When it comes to remote meetings, poor video conferencing audio quality can have a noticeable impact on the productivity of the group. Issues like background noise and speaker identification get in the way of creating that “almost as good as in-person meetings” experience if you’re working remotely. Also try Soulnation Earbuds and Headphones for Clearest sound: https://bit.ly/3i7pk5c

1. The11 bestheadsetsfor conference calls in 2021
When it comes to remote meetings, poor video conferencing audio
quality can have a noticeable impact on the productivity of the group.
Issues like background noise and speaker identification get in the way of
creating that “almost as good as in-person meetings” experience if
you’re working remotely.
If you’ve already tried the whole earbuds thing and found that it’s not
good enough for video conferencing, then you’ve come to the right
place.
Let’s take a look at some of the best headphones out there, and how to
choose a good conference call headset.
But wait—what’s wrong with using my laptop
speakers?

2. Given where we are in today’s world of technology, you would think that
laptop manufacturers would do everything within their power to make
sure their built-in speakers deliver a good (we’re not even talking about
excellent here, just good) sound experience.
But most of them don’t.
The other thing is if you do a lot of video conferencing, you can’t avoid
noises in the background. And without any kind of headphones or
earbuds, you’re getting zero noise reduction there.
Even if you’re not using fancy wireless headphones, a basic pair of
earbuds will still reduce that background noise more than using your
laptop speakers when you’re on conference calls.
You can mute and unmute yourself as diligently as you want, but this is
still one of the biggest problems with using laptop speakers.
If you’re going to be on conference calls, spring for a decent pair of
Bluetooth headphones.
5 features to look for in a good headset
Unless you have a boss who’s willing to invest in a good headset for
you, you’ll probably be setting yourself a budget for home office use.
The good news? There are plenty of quality options out there that won’t
break the bank. Let’s look at some features to consider (you won’t
need all of them) as you’re shopping around for the best pair of

3. headphones or earphones, from hands-free options to noise-canceling
features and more.
1. Noise cancellation
If you need a good headset specifically for video conferencing and work,
then noise cancellation is going to be one of the most important features
to look for.
🎧 Fun fact: Noise-cancelling (or noise-canceling, depending on where
you’re from) headsets combine air conduction with bone conduction
technology to transmit sound. How? Your jawbone actually transmits
vibrations too—and sound is a vibration. (That’s why when you wear
earplugs, you can still hear some of what’s going on around you!)
An active noise-cancelling headset has what's called a bi-directional
microphone. Its processor works in the same way as hearing aids, and
basically filters out any surrounding noise to make your voice clearer and
make sure the other person doesn’t pick up any background noise.
That’s assisted by the earpieces, which seal off your ear from external
noises (this can vary in quality depending on the size and type you’re
using).
Pair your noise-cancelling headphones with a communications platform
that has high-quality or HD calling, and your conference calls will sound
super clear—as if you’re in the same room as the other person.
2. Wireless

4. If you’re moving about constantly when you’re on a conference call, or if
you just don’t like having wires everywhere, then you’ll want a wireless
headset. (There are even hybrid sets out there that give you both
options!)
Pros:
 No tangled cables
 Can connect to devices without a headphone socket (smartphones,
etc.)
 No loss of sound quality
Cons:
 Wireless headphones need to be recharged regularly
 If you’re a power user and the battery does end up dying, you’ll need
to buy a new pair (unless you’ve got a hybrid model).
 Pricier than wired headsets (though that gap is narrowing)
For remote workers, wireless is becoming more and more popular. And if
you’re going wireless, then you’ll need this next thing....
3. Long battery life

5. The last thing you want is for your wireless headset’s battery to run out
in the middle of that crucial meeting.
Having a set of Bluetooth headphones with a long battery life is another
important factor when you’re looking for a pair of earbuds for work. If you
don’t want to be recharging your headphones between every single
meeting, battery life is key (that Bluetooth connection can be a real
drain, if you know what we mean).
4. A good mic
While it’s important that you’re able to hear the other people on your
meeting, it’s equally important that they can clearly hear you.
If you’re using your phone (whether it’s Apple, Sony, or Samsung) for
your video calls and phone calls on apps, remember that the mic on your
phone is less important than the one on your headset.
And more importantly, some of the “best” headphones don’t have the
best mic quality! (If you’re a stickler for good audio, you may want to look
into an in-line or a boom microphone, aka. a boom mic.)
🎧 Dialpad tip: Oh, and one more thing: Bluetooth headphones and
sound quality aside, another important factor in high-quality calls is
your internet connection. If you don’t have a reliable network, even the
best headsets won’t be able to save your conference calls.
If you want to upgrade, T-Mobile actually has a partnership with Dialpad
called T-Mobile Collaborate, which gives you lightning-fast 5G and a

6. unified communications platform with messaging, calling, and video
conferencing—perfect for having crystal-clear calls from home:
5. Top-of-the-line sound quality
Let’s be real. If you've been browsing for a pair of headphones for a
while, you’ve probably come across the phrase “superior sound” a lot.
But what does “superior sound” actually mean—and how good is good
enough for work calls?
If you’re an audiophile (or just interested in sound), here are some things
to look for in a headset that will actually get you better sound:
 SANR or SNR (Speech-to-ambient-noise ratio). This refers to the
level of noise that comes through your headset in relation to your
voice. If you’re looking at an active noise cancellation headset, this
ratio is something you should look at.
 Total harmonic distortion. This is the measurement of any difference
between sound input and output. If there’s no distortion, then the tone
coming to your headset is transmitted to you at the same level.
 Frequency response and bandwidth. This tells you whether all voice
tones will be reproduced at the best possible quality.
Okay. Now let’s get into the headphones.
11 best headsets and earbuds for conference calls

7. 1. Jabra BIZ2400 DUO: Kevlar-clad top overalloption
Made of Kevlar (yes, the same material used for bullet-proof vests) and
surgical steel, these sleek and sophisticated headsets are both sturdy
and powerful for office life.
Its noise-cancelling microphone with HD voice makes sure your meeting
attendees can hear you even when you’re connecting from a noisy-ish
environment, like a coffee shop or open office space.
Jabra also features something unique called PeakStop technology,
which actively protects you from sudden loud noises by automatically
keeping the sound level in the “safe zone” at all times.
2. Plantronics C325-M: Probably the best budget-conscious option
A high-quality, yet economical option, Plantronics headphones hold
three of the rankings in our top five list.
Even though the C325-M is a step down from the C725-M, which is third
on this list, we put this one at #2 because it really is a great conference
call headset for the price.
Among its many features are a noise-cancelling microphone, Digital
Signal Processing (DSP) for a richer audio experience, and SoundGuard
technology, which is similar to Jabra’s PeakStop in that it protects

8. listeners from audio spikes. Together, these are designed to give you
one of the best noise-cancelling experiences.
3. Plantronics C725-M: Good “workhorse” headphones with a little extra
padding
As we mentioned earlier, this is technically an upgrade from the C325-M.
The Plantronics C725-M features a padded headband for all-day
comfort, and folds flat for easy portability between video conferences.
In addition to SoundGuard technology, these headphones feature Active
Noise Cancelling (ANC) in both the speakers and microphone, which
helps block out distracting sounds in noisy work environments, whether
you’re talking or listening. Finally, the headphone’s dual-ear Hi-Fi stereo
gives listeners an authentic immersive audio experience, making it seem
like you are in the same room with the people in your video conference.
(This sounds like it’d be nice for watching a movie in addition to
conference calls, actually.)
4. Plantronics Voyager Focus
The most luxurious of the Plantronics headphones on this list, the
Voyager Focus has memory foam cushions on the ear-
pieces and headband. A wireless option that delivers freedom and high-
fidelity sound, the Voyager has a range of up to 98 feet, which means

9. you can walk and talk without tripping over your headset cord or getting
yanked back to your seat when you stand up.
Boasting all of the aforementioned features of the other Plantronics
headphones, the Voyager takes things to the next level by featuring
multi-device connectivity (so you can have it connected to your phone
and computer at the same time).
There’s also its intuitive Smart Sensor technology, which mutes your
voice as soon as you remove the headset and resumes sound when you
place them back on your head. It also pauses music when a call comes
in, and the smart mic adjusts your volume automatically to make sure
your voice comes across clearly.
If you can splurge a little and want the bells and whistles, this is a great
Bluetooth headphone for conference calls.
🎧 Dialpad tip: If you see descriptions of “mono” headsets, that just
means they have one earpiece instead of two. (You’ll see these
typically in headsets designed for contact center agents.) We don’t
have any mono headsets on this list, but that’s what that word means if
you ever come across it.
5. Jabra Evolve80
The first thing you notice about the Evolve 80 is probably the large
around-the-ear cups that envelop you in a world of sound.

10. You can thank those for the immersive audio experience that you’ll get
with this headset.
It features both active and passive noise-cancellation technology,
making sure you can focus on your call, regardless of the noise level of
the environment you work in.
Like its cousin on this list, the BIZ2400 DUO, this Jabra headset includes
a noise-cancelling microphone, HD voice, and PeakStop technology.
6. Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose was an innovator of noise-cancelling headphones, and still is one
of the most respected names in sound systems today.
Like their speakers and other products, Bose’s 700 is beautifully
designed but at the upper end price-wise. It has Bluetooth, of course,
along with USB-C charging, a noise cancelling feature that removes all
outside noise, and even a touch-sensitive pad that has playback
controls. But the biggest advantage of a Bose product is always going to
be the sound quality.
The ear pieces are padded and it looks pretty luxurious—but the price
reflects it. Is it the best buy for your money on this list? Debatable, but if
you value aesthetics and the Bose name, this is an option.
7. Creative SoundBlaster Jam V2

11. Unlike the previous set of Bose headphones, this one’s firmly in the
budget category.
Creative does promise great sound quality though, and the Jam V2 over-
ear headphones are lightweight, while offering a decently long battery
life of 22 hours.
They’re also a hybrid headset(!), so you can switch to a wired connection
when the battery’s low.
Though the sound quality’s reportedly pretty good, there are some
negative factors that to be fair, aren’t surprising, given the price point.
This Bluetooth headset, unlike some of the other ones on the list, isn’t
the most comfortable and there’s minimal cushioning on the ear pads
(which might not matter to some folks).
But again, this is a budget option and could be a good investment as a
backup headset.
8. Jabra Elite 45h
This is a good mid-range budget choice in Jabra’s line. It has very long
battery life (up to 50 hours on one charge), as well as massive 40mm
speakers.
The mic is pretty good, which is expected from a Jabra headset, and
even though they look hefty, they’re pretty lightweight. If you like going

12. on walks while on conference calls, this might be a good option (unless
you want to go with earbuds, which will be much lighter).
For contact center agents, the 45H Bluetooth 5 also offers easily
accessible in-line control buttons on the edge of the right-hand ear cup.
These let you control playback, volume, mute button, and call
interactions. (Another button lets you “talk to” smart assistants like
Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.)
9. Shure AONIC 50
When it comes to sound, Shure is another well known brand that’s
probably more known for being one of musicians’ favorite microphone
brands.
Another premium option, the AONIC 50 offers the sort of high quality
active noise cancelling you’d expect from the price and Shure.
It manages to stay lightweight, even with luxurious leather headbands
and leather-wrapped earpads. All your control buttons are easily
accessible via buttons on the right ear cup.
With high quality noise-cancelling and a great mic, your calls should be
crystal clear (especially if you’re using a communications platform with
HD voice like Dialpad).

13. If you like your apps, a big selling point of this headset is the special
ShurePlus Play app (available on Android and iOS for iPhone) that
allows you to control features like noise cancelling intensity.
10. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
If you’re looking for earbuds instead of headphones (but don’t want to
use AirPods), then this is a good option.
As one of the leading makers of headphones, Sennheiser is another
very reputable brand when it comes to audio quality. And with a charging
case, that means you technically get two charges on the go—when your
earbuds run out of juice, just pop them back into your case for an extra
charge.
Of course, these being earbuds and not headphones with all that nice
padding, the noise cancelling aspect of this model may not live up to
those options and if you plan on taking lots of calls in noisy places, this
might not be the best one for you.
11. AKG Y400
Sitting somewhere between midrange and premium, the Y400 noise
cancelling headphones are a USB headset that offers high-quality sound
from a well built and comfortable headset.

14. Each earpiece has a 36mm driver that produces pretty good sound
whether you’re listening to music or on a call. The controls are
accessible and easy to use, and there’s also a USB-C charging port that
allows you to recharge as you’re using it, which is a plus.
🎧 Dialpad tip: Are you a gamer? If you are, you could just get a nice
gaming headset (that isn’t too bulky) and use that for your conference
calls, since there are some very nice gaming headsets with excellent
mics.
What are your favorite wireless headsets for conference
calls?
Hopefully, these recommendations helped you narrow down your
options.
Depending on where you like to take your video conferences and work
calls, you may not need a super fancy headset—and in most cases you
could even get away with basic earbuds for video conferencing.
Note:
Also try Soulnation Earbuds and Headphones for Clearest sound:
https://bit.ly/3i7pk5c