Headsets are necessary equipment in online classes. Teachers and students must have one. You can address your students' questions and concerns better if you can hear them well. Students can understand the lesson better when they can clearly hear what the teacher is saying. There are students who get demotivated to attend online classes because they can't hear the teacher well. Learning happens best when both teachers and students give and receive information with clarity.
What to Look For When Buying Headsets
Audio Quality
The quality of the audio is the topmost factor to consider in choosing a headset. Although as an online teacher, you may not need a professional-grade device. A good headset should allow you to hear your students and colleagues distinctly during video calls and conferences, and let you enjoy good audio when you are listening to music or watching movies from your computer.
Built-in Microphone and Noise Cancellation Feature
For your online teaching, choose a headset with a built-in noise-canceling microphone. Your headset will suppress background noise, allowing you a smooth and undistracted online class even if you are not in a soundproof room.
Comfort
Since you might wear the headset for an entire day on online classes, you'd want to pick something designed to provide user comfort. Choose something lightweight with soft and breathable ear pads and, if possible, with padded adjustable headbands. This way, you can conduct online without putting stress on your head and ears.
Design
Headsets come in different designs. There are over the ear styles, on ear or neckbands. Though this is a minor factor as compared to the others, the headset's style affects your comfort. In addition, having a stylish headset makes you look good in front of your students.
Price
Many studio-grade headsets are expensive, but you don't need to spend a lot of money on a headset for your online teaching. There are many good quality headsets just below fifty dollars. These can also meet all of your teaching needs.
Best Headsets for Teaching Online
1. Mpow 071
The Mpow 071 USB headset speaks of style and comfort. It has a built-in noise cancelling feature that gives you excellent quality for teaching online. It has a well-closed on ear cushion that prevents sound leakage to give you distinct audio for your online teaching. Its ear pads are made of ventilative protein leather so you can remain comfortable even if you are wearing it for an entire day of online classes. It features an inline panel for convenient volume control. This Mpow 071 USB Headset also makes a good amateur gaming headset but isn't specifically designed for that purpose. It produces decent sound when used for music and movies, but this headset works best for video calls.
2. Cowin E7 BlueTooth Headset
The Cowin E7 Headphone is for teachers looking for a wireless and portable headset that can easily be taken on the go. Equipped with a built-in microphone and NFC technology, this bluetooth wireless headset assures you of a clear and powerful sound for your video calls and true to life sounds with clean bass and crisp percussions if you're listening to music. This also makes a great headset for music teachers and preschool teachers who might need to move around while they are teaching online.
This headset is also best for travel use. Its noise cancellation property boasts of reducing an airplane's roar to a whisper. It has super soft ear pads for user comfort. You can also use it for up to 30 hours without the need to recharge. It is a truly great headphone for long travels. Even if it is a bit expensive compared to other competing models, the features of Cowin E7 makes it a worthy purchase and an excellent headset for teaching online.
3. Logitech H390
The Logitech USB headset H390 offers enhanced digital audio for smooth and undisrupted online teaching. It features an inline control system that allows you to adjust the volume and mute the audio during calls. It has a movable noise cancelling microphone, easy to clean leatherette ear cups, and padded headbands which are also comfortable to wear.
You'd need to handle this headset gently, though, because the headband is made of plastic and might break easily when roughly handled. Despite this, the Logitech USB Headset H390 is one of the headsets that offers excellent audio quality and great headphone cushions. For a headset that cost only a little over 30 dollars, this model is one of the best headsets for teachers.
4. CyberAcoustics AC5002A
The CyberAcoustics AC5002A is the perfect headset for teachers looking for high quality and durable headsets. You can fold or twist its headband and it won't break. It also comes with a tangle-free braided cord so you can assure that the wires don't get easily damaged. Its unidirectional and noise cancelling microphone gives you excellent sound quality for your online teaching.
The 3.5 mm audio jack is compatible with multiple devices like computers, smartphones, and MP3 players. Remember, that this headset does not work with devices that have dual microphone/ headset input. Retailed at around 15 dollars, the CyberAcoustics AC5002A is a durable and affordable PC headset that every online teacher would love.
5. Yamay Wireless BlueTooth Headphone
The Yamay Wireless BlueTooth Headphone is designed to provide perfectly good audio. You can use this for online teaching and video conferences wherever you are. It offers a directional microphone with noise reduction features. You can guarantee clear communication with your students. As a wireless device, Yamay headphone allows you to move around without worrying about cord length. This headphone is best for those teaching preschoolers. It enables you to move and gesture freely.
You can also use this for an entire day of class without recharging. Its battery can last up to 17 hours of use. Yamay Headphone is widely compatible with many devices including Android and iOS. Overall, Yamay headphone is a functional headset for online teaching and with a retail price of roughly 35 dollars, this headphone is worth the purchase.
6. LEVIN Bluetooth Wireless Headset
LEVIN is a budget-friendly wireless headset. This is a great alternative for the more expensive Cowin E7. LEVIN provides exceptional sound quality. It is also very portable. It is lightweight and can coil up to fit a small case. The ear pads are compact yet soft. You can use it comfortably for long periods of time without needing to worry about swelling ear pains. It is also very convenient to maneuver. There are two control buttons over each headphone for effortless volume control and call answering.
Levin also makes a good teaching headset for P.E. teachers. It securely fits in the ears so you don't have to worry that it will fall off during an online demonstration. Its sweat proof feature is also a plus. Levin Bluetooth headset comes in four colors to fit your style. It the best budget headsets for teaching online and sports.
7. Sony MDR-Zx110NC
The Sony MDR-ZX110NC has a very efficient noise cancelling feature. It promises a 95% noise reduction. This is best for teachers who do not have a soundproof or quiet room for teaching online. This headset provides crystal clear audio so you can be sure you're able to hear your students well during an online class. It also gives spectacular bass if you're listening to music. Just make sure you turn on the noise cancelling feature. Otherwise, you'll be able to hear the low-end frequency around you.
This headphone is also designed for comfort with its well-cushioned ear cups. Although covered in plastic, this headphone is not flimsy. With proper usage and care, the Sony MDR-Zx110NC can last long.
8. Microsoft Lifechat Lx-3000 USB Headset
If you are an ESL teacher looking for PC headsets for your online class, the Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000 USB headset is for you. This headphone is designed primarily for video chats and conferences, though you may also use it for listening to music and watching movies from your computer. Its ergonomic design provides comfort for its users. It has a boom microphone with noise cancellation feature.
You can also adjust the microphone at 180 degrees. It has leatherette padded ear cups for a cozy experience. It comes with a 6 feet cord. This enables you to freely move away from your computer in case you need to show gestures in class. It also has a mute button and a volume control panel giving you convenience in controlling the audio. The Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000 is also budget-friendly. It is a wonderful choice for a teaching headset.
9. Jabra Evolve 20 USB Headset
If you're looking for a near professional-grade headset, try the Jabra Evolve 20 noise cancelling USB headphone. It picks up excellent quality audio so you can hear your students distinctly during your online class. The microphone can be a bit blowy since there's no foam around it, but aside from that, it delivers sounds very well.
The headband and microphone are adjustable for convenience. You can also easily access the mute buttons, adjust volume, and manage calls from its control unit. The earpiece is padded with foam and not leather cushioned so adjust the headphone after a couple of hours of use to avoid sore ears. Overall, the sound quality is excellent, so Jabra still makes a wonderful headset for online teaching.
10. Plantronics Blackwire C225
One of the best online teaching headsets is the Plantronics Blackwire C225. This compact headset provides high-quality sound for conferences and calls. Its noise cancelling boom microphone is easy to adjust. It is easy to plug and play with its 3.5mm audio jack. It is compatible with PCs and Android phones. The headphone cups are padded and basic but you can still use it comfortably, though. The cord isn't very long, so you'd have to be near your computer. Overall, the Plantronics Blackwire C225 delivers basic online teaching needs at a price of roughly 35 dollars.
Conclusion
Investing in a good quality headset helps an online teacher communicate and understand their students better. The different models of headsets we have presented all have brilliant sound quality and have reasonable prices. It is best to choose a headset model that fits your teaching needs, lifestyle, and budget. The ideal is to get a model with noise cancelling microphone for superior performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Excellent sound quality is a must. But aside from this, there are several features that make the best headsets for online teaching use. Another key feature to consider is the built-in microphone and its noise cancelling capability. This is especially helpful if you don't have or aren't planning to get a separate microphone. The comfort that the headset provides is also important. If you have an entire day of class and would wear the headset for long periods of time, make sure that the ear cups and the headband are well-cushioned. Otherwise, you'd suffer from sore ears.
Any electronic device wears and tears quickly if not properly cared for. Similarly, you need to take good care of your headset so it can serve you longer. Here are a few tips on how you can make your headset last long.
- Unplug your headphones when not in use. In unplugging, make sure you pull out the plug and not the headset's cord. Pulling the cord can cause damage to its cable.
- Keep your headset in a case. Don't just shove it in your laptop bag or leave it on the table after use. Putting it in a case would protect it from dust, and from extreme heat or cold which could affect its performance in the long run.
- For wired headphones, coil its cable well upon keeping. Tangling is not only inconvenient, it can also damage and break the wires inside.
Though BlueTooth and wired headphones are both great to use for online teaching, each has its own perks. Most BlueTooth headphones are very portable. You can take and use it anywhere at any time. The lack of wires gives you the freedom to do any form of motion. You can move around during your online class and sit farther from your computer. The best part is you can quickly shift connections from one device to another without leaving your spot. Bluetooth headsets may last for several hours of use, but you'd eventually have to charge them. It is advisable to always have a power bank on hand so you can charge it anytime. In terms of price, Bluetooth headphones are usually more expensive than wired headphones.
Wired headsets are cheaper to manufacture, hence they are relatively budget-friendly. Professional musicians prefer wired headphones because it gives better quality. When it comes to the crisp and clarity of audio for online teaching, however, this is barely noticeable. Some wired headphones are large and may seem bulky for travel, but it doesn't mean they are not portable. The best part is they are compatible with many devices. Should you want to switch to another device, all you have to do is plug and play. The only concern about wired headphones is its cord. This is not a problem for teachers who stay near their computer all class long, but the wire can restrict movements.
So which is the better headset for online classes? Consider your budget, teaching needs, and your personal interests. Choose the headset that enriches your work and lifestyle.
