Nowadays there is a confusingly huge variety of headsets to choose from. Anything from wireless earbuds to full over ear headsets, everyone has their own opinion on which are best. Typically, the only required features are good audio quality and a good microphone. The remaining features are up to personal preference and budget!
The best wireless earphones
Apple AirPods
Brand: Apple
Cost: From £159
From £159 directly from Apple, The Apple AirPods or Apple AirPods Pro from £249 are one of the most expensive options for wireless earphones.
They offer up to 5 Hours of battery life on one charge, support active noise cancellation and are sweat and water resistant.
They are comfortable for long periods of time and have great audio and microphone quality. They connect to your phone or laptop via Bluetooth giving them a range of around 9 meters. Despite the price, they are a decent option if you are after wireless earphones.
More info: www.apple.com
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
Brand: Cambridge Audio
Cost: From around £99
If buying direct from Cambridge Audio you can pick up a pair of Melomania 1 Wireless earphones for around £99. They are smaller and lighter than the Apple AirPods and despite the size deliver amazing audio and microphone quality.
They last around 9 Hours on a single charge. Like the Apple AirPods they also connect via Bluetooth to your phone or laptop, have around 9 meters of range and have active noise cancellation. For the price I think these are very good wireless earphones.
More info: www.cambridgeaudio.com
The best lightweight headsets
Sennheiser PC 2 CHAT
Brand: Sennheiser
Cost: From around £15
Sennheiser is a very well-known brand with a history of producing high quality audio equipment.
Unfortunately, Sennheiser don’t directly sell the PC 2 CHAT, however they can be picked up from as little as £15 from many resellers.
Despite the very low price these types of headsets offer very good audio quality. They are very comfortable and allow you to hear the outside world as well as your call audio. This type of headset is often referred to as a one ear or mono headset, due to only having one speaker. They can be worn on either the left or right ear by simply rotating the microphone.
More info: www.eposaudio.com
Jabra Pro 900 Series
Brand: Jabra
Cost: From around £115
Available as either Mono (one ear) or Duo (two ear) headsets, the Jabra Pro 900 Series uses Dect Technology to be wireless up to 100 Meters away from the dock.
With up to 12 hours of battery life and good audio quality. These can be picked up for around £115 new from several resellers. The headset is very comfortable to wear thanks to the wireless capability.
More info: www.jabra.co.uk
The best gaming headsets
Budget option
NUBWO TS-N16D
Brand: NUBWO
Cost: From around £40
There are many budget gaming headsets that are designed to be worn for long periods of time. A good (and best-selling on Amazon) example is the NUBWO TS-N16D Gaming Headset.
They are designed to be super comfortable, with lots of padding and an over ear design. Although they are a little heavier than other options on this list, they fit well and can be worn for long periods.
More info: www.nubwo.co.th
Mid-range option
HyperX Cloud II
Brand: HyperX
Cost: From around £80
Weighing in at 322 grams the Cloud IIs are the heaviest headset on this list. But with an impressive build quality and balance they are one of the most comfortable.
They feature 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound and a fantastic noise-cancelling mic. Memory foam ear cups provide great passive noise cancellation making them suitable for use even in a noisy room.
The price is firmly mid-range, but the features list reads like that of a headset twice the price.
More info: www.hyperxgaming.com
High-end option
Audeze LCD-GX
Brand: Audeze
Cost: From around £850
Almost £900 for gaming headphones!? Yes, it does seem like a crazy amount but there is logic here. This headset is aimed primarily at people that spend time gaming and/or on video calls but also like to listen to high quality music without having to change headsets.
They are uncompromising and are unashamedly designed with the serious audiophile in mind. You won't find a packed feature list or full RGB LED lighting. What you will find is headset that ranks firmly among the best available.
More info: www.audeze.com
In conclusion
Overall there are many types of headset for you to choose from. Personally, I prefer a lightweight, wireless one eared headset. This allows me to move around without the cable getting in the way, and you can wear it for long periods of time without even noticing it on your head.
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Network Engineer
Tristan is a Network Engineer here at Optima Systems. He has always had a keen interest in IT, studying throughout School at The Weald, in Billingshurst, before moving onto an Extended IT Diploma at Chichester College. After a successful application he joined Optima Systems in January 2020.
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