't offer a free trial, then contact us at Headset Advisor, and we'll get you what you need, hassle free.
Clarifying a misunderstanding. With noise canceling in mind, I’d like to clear up a misconception: noise canceling vs. Active Noise Cancellation.
Too often people perceive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) as a feature that removes background noise. And it does do that, but not in the way people think. ANC removes noise for you, the headset wearer, so you can avoid being distracted by the sounds going on around you. This helps you to stay focused and not get distracted, which can lead to better productivity.
Active Noise Cancellation uses the technology of anti-noise. It accesses external microphones that are designed to listen for incoming sound, and once detected, it sends out a counter signal which helps to eliminate it. For those headsets that excel at this, you'll find the results to be impressive. It can take a noisy environment, and dampen down the noise to the point you hardly hear it, or, you don't hear it at all. At that point, being distracted simply isn't possible.
Noise cancellation, by comparison, refers to removing background noise so your callers aren’t distracted. The microphone(s), are designed to filter out background noise while focusing on the sound of your voice. This causes you to be heard clearly, while at the same time, dampening down the background noise so your caller's aren't hearing it.
If eliminating noise is high on your list of must haves, then you may want to consider pairing your headset with neep ai noise canceling software. neep works with any audio device, and it excels at removing noise from your background, and, your caller's background. It's super affordable, and easy to use. Everyone gets a better, noise free call when using neep. To learn more, or to request a free trial of neep, just go to neep.com.
So when shopping for a new work from home headset, it's important to understand the differences between Active Noise Cancellation, and noise cancellation. Additionally, if both are important to you, then keep a sharp eye out to make sure the headset you're considering has both. And then of course, a trial of the headset will speak volumes about how good those features perform under your conditions.
To learn more about ANC vs. NC, check out our informative video below.
If you deal with noise regularly, I’d suggest you search for a headset that has both; Active Noise Cancellation and a noise canceling microphone, like the EPOS Impact 1000 which does a wonderful job at both.
Note: Although many headsets come with a noise canceling microphone, keep in mind that none will remove all the noise. So if noise removal is important to you, then you may want to consider pairing your headset with neep ai noise canceling software. neep uses artificial intelligence to surgically remove noise from your background, and remarkably, from your caller's background too. That gives both parties the best possible call quality experience.
To learn more about neep, or to take advantage of a free trial, just go to neep.com
Comfort Is King
Anyone who has been on a long voice or video call knows the importance of using a comfortable headset. Avoiding headaches and raw ears becomes a high priority because nobody wants to end their day in that condition.
The subject of comfort is a personal thing though it is connected to the features of the device. If you have sensitivities for example, to things worn over the head, a headband style headset is one to avoid. Likewise, if on-ear models pinch too much, or cause you to have ear discomfort, that type of headset may be one to avoid as well.
Now you might be thinking if we rule out headband, and earpiece style headsets, what are my remaining options? If neither of these types of headsets work for you, then you may want to consider a neckband style headset like the Shokz Opencomm2 UC.
The Opencomm2 UC isn’t worn like a traditional headset because it’s worn behind the neck. It also doesn’t use traditional ear speakers like those found on typical headsets. Instead, the Opencomm2 UC uses bone conduction technology with pads that go against
The advantages of this headset is there’s nothing that goes against the ear, over the ear, in the ear, or over the head which eliminates potential issues for some people. The Opencomm2 UC rests comfortably on the shoulder, and the sound pads transfer sound vibrations through the bone, bypassing the eardrum straight to the cochlea which is then converted to sound. And because it bypasses the eardrum, this can be a help for those with some hearing loss.
So whether you’re ok wearing a headset over the head, over the ear or behind the neck, the main point is to find a wearing style that’s comfortable, and can allow you to be on long calls without discomfort.
The other thing to pay attention to is the weight of a headset, especially if it’s one that is worn over the head as those can vary a lot. For a double ear headband headset, any headset that weighs less than 5 ounces would qualify as being light. Comfort isn’t dependent on weight alone though as there are other factors that play their part, such as:
- Headset Design - purpose built for comfort based on research and sampling
- Adjustability - adjustable headband, pivoting speakers, flex boom
- Cushioning - Any place the headset contacts you, should have good padding
You want a headset that’s light, well designed, adjustable and good padding on the ear speakers and headband.
Compatibility
This too is something you’ll want to keep in mind because the headset you get needs to be compatible with the devices and applications you intend to use it with.
If you use a computer for your voice and video calls, and a mobile phone, then the headset should be able to toggle between them. Make sure to confirm that the headset can be used across these devices, as well as HOW they connect. For example, you might be considering a headset that can be used with a computer, but the connection is made wirelessly via Bluetooth, which I would highly discourage. You might be wondering why it would be ill advised to connect in this way. That’s because if the computer is Bluetooth enabled, and the headset is Bluetooth enabled, then logically it should work, and it does, just not well.
When you connect a Bluetooth headset to a Bluetooth enabled computer wirelessly, you run the risk of:
- Poor sound quality
- Inconsistent connection
- Less wireless range
- Restricted access to advanced features like remote call answering and more
To avoid this, search for a wireless headset that comes with a USB adapter.
Connecting the headset to a computer using a USB adapter will resolve the issues I just mentioned. And, if it comes with a USB-A adapter, and your computer uses USB-C, don’t worry because USB-A to USB-C adapters are readily available and priced around $2.00.
The Future Is Always Changing
Few things in life are constant, and that includes how we’re doing things today, compared to tomorrow. As a member of an organization, it isn’t a bad idea to be on top of any changes that may take place in the near future.
Knowing where your company’s technology is headed can be beneficial in choosing the right headset for your needs today, and tomorrow. Here’s one example of how this:
Situation: A company uses desk phones, and purchases new headsets for those phones. A short time later, they discover that the company is ceasing the use of desk phones and migrating to using computer based communication. This change renders the headsets recently purchased obsolete, and puts company personnel back into the headset buying process. This wastes time, and resources and could have been avoided if questions were asked and information was provided.
Nobody likes surprises like this, so do yourself a small, but potentially meaningful favor by asking your technology personnel about the technology they envision using 3-5 years from now. If changes aren’t in the works, you should be good, but if there are changes in the wind that could affect the devices used, then it’s good to know so you can make an informed decision and adjust your headset search accordingly.
Final Thoughts
When you’re looking for a new headset, you want comfort, professional sound, compatibility with your devices, and one that’s affordably priced and supported by a reputable company. And though that may sound like a tall order, it’s well worth the time and effort so you can find the headset that’s right for your situation.
This may require some time to sort through the available options, or you can shortcut that process by letting us give you the advice and recommendations you need. Headset Advisor is an industry leader that specializes in business communication products. We’re highly rated across all the major online sources with a reputation that’s second to none. So if you find shopping for headsets confusing, let us help sort things out for you. Contact us today, and let one of our friendly, and knowledgeable Advisors help you find the right, compatible solution.
At the end of the day, having the right, compatible headset can make a big difference when it comes to projecting a professional image, taming unruly noise, experiencing all-day comfort, and having a headset that works reliably with all the devices you use. Matching the right headset to your needs, can help to make working from home a much more pleasant, and productive experience.
