Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing apps in the world with over 16 million users. Zoom is a powerful conferencing software that allows you to call, chat and work online with your colleagues, partners and clients from miles away.

One thing that makes Zoom different from other video conferencing apps is its high quality sound with HD video. The bigger question for some business travelers is what headphones they should use in order to maximize this experience? Is there a certain type or brand that works better than others?

In the past year, I’ve reviewed dozens of different pair of headphones for zoom meetings. In order to save you a lot of time and effort, I’ll point out a few that I feel are the best.

Bluetooth wired headphones for zoom meetings

The first headphones I will discuss are Bluetooth headphones. I’ve tried dozens of different (on the market) Bluetooth headphones for zoom meetings and nine times out of ten, they all disappoint me.

If you use headphones with a traditional wire, you’ll notice that these headphones can become tangled and can be hard to untangle. If you’re watching a meeting with someone who moves around a lot, they will get tangled more often. In the end, you’ll have a hard time untangling these headphones and it can be frustrating to say the least.

Best bluetooth headphones for zoom meetings

Bluetooth headphones work a bit differently than traditional wired headphones. Instead of using a wire, they use Bluetooth technology to connect to your phone.

This makes them more secure. They can be paired with multiple devices and they can offer better sound quality. Besides that, you have the option to have a microphone or not. In most cases, I prefer to have a microphone.

The best thing about these headphones is their sleek design and minimalist look, which will keep your headphones from getting lost in a meeting room while maintaining their quality sound quality.

Zoom certified headsets

There are Zoom Certified Headsets out there, but to be honest, I have never found these to be great in sound quality, and they cost a little more than other headsets.

These certified headsets will work with Zoom Online Meetings, Zoom On-Demand, and Zoom Rooms, but so do anything else!

Are wireless headphones worth it?

Since most of our Zoom meetings are audio-only, do wireless headphones offer a lot of real benefit? In my experience, the answer is no. I have tested many wireless headphones and they just don’t work that well.

You’ll have to deal with lag time, a lack of precision and a possible interference with the audio. If you want to use wireless headphones in a zoom meeting, they will most likely disappoint you.

So before making your purchase, make sure you have used wireless headphones before so that you know how it is going to feel in a zoom meeting.

Is it worth buying noise Cancelling headphones?

Yes, it is. Noise cancelling headphones are a must have in order to get the full benefit of a zoom meeting.

These will not only save you from hearing everything that is going on around you, but they will also block out a lot of the background noise. The final result is that you will focus on what’s being said without having to worry about any distractions.

Why headphones are so expensive?

Headphones can be very expensive, but this is because of their quality. As I stated above, I’ve tested dozens of different headphones for zoom meetings, and most of the time, the more expensive ones worked better than their less expensive counterparts.

In my experience, many of the best headphones can be found in the $75-$150 price range. They will offer a much better sound quality and they will have a better design than their less expensive counterparts. The thing that makes these headphones so expensive is not just the sound quality but how well they are made.

Good sound quality is not just about having a good microphone or having good audio, it’s also about being able to withstand harsh environments and how well they can take a beating.

Best budget headphones for zoom meeting

If expensive headphones are too much for you, then you can get cheap ones that work fairly well. In my experience, these cheap headphones work and their more expensive counterparts and you can find them for less than $25.

The only downside to these headphones is that they rarely have a great design or a sleek look. You’ll just have to deal with a more complicated design and you’ll have to deal with alignment issues with your phone. Other than that, they’re a decent pair of headphones for a cheap price.

Getting The Right Ear Protectors For Zoom meetings

One question that always comes up in zoom meetings is whether they need to wear earplugs. If you’ve never experienced a zoom meeting with an open mic, you might not understand how important it is to wear them!

It’s also super easy to forget. However, in my experience, most Zoom users like hearing the person on the other end of the call and most people prefer wearing them in meetings compared to just listening without them if you’re using headphones.

Comfort

Comfort is important. So many people complain about wearing earplugs because they’re uncomfortable or that they don’t fit well.

Unfortunately, there are no perfect earplugs, everything falls on the side of “just right”. There are some comfy earplugs out there, but it is better to find the ones that are not too tight and keep them in your ears for as long as possible.

Durability

Durability is an important factor, especially if you are planning to use earplugs for several Zoom meetings. If the earplugs are made of cheap materials, they are likely to break after some time.

If they are made of durable materials, then you will be able to use them for more meetings without having to worry about them breaking or losing them! As a rule of thumb, if they feel light in your hands, then they will most likely not last long.

Portability

Portability is also important, especially if you are planning to use earplugs for several meetings. Ideally, your earplugs should be light enough that you can bring them with you in your pocket or backpack without them sticking out of the bag. This will allow you to grab them whenever it’s time for a zoom meeting.

Fitting

Fitting is as important as comfort. In order to have a good earplug, it should fit the inside of your ear well and prevent them from falling off. With that being said, it will help if the plugs come with a little box that you can squeeze into them until they fit comfortably in your ears.

NRR Rating

NRR Rating stands for Noise Reduction Rating. This rating is used to tell you how much noise the plugs will reduce.

An NRR rating of 30 or more will offer you a decent noise reduction while still allowing you to hear what’s going on in the room. If you are one of those people who can’t concentrate at all unless there is complete silence, then an NRR of 30 should be sufficient.

Size

Size is important. Some people like to use the small earplugs while others like the big ones. The size depends on what suits them best. It is also important that you don’t choose too big or too small plugs because they might not fit well into your ear and you might not use them properly.

Cost

Cost is an important factor. When you look for earplugs, you notice that most of them are expensive. If you are a frequent Zoom user, it might be a good idea to invest a little more money on quality earplugs and this is the main reason I include the price range of my recommended earplugs in this article.

Conclusion

Zoom is a great way to make connections and get more of your business done with the people in the room. If you don’t want to risk your Zoom meetings getting cut short because of poor quality sound or leaking, start using some good headphones for zoom meetings.

If you need something that is portable and doesn’t cost too much, then these earplugs might be perfect for you.

Please Note: Just because an ear defender is marked, for example, "Gunshot" - it will still cover other things, like "explosions"