How to choose a headset for a calling team: 7 things that matter

Customers judge your business by how you sound. A good headset removes background noise, keeps your voice clear and saves your ears at the end of a long day.

1. Microphone quality. Look for a boom microphone with noise cancelling, so it picks up your voice and not the room.
2. Comfort. Check weight, padding and headband. People will wear it for hours.
3. Connection. USB headsets are simple and reliable. 3.5 mm plugs need the right port. Bluetooth is flexible but can drop or lag.
4. Wired or wireless. Wired is dependable and has no battery. Wireless lets you walk around, but needs charging.
5. One ear or two. Single-ear lets you hear the room, and two-ear blocks noise in busy places.
6. Controls. In-line mute and volume buttons are very useful during a call.
7. Durability and warranty. A headset used every day should last.

Common mistakes

• Buying the cheapest option for the whole team.
• Using laptop speakers and a built-in microphone.
• Ignoring comfort until reps complain.
• Forgetting to test the microphone in the browser.

How to test a headset

1. Plug it in and select it in your browser settings.
2. Make a test call to a colleague.
3. Ask them how you sound, and whether they hear background noise.
4. Try a long call to check comfort.

Dialsyx works in Chrome or Edge with any headset your computer supports. See the system requirements and our guide to fixing call quality problems.

Related: setting up a remote call team.

Budget guide

How to roll out headsets to a team

1. Buy one headset first and test it in your own conditions.
2. Ask two or three agents to try it for a week.
3. Collect feedback on comfort and sound.
4. Order for the team and keep a few spares.
5. Show everyone how to set it as the default device.

Replace headsets before they become a problem. Foam wears out, cables fray and microphones drift. A small replacement budget is cheaper than losing calls to poor audio.