Hands-Free Convenience: Best Bluetooth Headsets
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Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset -
Jabra Talk 30 Bluetooth Headset -
ICOMTOFIT Bluetooth Headset -
New Bee Bluetooth Headset -
Jabra Talk 25 Bluetooth Headset -
Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset -
Jabra BT530 Bluetooth Headset -
VEATOOL Bluetooth Headset -
Buyer's Guide
When it comes to Bluetooth headsets, fans of hands-free mobile or VOIP (voice over internet protocol) have a lot of choices. They range from headsets priced at well over $100 to much more affordable choices for $20 or $30. But like many things in life, a $130 headset doesn't always mean it's better than a cheaper headset and a cheap headset may cause more problems than its worth. Whether your needs are a headset that can be used by your laptop and your mobile device, or a headset that allows you to carry on a clear conversation, there's a Bluetooth headset for you.
What are the best bluetooth headset of 2022?
Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset - Best Bluetooth Headset Overall
Plantronics' Voyager Legend is the followup to its well-reviewed and well-received Voyager Pro headset. The company listened to the few points of criticism regarding the headset, making it smaller and shrinking the boom microphone to be less obtrusive. The Legend builds on the Pro's noise cancellation and all-around voice clarity, which is a definite plus. The headset allows for two simultaneous Bluetooth connections, and has enough battery life for seven hours of talk time and 11 days of standby. However, despite its smaller size, the Legend is still one of the larger - if not the largest - headsets on this list. Users have also reported issues with the Legend connecting to Apple's iPhone 5.
Jabra Talk 30 Bluetooth Headset - Runner Up
There's no mistaking the Jabra SUPREME — it's a large headphone. Rather than an earbud, like most Bluetooth headsets use, the SUPREME uses a padded earpiece with active noise cancellation, which gives better voice clarity. The boom is also very prominent and will attract attention if you wear it in public, but the closer the mike is to your mouth, the better the other party can understand you. Like most modern headsets, the SUPREME also incorporates noise reduction and voice commands. The SUPREME can connect to two devices simultaneously, and has enough battery life for six hours of talk time and 15 days of standby.
ICOMTOFIT Bluetooth Headset - Honorable Mention
Jawbone makes a marketing point that the industrial designer Yves Behar gives form to the ideas of its engineers. Beauty, especially when it comes to consumer electronics, is subjective, but what can't be denied is the impressive amount of technology packed into the Jawbone ERA. The headset can handle up to two simultaneous Bluetooth connections, and can be connected with up to eight devices. It also features Jawbone's latest version of its noise reduction solution, or NoiseAssassin, as they call it. Unlike other headsets that are obtrusive, the ERA is out of the way and has impressive battery life — 5.5 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby. The headset also give voice cues, such as low battery warnings.
New Bee Bluetooth Headset - Consider
The Plantronics Discovery 975 is the perfect blend of elegance and simplicity. The 975 has noise cancelling features (both wind and background noise), low battery indicator, comfortable gel inserts, voice prompts, multipoint technology, and a sleek design. The Discovery 975’s multipoint technology allows multiple Bluetooth cell phones to be attached to the device with seamless switching. The only real downside to the Plantronics Discovery 975 is that due to the simple and elegant design, the volume and multi-pairing buttons are very small and somewhat hard to get to. Also, the small design makes the device fragile and prone to breakage with extended use. But overall, the Plantronics Discovery 975 has excellent sound quality, great noise cancelling technology, and a very sleek, professional look that makes it a great choice for both office and personal use.
Jabra Talk 25 Bluetooth Headset - Best Multipoint Bluetooth Headset
Though it's not as flashy as the other headsets on this list, the Jabra EASYGO is well-equipped headset that's priced for tighter budgets. Digital signal processing cleans up the audio on the user's end as well as the voice on the other end of the call. The EASYGO doesn't take voice commands, but it does give voice prompts for events such as a low battery or when it's connected to a device. The EASYGO can connect to two devices at once, and has enough battery life for six hours of talk time or eight days of standby.
Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset - Best Bluetooth Headset Overall
The well-received Plantronics Voyager series of Bluetooth headsets is topped off by the Voyager Pro model. Featuring a dual-mic AudioIQ setup for noise cancellation, this is easily one of the better headsets available today. The technology loaded into this compact headset can separate your voice from the background noise, so call quality remains perfectly clear no matter where you are. The Voyager Pro also features WindSmart technology designed to eliminate wind noise from your conversations. This headset can be worn on either ear thanks to the pivoting mic a feature that may come in handy when you need multiple ear pieces. Comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, the Plantronics Voyager Pro is definitely a winner in performance.
Jabra BT530 Bluetooth Headset - Best Bluetooth Headset Overall
The Jabra BT530 is more than just a simple Bluetooth headset. Jabra claims that this is the first Bluetooth headset with Noise Blackout an advanced noise cancellation algorithm. The BT530 uses a dual microphone setup to distinguish between your voice and background noise, and then feeds it through the built-in DSP for optimum sound quality. The result is the ability to hold comfortable conversations, even in noisy environments. The BT530 is also loaded with other advanced features such as intelligent volume control with Audio Shock Protection to ensure that the call volume stays at a perfect level no matter where you are. The BT530 is also comfortable enough to wear all day if required. With the sorts of features offered on the Jabra BT530, it is easily one of the best Bluetooth headsets overall today.
VEATOOL Bluetooth Headset - Best Bluetooth Headset Overall
The BlueAnt Q2, the followup to the well-regarded Q1, features a completely voice-controlled interface. Answering a phone is as simple as telling it to take the call or ignoring it. However, the Q2 works off a specific list of commands, unlike more advanced voice recognition software that takes contextual cues (like Apple's Siri). That being said, any user of voice recognition technology will tell you that it's not foolproof. Users have reported excellent call quality and noise reduction, and Android users can have texts read to them. The device also includes A2DP, which allows phones, tablets, and other Bluetooth devices to stream audio, including music, to the Q2.
Buyer's Guide
Bluetooth headsets have driven the future of wireless music. Though wired headphones still have existence, the market has been dominated by their wireless or Bluetooth counterparts. They are not only light in weight but also guarantee high-quality sound that soothes our soul.
Besides, smartphones like iPhone have fostered the demand for Bluetooth headsets because they don’t come with a headphone jack. If you are also planning to abandon your old wired headphones and switch to Bluetooth headsets, then this guide is for you. Here you will find everything you need to know to purchase the best Bluetooth headsets that can enhance your music-listening experience.
What Type of Bluetooth Headset is Ideal For You?
Professional
Professional Bluetooth headsets are suitable for corporate professionals who conduct business calls on the road or in the middle of their work. Such devices reflect the users’ desire for better sound quality, comfortable fit, and long battery life so they could use them day in, day out hassle-free. Some pro Bluetooth headsets also connect to mobile phones as well as PCs seamlessly to serve as the best remote communication device.
Compact
Unlike professional variants that are large, compact Bluetooth headsets tend to be smaller in size. They are designed to make regular calls when out and about. Thus, their features like battery life, audio quality, and more take a backseat to stealth.
Stereo
Thanks to the rapid rise of smartphones and their excellent multimedia functionalities, stereo Bluetooth headsets reinforced with microphones have also gained momentum. A stereo headset allows you to listen to music and watch videos on your phone wirelessly. You can also quickly answer the calls without skipping a beat. However, bear in mind that they are designed to offer better audio performance, so they don’t focus a lot on call quality.
What Features Should You Consider While Looking For a Bluetooth Headset?
Dual Microphones
Today’s high-end Bluetooth headsets are integrated with dual microphones that also feature active noise cancellation, which blocks ambient dins in the background like wind, street noise, and the sound of vehicles. This functionality is most appreciated by people who use their mobile devices while commuting and casual chatterboxes to make calls even in noisy environments.
HD Audio
A myriad of Bluetooth headsets has HD audio or HD quality sound, enabling you to receive, transfer, and reproduce sound at the 16 kHz frequency. This signal bandwidth is twice the bandwidth of a typical 8KHz headset, which leads to clearer audio under ideal conditions.
Multipoint Pairing
Nowadays, almost all mobile devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops, are reinforced with Bluetooth technology. Thus, connecting your headset to multiple devices at the same time can be difficult. This is where multipoint pairing comes in handy. It enables you to connect your headset to two phones simultaneously and make a call on either device.
Voice Command Functionality
Like smartphones, Bluetooth headsets are now also featuring voice command functionality as it has gained high popularity. Thus, you can pair to a device, answer or reject calls, and check battery status just by speaking while cooking, exercising, working, and driving.
Customizable Fit
Since the size of ears ranges from person to person, a high-quality Bluetooth headset will allow you to customize its fitting to accommodate your ear size as well as shape. Besides, some models are built to rest outside the ear canal, while others are designed to slide inside. However, advanced level headsets come with both choices.
Near-Field Communication (NFC)
In today’s tech era, most Bluetooth headsets have integrated near-field communication technology. It not only expedites the mobile payment process but also facilitates the pairing of compatible Bluetooth devices. All you have to do is place your device on an NFC-enabled headset to build a connection without wasting time setting menus.
Battery Life
Bluetooth headsets require charging as they are battery-operated devices. While smaller headsets look elegant and are handier, bigger ones have longer battery life. Usually, the standard headsets run 4-6 hours on a single charge, and their standby time ranges from less than one week to more than two.
Range
If you are a person who moves to and fro while wearing a headset but don’t carry your phone, you need a high-range device. Most Bluetooth headsets operate with Class2 Bluetooth that offers a range of up to 33 ft. before the audio quality starts deteriorating. However, some models in the market also come with Class1 Bluetooth that has a range of up to 300 ft.
Sweat Resistance
Most Bluetooth headsets are sweat-resistant because they are engineered to use during exercise and work. Some low-priced headphones have IPX4 ratings that can resist low-pressure water spray. However, if you spend most of your time in the water, you need a waterproof headset with an IPX7 rating.
Sound Quality and Drivers
We will give you a brief about how drivers impact sound quality without getting into details. A driver unit consists of voice coils, a magnet, and a diaphragm that vibrates to generate sound. Headsets with larger drivers produce better bass than the smaller drivers, but it doesn’t mean that the latter has poor sound quality. Most Bluetooth headsets feature dynamic drivers with bigger diaphragms that offer thick and punchy bass for electronic music lovers.
Final Words
Choosing the best Bluetooth headsets among a host of options can be a daunting task without prior knowledge of their features and functionalities. This guide aims to provide you with nuggets of information related to wireless headsets to help you get your hands on the best model with the best features. However, keep in mind that the headset with more features will also cost you more. So, shop wisely!
Bluetooth Headset FAQ
Q: Do all wireless headsets come with a voice cancellation feature?
A: No, all wireless headsets do not have a noise cancellation feature. But you can purchase an over-ear stereo headset if you want to cancel the noise around.
Q: Can I use a Bluetooth headset during exercise?
A: Yes, you can use your headset headsets during exercise. In fact, they are designed to be used while running and lifting weights because they don’t have a cord that gets in the way.
Q: Can I overcharge my Bluetooth headset?
A: If your Bluetooth headset operates on a li-ion battery, then you need not fret about overcharging it. However, you should not keep it plugged in if you want to expand the lifespan of your battery.
