10 Best Headsets for Zoom Meetings and Calls

Are you looking for the best headsets for Zoom meetings having better output and input audio quality? No worries, here we have narrowed down the list to top ten best headphones for Zoom calls after reviewing 70 different headphones online.

So, let’s dig into more details…

It’s the post-pandemic era, and Zoom meetings and video conferences are still a huge hit. The revolution of online video and audio calling has made things convenient for everyone. The only frustrating thing is when sometimes you have to dig into your microphone when the other person starts repeating – “you’re not audible, maybe connectivity issues”.

And maybe sometimes the issue is related to network connectivity. But often, the cause is a sub-par headset. If you have the best headset for Zoom meetings, you might be able to evade this issue altogether.

In this article, we’ll talk you through ten of the best Zoom headphones available in the market.

Best Headsets for Zoom Meetings to Buy Online

We’ve covered different parameters like affordability and performance to figure out which headphones for Zoom meetings offer the highest value for money.

Through our list, you can find your perfect product and bid goodbye to faulty and stuttering audios.

1. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 – Best for Long Meetings without Distractions

The Bose Headphones 700 markets Noise Cancelling as their most unique and premium feature. The noise canceling capability of this product is indeed supreme, but it cannot match the level of several other headsets, which are slightly more expensive.

With good performance and a comfortable build, it is still one of the most desirable headsets for Zoom calls on the market.

Features

• Offers 11 levels of ANC features for long meetings without distractions.
• Comes with a highly-advanced microphone system to eliminate noisy and windy backdrops and make your voice sound crystal clear all the time.
• Offers 20 hours of non-stop listening on a single charge.
• Offers the coveted Alexa to Alexa calling feature.

Review

Bose is one of the first brands to revolutionize and normalize the concept of ANC (Active Noise Cancelling). It’s 2022 and the market has caught up, but there’s still the benefit of the doubt that the brand gets when it comes to this area of specialization, except Sony which offers more premium features as compared to old Bose products.

Fortunately, with the launch of the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, Bose has improved the design, added new features, enhanced quality, and significantly revamped the build to meet the customers’ demand.

The headset might not be the best option in terms of heavy tasks like gaming and watching films, but it certainly is one of the best in the market for enjoying clear-cut meetings without facing any sort of distraction over long hours.

2. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Headphones – Best Overhead Headsets for Meetings

Sony’s premium WH-1000XM4 is one of the most premium options available in the market. Because of its enormous updates and high-quality performances, the headset became the recipient of the 2021 winners of the award hosted by What Hi-F?

Features

• One of the best Noise Cancelling systems with Dual Noise Sensor Technology.
• Features the Edge-Ai that is jointly developed by Sony Music Studios Tokyo for a better listening experience.
• Near-perfect touch sensor controls to make navigation and controls easier – can use it to play, pause, or skip tracks, lower or raise the volume, answer phone calls, and so on.
• Features the coveted speak-to-chat technology that optimizes volume during conversations automatically.
• Offers a more personalized listening experience with its Adaptive Sound Control technology.

Review

We mentioned the prowess of Sony at delivering high-end headsets for meetings in the previous product review. Now, we’ll talk about one of their headphones in detail.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 hit the market with a bang in 2020, becoming the biggest launch of the year. A hype that was justified seeing as how it is still one of the best headphones for Zoom calls and other online meetings.

The sustained popularity in the market is justified with tons of premium features and a convenient build. For instance, Sony promised that the product will not just feature a rebranding of the old headsets. Instead, the new WH-1000XM4 was supposed to offer an elevated version of everything – a more comfortable design, a stronger noise-canceling system, and certainly better sound quality.

The launch of the product indicated that Sony delivered on its promise. Otherwise, it would have ended up as a huge failure for the brand.

3. Jabra Elite 45h Headphones – Best for Long Meetings and Calls

With Jabra Elite 45h, you could listen for days at a time, offering 50 hours of great listening experience on every charge. It is a great, highly-affordable option with decent sound quality that does the job perfectly for online meetings.

Features

• Comes with 40-mm speakers for a better listening experience.
• Offers a whopping 50 hours of battery life on a single charge.
• Great microphone quality with a 2-microphone call technology to make controlling and using the headset more convenient.
• Uses a foldable, lightweight, and comfortable build to accommodate users who have to sit through long meetings.
• Comes with the My Sound technology to help users personalize their listening experience.

Review

This can work as one of the best headphones for Zoom meetings for users who don’t wish to spend a huge amount of money on just a headset.

Not everyone has a lot of requirements when it comes to listening. Just spending $500 on a premium option if you just need to get through a couple of online meetings every day might be a huge waste of money.

For that reason, we bring you the Jabra Elite 45h. It is one of the best headphones featuring an on-ear design and catering to casual listeners.

The headphone is highly compact and convenient, with a comfortable build and design. The microphone quality of the headset is great as well. The sound quality is decent, but there are some issues – nothing more than what you would expect from a headset costing less than a hundred dollars.

4. Apple AirPod Max – Best for Users with an Apple Ecosystem

Half the corporate world is using Apple products to get through their online requirements like Zoom meetings, preparing presentations, and so on.

The Apple AirPodMax offers the best-in-class Active Noise Cancelling system for getting you through important and long meetings conveniently.

Features

• Uses one of the best Active Noise Cancelling systems to drown out external noise and unwanted sounds.
• Features the Transparency mode to interact with the world around.
• Revolutionizes comfort by incorporating knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions in the product design.
• Offers up to 20 hours of sound listening experience on a single charge.

Review

We cannot just skip over Apple AirPod Max when we speak of the best wireless headset for Zoom meetings. Not only are they exceptional in terms of quality, but are also very reliable for long-term uses.

The quality of audio as well as the features offered by this pair of headphones is great, but it does have some annoying details that come with almost every Apple product.

Mostly, the AirPod Max is the best option for Apple admirers who are using an entire ecosystem made out of the brand – a macOS laptop, iPads, and so on.

If you have experienced the quirky and high-quality features of Apple AirPods Pro, then you will certainly enjoy the updated Max version of the product.

5. Jabra Evolve2 30 MS Wired Headset – Best for Zoom Meetings for Around $100

The Jabra Evolve2 30 headset offers an affordable solution to people looking for decent headphones to get the job done. The build of the product is comfortable and it has an excellent microphone that offers clear speech while in meetings.

Features

• Uses an extensive 2-microphone system to provide clear sound while speaking in meetings and online calls while simultaneously eliminating unwanted sounds around you.
• Uses a reinforced steel headband and an optimized design and build to make wearing it more convenient and comfortable for the users.
• Uses an on-ear design for better hooking and user convenience.

Review

The Evolve2 30 model launched by Jabra is one of the best office-based headsets that are available in the market for around $100.

The primary visible drawback is that the headset is wired and does not offer a wireless solution. But for those who don’t mind being wired in while at work, it’s a great budget option that will get the job done handsomely.

While the product is affordable, it still comes with tons of premium features that will come in handy while you conduct your online meetings. The audio performance and listening experience offered by the headset are great as well.

6. Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Headphones – Best Mid-Range Option for Office-Goers

Offering most of the standard and premium features, the Jabra Elite 85h is a great addition to the headset market.

It undercuts all the alternatives in terms of pricing and primarily targets customers looking for headphones to get through online meetings without disruption.

Features

• The SmartSound and Smart Active Noise Cancellation feature detect all unwanted background noises and provide a smooth talking experience over calls and meetings.
• The SmartSound feature automatically provides a personalized listening experience to the user.
• Offers 36 hours of battery life on a single charge. Also offers fast charging of about 5 battery hours in just 15 minutes.
• Offers clarity in speech by using 6 of the 8 built-in microphones during calls and meetings.
• Provides a water-resistant solution to the users.

Review

With a good Active Noise Cancelling feature, the Jabra Elite 85h wireless is a great option for people who are on a budget but can spend a little extra on purchasing the wireless alternative produced by Jabra.

While it does offer several other upgrades over the Evolve2 30 model developed by the same brand, Elite 85h is distinctly marked mainly because of its Bluetooth Connectivity options.

In addition, the sound quality, performance, and clarity of the microphone, the comfort of the design and build, and the price tag of the headphone are all great.

For people who want to use it mainly for purposes related to office and online meetings, few can outpace this product within this price range.

7. EPOS SENNHEISER Adapt 660 Headset – Best for a Wholesome Listening Experience

The EPOS Adapt 660 is a comfortable, high-end headset that optimizes call clarity, provides a convenient wearing experience over long hours, and offers a reliable Active Voice Cancellation system to make long meetings not only bearable but also somewhat enjoyable.

Features

• EPOS’s exclusive AI system maximizes sound clarity and offers a great online meeting experience.
• Offers the coveted Microsoft Teams integration that can be accessed conveniently.
• Comes with an extensive Active Noise Cancellation system to optimize the listening experience by reducing background noise.
• Offers personalized listening experience through machine learning techniques.

Review

SENNHEISER is a legend in the headset, headphone, and earphone industry. The Adapt 660 headset is a testimony of how good the brand is at churning out high-quality products that continue to impress the market, even years after the company’s inception. T

his particular headset integrates AI to provide a wholesome listening experience to the customer.

Using smart and adaptive technologies, Adapt 660 ensures that the clarity of sound is maximum, the stereo audio is perfect, and the input sound quality is excellent.

The built-in microphones of the product use machine learning. This measure was taken by the brand to ensure that the headset continues to improve in clarity and personalizes itself according to the routines of the customers.

Another great thing about the headset is that it features a Microsoft Teams integration that customers can access with a simple button press.

8. SENNHEISER HD 450BT Wireless Headphone – Best in the Market under $150

As a more affordable Sennheiser option for the brand’s enthusiast, the headset does a pretty decent job at offering a good solution for online meetings and calls.

However, the product does come with a few drawbacks making us think that this good product could’ve been great.

Features

• Offers strong Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for effortless and uninterrupted networks.
• Comes with a strong noise cancellation feature to optimize the listening experience.
• Offers USB-C fast charging along with a good battery life of 30 hours on a single charge.
• Offers multiple intuitive controls like buttons for Siri, Google Assistant, and Virtual Assistant.
• The Sennheiser App is brilliant for multiple things like updating the firmware, and so on.

Review

As usual, you cannot doubt any SENNHEISER product when it comes to sound quality. The HD 450BT model delivers on the same front, offering excellent sound quality for an optimized listening experience.

However, there are some drawbacks in the comfort and convenience department. For instance, the ear cups could’ve been a little more spacious to make it easier for customers to sit through long meetings without any residual pain afterward.

The noise canceling feature is okay – nothing special, but does the job well, which is what you would expect from a headset in this price range.

9. Poly – Voyager Focus 2 UC USB-A Headset – Best for a Retro-Modern Combination Look

The Poly–Voyager Focus 2 Headset provides a complete solution for customers on a search for their office buddies and partners during long online meetings.

The unique retro-modern combination appearance of the headset is not for everyone, but the overall build and comfort of the headset are guaranteed.

Features

• Features an extensive Noise Cancelling System that comes in three modes – high, low, and off to adjust to different surroundings.
• Uses the Poly Acoustic Fence technology to eliminate unwanted background noises while speaking.
• Features smart technology options like the Dynamic Mute Alert which warns the user if they try to speak while being on mute during online calls.
• Prioritizes comfort with a lightweight headband and plush ear cushions to accommodate long meetings.
• Can support multiple devoice connections.

Review

The first thing that you notice about Poly–Voyager Focus 2 is the appearance. The developers tried to make something unique out of a shrewd idea but might have failed magnificently. At least that is what the majority of experts are saying.

If you are a fan of trying something out of the box, the appearance shouldn’t bother you too much.

It shouldn’t bother you at least once you try it on, as the build is quite strong and sturdy, something that you wouldn’t expect from the headset at the first glance.

It also does not have the annoying cheap plastic feel that comes with most modern wireless headsets. The headset can also be worn in any way without hassle as there is no distinction between the left and the right ear cup.

The placement largely depends on the comfort of the customer as well as the optimum microphone placement for a good Zoho meeting experience.

10. Plantronics – Voyager 5200 UC Headset – Best Single-Ear Headphone for Online Meetings

There aren’t a lot of single-ear headsets available in the market, but Plantronics – Voyager 5200 UC is right there at the top of its price range, especially for online Zoho meetings and calls.

While it’s not the best, it successfully caters to the niche market looking for monaural solutions for long calls.

Review

While it primarily targets customers looking for headsets for their online meetings, the Voyager 5200 is only mediocre when it comes to phone calls.

The headphone comes with a comfortable design that customers can wear for a long time without any issues or pain, which is the main reason why there is a market for monaural headsets.

The recording quality of the headset is not that great as well. On the flip side, essential features like the noise canceling system and noise handling of the headset are great and can provide a smooth online calling experience even in noisy situations.

Apart from that, the headset offers a lot of customizable options to customers for phone calls, which is always a plus.

Moreover, the build of the headset is not only comfortable for wearing, but also in terms of button placements that are easy to navigate and use in the middle of a call.

How to Choose the Headphone for Zoom Meetings and Calls – Buyer’s Guide

The headphone market is huge and comes with tons of diverse products. Even though we narrowed the enormous range of options down to just 10, it might still be difficult for customers to make the right call.

For instance, the headsets mentioned in our list aren’t all the same – neither are they all the absolute best in the market. We used a variety of parameters to compare affordability, performance, and other features that are essential to the customer’s decision of purchasing it.

To make the right call, the buyer must choose the headset that best suits their requirements. Only then will their money be worth it.

To make their choice easier, we’ve come up with a buyer’s guide that they can go through to help themselves make a more informed decision.

So without further ado, let’s talk about some of the most important things that a customer must consider before purchasing a headset for Zoom meetings and online calls.

1. Noise Cancellation

When you are purchasing a good headset for online Zoom conferencing, the first feature that you need is a noise cancellation system.

Nowadays, most headphones and even earphones incorporate a noise cancellation mechanism in their work. However, not all of them work on the same level. Some ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) systems are good, while others are only average, and might not work in chaotic and noisy situations.

In our article, we’ve mentioned all the headsets that contain an “Active Noise Cancellation” feature. They all have one thing in common – a bi-directional microphone. What the microphone does is focus only on your voice and filter out all the other unwanted sounds and noises coming from the background. These background sounds might include the general chatter of people or natural elements like wind or rain.

The ANC feature needs some hardware assistance as well. For instance, an ANC system works well when the headset’s earpiece does an adept job at sealing your ear from external sounds.

With a good noise-canceling headset, your online meetings would appear as though you all are in the same room, something that many of us with long Zoom calls on our schedule would appreciate. The feature works especially well on Zoom as it has HD calling and offers the clearest conversations online.

2. Wired or Wireless?

The second thing that you need to decide is whether or not you want a wireless headset. The modern market is cluttered with wireless solutions.

Previously, people avoided headsets without wires as that would mean constant charging in between meetings. But nowadays, all the top products are offering excellent battery life on a single charge.

For instance, one of the products mentioned in our list offers a whopping battery life of around 50 hours on a single charge. Surely, you won’t sit through a meeting that’s going to last for 50 hours on an end?

Another good thing about a wireless headset is that it is more suitable for online meetings and calls. Wireless connections offer better sound as the quality is reduced during wired transmissions. As a result, the best way to enjoy a meeting without straining your ears to understand your peers is to use a wireless headset for the best sound quality.

So if you are going for one of our options, battery life might not be an issue for you, after all. But wireless headphones do come with some other cons when compared to wired headsets.

Pros of Wireless Headsets

• Don’t have to deal with tangled cables.
• Connect to any device easily without a headphone socket.
• Sound quality is better on wireless connections.

Pros of Wired Headsets

• Much cheaper than wireless headsets.
• Don’t need to be charged regularly and can be used for hours on end.

Developers are doing everything that they can to bridge the gap between wired and wireless headphones. A good solution for people who cannot seem to decide between the two is to use a headset that offers both wired and wireless solutions.

3. Battery Life

Earlier, we talked about which headset is better for online Zoho meetings and calling – a wired or a wireless headset. In that comparison, the battery life of the headphone was a key determining factor to conclude the comparison.

Battery life is essential for any sort of digital device, be it a laptop, camera, or headset. The last thing that you need to worry about during a meeting is whether or not your headset is going to make the end of that online call. This is something that happens a lot, headphones running out of battery in the middle of an important meeting. The awkward moments when the others wait for you to get your backup earphones are just embarrassing.

Fortunately, it’s not so difficult to avoid this. All you need to do is find a headset with long battery life.

Bluetooth headphones earlier had several battery-related issues that made people opt for wired connections. However, nowadays developers are improving the battery of their products every day.

In this article, all the headsets that we have mentioned have at least a decent battery life, with the most notable going up to 50 hours on a single charge.

Ideally, you should try to get a Bluetooth headset that offers at least 20 hours of smooth battery life on a single charge. It would also be good if you can find a headset with fast charging option as that might help you make it out of sticky situations.

4. Microphone

With an active noise cancellation system, your peers would be able to comprehend your speech clearly without any issues. But what if background noise is not the issue?

Sometimes, online meetings are ruined because of a simple error – your headset’s microphone is below average.

You need to be the listener in meetings. But when you speak, it becomes even more important that others can comprehend what you’re saying. For this, your voice must be absolutely clear.

Finding a headset with a good microphone is not as easy. Some of the most premium headsets available in the market don’t have a great microphone. Using a two-microphone headset might be a good idea to ensure that your voice is as clear as you want theirs to be during an online meeting.

5. Sound Quality

If you want a decent pair of headphones simply for online meetings and calls, the sound quality might not be a priority for you. But it should.

Sound quality isn’t just about the quality of music that you stream. The sound quality offered by a headset is an important factor during online calls too. It determines how clear and smooth the sound is throughout the entirety of the meeting, making it too crucial a factor to ignore.

Here are some metrics that you can use to measure the sound quality of a headset:

• SANR (Speech-to-Ambient-Noise-Ratio): Speech-to-Ambient-Noise-Ratio or simply Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) is an important figure that you can use to measure the effectiveness of your headset’s noise cancellation system. The ratio is a measure of how much-unwanted noise comes through your headphones, relative to the voice of the speaker. For a good headset, the ratio should be more than 40 dB (excellent). You should altogether avoid a headphone offering less than 15 dB (very poor).
• Total Harmonic Distortion: The Total Harmonic Distortion measures the total disruption in the quality of the sound in between meetings. It measures the total difference in your headphone between the input and output sounds. The sound coming through your headset will be clean without any distortion if the sound transmits at the same level.
• Frequency Response and Bandwidth: The Frequency Response and Bandwidth detail whether the headset is capable of reproducing the input sound at the highest possible quality.

These are some of the most crucial features that you must have in your headsets for Zoom meetings and Zoom calls.

Other factors such as affordability and appearance are subjective and so aren’t mentioned in our guide. Be sure to only check the headsets within your price range and choose the best one among them.

FAQs on Zoom Headphones

Conclusion

Finding the right headset to make Zoom meetings more bearable and enjoyable is crucial. If you cannot listen to what others are saying, and if they cannot comprehend your speech, it’s just going to make the experience tougher. You might also be missing out on crucial details during important meetings.

For this reason, it’s better to purchase the best headset for Zoom meetings and calls.