Without good audio condition, impossible to have a good meeting.
Below a nice selection of confortable and top quality headsets.
Can you hear me ? I'm sure yes !
My top 3 at the bottom.
Shokz OpenComm 2
The Shokz OpenComm UC caters to users working from home or engaged in extensive phone use, prioritizing comfort and microphone quality over immersive audio. Weighing a mere 33 grams, it diverges from traditional headsets, offering a lightweight experience akin to wearing sunglasses.
Designed for the office, this model close to 200$ stands out in Shokz's lineup, emphasizing professional utility with its boom mic. Unlike sport-focused alternatives, it targets users requiring constant connectivity without the discomfort of conventional ear cups.
The headset's minimalist design lacks ear cups, featuring small transducers resembling earbuds in front of the ears. Connected by a single band looping over the ears and around the back of the head, it sports a modern, rubberized look in matte black silicone.
Notably, the emphasis on comfort is evident in the lightweight construction and the absence of contact with the back of the head. The loops of the headband over the ears and the transducers on the upper cheekbones are the only noticeable sensations while wearing the device, crucial for users requiring prolonged use.
Connectivity options encompass Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, ensuring a stable connection. The multipoint pairing facilitates simultaneous connection to both sources, seamlessly switching between them. While audio quality isn't its primary strength, the Shokz OpenComm UC excels in comfort, microphone performance, and suitability for extended professional phone use, justifying its higher price for those valuing these features.
Jabra Elvolve 2 65
The Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, distinct from the earlier Evolve2 65, boasts a sleeker design with dual hinges for flat folding in its compact case. Despite being an on-ear headset, it prioritizes comfort with a well-padded headband and earpieces, weighing a relatively light 136 grams (4.8 ounces).
Impressive in both sound and performance, the Evolve2 65 Flex features a retractable boom microphone, effective active noise canceling, and superior noise reduction for clear calls even in noisy environments, as validated in New York streets. The boom mic's intuitive operation mutes during upward positioning and unmutes when lowered, facilitating seamless video conference calls.
With 28mm drivers, this headset delivers a noteworthy audio experience for music and other content, albeit limited to the SBC audio codec rather than AAC or aptX. Supporting Bluetooth 5.2, it offers wireless connectivity to various devices, and the included Bluetooth USB-A dongle simplifies pairing with PCs, enabling simultaneous connection to two devices. The headset achieves a commendable battery life of up to 21 hours with noise-canceling and 32 hours without, enhancing its appeal as a compact and versatile option.
Jabra Evolve 2 75
Jabra's Evolve2 75 Bluetooth headset excels as a wireless headphone and for phone calls, earning our Editors' Choice award. Its on-ear stereo design, short boom arm, enhanced ANC, and remarkable battery life surpass its predecessor, the Evolve 75. The plush padding ensures comfort during extended use, and the sleek aesthetic adds sophistication.
Internally, 40mm dynamic drivers deliver a broad frequency range. Compatible with Bluetooth 5.2 and supporting AAC and SBC codecs, the headset is certified for major Unified Communication platforms. The retractable boom mic, with a convenient mute/voice assistant button, enhances clarity, effectively minimizing background noise.
Controls include a three-button array, with multifunction playback control, and a dedicated call button. Jabra estimates up to 36 hours for music and 24 hours for talk without ANC or the busy light. Sound performance impresses with thunderous bass and clear highs.
The eight-mic array ensures excellent call quality, minimizing surrounding noise. The retractable boom, muting by default, provides a discreet option for calls without compromising clarity. While pricier, the Evolve2 75 offers a versatile, high-performance Bluetooth headset for both music and calls, making it a top choice among competitors.
Logitech Zone Vibe 125
Logitech has broadened its product range, venturing beyond professional headsets into a diverse array of offerings, competing with Jabra and Plantronics. The recent additions, Zone Vibe 100 and 125, are positioned as "mid-range" options within Logitech's current lineup.
These headsets, akin to Logitech's gaming headset G435, aim for versatility beyond their primary functions. The Zone Vibe 100/125 closely mirror the gaming model's design, with subtle differences in cushion coating. Equipped with 40mm speakers, they share similarities with the gaming variant.
Both Zone Vibe 100 and 125 feature a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver for calls and music at home, work, or on the go. Multipoint support allows simultaneous connections to two devices, while the "125" model includes a USB-A dongle for desktops without Bluetooth.
A notable enhancement is the flexible boom microphone on the left ear, distinguishing Zone Vibe models from the G435. Theoretically offering superior voice capture, it aims to isolate the user's voice effectively from ambient noise. With the already commendable microphone performance of the G435, expectations are high for further improvements on these new models.
Logitech Zone Wireless 2
Logitech's Zone Wireless 2 headset, the second iteration, enhances the original with improved design and performance. Competing with Jabra's Evolve2 65 Flex, it is slightly heavier at 230 grams, incorporating metal parts for durability and a premium appearance. The headset, comfortable for extended use, features soft ear pads filled with high-quality memory foam.
Similar to the Jabra, Logitech's offering includes a retractable boom microphone with a mute button and effective active noise cancellation. The transparency mode allows external sounds, and the headset, equipped with five microphones, uses Bluetooth 5.2 with an impressive 50-meter wireless range. Battery life is rated at 15 hours with noise canceling on and 18 hours off.
Tested in the bustling streets of New York, the headset delivered clear calls, impressing listeners. While it may not match Sony or Bose headphones, the sound quality for music is commendable, supporting SBC, AAC, and AptX audio codecs (unlike the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, which supports only SBC). The Microsoft Teams-certified white version includes a USB-A/USB-C Bluetooth dongle for computer use and a slim carry pouch. Overall, the Zone Wireless 2 is a notable upgrade over its predecessor, positioning it as a top-tier headset.
Logitech H390
Logitech's H390 headset stands out for its affordability and superior sound quality, catering to various needs, from gaming to conference calls. The design prioritizes comfort and durability, featuring an adjustable headband and plush, noise-isolating ear cups for extended use. Its lightweight construction is ideal for prolonged gaming or conference sessions.
The standout feature is its high-quality stereo speakers, providing crisp audio for music, movies, or virtual meetings. The built-in noise-canceling microphone ensures precise voice transmission. With versatile connectivity options, including a USB-A connection for easy plug-and-play compatibility with PCs and Macs, the H390 offers a stable and reliable link for uninterrupted audio transmission.
Compatibility is another strength, as the H390 seamlessly integrates with Windows, macOS, and Linux, working well with popular applications like Skype, Zoom, and Discord. It also supports popular music streaming services. In conclusion, the Logitech H390 headset is a cost-effective investment offering superior sound quality, comfort, and broad compatibility for gamers, music enthusiasts, and professionals in need of a reliable headset for diverse applications.
Bose QuietComfort SE
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, may not represent a substantial leap from the Noise Cancelling 700 model. However, they introduce a more sophisticated design and incorporate Bose's innovative Immersive Audio feature, providing notable sound quality enhancements. In addition to delivering exceptional audio and effective noise cancellation, the QC Ultra Headphones excel in call quality, boasting superior background noise reduction. Collectively, these features position them among the leading noise-canceling headphones on the market, making them a formidable competitor to Sony's well-regarded WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max.
Sennheiser Momentum 4
Sennheiser's fourth iteration of the Momentum Wireless headphone boasts impressive upgrades, featuring a theoretical 60-hour battery life, improved hands-free capabilities, and adaptive active noise cancellation.
Emulating the design of the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Momentum 4 Wireless emphasizes modern aesthetics and enhanced ergonomics. While the build quality is commendable, the lack of a foldable headband contributes to a slightly bulkier storage profile. Despite this, the headset provides notable comfort, with only minor pressure reported on the top of the head by some users.
Equipped with touch controls, the Momentum 4 Wireless faces occasional issues, such as imprecise volume control and frustrations with the mechanical button. The Smart Control app experiences sporadic slowdowns and detection problems.
With an impressive battery life of around 57 hours, the hands-free kit excels in delivering clear voice capture in various environments. While active noise cancellation is satisfactory, competitors may offer more robust performance. The ambient sound mode maintains a natural balance, but inherent isolation affects external sound localization. Overall, the Momentum 4 offers a remarkable experience, excelling in battery life, hands-free performance, versatility, and features, although those prioritizing superior sound quality and noise cancellation might lean towards alternatives like the WH-1000XM4 or Headphones 700.
Sony WH-XB910N
The Sony WH-XB910N is a budget-friendly headset with both positive and negative aspects. Priced attractively, it offers strong noise canceling, optional wired listening, and good battery life of 37 hours with ANC on. However, its overpowering bass, inconsistent touch controls, and mediocre microphone performance are drawbacks. The design, resembling previous models, is sleek in black or navy, featuring plastic construction with vinyl earpad covers.
Battery testing indicates a commendable 37 hours and 9 minutes with ANC activated, with Sony suggesting a potential 50 hours without ANC. The ANC effectively reduces noise across the frequency spectrum, comparable to the older WH-1000XM3. Passive isolation handles high frequencies well, while the microphone struggles with high-pitched sounds and background noise.
Comfort is generally good, and the codec support is above average, though LDAC performance can be inconsistent. The touch controls are not without issues, occasionally triggering unintentional commands. Overall, the WH-XB910N is a budget-friendly choice, but its suitability depends on the user's willingness to compromise on certain features.
Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless headphones succeed the WH-1000XM3, boasting improvements such as extended battery life, enhanced touch controls, and multi-device pairing. With exceptional noise isolation due to active noise cancellation (ANC) and a luxurious design, they remain a solid choice. While the arrival of the WH-1000XM5 offers an alternative, the WH-1000XM4 still presents a compelling option, especially at a reduced price.
Comfortable and well-built, the WH-1000XM4's foldable design enhances portability, though they are not recommended for sports due to their lack of water resistance. The headphones feature LDAC technology for high-quality wireless audio, Quick Attention for conversations, and innovative Speak-to-Chat functionality. Wearing Detection, a new feature, automatically pauses playback when removed and resumes when worn.
The headphones prioritize clear voice calls with Precise Voice Pickup technology, and the battery life reaches up to 30 hours with both Bluetooth and noise-cancelling active. Sony's advanced HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 contributes to improved noise cancellation, surpassing the performance of the previous model. Overall, the WH-1000XM4 maintains Sony's dominance in the noise-cancelling headphones market, offering comfort, innovative features, and impressive sound quality.
My top 3
My personal top 3, with a good mix of experience and quality/price balance.
- Shokz OpenComm 2
- Jabra Elvolve 2 65
- Sennheiser Momentum 4
Now, you don't have any excuses to hear properly your contacts and stay (not too long) in meetings with a maximum of confort.
