In today’s remote work environment, virtual meetings and conference calls have become an essential part of daily work life. Whether you’re working from home, attending online classes, or engaging in professional discussions, the quality of your audio equipment plays a significant role in ensuring clear communication.
One of the best ways to enhance your virtual meeting experience is by investing in a high-quality headset designed for conference calls.
This guide will cover the best headsets for conference calls and virtual meetings, with an emphasis on comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation, and other features that make them ideal for professional settings.
Best Headsets for Conference Calls and Virtual Meetings
1. Why You Need a Good Headset for Virtual Meetings
Before diving into the specifics of the best headsets, let’s explore why having a reliable headset is crucial for conference calls and virtual meetings:
- Clear Audio: Good audio quality ensures that both you and the participants can hear each other without distortion, muffling, or echo. This leads to more efficient communication and fewer misunderstandings.
- Noise Cancellation: A headset with noise-canceling features helps block out background noise, ensuring that your voice is heard clearly without distractions from your surroundings.
- Comfort: Virtual meetings can last for hours, so comfort is vital. A well-designed headset can prevent discomfort during long calls.
- Hands-free Communication: Headsets allow you to be hands-free, making it easier to take notes, manage documents, or multitask during meetings.
- Professionalism: A high-quality headset helps you project a professional image, particularly in virtual meetings with clients or important stakeholders.
Now that you understand the importance of a good headset, let’s take a look at some of the best options available for conference calls and virtual meetings.
2. Best Headsets for Conference Calls and Virtual Meetings
1. Jabra Evolve 75
The Jabra Evolve 75 is a premium headset that offers superior sound quality, comfort, and noise-canceling technology, making it ideal for virtual meetings and conference calls.
- Key Features:
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Blocks out ambient noise, ensuring you can hear and be heard clearly in noisy environments.
- Dual Connectivity: Connects to both your computer via USB and your mobile device via Bluetooth.
- Clear Sound Quality: High-quality speakers and a noise-canceling microphone for crystal-clear calls.
- Comfortable Design: Soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband for long-lasting comfort.
- Busy Light: Indicates to others when you’re on a call, reducing interruptions.
- Why It’s Great: The Jabra Evolve 75 is ideal for professionals who need to take calls in noisy environments. Its ANC ensures clear communication, and the dual connectivity allows seamless switching between devices.
2. Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
Plantronics, now known as Poly, is a leader in the audio industry, and the Voyager Focus UC is one of its top headsets designed for virtual meetings.
- Key Features:
- Noise-Canceling Microphone: Effectively filters out background noise for clear, undisturbed conversations.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Allows wireless connection to mobile devices, tablets, and computers.
- Superior Comfort: The padded headband and memory foam ear cushions ensure comfort even during long meetings.
- Smart Sensors: Automatically answers calls when you put the headset on and pauses audio when you take it off.
- Excellent Battery Life: Offers up to 12 hours of talk time.
- Why It’s Great: The Voyager Focus UC is an excellent choice for professionals who require a wireless headset with long battery life and exceptional noise-canceling features. Its comfortable fit makes it perfect for long conference calls.
3. Logitech Zone Wireless
The Logitech Zone Wireless headset is an excellent choice for people who want reliable sound quality, comfort, and flexibility.
- Key Features:
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Reduces background noise for both you and the person on the other end of the call.
- Dual Connectivity: Connects to both Bluetooth and USB devices.
- High-Quality Sound: The speakers deliver rich, clear audio for an immersive sound experience.
- Comfortable Fit: The headset features memory foam ear pads and a lightweight design.
- Customizable Controls: Adjustable microphone boom arm and easy-to-use buttons for call management.
- Why It’s Great: The Logitech Zone Wireless is perfect for users who need a versatile headset with excellent noise cancellation and high sound quality. It’s a great choice for professionals who spend a lot of time in virtual meetings.
4. Sennheiser MB 660 UC MS
Sennheiser is well-known for its premium audio equipment, and the MB 660 UC MS headset is designed specifically for professional conference calls and virtual meetings.
- Key Features:
- Adaptive Noise Cancellation: Automatically adjusts the noise-canceling levels based on the surrounding environment.
- Exceptional Sound Quality: Delivers clear, natural sound, making it ideal for virtual meetings.
- Comfortable Design: Padded ear cups and adjustable headbands ensure a comfortable fit.
- Long Battery Life: Provides up to 30 hours of battery life, making it suitable for full-day meetings.
- Optimized for Microsoft Teams: Specifically designed to integrate with Microsoft Teams for seamless conferencing.
- Why It’s Great: The Sennheiser MB 660 UC MS is perfect for business professionals who need a headset optimized for use with Microsoft Teams or other collaboration tools. Its superior sound quality and adaptive noise cancellation ensure excellent performance in any environment.
5. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose is known for its high-quality audio products, and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are perfect for both work and personal use, especially when it comes to virtual meetings.
- Key Features:
- Advanced Noise Cancelling: Blocks out surrounding noise for an immersive experience.
- High-Fidelity Audio: Crystal-clear audio for both incoming and outgoing calls.
- Comfortable and Lightweight: Soft ear cushions and a lightweight frame for long-term comfort.
- Intuitive Touch Controls: Adjust volume, answer calls, or mute audio with simple touch controls.
- Up to 20 Hours of Battery Life: Provides enough battery life for an entire day of calls.
- Why It’s Great: The Bose 700 is a top-tier headset for people who need the highest level of noise cancellation and comfort. While it’s often marketed as a pair of headphones for travel, its noise-canceling features and sound quality make it ideal for virtual meetings as well.
6. Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly headset without compromising on quality, the Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless is an excellent choice for virtual meetings.
- Key Features:
- Wireless Connectivity: Connects to your computer via 2.4 GHz wireless for a stable and uninterrupted connection.
- Custom-Tuned 50mm Drivers: Delivers clear and crisp audio.
- Noise-Canceling Microphone: Blocks out background noise, ensuring that your voice comes through loud and clear.
- Memory Foam Ear Cups: Offers comfort for long meetings.
- Up to 16 Hours of Battery Life: Provides sufficient power for extended calls.
- Why It’s Great: The Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless offers a great combination of affordability, sound quality, and comfort, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious professionals who still need a reliable headset for virtual meetings.
7. Microsoft Surface Headphones 2
Designed by Microsoft, the Surface Headphones 2 is a great headset for virtual meetings, offering excellent integration with Microsoft Teams and other collaboration tools.
- Key Features:
- Adjustable Noise Cancellation: Adjust the level of noise cancellation according to your needs.
- Superior Sound Quality: 40mm speakers deliver rich, high-quality audio for calls.
- Touch Controls: Control volume, adjust noise cancellation, and take calls with simple touch gestures.
- Comfortable Fit: Plush ear cups and an adjustable headband provide comfort during long meetings.
- Long Battery Life: Offers up to 20 hours of battery life.
- Why It’s Great: The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 is ideal for users who prefer seamless integration with Microsoft products and collaboration tools. It also offers a high level of customization with adjustable noise cancellation and touch controls.
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3. Choosing the Right Headset for Your Needs
When selecting a headset for virtual meetings and conference calls, consider the following factors:
1. Noise Cancellation
If you work in a noisy environment, opt for a headset with active noise cancellation (ANC). ANC technology helps block out background noise, ensuring clearer communication for both you and your meeting participants.
2. Comfort
If you’re on calls for hours at a time, comfort is key. Look for a headset with memory foam ear cushions, adjustable headbands, and a lightweight design. A well-fitting headset will prevent discomfort and fatigue during long virtual meetings.
3. Connectivity
Consider how you’ll connect your headset. Some headsets offer Bluetooth connectivity for wireless convenience, while others use USB connections. If you’re using video conferencing software or collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, look for a headset optimized for those platforms.
4. Microphone Quality
A high-quality microphone ensures that your voice is picked up clearly and accurately. Look for a headset with a noise-canceling microphone that can block out background noise for the best communication experience.
5. Battery Life
If you frequently have long conference calls or back-to-back meetings, choose a headset with long battery life. Some headsets offer up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, making them ideal for full-day usage.
FAQs
What’s the difference between passive and active noise cancellation?
Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses built-in microphones to detect external noise and generate an opposing sound wave to cancel it out. This provides superior noise reduction, especially in loud environments.
Passive noise cancellation relies on the physical design of the headset (e.g., ear cups that block out sound) to reduce noise. While it’s effective, it doesn’t provide the same level of noise cancellation as ANC.
Are wireless headsets better than wired ones for conference calls?
Wireless headsets offer greater flexibility and mobility, allowing you to move around without being tethered to your computer. However, wired headsets often provide more reliable audio quality and don’t require charging, making them a better option for users who prefer a simple, hassle-free solution.
Can I use a gaming headset for conference calls?
Many gaming headsets are designed for high-quality audio and microphone performance, so they can be used for conference calls. However, gaming headsets tend to be bulky, and their design may not be ideal for professional environments. Look for headsets that specifically cater to business and virtual meetings for the best experience.