Are you looking for the perfect headset? We polled Elsie’s over one hundred producers to find out what their favorite headsets are! Here are their 3 favorite headsets!!
Many of our producers rave about this reliable and budget friendly workhorse of a headset. It’s a USB wired headset – always the preferred style of headset for Elsie’s producers. These stereo headphones have a noise-canceling microphone, USB connection and In-Line Controls. They tell us it works well on both PC and Mac. One producer bought hers in 2015 and only replaced it in 2021 when one of the pads started to rip – otherwise it still worked beautifully! At this time, it’s selling on Amazon for $24.99 USD.
If you’re looking for a wireless option, the Jabra Evolve 65 is a solid choice! According to the producers who use it, it doesn’t pick up background noise, there are no random mute buttons to accidentally push, it’s wireless and the Bluetooth works great. One producer reports that she can move from her third floor all the way to her basement and still hear clearly at all times. It has a 12 hour battery life and a 100 foot range. It also has a red “busy light” to visually alert co-workers or family members that you are working! It probably doesn’t work for the dog though! It does also come with a USB cable so you can be wired and charging the headset while using it! At this time the Jabra website has it for sale for $208 USD which is a big investment, especially for a new producer, but for this level of flexibility, it just might be worth it!
If you like the Jabra brand and want a fully wired headset, this is a high quality headset that one of our producers swears by for traveling. This headset also has the red “busy light” like the Evolve 65. Due to the fact that this has both a 3.5mm jack and a USB connection option, you can use this for other purposes besides producing, such as with your smartphone or tablet for listening to music when not producing. In order to use the mute control though, you must be using the USB connection. It currently sells on Amazon for $87USD.
Bonus Suggestion! Tech Guru Sound Room Style Setup
If you are one of those tech gurus who wants a sound studio setup, one of our producers recommends this combo of a USB Rode Videomic ($99USD at B&H Photo) and a separate headset made by Sennheiser ($149.95USD on Amazon). He also recommends deadening the sound in your workspace by hanging a heavy cloth like a bed quilt or comforter to reduce the “echo effect”. And if you really want to make an investment in excellent room sound quality, you could purchase sound panels to line your office.
As a producer you should try and be the example and NOT use earbuds or laptop mics. Always use a high quality, noise canceling headset. Your clients and participants will appreciate the level of professionalism in your sound quality.
