Best VoIP Headsets

You know the following situation: your phone rings, you pick it up, but you have to jot down something, continue working on your computer or you just like to gesture a lot while talking over the phone (which is completely normal, by the way). However, phones always keep one of your hands busy, hindering you from doing your job. And if you do want to use both of your hands, you have to put the caller on speaker, which is rude and may disturb your colleagues. This is why headsets come in handy.

Using a headset with your VoIP phone system and any hardware you may want to use for it involves a bit more than just plugging in your headphone jack, an issue you can do away with altogether by opting for a wireless headset rather over wired headphones. Let’s take a look at the options and why one solution may be more favorable than the other, and which of the best VoIP headsets we recommend.

Pros and cons of headsets

Regardless of what kind of headset you are using, there is one major advantage over simple handsets: they are more comfortable to use, because your hands are completely free. Furthermore, you don’t have to put the caller on speaker, adding more to client discretion, while you also completely filter out any disturbing external noises thanks to stereo voices. Regular headsets all have 3.5mm audio jacks, meaning that any device (telephone, computer, smartphone etc.) having such a jack can host a headset without installing any software. Moreover, audio signals can be divided thanks to audio jack splitters/combo jacks.

However, if your headset has a different jack, like USB or Lightning, you are in trouble: those headsets cannot be used with desk phones having audio jacks. Some headsets don’t have volume controllers, which forces you to use that of the phone (if it has any) or the computer. And if you don’t want to be “bound” by the headset cord and go wireless, we have some bad news: these can be a bit unreliable due to signal losses and other possible interferences.

Using headsets cross-device

There are also headset buddies, which help to build a “bridge” between the newest Apple standard Lightning jacks (from iPhone 7 and up) and a regular 2.5mm/3.5mm. Furthermore, adapters can solve one of the biggest compatibility issues: they provide relief for desk phones that do not possess “normal” audio jacks, but the RJ9, RJ10 or RJ/22 standard.

Wireless vs cabled headphones

Like we said before, wireless headsets are less reliable, despite giving you almost complete freedom and total comfort of use. The biggest problem with them (aside from their prices) is that Bluetooth connection is only good within a certain range: the moment you go too far, the connection is dropped. Furthermore, unless your PC/Mac/smartphone has Bluetooth preinstalled, you need an adapter. And if you want to connect desk phones with a wireless headset, you need a docking station with the right jack.

Wired headsets give you less freedom, since you are “tied” to the device, but they provide a more reliable connection for relatively cost-friendly prices. The problem with these headsets is that the more advanced they are, the faster they can get broken: volume-controllers don’t function anymore, the jack might fall off and the cable can get broken. And let’s not talk about the nightmare that jumbled cords cause…

Getting VoIP headsets

The beauty of using a headset is that any device can be used – provided that it has the right jack or you have an adapter. The cherry on top is that you can buy headsets anywhere, including VoIP providers too.

However, keep in mind that we are talking about a very wide-spread accessory, therefore don’t expect many VoIP companies to have headsets in stock. In fact, you have to apply the method we suggest to our readers when choosing the right cloud phone system provider: look up multiple products, hear the opinion of others, select the best ones, go through their pros and cons and pick a winner. After that, check whether the selected headset is available from your VoIP provider’s store: if not, or if it’s overpriced (headphones are usually pricier at VoIP providers), look it up in sites like Amazon, eBay, online electronics stores etc.

Recommended headsets

Now that we talked about the background of headsets, it is time to introduce you to some of the best picks of the market. In order to represent the versatility of headsets, we decided to show you wireless device, a foldable version and a traditional headset.

Logitech H390