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What type of headset do you need?
Headband headset with one ear cushion
Ideal for: Professionals who spend a significant amount of time talking on the telephone and want to have their hands free to accomplish other tasks.
Key features:
- A headband design offers stability, keeping the headset comfortably in place over the user’s head. An adjustable headband ensures a good fit.
- Choose between a foam or a leatherette ear cushion. A leatherette cushion helps protect the inner foam padding from wear and tear.
- Some headsets work only with telephones that have a built–in amplifier. Other headsets require an external amplifier (sometimes sold separately) in order to connect to a single– or multi–line phone.
- Some models allow the user to disconnect from the amplifier and walk away from the phone while still wearing the headset.
- Higher–end models often come with a noise–canceling microphone, which helps eliminate background noise for the caller.
- Some headsets allow the microphone to rotate, allowing the user to choose either right or left ear usage.
What’s available: A convertible model that allows the user to switch between the headband (generally more stable) and over–the–ear (typically more convenient) design.
Headband with two ear cushions
Ideal for: Professionals who spend a significant amount of time talking on the telephone and want to have their hands free to accomplish other tasks. Headsets with two ear cushions will cancel out more background noise than one–ear headsets and are essential in loud offices.
Key features:
- A headband design offers stability, keeping the headset comfortably in place over the user’s head. An adjustable headband ensures a good fit.
- Choose between foam or leatherette ear cushions. Leatherette cushions help protect the inner foam padding from wear and tear.
- A model with a single–wire design may offer more mobility as there’s no Y–shaped cord gathering under your chin.
- Some headsets work only with phones that have a built–in amplifier. Other headsets require an external amplifier (sometimes sold separately) in order to connect to a single– or multi–line phone.
- Some models allow the user to disconnect from the amplifier and walk away from the phone while still wearing the headset.
- Higher–end models often come with a noise–canceling microphone, which helps eliminate background noise for the caller.
- Some headsets allow the microphone to rotate, allowing the user to choose either right or left side usage.
- Some models allow the user to select a bass or treble setting for full, richer tone.
Over-the-ear headset
Ideal for: Professionals who spend a significant amount of time talking on the telephone and want to have their hands free to accomplish other tasks. Typically more convenient and less cumbersome than the headband design.
Key features:
- Loops over one ear, making it easy to put on and take off for frequent and occasional telephone users.
- Choose between an external receiver that rests lightly against the outside of the ear or an earbud that sits in the base of the ear canal. Some models come with more than one size earbud to ensure the perfect fit.
- Some headsets work only with phones that have a built–in amplifier. Other headsets require an external amplifier (sometimes sold separately) in order to connect to a single– or multi–line phone.
- Some models offer a feature that allows the user to disconnect from the amplifier and walk away from the phone while still wearing the headset.
- Higher–end models often come with a noise–canceling microphone, which helps eliminate background noise for the caller.
- Some headsets allow the microphone to rotate, allowing the user to choose either right or left ear usage.
Mobile headset
Ideal for: Digital and cellular telephones. Provides handsfree safety and convenience.
Key features:
- Choose between over–the–ear and adjustable headband (with one ear cushion) designs.
- Typically has a noise–canceling microphone and a noise shield to reduce static.
- Higher–end models have an adjustable microphone boom, microphone adjustment switch for optimal voice output, and convenient volume and mute controls.
- A convertible model will allow the user to switch between the headband (generally more stable) and over–the–ear (typically more convenient) design.
Headset amplifier
Ideal for: Connecting a headset to a single– or multi–line telephone.
Key features:
- Easily switch between the headset and handset by pressing a button.
- Incoming and outgoing volume control.
- Mute switch to have private off–line conversations.
- Powered by batteries or an AC adapter.
- Most models sit on the desk beside the telephone. Desktop models are slightly larger than a deck of cards. Some models can be attached under the desk.
