Best Headset For Teaching Online

Since COVID hit every part of our lives over the last 3 years, so much of our lives have gone online, for better and for worse.

For teachers, it’s been something of a mixed blessing.

On the one hand, it has allowed learning and teaching to escape the confines of the classroom and brought into the comfort of your own home and other living spaces.

Plus, it’s also gotten rid of the need for many teachers to have just a board and pen to teach a class.

Especially if they’re a dab hand at putting together a PowerPoint! However, this has also led to most, if not all, teachers needing to add new items to their inventory.

Not only do you need a PC or a big enough mobile device to work on, but you also need a stable internet connection for those Zoom/Skype/Microsoft Team meetings to go ahead smoothly. And, of course, you need a high-quality headset to be heard with.

Many makers and manufacturers know this, and that is why there are more headsets on the market now than ever! If you’re looking for a guide that can help narrow down those many options, we might have just the guide for you!

Not only will we show you the best headset for teaching that you can find on the market, but we’ll show you the key features that you’ll need to know about for your browses and searches. (See also ‘Best Laptop For Teaching Online!’)

Jabra Evolve 75 UC

Teachers have a pretty tough job as it is, much less having to do that while navigating an online classroom. So, we should probably show you a premium option to help teachers stand up to this premium task!

Aside from the professional and clean design of the headphones, the first thing that many people will notice is their build quality as they sit in your hands and on your head.

Wireless headphones used to have a reputation for feeling flimsy and delicate. But these headphones?

Solid as any higher-end headphone product, while still being surprisingly light to carry, at just under 14 pounds. However, a nice build and lightweight frame aren’t the only things that these headphones have to offer.

When it comes to both audio quality and background noise cancellation, Jabra’s Evolve 75 UC might be one of the best headsets for online teaching that’s out there! The noise-canceling cushions of the headset already help block out external distractions, but the microphone itself also has a noise-canceling build to it.

So not only can you drown out background noises for yourself, but for your students as well.

The busy light feature on the side of the headset also lets people around know when you’re on a call, so they don’t accidentally interrupt you.

Add to that a phenomenal battery life away from any charging point, and it’s not hard to see why this is considered a premium headset for teachers across the country.

So, if you have the cash for it, this is a headset purchase that you will not regret!

Pros

• Very comfortable to hold and wear.
• Noise-canceling ability is second to none!
• Battery life lasts for 14 to 18 hours without recharge.
• There’s even noise-canceling in the microphone too!

Cons

• The Bluetooth connection through standard PC functions is a little sketchy. Jabra recommends using their Bluetooth dongle for better results.

Also available at:

• Walmart

Vexko Logitech H390

Now, the previous option was truly exceptional but was also a headset that is comfortable towards the higher end of most people’s budgets, if not over. If you’re looking for a headset that is reliable at a lower price threshold, then Vexko’s Logitech H390 is one of the best headsets to consider.

The inline audio system that this headset uses allows you to adjust the volume of both your headphones and microphones during a call or session, all while not interrupting your lesson.

We were surprised to see a noise-cancellation function on the microphone itself, which is kind of unheard of for many products in this price range.

And, of course, the Logitech USB headset is comfortable to wear on your head for extended periods. If you’re teaching classes from 9 until 3 or 4 pm, this will be a blessing on your head, and avoid frustrating headaches and cramps.

Plus, the leatherette head cups are easy to clean too, in case you like to keep your headsets in tip-top condition between uses. All in all, this might be one of the best budget headsets that you can grab out there for your online teaching needs.

Pros

• Has a surprisingly effective noise-canceling system for a headset of this price range.
• Inline audio can be adjusted during a call, making for easy adjustments without interruptions.
• A comfortable headset that can be worn for hours.

Cons

• The plastic of this headset feels worryingly fragile, and not very tough. While the headset works fine, we would handle this headset with care.

Also available at:

• Walmart

Jabra Evolve 40 Wired Headsets

Anyone who has tried one of Jabra’s headset products shouldn’t be too surprised to see them turn up again in this list. Many of them are very good headsets in their own right, so avoiding just listing all of them was tricky!

However, if the Bluetooth nature of the previous headsets was something that you weren’t too keen on, then these Evolve wired headphones and microphones might be the perfect replacement for a wireless online teaching headset.

Like with the Evolve 65s that we covered earlier, the build quality of these noise-canceling headphones is no joke. They feel lightweight and modern, while not sacrificing build quality and presentation. Plus, you still get many of the best features that you’re looking for in a good Jabra headset.

The noise-canceling features are still amazing, such as the noise-cancellation microphone setup, as well as the padding being as supportive as ever.

Plus, with a good wired connection, you won’t have to worry about a Bluetooth headset cutting out and ruining the flow of a lesson. Plus, these headphones are noticeably cheaper than the last Jabra headset we covered!

Pros

• Great noise-cancellation features in both the headset and microphone.
• Comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
• The wired connection is nice and stable compared to Bluetooth options

Cons

• While not feeling flimsy, we found that this product was not as durable as the Evolve Wireless 65 that we covered before.

Also available at:

• Walmart

Cyber Acoustics Stereo USB Headset

Sometimes, you want a headset that comes with all of the latest gadget bells and whistles. And other times, you’re looking for a headset that you can just rely on for teaching your classes. Cyber Acoustics understands this, which is why their headsets, like their Stereo USB headset product, are the perfect entry-level item to get for teaching classes online.

It has the basic functions that you need for keeping in the zone when teaching a class online, such as noise cancellation features for the headphones, as well as an in-line volume and mute control.

Add to that the comfy headphone cushions, and that’s all you get in this simple package. With very few extra bells and whistles to go wrong, it’s a headset that does what it needs to do and does it well.

If you’re someone who enjoys all the extra tech that you can get in the upper price bracket options, you should probably consider other items first. However, if you just need something simple, and you’re on a pretty restricted budget, this is a great item to choose.

Pros

• A simple headset that is comfortable to wear, and can be used for long periods.
• Feels sturdy and durable.
• The headset is adjustable and can accommodate many different hives and fits.

Cons

• The microphone is unidirectional and doesn’t have great noise-cancellation features.

Also available at:

• Walmart

Golvery Bluetooth Headset

If you’re looking for a headset that is light to carry, you’ll often be left with wired single-ear headsets that not only don’t feel tough enough for everyday use but also get easily caught in a tangle of the headset and other wires.

Golvery has created a headset that is incredibly light that fits your head, but without those pesky wires getting in the way.

The ear pads for this headset are comfortable, allowing them to be used for many hours at a time, all while the rechargeable battery keeps up with that comfort, with a reported battery life of up to 15 hours of active use.

If you switch this headset on to standby when not using it, that charge time shoots up past 200 hours potentially. What blew us away however was the noise cancellation feature built into this headset.

You wouldn’t assume that a headset of this size or design can fit those features, and yet Golvery has managed to do the impossible, allowing for your voice to come through crisp and clear.

Pros

• This headset is lightweight, fits any person’s head, and can be worn for hours on end.
• Up to 15 hours of active use on a single charge, and 220 when on standby.
• Noise-canceling headset that gives you a crisp sound when speaking into the microphone.
• Can connect to two different devices.

Cons

• While the mic. Has amazing noise-canceling functions, but the headphones on this set don’t.

Also available at:

• Walmart

Dechoyecho Bluetooth Headset

Now, if you’re looking to travel light with your online lesson setup, having the bulkier headsets that we’ve covered might just not cut it. Even if they’re 10 pounds or fewer, larger headphones are bulky and need space to be carried in without damaging them.

If you’re looking for a headset that can be traveled light with, then Dechoyecho’s Bluetooth headset might be the item for you.

Able to be carried in a small, airpod-like recharging case, this earpiece is probably one of the smallest headsets that you’ll be able to find on the market, meaning that you can keep this nice and compact product with your laptop when your lessons are on the go.

Plus, you still get many of the features that you need in a good headset, such as a noise-canceling microphone that picks up just your voice and your voice alone.

Add to that a strong Bluetooth connection, and you have a surprisingly reliable product, given its lightweight and small size. This is an easy recommendation for teachers that are constantly on the move.

Pros

• The design is sleek, small, and lightweight, and can be easily transported in its case.
• Up to 12 hours of active use.
• Strong Bluetooth connectivity.
• The microphone has excellent noise-canceling functions.

Cons

• The design, like many single-ear headsets, isn’t ideal for canceling out noises like headphone ear cups are.

Also available at:

• Walmart

Best Headset For Teaching Online Buyer’s Guide

So, we’ve gone over a variety of microphones of all shapes, types, and sizes. Chances are that there will be a model here that can suit your needs. However, there are tons of other headset designs out there that you can pick from, too many to cover in just one guide.

So if you’d like to continue looking at other headsets before making your final decision, these are the features and factors that you should keep in mind for any given headset that you’ll be using for online learning.

Type Of Mic

There are a few types of headsets that you can buy on the market. They are broadly separated into these categories: In-Line mic., where the microphone is attached to a wired headphone, and boom mic, where the mic is attached to the end of a boom both in the headset.

Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. In-line mics are almost always cheaper, on account of their simpler design, but can often struggle to pick up your voice. Boom mics, by contrast, are a little more expensive, but can much better pick up your voice, thanks to their fixed position.

Because sound clarity is vital for teaching online, we opted to avoid in-line headset microphones in this guide but feel free to check some models out there for yourself.

Mic Quality

When it comes to giving lessons over the internet, having a microphone that can carry your voice and tone is critical if you want to be heard. This comes in several forms. You’re a mic.

Needs to be sensitive enough to pick up the details and cadence of your voice, which most of our listed items do. But they also need to be able to cancel out other noises too, a feature that products like the Golvery Bluetooth headset and Jabra Evolve 75 UC have.

Comfort & Fit

This should be a no-brainer, especially seeing as these headsets will be resting on your brain while using them! If they aren’t comfortable to wear for hours at a time during lessons, how can you expect to give good lessons with them?

Most full-head headsets will compensate for this by having adjustable headbands to accommodate different sizes, as well as having sufficient padding in and around their ear cups. This can be a hard thing to judge, purely off of either a 5-minute inspection with an in-store product or online.

As a general rule, try and check the weight of the item. The heavier a headset is, the more padding it is going to need to compensate for the weight that it will exert on your cranium! And, failing all else, try and see how much hard plastic will be in contact with your head.

Having just one or two ears padded, and plastic around the rest of the item, might mean that it will start hurting after more than an hour’s use.

Connection Type

Headsets will connect to your computer or mobile device with either a wired connection or through Bluetooth, with both having their benefits and drawbacks. A wired headset connection will mean that your voice is unlikely to cut out due to a poor connection, but will limit how much you can move around and away from your PC teaching setup.

Bluetooth, as you can imagine, has the opposite issues, where you can move around more but your voice may be broken or difficult for students to pick up.

Portability

One of the main benefits of teaching online is that your workstation can also be moved around to wherever is best for you to sit and teach. To go along with this on-the-move teaching style, a portable headset is great for setting up your laptop anywhere, though often at the cost of other features like noise cancellation and comfort.

Of course, if you know that you’ll largely be teaching from a stationary home office or classroom setup, then this isn’t a feature that will be nearly as important, meaning you can afford bulkier and more comfortable headsets.

Final Notes

So, from earpieces to full ear-cup headsets, we’ve given you a ton of variety to pick from. The only question now is which one will you pick?

Frequently Asked Questions