Being a remote worker, a good tech setup is essential. A comfortable chair, nice desk, well-positioned monitor and a keyboard and mouse you love. Then there are the other parts that people don’t think about as much: webcam and microphone.
Before buying the Microsoft Modern Wireless Headset, I was using an AT2020+ microphone on a boom arm, which I use for streaming and other purposes. Then I got the Blue Yeti X, a great microphone, my primary one. It’s a great microphone, but I have to adjust the audio levels with it through my interface routinely.
However, I realised I sit often and am terrible when taking breaks or leaving my computer. They do say sitting is the new smoking.
Sometimes I don’t need to sit at the computer on a call. Unless I am going over some code with someone, if it’s a meeting where we discuss work, I could be standing and walking around (something a wired headset or microphone doesn’t let you do). My monitor is still visible, but the ability to pace around my study would benefit my developer body.
And that realisation is what made me think of a wireless headset.
My initial search yielded some quite expensive headsets. I was shocked when I saw some for $300+, then even more shocked when the prices kept going up past $1k. I am sure the expensive wireless headsets are great, but I just wanted a comfortable one that won’t bankrupt me and have decent sound quality.
And that’s when I came across the Microsoft Modern Wireless Headset.
It ticked all of the boxes:
- Good reviews
- Affordable
- Built for audio calls
- It’s a Microsoft product, so it would be easier to replace it if it’s faulty.
Like everything I buy, even the cheap things, I research extensively. The Modern Wireless Headset seems to be a highly-rated headset for the price. While it is marketed as a Microsoft Teams-compatible headset, it will work with any application. Furthermore, you can even use it with your phone if you like. Some say they use it for music, but I am a bit of an audiophile and don’t think I could bring myself to do that.
For the price, I was expecting the headset to leave my head or ears sore, but Microsoft seems to have surprisingly built an affordable headset that doesn’t comprise comfort. I unknowingly leave the headset on even when not on a call or listening to music. The battery life is also surprisingly good. I am not sure of the claim of 50 hours as I am in the habit of charging my devices at the end of the day.
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, I tested this headset on Ubuntu Linux, and it worked out of the box. No drivers were needed, as Ubuntu recognised it and allowed me to use it.
Are there better headsets out there? Undoubtedly. But you can’t go wrong if you’re like me and just wanted a headset specifically for audio calls. The Microsoft Modern Wireless headset gets the job done without breaking the bank.