Virtual meetings are in, whether you work remotely or not. The 2024 Global Meetings and Events Forecast revealed that 41% of meetings are held virtually.
Since that’s the case, it’s wise to invest in some good headphones for your Zoom meetings. This way, you’ll be able to hear more clearly, communicate better, and focus.
But there are all kinds of headphones out there. Just do a quick search on Google or Amazon and you’ll be bombarded with options.
To help you make a good purchase, I’ll review the 5 best headphones for Zoom meetings, according to experts and reviews. I’ll also range them from low to high budget.
Plus, I’ll even give some honorary mentions in case you prefer earbuds or earphones. So shall we?
Read More: Top 5 Best Webcams for Zoom Meetings – From Budget-Friendly to High-Res Quality
Here’s the List of the Best Headphones for Zoom Meetings
Product: | Price*: | Pros: | Cons: | Amazon Ratings: | |
Logitech H390 | $21.99 | Super affordable Comes with a mic boom Straightforward controls Has loud sound | No noise canceling and isolation Can get quite uncomfortable if worn for many hours | 4.4/5 stars (59,455 reviews) | Buy on Amazon |
JBL Tune 510BT | $39.95 | Affordable Bluetooth multipoint Can switch to voice assistance Portable Great built-in mic | Bass-heavy headphones are not the best for Zoom meetings It’s uncomfortable | 4.6/5 stars (54,474 reviews) | Buy on Amazon |
Sony WH-CH520 | $44.99 | Affordable Very comfortable Bluetooth multipoint and fast pair Long-lasting battery life | Not the best sound quality for music Ear cups should be a perfect fit for background noise removal | 4.4/5 stars (6,905 reviews) | Buy on Amazon |
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x | $84.95 | Sound quality is great Comfortable Clamping force is secure Reliable and sturdy | Doesn’t reduce background noise unless it’s a perfect fit Doesn’t have a mic | 4.6/5 stars (15,212 reviews) | Buy on Amazon |
Sony WH-1000XM5 | $328 | Supports SBC, AAc, and LDAC for high-quality sound Has active noise cancellation Microphone tech removes all background noise Comes with many special features | Expensive Needs a bit of a learning curve | 4.4/5 stars (12,812 reviews) | Buy on Amazon |
1. Logitech H390
Logitech H390 specs:
- Size – 171 x 151 x 68mm
- Weight – 196g
- Connector Type – USB-A
- Form Factor – On-Ear
- Cable – 1.9m, retractable
- Controls – mute/unmute, volume up/down
If you’re looking for a cheap headset that does the job, look no further than the Logitech H390. It’s also headphones with a boom mic, perfect for your Zoom video calls.
One thing you’ll love about Logitech H390 is that it’s super simple. All you need to do is plug it into your PC or laptop and you’ll be able to use both the headphone and mic. Plus, the controls are very straightforward.
As for the sound quality, our expert Jasper Lastoria from SoundGuys gives his take on this:
“It’s a loud headset. I listen with the volume on Spotify between 6 and 8 (out of 100 on my PC). This is useful for calls and meetings because, unlike your favorite song, most people’s mics sound anything but ideal.”
So you’re good to go there, too. The mic quality is OK for its price tag. You’ll like that you can get it out of the way when you’re just using the headphones to listen to music.
Of course, being very cheap, the Logitech H390 doesn’t have the best features. It has no noise canceling or isolation. Also, it may feel a bit uncomfortable if you wear it for too long.
Overall, though, I’d say it’s a very good headphone for its price. I mean, it gives you more than enough to hear clearly and be heard during your Zoom meetings.
2. JBL Tune 510BT
JBL Tune 510BT specs:
- Ear Cup Dimensions (internal) – 3.2 x 3.2 x 1.7cm
- Weight – 160g
- Connector Type – Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0
- Form Factor – On-Ear
- Cable – USB Type-C charger
- Controls – Power, volume up/down, new/previous track, play/pause music, answer/end call, mute/unmute, ignore call, voice assistant
Want to go wireless? The JBL Tune 510BT is an affordable, Bluetooth headset.
As with many of JBL’s headphones, this one’s audio quality is bass-heavy. Now, that can be great for listening to your favorite pop songs, but not so much listening to someone’s muffled mic during a Zoom meeting.
However, that isn’t a deal breaker. I mean, you’ll still be able to hear quite clearly, especially with JBL’s sound quality.
What makes the JBL Tune 510BT stand out is its many features – and for only under $50. For one, it’s portable. Since it can fold on itself, you’ll be able to bring it with you wherever. This is a great headset for hybrid schedules.
Thanks to its Bluetooth multipoint, you’ll be able to connect it to your smartphone and laptop simultaneously. So if you’re listening to music through your phone, and your laptop receives a Zoom call, it will automatically switch.
Moreover, it comes with voice assistance and a built-in microphone with great sound quality. It removes some background noise, too.
One warning, though. These headphones can be uncomfortable if you wear glasses or ear piercings. This is because the cups rest on your ears instead of covering them. So there’s a small price you have to pay.
3. Sony WH-CH520
Sony WH-CH520 specs:
- Ear Cup Dimensions – 33 x 33mm
- Weight – 147g
- Connector Type – Wireless, Bluetooth 5.2
- Form Factor – On-Ear
- Cable – USB Type-C charger
- Controls – Bluetooth pairing, volume up/down, track forward/backward, play/pause/answer call.
Here’s another portable, wireless headset for Zoom conference calls. Even better, it has a more professional look to it, as it isn’t so bulky.
Since it’s very lightweight, you can wear it for long spells and not feel it weighing down on your head. Plus, the headband is adjustable with a decent clamping force, so you can adjust it to fit perfectly in your eras. So if you’re going after comfort, choose the Sony WH-CH520.
It’s also a multipoint and fast pair Bluetooth headphones. So if you’re in a rush to to answer your Zoom call, you can instantly pair the headphones to your PC or laptop. No need to go to your settings and all that.
The Sony WH-CH520 is known for its long-lasting battery life. Christian Thomas, a seasoned tech expert, gives his comment on this pair of headphones:
“With our standardized test, we squeezed 55 hours and 25 minutes of total playback time out of the Sony WH-CH520.”
To avoid distractions from your call, the WH-CH520 can block out some background noise. That’s if the cups are a perfect fit for your ears. Moreover, the sound quality can be a bit off if you use it to listen to music. For Zoom calls, though, it’s pretty decent.
And yes, the built-in mic is OK, too. It picks up background noise, but not too much that it becomes a distraction for the others. For an ideal setup, try to pick a quiet spot for your work from home meeting.
4. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x specs:
- Ear Cup Dimensions – 3.32 x 3.92 x 1.95
- Weight – 240g
- Connector Type – 3.5mm and 1/8″ headphone jack
- Form Factor – Over-Ear
- Cable – 1.2-3m (coiled) and 3m (straight)
- Controls – N/A
Let’s move on to the more expensive headphones. If you’re all about the sound quality, then get the wired Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. It has 40mm drivers that allow for an immersive audio experience.
With this wired headset, you’ll be able to hear every detail, from the flying of a plane in Dan’s neighborhood to the barking of a dog in Sarah’s apartment. Of course, that means that you’ll be able to hear your remote team’s voices loud and clear.
I don’t need to tell you that this will be especially great for listening to music or video games. So if you buy headphones to make calls and listen to music, then this is a top choice.
Moreover, since it’s an on-ear headphone, it will feel more comfortable. The clamping force makes it easy to wear, too. So even if your Zoom meetings last an hour, it won’t be a burden wearing it for that long.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x doesn’t have active noise cancellation, though, unless it perfectly fits around your ears.
Another downside is that it doesn’t come with a built-in microphone. You’ll have to use your laptop’s microphone or attach an external mic. But hey, external mics are always better than headphone mics anyway.
Sure, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is not the most spectacular. But it does offer a reliable and sturdy headphone to answer calls and listen to music. If sound quality is your focus, then it’s worth the purchase.
5. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5 specs:
- Ear Cup Dimensions – 3.32 x 3.92 x 1.95
- Weight – 250g
- Connector Type – Bluetooth 5.2 and 3.5mm headphone jack
- Form Factor – Over-Ear
- Cable – USB Type-C charger
- Controls – Buttons: Power, ANC mode. Touch-generated: Volume up/down, track forward/back, voice assistance, pause/resume, ambient sound passthrough
If you want the ultimate office headset, then the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the number one choice. It has active noise canceling features, the best sound quality, an outstanding mic, many connector types, and so much more.
Starting with the sound quality, the WH-1000XM5 uses Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and LDAC. If you don’t know what that means, here’s a quick explanation.
- SBC (Subband Coding). This is a basic audio codec used by default in most Bluetooth devices. It provides decent audio quality but is not as advanced as other codecs.
- AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). AAC is a higher-quality audio codec that offers better sound than SBC. It’s commonly used with Apple devices and provides good audio fidelity.
- LDAC. LDAC is a high-resolution audio codec developed by Sony. It offers even better sound quality compared to SBC and AAC, especially when streaming high-resolution audio files.
If that isn’t enough, the 8 built-in microphones and AI noise reduction technology totally remove background noise. So even if your child is making so much noise in the next room, your remote team members won’t hear them.
Just some features that you’ll enjoy are its Bluetooth multipoint, Fast Pair, Find My Device, etc… You can even fine-tune the sound to your preference thanks to the Sony Headphones Connect App.
Just one thing. Since it has so many features, you may have to spend some time learning it. That isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t the easiest for non-tech-savvy people.
As I said, it’s your ultimate and best headphones for Zoom meetings wireless. It’s also the best headphones for Zoom meetings with mic.
Of course, for such a well-rounded “office headphone”, you’ll have to pay quite a bit for it. If you can afford it and you want all the bells and whistles, it’s so worth the high price.
Honorary Mentions: Earbuds and Earphones
There are some people who feel like headphones aren’t professional-looking for a Zoom meeting. If you feel the same way, then let’s look at a few earbuds and earphones that you can check out. Just note that these might not match the quality of headphones with a mic.
EarFun Air Pro 3
- Price – $55.98 (as of March 2024)
- Amazon ratings – 4.3/5 stars (5,428 reviews)
- True wireless earbuds – Bluetooth 5.3
- Form factor – in-ear
- Noise control – active noise cancelation
- Controls – N/A
- Microphone – Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) microphones
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen):
- Price – $265.83 (as of March 2024)
- Amazon ratings – 4.7/5 stars (54,101 reviews)
- Wireless earbuds – Bluetooth 5.3
- Form factor – in-ear
- Noise control – active noise cancellation and transparency mode
- Controls – touch control
- Microphone – Dual beamforming and inward-facing microphones
- Plus many more features!
NOTE: The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) is currently not available on Amazon. You’ll have to buy it at an Apple store, another headset store, or a refurbished version on Amazon.
Apple EarPods Headphones
- Price – $17.98 (as of March 2024)
- Amazon ratings – 4.6/5 stars (281,272 reviews)
- Wired earphones – USB Type-C
- Form factor – in-ear
- Noise control – High-quality audio with maximized sound output and minimized sound loss
- Controls – Volume up/down, answer/end calls, playback music/videos
- Microphone – Integrated microphone that captures your voice
Final Words
If you’re looking for the best headsets for your conference calls, then you can pick from any from this list of best headphones for Zoom meetings. From cheap and straightforward to the more high-tech ones, you can find one that suits your budget and preferences.
But whichever you choose, just know that all these microphones are great for video calls. So there’s no right or wrong option.
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