Headset? How Does it Work and Why Do You Need One

Do you know the first headsets were invented in the 1880s, weighing over 10 pounds, featuring one earpiece attached to the phone and a large microphone resting on the shoulder? Well, back then, people used headphones for phone calls, but as time went on, headsets began to evolve. With the birth of different brands in the 1950s, Philips and Sennheiser, started by John Koss, were primarily used for military communication. A significant contribution to headsets was Nathaniel Baldwin's invention of headphones that included 2 padded ear cups and 2 bands across the head so it could sit comfortably on the head – no hands required. With technological advancement, headsets have become more readily available for ordinary people, and features such as wireless headsets and noise-canceling technology have revolutionized headsets.

Modern Headsets: Evolution from the Classics

Well, headsets evolved a lot in the second decade of the 21st century, making it a necessity for any working human being. The necessity of headsets lies in their functionality as headsets are versatile audio devices, combining a pair of headphones with a microphone, providing a convenient all-in-one audio solution to cater to various audio-related activities. Headsets target ergonomics and lightweight to ensure prolonged use. It has a cushioned surface around your ear with drivers and noise sensors to convert electrical signals to sound waves and a low-distortion boom mic to give you the best microphone and audio experience. We have created a detailed guide on headsets to help you decide whether headsets are for you or not.

Headsets: Are they the same as Headphones?

There is a common misconception that headsets and headphones are similar. However, headsets and headphones serve different purposes, and identifying that purpose could be crucial for a person who is willing to purchase a headset or headphones.

How Does a Headset Work?

Headsets work by transforming electrical signals into sound waves using a transducer. The driver reacts to the sound waves and vibrates the diaphragm to produce the sound we hear. A boom mic converts your voice to electrical signals and transmits it to the person you speak to.

Connection

● Wired Connection

Wired connections in headsets generally offer better sound quality with minimal latency, delivering high-fidelity sound without noticeable delays. It is highly important for gamers or audiophiles who require listening to sound with precision and minimal latency. However, wired headsets might need more portability, as moving around is not possible with a wired connection, and slightly adjusting your working posture might be difficult. So, if you prioritize sound experience over mobility and flexibility, the wired connection could be your go-to option.

● Bluetooth Connection

With a Bluetooth connection, wireless headsets generally offer better battery timing due to their lower power consumption technology, making them the best option for prolonged usage. Sound quality depends upon bitrate, so with a Bluetooth 5.0 connection, a 2 Mbps bitrate can be achieved, which is low compared to a 2.4 GHz connection. A latency 20ms is inevitable with BT, making it not an ideal option for gamers or audiophiles. A lack of a range of about 300 feet reduces the flexibility of Bluetooth connection in wireless headsets. You might not want to consider Bluetooth headsets if you prioritize sound quality over battery timing.

● 2.4 Ghz connection

A 2.4 GHz wireless headset connection offers a wide range of 800 feet with a latency of about 16ms, ensuring your sound experience remains uninterrupted. A 54 Mbps bitrate ensures a better sound experience compared to Bluetooth counterparts. However, maintaining uninterrupted connection battery life is compromised, giving you less battery time. If your priority is good quality sound and no cable management issues, go for a 2.4 GHz connection.

Audio Circuit

Audio chipsets are considered the brain of an audio circuit. They are designed to manage and process audio signals in electronic devices. They convert digital audio data into analog audio signals that headsets can reproduce, ensuring a seamless and accurate translation.

A wireless connection has a maximum bandwidth that it can accommodate. File formats like WAV and AIFF are huge in file size, causing the audio connection to stutter and affecting the overall audio connection quality. It is where processes like encoding and decoding come into action. An audio codec is an algorithm that takes your data (in this case, its sound file), compresses it, and encodes it in a format for transmission. The same codec is also required to decode the encoded data so that we can listen to our audio file. Each Bluetooth audio codec, such as SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, LDAC, and LC3, has its unique speed of transmitting the data and compression algorithm.

Speaker Drivers

Speaker drivers are essential in headsets to transform electrical signals into sound waves to enhance your auditory experience. Speaker drivers in headsets consist of 3 major components:

○ Magnet: Responsible for generating magnetic fields that can affect the overall sound quality of headphones.

○ Voice coils: They create sound when an electric current passes through by vibrating the diaphragm.

○ Diaphragm: This vibrates to create sound waves that human ears can pick up. If the size of the drivers is larger, the sound produced is more dynamic and powerful, with an incredible bass. Smaller drivers in headsets tend to produce a more balanced and accurate sound with higher frequencies.

Microphone

Headsets target listening to any sound and enable communication through a microphone, eliminating the need to connect an extra microphone to your headphones. Microphones convert Sound waves into electrical signals and transmit them. Headsets offer either a built-in microphone or a microphone attached to a boom. A boom microphone is much closer to your mouth, minimizing background noises and enabling clear communication. 

Headsets generate anti-sound waves, typically known as phase cancellation, to cancel background noises and improve noise cancellation. With technological advancements, AI noise-canceling technology is on the rise. AI uses sophisticated algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze or filter out specific noises to reduce or eliminate unwanted background noises from audio signals, enhancing the overall audio quality and improving the listening experience.

Controls

Modern headsets offer quick controls on headsets to change different settings without needing to adjust them through the device it's connected to. These headsets offer basic buttons such as volume up, volume down buttons, or mute headset microphone. If headsets support Active noise canceling, a separate button might be included to deactivate or activate it. These buttons give you quick access to change these settings without controlling them from your device. 

Earpieces and Headband

Headbands ensure that wearing headsets is comfortable; even using them for prolonged periods doesn't cause discomfort. Earpieces in headsets are usually made from foam, plastic, or leather that touches around your ear. They provide cushioning around your ear and prevent outside noise from entering headsets. Headbands consist of durable and comfortable material with foam and pleather. Headbands can be adjusted so that Earpieces can perfectly fit around your ear to eliminate discomfort.

Why Do You Need a Headset?

If you love playing online games or do work that involves a lot of communication and is highly audio-focused, there are some great features Headsets offers that you might consider to help you improve your experience while you play or work for prolonged periods.

The most prominent features headsets offer are built-in microphones attached to a boom. It helps you save money on buying separate microphones for your headphones by enabling communication through a boom mic. With advancements in technologies and AI, the microphone quality has greatly improved. For communication, you might not notice any difference in a separate mic or an attached mic in your headset. Headsets are best suited for day-to-day usage, such as listening to music, answering calls, gaming, or attending an online meeting. Headsets offer an all-in-one solution to your day-to-day routine work.

Headsets are also an ideal option for the commercial sector. A wide range of features such as noise cancelation, microphone, quick controls through buttons, and different types of connections such as wired Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity makes headsets an ideal option for companies that focus on customer services, call centers, or any major IT sector companies or companies that focus on communication making headsets their go-to choice.

Our Top MEETION Pick: Telephony Headset (HP003U)

When talking about headsets, the MEETION Telephony HP003U headset could be considered amongst the best options available. The HP003U Headset offers a wired USB connection to deliver exceptional sound quality with no latency issues and stable audio transmission, eliminating concerns about battery life.

This dual-ear, over-the-head style, and body weight of only 200g offer unparalleled convenience and comfort, making the HP003U design extremely ergonomic and perfectly suitable for prolonged usage. With an integrated noise-cancelling technology, your voice is clear and audible.