Headphones equipped with a microphone at the end of an integrated arm are called headsets. In most cases, the fitted microphone can be positioned in front the mouth or moved out of the way as needed, making headsets a great tool for gaming, online communication or comms on location, and even working from home. Broadcast headsets are also ideal for radio DJs who want to keep their hands free.
Headset
The term 'headset' virtually always refers to a pair of headphones equipped with a microphone, which can be an 'invisible' internal microphone or an 'external' microphone integrated into a small moveable arm. Headsets are perfect for gaming, working from home and are used in call-centres.
Wireless Bluetooth Headsets with a Built-In Microphone
Bluetooth headsets with a built-in microphone are incredibly popular since there's no annoying cable and the microphone often comes integrated into the housing of the headphones. Want one? Head to our range of Wireless Headphones and Wireless In-Ears.
The Best Headset Microphone
A great pair of microphone-equipped headphones should be comfortable to wear and offer solid sound, dependable battery life and, preferably, built-in noise-cancellation. The latter does depend a little on your needs. For example, if you're working in a call-centre, it'd be nice to block out any background chatter. The built-in battery may also be important to you, so always pay attention to the specified battery life and charging times. A pair of good wireless headphones usually take three hours to charge. Some models also offer a quick-charge function and can be recharged for hours of use in less than ten minutes.
Laptop-Compatible Gaming Headsets
Since most laptops support Bluetooth, connecting a wireless Bluetooth headset shouldn't be a problem. If you prefer to hook up your microphone-equipped headphones via USB, go for a USB headset.
USB Headphones
Microphone-fitted headphones and headsets that come equipped with a USB plug or port are easy to connect to a laptop or desktop computer - just make sure to check if any drivers need to be installed beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Headsets
How do you connect a headset to a PC?
Since most laptops and PCs support Bluetooth, it's often simply a matter of activating the Bluetooth function and pairing the headset.
How does a headset work?
Some headphones are equipped with two plugs: one for the headphone output and one for the microphone input. Other headphones are equipped with a single TRRS stereo mini-jack that carries both the headphone and microphone signal and can be plugged into a smartphone. Headsets can also come with an integrated USB cable or feature Bluetooth.
What's a good headset?
Depending on your needs, a good headset offers the following: good audio quality, good battery life (some models offer up top 40 hours), intuitive controls (possibly integrated into the ear cups), ergonomic comfort, and active noise suppression.
