Microsoft Modern Headsets review: Teams conferencing made easy

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Conferencing fourth dimension

Microsoft Mod Headsets review: Teams conferencing fabricated piece of cake

Simple, modernistic, and gets the chore done.

Microsoft Modern Headset Wireless Hero Source: Windows Central

Microsoft is now aircraft a handful of "Teams Certified" PC accessories, designed primarily for those who often detect themselves in conference calls using Microsoft Teams in their day-to-day work lives. Whether you're at an office or working from home, these accessories are designed to enhance your productivity when communicating with colleagues or clients with Teams.

Today, we're reviewing 2 of those new accessories in the form of the Modern USB-C Headset and Modern Bluetooth Headset. Both of these headsets are pretty much the same bar a few minor differences that we'll go far to. So without farther ado, hither's our review of Microsoft'south Teams Certified Modern Headsets.

Be certain to check out our list of best conferencing headsets!

Microsoft Modern Headset Se

Microsoft Modernistic Bluetooth and USB-C Headsets

Lesser line: The Microsoft Mod Bluetooth and USB-C headsets are great, affordable means into enhancing your conferencing gear, with defended Teams buttons and easy to utilize controls.

Pros

Comfortable design
Easy setup
Dedicated call and Teams buttons

Cons

Accessories app needs more than options
Teams button non configurable

Category	Modern Wireless Headset	Modernistic USB-C Headset
Dimensions	Length: 6.77 inches (172mm) Width: 6.46 inches (164mm) Depth: 2.36 inches (60mm)	Length: six.81 inches (173mm) Width: 6.57 inches (167mm) Depth: ii.36 inches (60mm)
Weight	0.30 pounds (136g)	0.31 pounds (142g)
Frequency response	Microphone: 100Hz-10KHz Speaker: 100Hz-20KHz	Microphone: 100Hz-10KHz Speaker: 100Hz-20KHz
Noise reduction	Beamforming with ii mems microphone	Noise reduction mic boom
Speaker	28mm moving-scroll speaker driver	28mm moving-curlicue speaker driver
Acoustic level	Up to 91dB	Up to 91dB
Battery	fifty hours music 30 hours calling	N/A
Range	x meters (office) 30 meters (air)	N/A
Cord length	Due north/A	39.4 inches
Cable length	N/A	29.5 inches
Compatibility	Windows eleven Windows x Windows 8.ten Windows 7 macOS Android iOS	Windows 11 Windows x Windows 8.x macOS 10.fifteen+
Toll	$99.99	$54.99

Modern Headsets: Price and availability

Both the Microsoft Modern Bluetooth Headset and Microsoft Modern USB-C Headset are available on the Microsoft Store. The Bluetooth headset can be had for $99, whereas the wired USB-C headset is bachelor for a cheaper price of $55.

Modern Headsets: What you'll similar

Microsoft Modern Headset Padding Source: Windows Fundamental

Both headsets feature the same lightweight pattern. They feature two 28mm speaker drivers which sound plenty fine for Teams calls and vox-related action. I wouldn't use these for extensive music or motion picture listening however, as these speakers just aren't designed for that and are noticeably lacking in bass for that reason.

The speakers themselves take a piffling flake of padding effectually them which keeps your ears squeamish and comfortable for prolonged use. The speakers huge which means the padding sits on your ears rather than over them. This has the advantage of still letting in some external noise, which could exist useful if you lot need to listen out for colleagues in an open part environment.

Both headsets characteristic "noise reduction" built into the microphone which attempts to reduce standard office groundwork dissonance when in a conference call. In my brief testing, it works well enough for minimizing calorie-free background chatter or the sound of a fan or air conditioner, only it won't piece of work miracles.

Microphone quality between the two does differ quite a bit. The wired headset has much clearer and slightly richer sound compared to the wireless headset, which sounds quite tinny, similar the mic y'all'd find on a regular pair of Bluetooth headphones. So, if you're looking for the best microphone quality betwixt the ii, I'd become for the wired headset. That dedicated wired connectedness just allows for a higher quality microphone sound.

Microsoft Modern Headset Buttons Closeup Source: Windows Key

Some other difference between the ii headsets is with how you mute the mic. On the wireless headset, you can mute the mic just past raising it up from the oral fissure position. On the wired headset, yous must press the mute button on the command pad attached to the wire. I really like the wireless headsets fashion of muting, equally it'due south one motion that takes a second and doesn't require hunting around for the control pad kickoff.

Both headsets characteristic an hands adjustable design and are comfortable to wear. The Wireless model can connect to your PC either via the included 2.4Ghz USB-A dongle, or via Bluetooth. I beloved that Microsoft gives y'all the option, equally sometimes you aren't able to plug in a defended receiver. That said, I recommend using the receiver whenever you tin, as it provides a much stronger and more stable connection betwixt your headset and PC.

The wired headphones connect to your PC using USB-C, which is unusual for a conferencing headset. Most conferencing headsets on the marketplace still use USB-A, and then it'due south nice to meet Microsoft ahead of the curve here. That said, a lot of office-based PCs don't have USB-C ports yet, so you might find yourself digging for a dongle.

Microphone quality exam

Hither are ii brief audio tests using the default settings on both headsets. These audio clips are unaltered.

Modern Headsets: What you won't like

Microsoft Modern Wired Buttons Source: Windows Fundamental

There's really not much to dislike about these headsets if you lot're ownership them for their intended purpose. While cracking for phonation and conference calls, they're less practiced for pic or music listening. The speakers are lacking in the bass department, so things aren't every bit punchy compared to a higher-stop ready of headphones for entertainment listening. The mics as well lack punch, so audio recordings will exist noticeably lacking in bass too. This is perfectly fine for voice calls and conferencing, but I wouldn't narrate an audiobook with these mics.

Both headsets have dedicated Teams buttons, which is great if y'all find yourself rapidly needing to quickly launch into the Microsoft Teams app during the day to answer a phone call or message. Yet, if you utilise a different chatting service (similar Slack,) the button isn't configurable in any way. It opens Teams, and that's information technology. I do wish Microsoft would give us the option to remap the button.

Both Headsets tin be configured with Microsoft's new "Accessory Center" software, which automatically downloads when you plug in one of these peripherals for the get-go time. It'due south a dainty-looking app, and works as intended, but there aren't very many options to configure for the headsets themselves. You can modify language, enable or disable push to talk, and set a maximum volume limit. That's about it. I would've liked to see more than controls for things like adjusting gain, tweaking EQ settings, and other audio-related features.

Equally mentioned above, mic quality differs quite a scrap betwixt the two headsets. The wired headset has a much richer sounding microphone, just in that location'due south also a slight corporeality of buzzing that you can hear when yous're not talking. It'south only really noticeable when you lot heave the audio, so you shouldn't notice it in conference calls, but information technology'south something to go along an eye on. I too plant the wireless headsets mic to sometimes audio a bit abrupt. Moving the mic a fleck further from your mouth remedies this.

Lastly, though you really shouldn't be expecting it on a device like this, there's no active noise cancellation built into these headphones. And so, if you lot're in an environment where noises like that tin distract you, these headsets aren't going to be for you. Microsoft sells the Surface Headphones 2+ with active noise cancellation, simply those are quite a bit more expensive.

Mod Headsets: Competition

Jabra Evolve 40 MS Source: Jabra

The conferencing headset is market is huge, with all kinds of headsets from the likes of Sennheiser, Plantronics, and Jabra. The Sennheiser MB 660 UC are considered the gold standard, albeit quite a bit more expensive than the Microsoft Modern Headsets. The MB 660 features articulate microphones, large earcups that become over your ear, and much bigger drivers for amend sound quality.

What's more comparable to the Modern Headsets is the Jabra Evolve 40 MS, which is priced round the aforementioned, and features similar specs. Information technology has racket counterfoil, a good microphone, and in-line controls for things similar volume, muting, and accepting or declining calls.

Modern Headsets: Should you buy them?

Microsoft Modern Wired Headset Source: Windows Central

You should buy this if ...

You live in Microsoft Teams all day
Need an affordable, plug and play solution
Want a wireless headset for a reasonable price

Yous shouldn't buy this if ...

You plan to practise heavy music or video listening
You plan to record professional audio

I recollect these Modern Headsets from Microsoft are a bully improver to Microsoft's accompaniment line-up, and serve a specific purpose (that being Teams conferencing.) You can apply them in other apps, but the dedicated Teams button obviously won't do annihilation at that indicate.

Setup is surprisingly easy, merely plug them in and you lot're basically adept to go. I think for the price, these practice the job just fine. Sound quality and listening quality are merely fine for conferencing calls, nobody complained nigh my sound, even with the Bluetooth headset, and people on the other finish sounded perfectly fine.

Microsoft Modern Headset Se

Microsoft Mod Bluetooth and USB-C Headsets

Bottom line: The Microsoft Modern Bluetooth and USB-C headsets are groovy, affordable ways into enhancing your conferencing gear, with dedicated Teams buttons and easy to use controls.

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