Two of the most important tools for working from home are a computer and a good set of headphones. Headphones designed for working from home have different features than headphones you use primarily for listening to music. Here’s what you should look for if you’re looking to get a pair.
Why is it important to have work at home headphones?
Just like working in an office full of coworkers can be a bit distracting, working from home has its own unique set of challenges. Even though you’re working remotely, during your working hours you still want to feel as though you are part of the office or team. To create a feeling of ‘being there’ while working from your home office, you need a set of headphones that can provide clear calls with crisp audio, have built-in microphones so your voice is defined and easy to hear, and offer a speedy connection to your phone, computer, or video call platforms.
Features to look for in headphones for working from home
Headphones used in a home office are designed to enhance call quality, can cancel outside noise so you can focus, have high-quality microphones so you never have to worry about being heard and keep you connected so you don’t have to worry about randomly dropping calls.
Comfort for all day
Wearing headphones for a full day is different than wearing them for casual music sessions or workouts. They need to be comfortable enough to wear for hours without causing ear fatigue, headaches, or discomfort because the band is too tight.
When choosing a pair of headphones for long wear you’ll want to look for on-ear or over-ear headphones with a thick cushion on the ear cups for comfort. If you’d rather wear earphones, you should find a type with multiple different ear tips so you can customize your fit.
Crystal clear audio quality
With a pair of work at home headphones, you won’t have to worry about straining to hear a colleague or not being heard over your home’s background noise. They are designed to have sharp audio quality so you can take or make calls with confidence. Some types of headphones also have a feature called Voice Isolation. Voice Isolation will isolate voices and block outside noise so your caller can hear you and not what’s going on around you. This feature will work on phone calls as well as video calls.
Microphones are built-in
Headphones for working from home have built-in microphones. These microphones are designed to pick up close-range sound and may isolate your voice so you’re easy to hear. Depending on the type of headphones you choose you may have an extendable microphone that you pull down or tap to activate or a built-in microphone that’s controlled via buttons on the ear cups or a tap on an earphone.
Noise cancellation to focus
Even if you have a dedicated office for working at home, you still may experience outside noise filtering into your space. It can make concentration difficult, but noise cancellation headphones can help with focus. Some types of headphones for working from home offer different noise cancellation modes including active noise cancellation for complete silence, transparency mode so you can be aware of your surroundings while still blocking some noise, or passive noise cancelling that utilizes the headphones’ design to quiet outside noise.
Video conferencing integration
If you frequently take video calls via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, you may want to choose a set of headphones that are certified for your preferred video software. There are headphones that are certified for Teams that offer an instant connection when plugged into your PC as well as specific Team controls and options to customize your video experience.
Some headphones offer a mute button right on the headset so you can quickly mute your voice in the middle of a call. Other headphones have Team or Zoom-specific controls like buttons you can tap to join or leave a video meeting.
Headphones for working from home
With a pair of work at home headphones, you’ll be comfortable, focused, and ready for your next set of video or phone calls. Take a look at the headphone buying guide for more features on different types of headphones. You’ll find a wide variety of headphones for working from home at Best Buy.
