Learn me: Work headphones

My new job has me on the phone 8 hours a day, it's quickly becoming apparent that holding the phone to my ear is untenable. I have a $150 stipend from work, so I'm looking for headphones in the $150-$200 range with the following characteristics:

1) Android compatible with the old 3.5mm headphone jack

2) Noise cancellation would be nice. In my mind I'm envisioning using these for air travel in the distant future of 2022

3) In ear, not over the ear

4)  I'm leaning towards something corded, I have 5 or 6 devices that need frequent charging and I'm not keen on adding another to the list

Seems like you need a microphone as part of your requirements?  I don't have advice, just reading, and wondered about that part. 

Do you really want to wear in-ear headphones for 8 hours a day? I would think that over the ear would be a lot more comfortable.

I have a suggestion for over-ear headphones that are comfortable, but there's no mic. It would make it hard to take phone calls.

Yup, must have a mic. I was wearing the corded in-ear that comes with an iPhone and it was all-day comfortable. Now have an android phone and looking for an upgrade

In reply to calteg :

Do you still have the corded pair that you used with the iPhone.  It's my experience that the same corded ones that worked with the iPhone should work with the Android.  

I know it fails to meet some of your requirements, but I use a Plantronics Focus headset for work and love it.

There are a lot of gaming head phones that have a mic , would those work ?

they are built to be on your head a long time !

I used in ear phone buds for years. I switched over to a set of old style over the ear phones that were light and loved it. I think they were $30 Logitech (340?). And then for travel I bought a set of Corwin E7 Pro's with noise cancelling and they were $70(?). In ear peices irritate my ears after a while.

I have nice entry level audiophile headphones and bought a microphone cable since the headphones has a 3.5mm jack rather than a hardwired cord.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D9W6X9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_tqDbGbFSJ0K4J

californiamilleghia said:

There are a lot of gaming head phones that have a mic , would those work ?

they are built to be on your head a long time !

I'm reasonably certain my sennheiser gaming headset would plug into my phone and be fine. 

Just make sure anything noise canceling or isolating has some sort of sidetone so you can hear yourself speaking, without that it isn't that nice of an experience. I use my HyperX gaming headset sometimes with my iPhone but it is not that great without it.

In reply to John Welsh :

The iPhone 11 headphones I have definitely do not interface with my android at all.

A corded gaming headset would probably work fine. I have fantasies about using them to cancel noise on an airplane, but that might be 2-3 years away, realistically

Here's an adapter that will allow you to use your Apple earphones with your Android phone, assuming you have USB-C for charging said phone: Amazon.com: Anker USB-C to Lightning Audio Adapter

I have used a 2-1 3.5mm adapter with my gaming headest to plug into my phone before.

I have a Logitec G430 and its pretty good.  I regularly use it for 2-3 hour Assetto Corsa sessions with some people o here.  That said, I would recommend going with something that has a replaceable cable, because that *will* wear out eventually.  Probably relatively quickly if you are on the phone 8 hours a day.

I'm on the phone anywhere from 3-8 hours a day usually.  I use the mic in my external webcam.  Fatigue of wearing headphones all day is very real IMO.  I cannot imagine doing it with earbuds.

Some earbuds are better than others - I have (now discontinued) Sennheiser MM30i earbuds that I love.  These days I find myself using speakerphone more and more, but I've found the earbuds to be more comfortable for long days on the phone than a lot of on-hear headsets (like my Jabra Evolve 40 headset). I bought a set of Sure SE215 earbuds that sound amazing and have a replaceable cord, but I'm not a fan of how the wires loop over the ears.  I think it's all up to the individual person, but if I had to wear something all day, my vote right now would be for the ear buds.

I know I shouldn't worry, but I'm a bit paranoid with Bluetooth transmitting so close to what little of my brain is left, so everything I use is corded.

I too am on the phone 8hrs per day. 

I got a headset by Plantronics, the Savi I think? The base connects to my phone via Bluetooth, and I think it's 2.4ghz between the base and headset. So my phone stays at the desk and I get good range. Over the ear is really comfortable, and on headset volume and mute controls are key.  My ears don't like earbuds all day long. 

Also connects to my computer thru mini USB. Seriously, I've had a lot of headsets and this is the best I've had. Battery lasts all day too. Not affiliated, of course.

Plantronics if you want it to work and be comfortable. 

If you want noise cancellation and comfort, these Sony headphones have been fantastic!  Not quite as good as Bose noise cancelling, but damn close.  Also, they are quite large and heavy.  And yes they do have a mic, though I havent used it much.  You can turn on and off the noise cancelling as well.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-wh-xb900n-wireless-noise-cancelling-over-the-ear-headphones-black/6347796.p?skuId=6347796&ref=212&loc=1&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1268706&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrtzj4t6q7gIVo-HACh1WTwUgEAQYAiABEgKKRvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

sweet, lot of great options in here. GRM comes through again!

calteg said:

Yup, must have a mic. I was wearing the corded in-ear that comes with an iPhone and it was all-day comfortable. Now have an android phone and looking for an upgrade

So those, are all day comfortable? do you have feeling in your ears?

Your need is a little strange. You can get decent headsets with a microphone for under your range. you can get over the ear and in ear headphones that are near audiophile for 150-200$, but the microphone requirement is where your need strays. None of those are going to have a decent microphone. Also, what phone do you have that still has a 3.5mm jack? if you're wanting something long term, you're going to need to eliminate that feature, because your next phone isnt going to have it.  

I

You have to have them in your ears for 8 hours at a time? That is rough!

I had to get some new headphones for teleconferencing earlier this year and ended up with these:



Jabra Elite Active 75t

I just pop them in when I need to. For in-ear buds, they are very comfortable. They sound good both in my ears and on the other end, and have four mics to pick up voice for calls. I've had people actually compliment the clarity during calls a lot over the past few months. The batteries last a while (like 5-6hrs) and it has a charging case which helps if you are on the go. The coolest thing is that I can connect to two devices simultaneously and seamlessly; I have them hooked up to my PC and phone. There's an Android app that you can get to manage them, which lets you customize all sorts of settings, and with a firmware update, they even rolled out some software-run ANC that works well. Another function I like is a pass-through mode that uses some of the mics to pick up outside sound. They aren't cheap at $150 retail, but I've seen them for less when on sale. I love them and totally recommend them.

They aren't wired, so they probably aren't what you are looking for, but I'd consider them if you can take them out during your shift. They only take a few seconds to turn on and pair once you pull them out of the case.

 

I like the Microsoft Surface noise-cancelling ones. ~12 hours battery life, they do 3.5mm corded connection and sound great.