Headphones

Headset and Headphone Buying Guide 2026

The internet offers you completely new ways of communicating. Internet telephony can be very practical, especially in the office or when gaming. With the right headset, you can talk to the other person wherever you are – and even keep both hands free.
Are you looking for a new headset for your home office, the office, meetings or gaming, or simply for listening to music or doing sport? Then you have come to the right place. We answer the most important questions and have summarised the relevant information for you.
You will also find more information in our blog.

We start by answering the most important questions and guide you to the ideal headset.

What is a headset?

A modern headset combines headphones and a microphone in one compact housing to make communication easier in a wide range of settings. Headsets are becoming increasingly popular, because especially in times of working from home, more and more companies are turning to video or internet telephony to include all employees. If you are also interested in video telephony, take a look at our webcam guide .

How does a headset work?

Every headset consists of two basic functional units: speaker(s) and microphone

The speakers in a headset work just like any other type of speaker. They consist of a magnet, a coil and a diaphragm. Below, we show in simplified form how the sound you hear through your headset is created.

• A low-frequency alternating current makes the magnetic coil vibrate.
• The diaphragm and the coil are connected in such a way that the diaphragm moves.
• The vibrations become audible and a sound is produced

This always depends on the frequency at which the magnet makes the coil vibrate, and also on the incoming audio signals. Through this interaction, sounds are produced and entire conversations, texts, videos, songs etc. are reproduced.

The built-in microphone records your voice and transmits it to the people you are talking to.

• The sound waves of your voice are converted into electrical energy.
• This electrical energy is transmitted via the internet to your contact.
• There, the energy is converted back into vibrations by the speakers in their headset or by loudspeakers.

In this way, the headset completes the circle of sound recording and sound reproduction, combining both at the same time.

Areas of application

In private use, headsets are mainly used by gamers to communicate better with their teammates. However, there are many other applications for headphones. They are most commonly used in call centres and offices, but also for guided tours in museums or at other attractions.

Modern devices are also used to coordinate security services or police units. Ultimately, the applications for headsets are wide-ranging and by no means limited to private use.

Possible applications at a glance:

• Office/home office
• Conferences/meetings
• Video chat
• School/education/university
• Gaming/music streaming
• Security services/operations coordination
• Organisation
• ….

Even Neil Armstrong's oft-quoted words would probably never have gone down in history without a Plantronics headset. After all, it is said that the astronaut was wearing a Plantronics headset when he became the first person to set foot on the moon.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"

Headsets are not only found in gaming, as is often said – the business and education sectors are becoming increasingly interesting too and offer more ways to use them. Whether for distance learning in further training or at university, a video conference on the go or at home, or your favourite music to block out your surroundings – headsets are practical everyday companions for everyone and are available in a wide variety of designs. You will find more information on this here.

Advantages and disadvantages

Thanks to the internet, modern headsets offer you many advantages.

Unlike a conventional landline telephone, a modern headset lets you make hands-free calls while doing other tasks. This not only makes you easier to reach but also makes multitasking possible.

For example, if you know that the meeting you have been invited to only requires you to listen, you can now listen with a headset and do other things at the same time. Or you can play a little music through your headset while you work without disturbing your colleagues or other people around you.

Headsets not only make phone calls much more comfortable, they can also save you a lot of time. Depending on the quality of your headset, you will also enjoy much better sound quality than with a conventional telephone. This effect is enhanced when you adapt the headset perfectly to your needs – the right shape, the right ear cups, the right headband – you will find more information on these features here.

Headsets are also a basic requirement for internet telephony, which brings you further advantages. After all, you can "phone" anywhere in the world via the internet without having to worry about excessive costs. That way, you can hear your loved ones every day, even if they are on the other side of the world. Another advantage is how easily most headsets can be installed – many devices work via plug and play

• Plug the receiver into the PC
• Put on the headset
• Get started!

Installing special software is usually not necessary in this case. It couldn't be easier!

The only disadvantage of headsets is that not every headset is compatible with every operating system. Many models are designed specifically for use with Windows PCs and cannot be connected to Apple consoles or devices. However, there are many headsets with very good compatibility that can be used with practically any device. You will find the exact information on this in the data sheet or on the respective product page

Pros and cons of headsets

• Versatile
• Easy installation
• Prerequisite for internet telephony
• Useful for gamers

• Compatibility sometimes limited

How are headsets constructed?

Before we come to the different types of headset, let's take a look at the two main construction methods for modern headset types:

• Mono headphones (one-way headset)
• Bidirectional headsets (two-way headset)

Mono headphones

Mono headsets are characterised by having only one ear cup. On the opposite side there is just a head pad that keeps the headset securely in place on the headband.
As mono headsets always leave one ear free, they are less suitable for listening to music. They are better suited to business purposes, or to employees who want, should or need to stay aware of everything around them.

The advantage is that mono headsets are often cheaper.

Two-way headsets

Models with two ear cups are also known as binaural or "white-collar" headsets. They are often used in the gaming industry and can usually deliver solid sound quality. However, these devices are generally a little more expensive than mono headsets.

The advantage of these headsets is that you can "shut yourself off" from your surroundings to concentrate better on the task at hand, whether a phone call, a chat or simply your general work. Which headset is right for you is always a matter of taste and cannot be stated across the board – it makes sense to try out two different types to see for yourself which one supports you better in everyday life.

What types of headset are there?

In-ear headphones

This type of headphone is often also called earbuds, where the front of the earphone is inserted directly into the ear canal. As these in-ear headsets are usually fitted with soft silicone, they are comfortable to wear. However, you should also make sure the earphones fit well.

After wearing them for a long time, in-ear headphones can feel uncomfortable if they are not big enough or even too big for your ear. That is why there are often interchangeable tips for the soft silicone "plug". Other headsets come with a different type of earpiece, modelled on the shape of the human outer ear, so that it fits exactly into the ear.

On-ear headsets

These headphones rest directly on the ears and consist of several speakers, usually connected by a headband. The headphones have solid padding, for which manufacturers use different materials.

The ear cup is not very large and therefore rests entirely on the ear – this type of headphone is often found in cheaper office headsets and can become uncomfortable over time, depending on how soft the padding is.

Over-ear headsets

This type of headphone encloses the ears. This provides better sound insulation when used outdoors. What's more, even at high volume you can be sure that the outside world will rarely hear what you are listening to. The advantage is that these headsets isolate you and you hear little of the outside world, which can help you concentrate. However, if you work in a job where you need to communicate with colleagues in the office, such a model is rather problematic.
In everyday life outdoors, it can also mean you fail to notice important signals such as cars or other passers-by.

Depending on what your headset needs to do and how often you use it, you will find a suitable model for your purpose.

Examples of use:

• In-ear headphones – meetings on the go, sport, music
• On-ear headphones – meetings, office situations, phone calls
• Over-ear headphones – meetings, open-plan offices, music

Of course, all of these headsets can also be used in other situations.

What should you look for when buying?

• Sound quality and transmission
• Microphone
• Headband shape and wearing comfort
• Connection options
• Battery life

Depending on the segment in which you want to use your headset, different aspects are more important than others – we will of course be happy to support you in your decision and find the ideal solution for your application together with you. If you have any questions, please contact our trained expert advisers.

Sound quality and transmission

Most consumers do not expect the best sound quality, especially with models used for working at a PC. But you don't have to settle for meagre sound – with the following criteria, you can easily find the right headset rather than settling for the next best one!

The following aspects are relevant to sound

• Surround sound
• Noise reduction
• Noise cancelling
• Frequency range
• Impedance

Surround sound

Dolby Surround is an analogue multi-channel home audio system that uses matrix encoding to fold four audio channels into two audio tracks. During playback, the four channels are decoded from the two. Dolby Surround is technically related to the Dolby Stereo used in films.

Noise reduction

Noise reduction or squelch methods are signal processing techniques that aim to reduce the mostly unwanted noise in a useful signal. To do this, certain frequency components of the signal are suppressed or amplified using filters adapted to the application.

Areas of application include audio technology for speech and music, acoustics in general and image processing to minimise image sensor noise.

Noise cancelling

This technology filters out almost all ambient noise so you can use your headphones without disturbance. The fuller and deeper the ambient noise and the better the technology you use, the less residual noise you will hear.

Deeper, more uniform sounds, such as the hum and whirr of an aircraft or the noise of a train journey, can be reduced to a lower level. Shorter, impulsive, high-frequency sounds are harder to filter out.

For example, voices can still be heard even though the noise is suppressed. How successful this is depends on how well the technology is implemented, which usually has to do with price. Electronic devices that are more accurate and faster are also more complex and therefore more expensive.

Frequency range

The frequency range is the range of frequencies that headphones can reproduce. The range a person can perceive lies between 20 and 20,000 hertz. For stable sound quality, your new headphones should have a minimum frequency range of 50 to 10,000 Hz.

Impedance

Impedance describes the electrical resistance of the headset connection. As a rule: the higher the headset impedance, the more power a device has to deliver to transmit sound signals. However, an impedance of 15 to 40 ohms is perfectly adequate for private and computer use.

Microphone

Of course, the quality of the built-in microphones also varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. With headphones, it is particularly important that your speech is picked up by the microphone as well as possible and passed on, for example, to the person you are talking to.

What is an omnidirectional microphone?

An omnidirectional microphone is a microphone that picks up sound from all directions with the same sensitivity. These microphones are mainly used in recording studios.

Headband shape and wearing comfort

Commercially available PC headsets usually come with a classic headband, which can be positioned on the head as the user wishes. However, there are also some models with a neckband, which offer a further alternative. Classic gaming headphones, on the other hand, are usually over-ear headphones, which are also in demand. You can find out more about the relevant models here.

With headphones, wearing comfort is paramount. This also applies to headsets, which are often a little lighter than standard headphones. Nevertheless, after ordering headphones online, you should check whether the model really suits you and fits comfortably on your head.

Connections - wired or wireless?

Headphone manufacturers usually equip their models with a conventional 3.5 mm jack connection. However, there are also headphones that connect to an audio source via USB. If the headset does not have a cable, a Bluetooth connection is required instead. Make sure the audio source supports this wireless technology, which is usually the case with standard smartphones, computers and games consoles.

Pros and cons of classic wired headphones

• USB or 3.5 mm jack fits almost any device
• Simple connection
• Cheaper alternative

• Less flexible
• Short distance to the output device
• Adapter may be needed for some output devices

If you want to save as much as possible when buying a new headset, we recommend choosing a wired model. With wireless headsets, however, you enjoy maximum flexibility. Bear in mind that these headsets have a battery that always needs charging. If you are interested in a particular model, it is therefore advisable to check the battery life stated by the manufacturer.

Pros and cons of battery-powered/wireless headsets

• Flexibility
• Hassle-free handling
• Can be used anywhere
• No cable clutter

• Battery needs recharging from time to time
• Uses more battery on a smartphone, for example, for the Bluetooth connection
• Usually more expensive

Battery life

If you opt for a wireless Bluetooth headset, you should also pay attention to battery life. In general, a longer battery life is always preferable. However, if you only use the headset at home and can always charge your device, this is of secondary importance. Nevertheless, make sure your new headset offers a battery life of at least 5 hours.

Inexpensive Bluetooth in-ear headsets often offer only 2–3 hours of battery life before they need recharging. These devices are therefore completely unsuitable for everyday use.