Working from home is a great perk, and it’s more popular now than it was a few years ago. Distractions are hard to avoid, especially within the confines of the house when working alongside other housemates. From constant iPhone notifications to Netflix binge binges, to my young son seemingly seeking my dad’s attention every minute, navigating the work routines of my home environment can present daily challenges. Even enjoying short periods of downtime can also present difficulties, but I’ve found headphones to be a great tool to help me improve my productivity.
Now, with the right headphones, I can participate in Zoom meetings and presentations with the best call quality, focus on my work free from distractions with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and enjoy high-quality sound when I stop listening to music. In my lunch breaks. The headset has proven to be an essential tool for my home work as one of the best laptops for business. They can work for you too, depending on your priorities.
Whether for work, leisure, ambient immersion, or complete silence, read on to discover the top models I recommend for working from home. They all help balance my work day and maintain productivity.
Best for noise cancellation
1. Bose 700
When I was asked how I kept my sanity working from home and raising a young child during a pandemic, my response remained the same: noise-canceling headphones. The Bose Headphones 700 are our most powerful noise-neutralizer, offering up to 10 levels of adjustable ANC and eliminating up to 90 percent of external sound. They kept me focused on tasks during chaotic times. Typing while my son watches Encanto on repeat and plays electronic games out loud is hard.
Bose Headphones 700 eliminate up to 90% of external sound.
I like to use the 700 headphones as a call headset, too, because they produce first-rate call quality. There is also an improved version called 700 uc (Opens in a new tab) It comes with stronger connectivity and video conferencing integration for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom via USB dongle.
The sound is clear and dynamic for music listening, plus you can customize the sound stage with the built-in equalizer. Other noteworthy distinguishing features include the great touch controls and voice assistance.
Best for professional calls
2. Jabra Connect 5T
I often switch between headphones and earbuds, mainly because the former gets tired on the skull after several hours of wear. All of my afternoon conversations are captured on the Jabra Connect 5T earbuds. It’s designed as an enterprise alternative to the positively reviewed Elite 5, and it has great call quality.
Everyone praised the clarity and background noise-free for my calls.
Every customer, co-worker, and family member has praised the clarity and noise-free backgrounds of my calls. Communications are evident in all environments; I haven’t experienced any background interference yet when chatting on my balcony.
Features like Call Experience increase the loudness of calls, while Wear Detection lets you answer or mute calls with wear detection. The HearThrough makes up for the model’s lackluster ANC by offering some of the best surround hearing in this category, which kept me alert for baby and during office hours deliveries. Since these buds share almost the same architecture as the Elite 5, they also benefit from balanced sound.
Jabra even bundled the Connect 5T with a great-looking wireless charger that sits nicely on any desk and takes up minimal space.
Best for listening after the time is up
3. Sony WH-1000XM5
Music is the soundtrack to my life. some studies (Opens in a new tab) It has been shown to act as a productivity booster, which makes owning a pair of great-sounding cans even more ideal. My recommendation is the WH-1000XM5 for its well-balanced and spacious sound. Sony’s sound profile has been tweaked to produce crisper mids and highs, while maintaining their powerful, lively presence.
Sony’s Transparency mode steals the show, giving up to 20 levels of ambient attenuation.
Proprietary technologies like the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) dramatically upgrade lo-fi recordings, and 360 Reality Audio is a powerful spatial audio alternative to cinematic sound. This is also one of the few models that integrates with popular music streaming services; You can enable 360 Reality Audio on Tidal and seamlessly connect to Spotify with the press of a button.
The WH-1000XM5’s ANC kept noise to a minimum, and it never affected my attention or the vocal field. However, it’s Sony’s transparency mode that steals the show, giving up to 20 levels of ambient attenuation, which was strong enough to pick up conversations from across the street and two stories above me. You’ll be surprised how easy this is when you’re listening to fast food deliveries around the clock.
Better work from home speaker
4. Anker PowerConf H700 upgraded version
I could fit conferencing tools like the Bose 700 UC or Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 into this slot, but the latest entry in Anker’s popular line of headphones is a better investment based on price and performance. While I didn’t review the Anker PowerConf H700 for Tom’s guide, I use it regularly with video conferencing platforms, including WebEx, Google Meet, FaceTime, and Zoom. They feature one of the most comfortable designs around, highlighted by lightweight materials and plush cushioning for all-day wear. The Bluetooth connection is solid, plus the included USB adapter extends wireless range up to 100 feet.
But it’s the PowerConf H700’s practical features that keep the headphones and charging dock great at my desk. Meeting transcription records conversations and transcribes them properly. The headset also supports simple mute options; Raising the boom mic to mute my voice when on calls is very convenient.
The best backup earbuds
5. Apple AirPods Pro 2
It’s easy to lose how much juice the headphones have left when you’re on a time crunch, and I always need a spare pair on hand. My spare pair is Apple’s AirPods Pro 2. Not only have the next-generation flagship Buds been a hit when taking last-minute calls on your iPhone and MacBook, thanks to instant pairing, but as Tom’s Guide audio editor Lee Dunkley said, “The sound quality of the AirPods Pro 2 is exceptional.”
The sound quality of the AirPods Pro 2 is exceptional.
The upgrades offered in this sequel continue to serve me well. Having an extra hour of playtime with ANC allows me to enjoy Apple Music for a little longer. Find My (AirPods) support for the new MagSafe charging case keeps the earphones close at all times. Then there’s custom spatial audio that creates an intimate, 3D soundscape tailored to my hearing. The new ear kit also made a big difference, forming a tighter seal around the ear, which also helps make them ideal for running.
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