Project Telecom Headsets

For most UK offices, the “best” option is the one people will feel comfortable wearing all day. Start with comfort and reatures: a featherweight headband, cushy pads, and robust mic boom, also, check for inline controls and a visible mute light. Next think about the amount of background noise around you, do you need a noise cancelling microphone to enable callers to hear you clearly over the hum of a busy call centre? Finally, match USB the connector to your hardware USB-A or USB-C, and confirm warranty and any support you may need. If you are buying for a team, you could pilot two or more models with real users and then invest in the headset with a mic for pc that gets the best reception. At PMC we stock some of the most trusted brands, including, Jabra, Poly, Epos, Project Telecom and Yealink. Start with these brands and you won't go far wrong!

Yes! All USB wired headsets should integrate well with the Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco Webex and more.

There are specific models which you will find that are marked as "Certified for Microsoft Teams" - these headsets have specific firmware, and hardware buttons that more deeply integrate with Teams. 

USB Headsets Certified for Microsoft Teams come with a specific "Teams" button on the headset that has a number of features, such as bringing the Teams app to the front of your screen - useful with tab stacked, busy desktops when you need to make a quick call. The button also allows you to quickly join meeting, canswer calls, check notifications, "raise hand" in meetings, and more.

With a standard USB headset if you press the mute button on the headset, this only mutes output to the microphone on th headset, but still shows you as audibe on Teams - with a Teams Certified headset, the closer hardware and software integration will show you as muted on teams as well as being physically muted on your headset. 

Look at the USB ports you actually have available and pick whichever are on your device.

Many office PCs still run USB-A, while newer laptops may be USB-C only. If you use docks, check what type of USB ports are available on the dock as well as the laptop. Adaptors are readily available to switch between USB types, but they’re easy to lose and can become the weak link in a team rollout. If you’re buying for a department, standardising the connector where possible will save time and support headaches.

Mono can be a smart choice in open-plan offices if you need to interact with people around you as well as, or whilst taking and making calls. It can also matter if you need to hear colleagues, announcements, or a door buzzer while still taking calls. Monaural headsets can also lessens the feeling of isolation, which is a dislike of some users during long shifts. Stereo or binaural headsets are  better when you need to focus deeply, you have a noisy workplace, or you do many meetings one after another for hours. A quick rule of thumb: if you need to talk to people nearby whilst using your headset, go monaural; if you mainly work solo, go binaural.

Yes – wired USB is often the most dependable choice for high-volume call centres. Comfort and durability are more important than the given features, since headsets stay on our heads for hours. Get ones with replaceable ear cushions, a reinforced boom, and a cable that resists kinks. A VoIP phone headset should also have a quick mute and a clear indicator light, so agents do not speak while muted. If your soft phone runs on the PC, a headset for a VoIP phone should be easy to configure and simple for supervisors to support across shifts. Standardise one model, keep spares on site, and schedule basic cleaning weekly.

Yes. Generally, a wired USB device is plug-and-play on Windows and macOS, particularly if it's a core audio for Teams, Zoom, and browser calls. The main snag is settings: each system has separate input and output selections, and apps can override them. Set the headset as the default in the OS, then confirm it inside your meeting app. If you need a single model for mixed fleets, choose a USB PC headset with standard USB audio and test it on both platforms. 

Before rollout, IT should confirm three things: compatibility, consistency, and supportability.

• Check that the headset works with your standard meeting apps and any soft phone, and that drivers are not blocked by policy.
• Decide whether you will standardise one model or offer two options (mono and stereo).
• Document a short setup guide with screenshots for Windows and macOS, including how to select the default device and test mute.
• Ensure you include spare parts for the wear and tear components, such as ear cushions, in the planning.
• Lastly, conduct a test with a few individuals to learn the practical problems associated with the product before spending a large amount. 

Wireless can be more convenient if a person considers mobility their main priority. For example, a person can be walking between desks, taking notes on a whiteboard, or stepping away briefly and still on a call. Some teams use wireless headsets for computer calls, mainly because they reduce cable clutter and support hot-desking. The downside is management: batteries, charging habits, and occasional re-pairing. If you use a soft phone and need hands-free movement, a wireless headset for VoIP may suit, but set clear expectations and keep a wired backup for critical days. 

Both technologies can work in tandem with each other. A noise reducing microphone is designed in a way to help reduce background noise by employing good design and engineering such as physical foam shielding to help block background frequencies, or making the microphone point towards the user's mouth, whilst shielding the rear.

ANC is a hardware and software technology that includes extra built in microphones usually within the headset’s ear cups - these microphones pick up ambient background noise, then using software built-in to the headset, equalize out that background sound from the sound picked up from the main microphone near the user's mouth so that sounds of keyboards tapping, traffic, colleagues chattering, washing machines etc, should all be completely mitigated with the Active Noise Cancellation tech built into your wireless headset.

The only minor downside with ANC is that if you're super specific on the quality of your voice, for example, a broadcaster or singer - when ANC is actively working it can flatten out some of your own speech in some situations, so this is worth bearing in mind for those edge cases, however ANC is a phenomenal technology for the rest of us!

Both technologies can work in tandem with each other. A noise reducing microphone is designed in a way to help reduce background noise by employing good design and engineering such as physical foam shielding to help block background frequencies, or making the microphone point towards the user’s mouth, whilst shielding the rear.

ANC is a hardware and software technology that includes extra built in microphones usually within the headset’s ear cups - these microphones pick up ambient background noise, then using software built-in to the headset, equalize out that background sound from the sound picked up from the main microphone near the user’s mouth so that sounds of keyboards tapping, traffic, colleagues chattering, washing machines etc, should all be completely mitigated with the Active Noise Cancellation tech built into your wireless headset.

The only minor downside with ANC is that if you’re super specific on the quality of your voice, for example, a broadcaster or singer - when ANC is actively working it can flatten out some of your own speech in some situations, so this is worth bearing in mind for those edge cases, however ANC is a phenomenal technology for the rest of us!

In your meeting app, confirm both speaker and mic are set to the headset; many people select headset audio but leave the laptop mic on. Place the boom at the corner of your mouth, slightly off-centre. If you sound quiet, raise the input gain within your app, and check the mute switch. Muffled audio can come from worn foam or a blocked grille, so clean or replace it. Echo could mean that two devices are active; disable duplicates and lower volume if you have sound coming out of internal speakers which can cause a feedback loop. For a predictable baseline while troubleshooting, try a Jabra wired headset with mic and test again.