Headsets & Headphones

Choosing headsets and headphones for office, call-centre and home use

The right headset is the difference between productive video calls and a draining day. Comfort matters more than headline frequency response specs; a headset that fits well and stays cool through eight hours of calls beats a higher-end one that doesn't fit. The category covers daily-use office headsets, premium music headphones for focused work and the gaming and conferencing models that fit specialised desks.

What this category covers

Office and call-centre headsets with microphone booms, in wired USB and wireless DECT or Bluetooth formats; consumer over-ear and on-ear headphones for music and travel; in-ear earbuds with or without active noise cancellation; gaming headsets with surround sound and microphone; and conferencing models certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

How to choose a headset

Match the format to the user's day

Wired USB is the cheapest and most reliable option for fixed desks; no battery, no pairing. Wireless DECT (Plantronics Savi, Yealink WH62) gives long range and excellent voice quality for call-centre use, with a base station on the desk. Bluetooth headsets are the right choice for users who walk between meeting rooms with their notebook. In-ear earbuds suit users who travel.

Decide on noise cancellation

Active noise cancellation (ANC) helps in open offices, on flights and on transit. Premium ANC (Bose QC, Sony WH-1000XM, Apple AirPods Max) cancels broadband noise effectively. Mid-range ANC reduces noise without eliminating it. For calls, microphone-side noise cancellation matters as much as ear-side: meeting platforms now include software noise cancellation that picks up the slack.

Confirm UC platform certification

Microsoft Teams and Zoom certify specific headset models for full feature support (call answer, mute, ringtones routed through the headset). Buying certified models removes integration trouble for fleet roll-outs. The certification is listed on the headset's product page.

Plan for comfort over performance specs

For users who wear the headset for hours daily, weight, clamp force and ear cushion material matter more than frequency response. Try a headset for at least an hour before standardising on it for a fleet; specs sheets cannot capture how the same headset feels different to different head shapes.

Key features to compare

Microphone quality

For voice work, microphone clarity matters more than headphone audio quality. Boom microphones close to the mouth pick up clean voice with low background noise; on-headphone microphones (in-ear earbuds and many over-ear consumer headphones) work but pick up more room noise.

Battery life

Wireless headsets list listening hours and call hours. For full working days, look for 10+ hours of call time, with quick-charge support so a 10-minute charge during lunch covers the afternoon.

Multi-host pairing

Bluetooth headsets that pair to two hosts (notebook and phone) at the same time switch automatically between calls on either device. Useful for users who alternate between PC and personal phone calls.

What to check before buying

• Wired, wireless DECT or Bluetooth . matched to user mobility?
• Active noise cancellation needed for the working environment?
• Microsoft Teams or Zoom certification required?
• Microphone quality matched to call type (occasional, daily, broadcast)?
• Comfort tested for full-day wear, not just specifications?

Frequently asked questions

Wired or wireless headset for an office?

For users who stay at one desk all day, wired USB is simplest, cheapest and removes battery and pairing complexity. For users who walk to meeting rooms and shared spaces, wireless adds real value. Most fleets standardise on one of each: a wired headset for fixed desks, a Bluetooth model for mobile users.

How long does a wireless headset's battery last?

Office and call-centre wireless headsets typically run 8 to 14 hours of talk time per charge. Consumer over-ear ANC headphones run 20 to 40 hours of music. Quick-charge has become standard: 10 to 15 minutes of charging delivers 1 to 3 hours of additional use.

Are gaming headsets good for office calls?

Many gaming headsets have excellent microphones and comfortable cushions; the obstacle is usually appearance (heavy RGB lighting, gamer styling). Quieter-styled gaming headsets work well for calls. The reverse is more limited: office headsets without surround sound and with simpler audio do not fully cover gaming use.

What is the difference between Bluetooth and DECT?

Bluetooth is the universal short-range wireless standard, ideal for phones and notebooks. DECT is a dedicated voice protocol with longer range (up to 100 m line of sight), more reliable connection and better voice quality, but it requires a DECT base station and only works with that base. For call centres and fixed-desk wireless, DECT is the professional choice.

Will an in-ear earbud's microphone be good enough for calls?

For occasional calls, yes. For daily call work, an earbud microphone picks up more room noise and offers less consistent voice clarity than a boom microphone. Conferencing software's noise cancellation closes some of the gap; for serious call work, a proper headset still wins.