5 Best Work-From-Home Headphones – Your Home Office Companion

5 Best Work-From-Home Headphones

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For better or for worse, the COVID-19 pandemic has managed to thrust the idea of working from home into the mainstream; and more than that, it’s proven that the setup is viable for a decent chunk of workers.

I, for one, am more than blessed to get to do my 9 to 5 from the comfort of my personal office. I otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy my favorite music with my favorite headphones. 

Sure, your employer might provide you with a headset and other peripherals alongside your work computer. But let’s be honest, who even uses these unless we’re forced to? 

If you’re looking for some great work-from-home headphones to stay productive and keep your playlists sounding their best, this guide might be for you. 

While I won’t claim to have tested every pair of headphones out there, there are a few standouts I’ve found from my own personal search for the best WFH headphones.

Okay, so What are Work-From-Home Headphones?

It’s quite easy to just recommend the Bose QC45 to someone and call it a day. And for all intents and purposes, office headsets are by definition made for office-style environments—at home or otherwise. 

As someone who cares about sound quality, it’s kind of a given that I’ll recommend headphones that sound great; but not everyone can get away with a Sennheiser HD660 rig in their WFH setup. 

So let’s set some ground rules and figure out what “work-from-home headphones” should be. I’ve boiled it down to three key features: mic quality, noise isolation, and wireless connectivity.

Mic Quality

With us being out of the office, communicating with coworkers is unfortunately mandatory for a lot of remote jobs. Sure, having a separate mic unit is always an option, my picks for WFH headphones will have integrated mics for those that need them. 

The tricky part is that some jobs need a good mic much more than others. 

A customer service agent, for example, will need the boost in clarity of a dedicated boom mic that just isn’t possible with the pinhole mics on most other headphones. 

On the other hand, you’ll have jobs like mine that rarely need to join live voice calls and meetings—anything that’ll get my voice through will work just fine.

Noise Quality

All of that is before we consider the variation in people’s home workspaces. 

As someone who has been doing freelance and full-time work completely online, my own working environment has changed drastically over the years. 

While I get to be in my own room away from the rest of the household during work hours, I didn’t have this luxury back then — and neither do some remote workers. 

Many have families. Some have babies. Others have pets. All of them can be disruptive to your work and some headphones are not able to handle that in a lot of cases. 

Because of this, I’ve opted to give priority to headphones with active noise canceling (ANC) for my recommendations. While a lot of headphones can block out noise to some extent, those with ANC handle it a lot better in many cases and IEMs are out of the scope of this guide. 

Wireless Connectivity

Since ANC is already on our needed features list, it’s only natural for my picks for the best WFH headphones to also be wireless. 

As a wired-first kind of person, I don’t care too much about Bluetooth audio. I’m mostly averse to wireless tech since I do a lot of gaming (especially rhythm games) where the latency of transmitting audio over the air is simply unusable.

Office work, however, doesn’t have anything to react to quickly like in a video game, so anything with Bluetooth is excellent. 

Dedicated USB dongles are kind of a plus thanks to (usually) better latency and audio quality, but might not work for everyone. 

And yet, even wireless itself isn’t a must-have. Sure, it’s convenient to have it when it’s there, but unless you’re constantly moving around away from your desk, a good wired-only headset will work just as well and maybe even be a bit cheaper than one with wireless tech. 

With all of that out of the way, let’s get to our recommendations.

Best Work-From-Home Headphones

editorspick

Razer Opus Wireless 2021

Razer’s most grown up (and somehow its most competent) headphones yet—a magnum opus in every regard

4.5/5
Price Range: $$
Brand: Razer
Razer Opus Headphones - Work-from-home Headphones

The Download

What happens when you take the “gamer” aesthetic away from a gaming brand? 

In Razer’s case, apparently, it lets them make the best headphones they’ve ever released. Now stripped of any and all gaming-related marketing, these headphones hone in on their connectivity, ANC, and sound that’s certified by THX (which is a company that Razer bought and owns, just to put that out there).

The cynical take on this is that the Opus just looks like a shameless rip-off of the Sony WH-1000XM4. But that’s not a bad thing.

Although it’s derivative, the design works. And on top of that solid platform, Razer has made one of the best-sounding headphones in its history. 

For about $100 below the XM4, you get weaker ANC and a pretty bad mic, but the compromises here are manageable for most work-from-home setups unless you absolutely need good call quality. 

It’s a surprising detour for Razer’s audio division that they are unwilling to replicate—heck, this quietly refreshed 2021 model is already a kneecapped version of the original Opus from 2020. It seems they forgot to nerf these headphones before release.

But at least for a moment, we got a glimpse of what Razer can do—that under the right conditions, they too are capable of greatness.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Wireless closed-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  Single 40mm dynamic
  • Frequency Response:  20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  105 dB
  • Impedance:  12 Ohms
  • Weight:  270 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Razer Opus headphones
  • Hard carrying case
  • 1.3m cable (3.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRS)

Stuff I like

  • Surprisingly clear and balanced sound
  • Convenient physical button controls
  • Decent ANC performance

Stuff I like less

  • Hard to find
  • Disappointing mic quality
  • Can sound boring to some
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

contender

Logitech G PRO X Wireless

Highly versatile and capable, the G PRO X headset works hard and plays hard.

4/5
Price Range: $$
Brand: Logitech
Logitech G PRO X Wireless

The Download

It does feel a bit strange recommending gaming headsets for work from home setups, but the gaming audio sector has cleaned up quite a bit from its bright, RGB-laden past. 

Despite being marketed for the esports crowd, the G PRO X works surprisingly well as a work from home headset. 

It’s a bit on the bulkier side (not to mention heavy), but it’s discreet enough in its design that it doesn’t scream attention. Although I’m not a huge fan of their boomy sound, they also sound decent enough to handle most playlists without any glaring issues. 

The real draw here for remote workers, though, is the mic performance. A combination of a decent mic capsule and Blue Microphones’ expertise puts the G PRO X’s mic performance a leap ahead of comparable gaming headsets. 

The catch is that it needs Logitech software to sound as crisp, clean, and full-bodied as it is. Sure, it sounds okay without it, but you want to install that software to get it to sound its best — which may not be possible on a work computer provided by your employer.

Outside of that, the G PRO X is still a highly capable headset that works on most WFH setups.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Wireless closed-back over-ear headset
  • Driver Type:  50mm dynamic drivers
  • Frequency Response:  20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  92 dB
  • Impedance:  35 Ohms
  • Weight:  320 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Logitech G PRO X headphones
  • Detachable boom mic
  • USB sound card
  • Carrying bag
  • 1 pair of pleather earpads
  • 1 pair of cloth earpads
  • 1 x 2m cable with inline volume (3.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRRS)
  • 1 x 1.2m cable with inline mic (3.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRRS)
  • 3.5mm audio Y-splitter

Stuff I like

  • Bassy but lively sound
  • Excellent boom mic quality
  • Great battery life
  • Ample included accessories

Stuff I like less

  • No ANC
  • No Bluetooth
  • Fairly heavy
  • Mic needs Logitech software to sound its best
Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

premiumoption

Bose QuietComfort 45

Class-leading ANC tech on a well-refined design—this is QuietComfort at its best

4.5/5
Price Range: $$$
Brand: Bose
Bose QuietComfort 45

The Download

Despite stiff competition from Sony over the years, Bose still boasts some of the best ANC in the headphone market. And their QuietComfort series has been one of the best examples of this in action. 

I’ve been a fan of these headphones since the QC15, and they continue to impress me with the QC45. Their ANC is an obvious winner, but their sound has gotten a lot better over the years. 

Lively but controlled, the QC45 handles a wider range of genres with a more balanced hand than the bass slam of the Sony XM headphones. 

As great as they are on the inside, though, I can’t help but be underwhelmed by how they look on the outside. For what are supposed to be premium headphones, their mostly plastic build takes the most generic, child’s-drawing-of-a-headphone look I’ve ever seen. 

If that sounds like a petty nitpick, that’s because it kind of is. I struggle to find anything wrong with the Bose QC45 performance-wise, and they are a worthy investment if you’re willing to shell out that much cash.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Wireless closed-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  Single 40mm dynamic
  • Frequency Response:  20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Weight:  235 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Bose QC45 headphones
  • Carrying case
  • 1.2m cable (2.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRS)
  • 0.4m charging cable (USB-C to USB-A)

Stuff I like

  • Best in class ANC
  • Lively, fun sound signature
  • Above-average mic performance

Stuff I like less

  • Bass may be a bit light
  • Extremely bland looks
  • The plastic build doesn’t match the price
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

budgetpick

Anker Soundcore Life Q35

A capable budget competitor from an unlikely source

4/5
Price Range: $
Brand: Anker
Anker Soundcore Life Q35

The Download

Anker, a popular and respected maker of battery banks, chargers, and other phone accessories, has found a decent amount of success in the audio space through their Soundcore sub-brand.

With an aim towards the mobile market, their price undercutting strategy has so far worked to their advantage offering great performance at very compelling price points.

Although the flagship Q45 headphones are better in terms of raw performance, I find the Q35 to be the best value as it is a very good headphone in its own right and also has the benefit of lower street prices.

While its ANC is no Bose by any means, the Q35 blocks out most office sounds pretty well, and the impressive 35 hours of battery life with ANC on ensures you can always tune the world out throughout your shift.

From an audiophile’s perspective, the Q35 isn’t what I would call class-leading, but the fairly balanced tonality and decent soundstage is more than passable for most listeners. I certainly didn’t mind using them as my main travel headphones and their often-discounted prices only make them a sweeter deal.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Wireless closed-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  Single 40mm dynamic
  • Frequency Response:  16 – 40,000 Hz
  • Impedance:  Weight
  • Weight:  270 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Anker Soundcore Life Q35 headphones
  • Soft carrying pouch
  • Hard carry case
  • Airplane adapter
  • 1.2m cable with inline mic (3.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRRS)

Stuff I like

  • Great value for money
  • Fairly good clarity
  • Excellent battery life

Stuff I like less

  • Pressure on the top of the head
  • Overbearing bass
  • Some hiss in ANC mode
Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

alsoconsider

Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless

A working headset I wouldn’t mind taking home

4/5
Price Range: $$
Brand: Jabra
Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless

The Download

When it comes to office and work headsets, two brands have managed to stay popular and dependable—Jabra and Plantronics (which recently rebranded to Poly). 

Generally speaking, they offer industry-grade call quality and wireless connectivity that made them the standard for many big offices nowadays.

Of the few that I’ve used over the years, the Evolve2 65 Wireless from Jabra is probably the only one I would use after office hours. While the bass boost is more muddy than punchy, it’s not unusable and the midrange and higher frequencies remain exceptionally clear so it’s not too much of a deal breaker. 

Let’s be honest here, though, even something like the Philips SHP9600 would wipe the floor with this any day of the week. 

No, what you buy the Evolve2 for is its exceptional microphone. despite its small size this boom mic capsule manages to sound very clear and full-bodied for even low male voices. it’s not something you’d record your singing on but it’ll easily handle any office call. 

Couple that with a light, on-ear fit and impressive wireless range and battery life and you have what I feel is one of the best office headsets you can get.

That said, the significant extra cost of corporate software certifications and weak noise isolation make this a pretty tough buy unless you want that extra integration with Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Personally, I’d probably still reach for a gaming headset.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Wireless closed-back on-ear headset
  • Driver Type:  Single 40mm dynamic
  • Frequency Response:  20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Max. Input Power:  30 mW
  • Sensitivity:  117 dB
  • Weight:  ~180 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Jabra Evolve2 65 headphones
  • Soft carrying case
  • USB-A Bluetooth dongle
  • 1m charging cable (USB-C to USB-A)

Stuff I like

  • Class-leading call quality
  • Great vocal clarity in both calls and music
  • Light and comfortable
  • Certified for Microsoft Teams or Zoom

Stuff I like less

  • Bass is light yet boomy
  • No ANC
  • On-ear fit is not for everyone
Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Final Thoughts

It’s a little bit past the middle of 2023 at the time of posting this guide, at which point the spike in remote work has already tapered off and corporations have already started dragging workers back into the office. 

Whatever the nature of work will be in the future, in the here and now work-from-home seems to be here to stay. And for those that still do, we hope this guide has helped show you the kinds of options you could take when you invest in an excellent work-from-home headphone.

Tech enthusiast since childhood with a passion for finding the perfect gadget or accessory for the job. Always happy to share knowledge on electronics and digital trends. Music lover, 5K runner, instinctive optimizer. Impressed by fit and finish. Inspired by art and engineering.

This post was last updated on 2024-11-04 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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