Extra monitor? Check. Standing desk? Also, check. Ergonomic chair? Got it. Now that your home office is all set, is there something else that can support your remote work?
Yep, there is. Enter, work from home headsets. Why should you consider a new headset? First, these devices can deliver better audio quality (think, better video meetings), superior mic clarity (aka, folks can hear you better), and eliminate background noise (say bye-bye to city sounds, noisy pets, or construction interference).
While headsets largely help the person wearing them, the audio quality also matters to people on the other end of the conversation (like your clients or coworkers). Lead audiologist at Soundly, Dr. Amy Sarow explains: “Poor audio quality can contribute to misunderstandings and frustration. Improving audio quality helps those with normal hearing and is especially important for individuals with hearing loss,” says Dr. Amy. “One in ten Americans has some degree of hearing loss, and poor audio quality makes conversation muffled and unclear. Adding in any background noise adds another layer of difficulty to the conversation.”
Now, if you wear headsets all day—and perhaps even beyond 9-to-5 if you enjoy gaming—you might be wondering if prolonged wear can impact your health. In fact, it can help protect your hearing. “Using a quality headset in a quiet environment will help with audibility and allow you to listen at a softer volume without needing to maximize your volume,” says Dr. Amy.
Are there pros and cons to wearing headsets?
According to Dr. Amy, one of the biggest advantages of headsets is the audio quality. “The sound quality is usually better than speakers since you can tune them to your preference, and the closed-back design can prevent external noise from entering,” she says.
Another pro? The sound quality—and Dr. Amy notes that the sound quality is typically better than speakers. “Since you can tune them to your preference, and the closed-back design can prevent external noise from entering,” says Dr. Amy. She also recommends microphones on headsets because of the device’s high-quality audio to the person on the other side of the conversation.
But there are a few cons, too. “The most significant negative aspect of using headsets is that they can cause hearing damage if used incorrectly for long durations,” says Dr. Amy. Which means that headsets do have the potential to cause noise-induced hearing loss when used at high volumes.
That is also to say that headsets could also be uncomfortable. “Over-ear headsets can create heat around your ears, making it uncomfortable and sweaty,” says Dr. Amy. “However, the right fitting headset can be more comfortable than earbuds, which can cause itching in your ear canal with prolonged use.”
Check out our list below for some food for thought.
Pros:
- Mic quality
- Comfort and ease
- Optimizes audio for both ends of the conversation
- Hands-free controls and accessibility
- Noise canceling
Cons:
- Price
- Discomfort
- Risk of hearing damage or loss if used incorrectly*
⭐ FYI: Hearing damage can occur with a headset if you are listening to a call or music at a volume above 80 db. “Keeping the volume at 60-70% of maximum volume is best,” says Dr. Amy.
So, what should I look for in headsets?
Now, there’s quite a few types of headsets out there. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of offerings on the market, let’s narrow down what exactly you should look for in work from home headsets that have both sound and mic quality.
- On-ear versus in-ear
- Mic quality
- Battery life
- Comfort and fit
- Features
Ready to transform your work from home life?
Check out our top five work from home headphones and headsets. 👇
Apple's AirPods Max are unapologetically luxurious. Only Sony the stage on overall build-quality and features. In usual Apple fashion, Max is really best for iPhone users and can switch between devices seamlessly. Like Airpods Pro 2 (earbuds) AirPods Max integrate with Apple Health where you can upload an audiogram or take a hearing test. The personalized sound is applied to both streamed audio and Transparency Mode audio. Speaking of transparency mode, this is where AirPods Max are the uncontested leader. If you turn on transparency mode you'll almost forget you are wearing headphones. The spatial awareness and natural sound is kind of amazing. You can even boost your Transparency Mode volume beyond your natural hearing to unlock hearing-aid-style amplification.
Important Features
- Personalized Sound: Apple lets you upload a hearing test to your Apple Health app or take one through a partner app like Mimi.
- Comfort: AirPods Max sits over ear and is very breathable. The devices are quite heavy compared to competitors.
- Battery life: Up to 20 hours of listening time, talk time, or movie playback when you have Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio turned on. If you charge your AirPods Max for 5 minutes, you get around 1.5 hours of listening time.
- Phone call quality: Apple is the best in the game regarding phone call quality. Their new voice isolation feature (compatible with AirPods) just increases Apple's lead.
- Industry leading transparency mode
- Incredible sound and low-distortion at all frequencies
- Knob instead of touch-control makes controls more stable
- AirPods max are metal and quite heavy compared to Sony and Bose
- Not water-resistant (stay out of the rain)
- AirPods Max is the most expensive consumer-grade headphone on the market
Noted for its comfort and design, the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex is priced at $379.00 (for the headset and charging pad). With a pressure-relieving, padded headband and rotating ear cups, the headset is designed for hours of wear.
Beyond comfort, this headset is known for its stellar performance. This on-ear headset is built with a noise-canceling ClearVoice microphone for an optimized voice transmission (major win), and the Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) diminishes background noise.
This headset is also certified for Microsoft Teams, making calls and video chats a seamless end-to-end experience for users on both ends of the conversation.
Customer review | “This one is clear as a bell. I like that you can mute it by raising the microphone arm. It sits comfortably on my head with room to stretch, if necessary. I like the dual ears, not just one. It was a great purchase.” - Bobby
Fit Type: On-ear
Battery life: 37 hours
Connection type: Bluetooth
Pros:
- Noise canceling
- Battery life
- Call quality
- Folds up into a small case
Cons:
- Some reviews note disconnection issues or switching between devices
Coming in at just $45.99, the Yealink UH34 is a budget-friendly option. This wired headset boasts a high-quality audio experience with a high signal-to-noise ratio speaker.
Authorized by both Microsoft Teams and Zoom, the headset is also certified by Skype and Whatsapp, which means that calls and presentations will always be clear, crisp, and have a reduced background noise. That being said, the mic quality produces a clean-sounding voice, which is great for the user on the other end of the call.
The lightweight headset is also comfortable with an adjustable headband, replaceable ear cushions, and 320-degree rotatable mic boom arm. Users can also enjoy Yealink device software to manage and upgrade the headset as well.
Customer review | “I definitely needed these for work and they work really well. My son could be less than 6ft away from me and the noise that was heard if any sounded ‘faint’.” - Aysia
Fit Type: On-ear
Battery life: N/A
Connection type: Wired
Pros:
- Noise canceling
- Comfort and fit
- Lightweight (5 ounces)
Cons:
- Requires 1 lithium-ion battery
- Some reviews express dissatisfaction with music quality
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Looking for a bone conduction headset? Tap Shokz OpenComm 2 UC. Priced at $199.95, this sound quality-leading headset has an open-ear design with an integrated microphone (called Open Comm).
Bone conduction headset are a solid option for folks who want to maintain more awareness of their surroundings and would prefer an open-ear fit (these headsets fit around the head and temples and sound is transmitted via bone structure versus soundwaves).
The boom mic is noise canceling with CVC technology, allowing for clear calls. The special tech makes calls on both ends crisper and clean, while eliminating distracting noises.
Compatible with both Macs and PCs, the headset is Zoom certified with dedicated functions via buttons on the device. An added plus, the headset also can be paired with two devices simultaneously (like, your phone and computer).
Customer review | “Lightweight and comfortable, I don't even notice I have it on. Excellent sound quality, much better than I expected. And the noise canceling mic is unbelievable, handles the background office noise perfectly.” - Mike
Fit Type: Open-ear
Battery life: 16 hours
Connection type: Bluetooth
Pros:
- Noise canceling
- Sound quality
Cons:
- Complaints of vibration against temples
Orosound Tilde Pro Hybrid Bluetooth Office Headset
Orosound Tilde Pro Hybrid Bluetooth Office Headset
Designed in France, the Orosound Tilde Pro is priced at $399.99. This noise-canceling headset and mic also comes with an adjustable sidetone (meaning, callers won’t ask you to repeat yourself!).
Whether you work at home, a coworking space, or even in a coffee shop, the noise-canceling technology with voice-first amplification makes background noise practically disappear. This is all thanks to a customizable ANC so you can adjust how much background or ambient noise filters in. Essentially, the voice-first technology makes the mic quality unparalleled.
And, the microphone is detachable. So if you want to use these headphones for non-work activities, it’s a perfect fit. Bonus: This cushy-comfy headset (with a padded headband) is compatible with most call platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Customer review | “I lost 80% of my hearing in the military. These headphones are great for my job and cancels out the background noise. They work so well, that I have to take them off to hear my co-workers.” - Amazon Customer
Fit Type: On-ear
Battery life: 28 hours
Connection type: Bluetooth and USB
Pros:
- Noise canceling
- Interchangeable ear cushions
- Call quality
Cons:
- A few reviews discussed boom mic connection issues
