Are you regularly joining conference calls while you work from home? Life instantly becomes a whole lot easier when you can answer calls from a nice set of headphones that can also play your favourite music. Sure there are the call-center style headsets, but today, we want to offer up another option that’s highly worth considering if you haven’t already — headphones with an integrated mic.
There are a few reasons you might opt for headphones (with a mic) over a headset, majority will be improving sound quality and comfort but some reasons include the aesthetic — headphones tend to have more stylish designs that look cool inside and outside of the office; selection — more options, more price points, more brands, more features to choose from; features — some headphones even come with awesome features such as built-in voice assistants and AR.
Join us as we jump in and take a look at some of the most popular, and best value options, available today!
1. Sennheiser HD 400S
The Sennheiser HD 400S will add legendary Sennheiser sound to your everyday work routine, while also doubling as a headset so you can take calls with a push of a button. The HD 400S features a 1-button smart remote conveniently located on the cable, which allows you to control music and take calls with ease, and the sturdy folding design makes these headphones durable and compact enough to carry in your bag, and take with you anywhere.
The single 3.5mm plug makes connecting them fairly easy for most laptop and android smartphone users, but if you're using an Apple iPhone, check for the jack or consider Apple Headphones, same goes if you're using a PC or Mac - check for the single 3.5mm input/output you'll need - on a desktop PC these are often separated into two lines (one for mic and another for stereo) if that's the case this 3.5mm Y Splitter Cable is the one you'll need.
2. Soundcore Life Q30
Another great value pair of headphones that will make a great headset is Soundcore's Life Q30 Wireless Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones! With precision-tuned 40mm drivers, the Life Q30 offer certified hi-res audio that offers clarity and detail.
They also feature Advanced Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation to help you stay fully immersed in your work and music. Both earcups feature dual noise-detecting microphones that capture and eliminate up to 95% of low-frequency noise, ensuring an immersive experience with just you and your music, free from distractions. They also have ultra-soft leather earcups with memory foam padding to fit snuggly over your ears. The lightweight design ensures they're comfortable for long sessions, helping to negate even more distractions for your work or music.
The Life Q30 features an integrated mic that offer solid performance for phone calls and voice recording. The microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound, and as a result, will reduce a lot of the background noise that is around you on your calls.
3. Sennheiser HD 569 Closed-Back
If you’re looking in the mid-high range, the Sennheiser HD 569 is a great option too. The Sennheiser HD 5 model range offers high quality and value in any aspect. These brilliant headphones not only deliver great sound, but they feature a contemporary design that is both attractive and ergonomic, so you’ll be comfortable wearing these all day as you work.
With a closed-back over-ear design, you’ll enjoy a great soundstage with rich detail and bass response; and effective acoustic isolation, so outside noise stays out, and the music stays in. And when you’ve got calls coming in, this noise-isolating headset lets you manage them with its in-line remote. Much the same as the option above, depending on your PC setup you may need to get this 3.5mm Y Splitter Cable to connect properly, with both mic and stereo sound having there own plugs in some cases.
4. Jabra Connect 5T TWS
If you prefer a pair of true wireless earbuds, Jabra's Connect 5T is a fantastic choice! In fact, these ear buds were designed to excel in virtual meetings, featuring six microphones that have been precisely positioned for optimal call quality. The external microphones are constantly active, and they come equipped with additional wind-resistant mics to enhance your voice. This allows you to take your 'office' outdoors on sunny days while still being heard with clarity!
They also feature Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation technology that blocks out more noise for better focus. These earbuds use feedback microphones on the inside of our ear, as well as feedforward microphones on the outside. This means they'll be less sensitive to how they're positioned in your ear, and reliably supress a wider range of noises while you're working or listening to music.
Bluetooth Multipoint connection will let you connect to two devices - such as your laptop and smartphone - all at once, so you can effortlessly take calls from either device. This along with hands-free voice assistants and up to 28 hours of battery life makes the Connect 5T an awesome sidekick for your work day!
Now we get into the more premium options. If you’ve been after a high-quality pair of headphones for a while, and need a headset, then these are some options you might really consider. Some of them even have integrated voice assistants which is perfect for the workplace!
5. Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones are a highly popular choice in the over-ear noise cancelling space. Not only do they offer incredible audio but they also have an excellent microphone array built-in too.
With Precise Voice Pickup Technology that uses four beamforming microphones and an AI-based noise reduction algorithm, the 1000XM5's isolates your voice precisely, delivering that best call quality ever from the 1000X series. Additionally, a wind noise reduction structure minimises wind noise during calls, so you can be heard clearly from wherever you are.
These Bluetooth headphones can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time and will smartly let you take calls from whichever. They’ll know which device is calling and will connect you automatically as calls come in (with full manual switching available too of course) so you’ll always be in control with the ability to quickly and smoothly swap your headphones between the two connected sources with the touch of a button.
With a massive 30 hours of battery life you'll have enough power to go through several work days in a row without recharge. Additionally, small touches like a custom button, the adaptive sound control feature that lets you talk with people around you without removing the headset, and having my music pause when I take the headphone off, that are really neat and make these headphones an absolute treat to own.
6. Bose QuietComfort Q45
The Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless headphones will live up to the name as soon as you put them on. Soft plush cushioning, a shockingly lightweight design, and fantastic noise cancelling offer the perfect balance of quiet, comfort, and sound.
Engineered with acoustic noise cancelling technology, the QC45 enables you to get in the zone and take your concentration to the next level. Tiny microphones hidden in the earcups continuously measure, compare, and react to outside noise. That noise is then cancelled with an opposite signal, resulting in fewer distractions. You can switch between Quiet Mode for full noise cancelling or Aware Mode to let in some of your surroundings. In addition to great noise cancellation and high-fidelity audio, the QC45 also has a great microphone!
The addition of a fourth external mic make the voice pickup of these headphones standout. These headphones focus on your voice and isolate it while employing a noise-canceling algorithm to eliminate background sounds, ensuring clearer communication. This process takes place instantaneously, providing the assurance that your voice remains crisp and clear, even in windy and loud situations.
Connecting the direct audio cable to the jack on the bottom of the left earcup will disable Bluetooth functions and you'll be free to keep on going with sound, but not microphone, so if you want wired microphone too you'll want to grab this Bose in-line mic cable which solves that. Bluetooth connectivity is excellent, and you can pair with multiple sources simultaneously using the function called multi-point. This allows us to switch between our smartphone and laptop for example, without disconnecting and reconnecting each time.
7. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Momentum 4 is Sennheiser's flagship headphones so you know you'll be fully immersed in incredible sound. Along with advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation and exceptional comfort, these are a pair that deliver an all-around superior experience. They also have an outstanding battery life of up to 60 hours making them more than capable of lasting you an entire work week!
These headphones are also great for taking calls and attending video meetings! Calls sound more natural thanks to an advanced digital beamforming microphone system with automatic wind noise suppression. These headphones provide high quality voice pick-up using four microphones, and the automatic wind noise suppression helps to optimise calls and provide easier voice assistant access. Thanks to fantastic speech clarity, you'll enjoy more accuracy with virtual assistants such as Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri (you can take control with one-touch access via the Voice Assistant button).
If you want the absolute most out of these headphones, including even better call quality, pair it with Sennheiser's BTD600 USB Audio Dongle with AptX Adaptive. Advanced aptX codecs can transmit near-CD quality for listening to music or low latency for excellent voice sync for watching videos and making calls. All-in-all, these headphones are a great choice for anyone after incredible sound with great call quality!
8. Bose 700
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 delivers everything you’d expect and more! Think of these headphones as smart headphones that let you keep your head up to the world with superior sound; easy access to voice assistants; an adaptive mic system for superior voice pickup; and even an AR platform!
Bose Headphones 700 deliver a great listening experience with astonishing Bose sound and 11 levels of noise cancellation. As you increase the noise cancellation, you incrementally minimise the distractions you hear in loud places. Or, decrease it to the point where you hear the world as if you weren’t wearing active noise-cancelling headphones at all.
These headphones also feature an unrivalled four-microphone system that picks up and isolates your voice while cancelling the noise around you. You’ll hear and be heard like never before—even in noisy environments!
Built for comfort, you’ll also appreciate how they feel as you wear them all day to work. They have a streamlined, light-weight headband with soft, angled ear cups to provide a perfect fit. The underside of the headband features an ultra-soft gel foam material that sits comfortably on your head — it won’t even snag a single hair!
The above options are a selection of some of the most popular headphones that are also headsets, but there are so many more options to choose from - many of which also have integrated microphones to allow hands-free calls - so shop the full range of headphones & earphones today for more awesome options!
