A couple of the things I have to do, running businesses remotely, are a lot of conference calls, and online whiteboarding. Some of these are within the US, others are transatlantic.
What they all have in common, is that I get to spend quite some time wearing headsets.
Getting the right pair of communications headset is about as easy as looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.
And, believe me, I have tried to find the perfect unit for me.
I had been using the following devices interchangeably;
Then I got the Logitech USB Stereo Headset H570e to review.
This is the Logitech device.
I like to think that I am a simple man.
As a result, I only require a few things from a headset, namely:
- Aural fidelity: how does it sound? Is it tinny? Is the background noise overbearing? Can I hear myself think? Is there a persistent high-level, low-level, or infrasonic humming?
- Application and system compatibility. Plug-and-play, is the absolute minimum for me. I don’t care if the device slices baguettes. All I want to know is, is it instantly compatible with any PC I use. If it has ‘advanced functionality’ that requires a driver disk, I will DQ the device right there.
- Comfort. Since I spend a substantial amount of time wearing headsets every, I have a requirement that the selected device be very comfortable. It just has to be.
As you can see from the photos above, the headsets I use range from the flimsy to the gargantuan.
The heaviest, and surprisingly most comfortable, and with the best audio fidelity was the Microsoft LifeChat 3000. However, as the day went along, it became progressively heavier, and limiting, prompting me to move to any of the other devices.
The Motorola headset was just ungainly. And monaural. Seriously, who does anything in mono these days? I don’t like it at all, and it always had driver issues. Step up your game, Mr. Moto!
The other two devices are used interchangeably with the LifeChat, to relive the weight of Gigantor. However, they both sound tinny, had a lot of wind noise, and many a time, I had to revert to the LifeChat.
The Logitech H570e is very light, is a stereo device, and has a sensitive, yet hum-free microphone.
Out of the box, it integrates into Windows, and works seamlessly with Lync and Skype.
Over the period of a month, I have used it daily, and it has not failed me.
I find that I can use it for longer hours than the other devices without feeling the need for a neck massage, or replacing it with any of my stand-by headsets.
Best of all, it is quite inexpensive, retailing for around $49.99.
This device is ready for Prime Time, and as such, received our SmallBizWindows Business Ready Award.
© 2002 – 2014, John Obeto for Blackground Media Unlimited
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