When it comes to choosing the best headset for the office, information overload is all too common. With so many headsets on the market, selecting the exact model you need can feel overwhelming. Luckily, headsets are kind of our thing. We’re here to help you evaluate your needs, browse a selection of products, and end up with the perfect office headset for your workplace.
Things to Consider
If you’ve scoured the web for office headsets, odds are that you’ve seen plenty of stats, data, and reviews that bring more questions than answers. A specific description of a headset’s “10 kilohertz microphone frequency response” or a vague review stating that “it does what I need it to do” is probably not the information you’re looking for.
We’ve put together a cheat sheet that’ll help make some sense out of a headset listing - a list of some of the most important aspects to look for to find the best headset for the office:
Configuration
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Single- or Dual-ear: It’s in the name; a single-ear headset covers one ear, a dual-ear covers two.
Many people who work in an office setting prefer the former for their work headset. If you’re working with a team, and you need to balance taking calls with coworker communication, having one ear for each can be a good call. If you’re not doing too much in-person communication throughout the workday, the full immersion of a dual-ear headset might be preferable.
Make sure to evaluate your environment when considering this one.
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Over-the-Head or On-the-ear: An on-the-ear headset sits on your ear like your everyday earbuds, while an over-the-head style has a headband with an ear cushion at the end. On-the-ear configurations create more of a seal in your ear, which leads to clearer sound. They are also smaller but more likely to feel uncomfortable with prolonged wear for some people.
If you need to block out workplace commotion, and you can comfortably wear earbuds all day, on-the-ear could be a good option for your office headset. Otherwise, check out over-the-head models.
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Corded or Wireless: A corded headset will have a cable connecting the headset itself to the device you’re taking calls from. This means consistent power, which can be great for the worker who forgets to charge his or her devices.
If you’re less worried about forgetting to charge your headset and more interested in taking a stroll around the building, you should probably go with a wireless model that will allow for mobility while you’re on calls.
Functionality
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Noise Cancellation in Microphone: If you work in a bustling office and want to make sure that people on the other end of the call can’t hear it, background noise reduction will be important for your work headset. Look for products that specify this capability - check the product description and specifications about the microphone.
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Call merging: Sometimes, you start a call with one coworker and need to add others later on. Maybe you started the conversation on your laptop, and the call you want to add is coming from your desk phone.
If you don’t want to hang up and start an entirely new call, seek out a device with merging capabilities. It’ll make your conference calls seamless. Different technologies exist for this function; Leitner headsets use their patented UniBase Technology, Jabra employs “multipoint.” Regardless, if you want to make sure your office headset can connect calls from multiple devices, seek out merging capabilities.
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Remote Answering: If you don’t like to stay at your work station all day, but you need to stay on top of answering calls, remote answering is a great feature to have.
Whether it’s achieved with a lifter or an electronic hookswitch, it’ll allow for easy answering all around the office, so you can take a stroll without worrying about missing a call.
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Uniformity: Your entire office needs headsets. A third of them wants over-the-head, a third wants on-the-ear, and the last third has no idea what configuration they want. If you want to accommodate everyone's preferred configuration and simplify the ordering process by sticking to a single product, look for a convertible work headset. These devices can be worn either way; your over-the-head, on-the-ear, and either/or employees will be satisfied, and you won’t have to purchase multiple different products.
Compatibility
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What devices will you be connecting to? Headsets can be connected to desk phones, computers, and mobile devices. Depending on what you’re using your headset with, you’ll want to select a headset that works with one, two, or even all three types. Some corded models will work with two or three, but switching between them can be a bit clunky.
If you’re looking to use a headset with multiple devices, we suggest going with a wireless work headset for a streamlined and simple experience.
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What software will you be using? Be mindful of the apps that your workplace relies on throughout the day. Are you a Zoom workplace? Skype? Teams? Whatever you use, make sure your device is compatible. Some headsets will work with everything, and some might only function fully with one app or another.
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Hardware Compatibility: Most headsets work with 99% of office telephones on the market. A couple things to keep in mind to help make sure you’re in the 99% and not that pesky 1%: Headsets don’t work well with cordless phones – look for that classic curly cord! Also, look for a dial pad on the right, and a handset-receiver on the left. If your phone fits that description, chances are, a corded or wireless headset will work!
Quality Assurance
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Evaluating Quality: This one can be tricky. Of course, we all love to save some dough wherever possible. But do some investigating to find out if a headset’s low price comes with low quality.
Many headsets in the low to mid price range appear to have the same functionality as those with higher prices, but their capabilities are short-lived. Longevity can impact the overall cost of your headset, and you can ensure it by paying attention to customer reviews and brands’ warranty options. A headset that costs $100 and has a 30-day warranty might seem more financially appealing than a $290 one with a 5-year warranty, but be careful. If you have to replace that $100 device with any sort of regularity (30-day warranty would indicate that this may be likely), the cost over the course of 5 years can easily surpass that of the $290 headset.
Moral of the story: do some research on a product’s quality and warranty in order to get the most bang for your buck.
Potential Headset Options
With those considerations in mind, we’re confident that you’ll find a headset that fits your office’s needs perfectly. But since an easy and painless buying experience is crucial to our mission at Headsets.com, we’ve prepared some more materials to help you evaluate your office headset options. Here’s a list of some popular headsets evaluated based on the criteria above:
Leitner® LH370 Wireless Headset
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Configuration: single-ear, on-ear, wireless
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Key functionality: noise cancellation in microphone, UniBase merging technology, remote answering
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Compatibility: universal
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Quality assurance: 5-year full replacement warranty
Executive Pro Harmony Binaural Noise-Canceling Headset
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Configuration: dual-ear, on-ear, corded
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Key functionality: noise cancellation in microphone
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Compatibility: phone only
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Quality assurance: 2-year full replacement warranty
Leitner® LH275 On-the-Ear Wireless Headset
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Configuration: dual-ear, on-ear, wireless
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Key functionality: noise cancellation in microphone, UniBase merging technology, remote answering
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Compatibility: phone, computer
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Quality assurance: 5-year full replacement warranty
Sennheiser OfficeRunner® Wireless Headset Essential Bundle
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Configuration: single-ear, convertible, wireless
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Key functionality: noise cancellation in microphone, call merging, remote answering, convertibility
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Compatibility: phone, computer
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Quality assurance: 3-year full replacement warranty
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Configuration: single-ear, on-ear, corded
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Key functionality: noise cancellation in microphone
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Compatibility: phone
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Quality assurance: 2-year full replacement warranty
You'll love your headset. We promise
When you’re looking into the best office headset to fit your needs, it’s tricky to make a decision without trying out a model. You'll probably want a trial period to see if the style/quality/features are a good fit.
That’s why Headsets.com offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee on all of our headsets. If it doesn’t work for you, let us know and we’ll either find one that does or set up a return/refund for you. Your happiness is key to our happiness. We promise to provide you with the best headset for your office and a top-notch customer experience to go with it.
We're here when you need us
If you need help assessing your office headset needs, finding the best headset for you, or evaluating different models, our Headset Advisors are always happy to talk. Just call 1-800-HEADSETS (432-3738) or email info@headsets.com.
