Selection Guide: Headset

Headset Headphones for Music + Chat on Your iPhone/iPad or Smartphone

'Headset' is the generic term used to describe any headphone with a built-in microphone for voice communications. Headsets are typically designed to let you listen to music and talk on your mobile phone and are most commonly used with iPhone, iPad, Droid or other smartphones. There are many different types of headsets including 'mono' headsets (seen around office call centers) featuring one single earpiece; these are strictly for voice applications and usually have poor musical performance. Here at HeadRoom, we stock mainly stereo (individual left/right earpieces) headset models capable of both excellent music reproduction and full telephony. We stock great stereo in-ear headsets, 'on-ear' headphone headsets, full size headphone headsets, wireless Bluetooth headsets, and even a top-of-the-line 'mono' single-earpiece headset. Nowadays, you can even convert the killer Shure 'SE' line of professional / audiophile in-ears into headsets by simply adding a detachable Shure adapter cable with mic + controller built-in.

We think the detail definition of the Etymotic Research HF3 is terrific and its mic clarity second to none. Etymotic is an audiology originator and the HF3 should please iPad or iPhone listeners wanting a clean well-balanced tone. The Logitech Ultimate Ears 'Vi' headset models are all awesomely well-priced in-ear choices with superb musical performance across the board. For effective communicators needing a Bluetooth headset delivering the clearest voice conversations in the loud outdoor environments, the Etymotic EtyBLU2 delivers precise intelligibility with a single 'mono' in-ear earpiece and highest possible isolation plus a highly directional mic that rejects off-axis ambient noises. Folks listening to quality in-ear stereo headsets (w/ built-in mic) like Spider Real Voice , Woodees Vintage or Klipsch X10i will find easy voice chat & calls, clear music reproduction and clean listening levels with no outboard amp needed. Listeners after top wireless Bluetooth 'on-ear' headphones should check the affordable JayBird which mate nicely with iPad Bluetooth formats and also feature a built-in mic. For top-level 'high-end' Bluetooth afficionados, Sennheiser wireless headphones like the MM450-X offers great sound plus noise-canceling and a mic for completely wire-free iPad/iPhone or iPod Touch listening/chatting. Nowadays, you can even convert the flagship Shure 'SE' line of professional / audiophile in-ears into headsets by simply adding a detachable Shure adapter cable with a mic + controller built-in.