Headset (telephone/computer)

A headset is a [1]

Contents 1 Distinction between headphones and headsets 2 Understanding headsets 2.1 Monaural, binaural, and stereo headsets 2.2 External microphone vs. microtube 2.3 Noise-canceling microphone vs. omni-directional microphone 2.4 Different styles of headsets 3 Types of headsets 3.1 Telephone headsets 3.2 Headset compatibility and pin alignment 3.3 Telephone amplifiers 3.4 Quick disconnecting cable 4 Computer headset 4.1 3.5 mm computer headset 4.2 USB headset 4.2.1 Headset with USB connection 4.2.2 Direct USB headset 5 Mobile phone headsets 6 Wireless headsets 6.1 DECT wireless headsets 6.2 2.4 GHz wireless headsets 6.3 Bluetooth wireless headsets 6.4 Bluetooth wireless desktop solutions 7 History 8 Gallery 9 References

Distinction between headphones and headsets

Although headset can mistakenly be referred to as simply a headphone, it is now more commonly used to refer to a headphone with a microphone arm attached. This distinction is important, as most headset developers have adapted to this terminology, improper reference may cause misunderstanding. Note that headphones are usually used for Audio/Music listening, whereas headsets are designed for communication.

Understanding headsets

Monaural, binaural, and stereo headsets

Headphones usually come in double earpiece design, whereas headsets can come in single-earpiece and double earpiece designs. Single earpiece Headsets are known as binaural type. Stereo refers to two channels of audio signal, one for each earpiece, and binaural headsets offer the same audio channel for both ear-pieces. Headphones are designed mainly for music listening, so most often they come in stereo version.

Professional users may choose to wear monaural headsets because they free up the users' other ear, so they can be more conscious of their work surroundings. Telephone headsets only come in monaural type for double earpiece designs because telephone only offers single-channel input and output, so all double earpiece telephone headsets are binaural.

However, for computer or other audio applications, where the sources offer two-channel output, stereo headsets are the norm. Telephone Headsets generally use 150 Ohm^[2] voice band is less audible to reduce background noise. Stereo computer headsets, on the other hand, use 32 Ω loudspeakers which have a much broader frequency range, and is more suitable of music listening.

External microphone vs. microtube

The microphone arm of headsets come in external microphone type and transparent voicetube type. External microphone designs have the microphone housed in the front end of the microphone arm, inside a microphone capsule. Transparent voicetube designs are also called Internal Microphone design, meaning the microphone is housed near the arm-rotation mechanism. The sound from the user travels through the sealed transparent tube to the hidden microphone. Voicetube designs look better, and are considered professional based on pre-set norms; however when compared with an external microphone design, an external microphone headset usually has a much better performance. Voicetube headsets usually only come in the form of telephone headset or mobile headset, there are not any computer headsets using voicetube designs and there is no particular technical reason for this, it is probably purely the industry norm.

Noise-canceling microphone vs. omni-directional microphone

External microphone design also comes in two major types: omni-directional and noise-canceling. Noise-canceling microphone headsets use bi-directional microphone as elements.^[3] A bi-directional microphone's "8" shape field, and this design is the best method for only picking up sound from a close proximity of the user, meanwhile not picking up most surrounding noises. Bi-directional microphone works better than uni-directional microphone (single angle reception field) because uni-directional microphone also picks up some of the sound 90-degrees (both sides) to the desired angle. Omni-directional microphone picks up the complete 360-degree field, hence it is also the best receptive microphone but it also picks up most of the surrounding noises. In some instances, when a higher sensitivity is required for the microphone, or when the sound source is further away from the microphone, omni-direction microphone is the preferred choice. In fact, almost all voicetube designs employ an omni-directional microphone (since the sound source needs to travel through the voicetube before it reaches the microphone).

Different styles of headsets

Standard headsets with the headband wearing over the head are known as over-the-head headsets. Headsets with headband going over the back of the user's neck are known as backwear-headset or behind-the-neck headsets. Headsets that are worn over the ear with a soft ear-hook are known as over-the-ear or earloop headset; these headsets do not have a headband. There are also headsets in the market which are designed so that users can change the wearing method by assembling and dis-assembling various parts, known as convertible headsets.

Types of headsets

With the evolution of telecommunication technology, the applications for headsets are no longer military-focused. Business as well as consumer applications are the main target markets now. There are basically three main applications for headsets: (1) mobile phone usage.

Telephone headsets

Telephone headsets usually refers to headsets used to connect to a ergonomics of headsets are a very hot topic right now.

Headset compatibility and pin alignment

When choosing a telephone headset, users should keep in mind that not all telephone headsets are directly compatible with all telephone models. Because headsets connect to the telephone via the standard handset jack, the pin-alignment of the telephone handset may be different from the default pin-alignment of the telephone headset. All telephone handsets connect to its telephone base-unit via a 4-pin cable; however, the alignment of those four pin differs across each brand or sometimes across each telephone model. That is why most professional headset brands offer adaptors for pairing the headset with the telephone. These are called Telephone Headset Adaptors or Pin-Alignment Configurators (ie. Accutone's C100 or C333).Beside Accutone, there is no Pin-Alignment Configurators in the market.

Telephone amplifiers

For older models of telephones, the headset microphone AC adaptors.

Quick disconnecting cable

Most professional-level telephone headsets come with a Quick Disconnect (QD) cable, allowing for fast and easy disconnection of the headset from the telephone. This allows the user to momentarily untether from the telephone, without having to physically remove the headset. The release point is usually a few inches from the telephone, where the manufacturer's QD mechanism can be conveniently operated to detach or reattach. When detached, a small portion remains connected to the telephone with a 4P4C modular plug.

In general, as long as a QD assembly is kept together as a pair, it can be moved from telephone to telephone, or used alongside a telephone amplifier of your choice. The one caveat is that in some cases the layout of the pins in the terminating 4P4C will differ from the usual convention of having the loud speaker connected to the inner pins and the microphone to the outer pins. In this case although the physical connection will mate properly the differing pin layout necessitates an additional coupler or pin-layout adapter to restore compatibility.

Computer headset

Computer headsets generally come in two connecting types, standard 3.5 mm & PCBA located in the headset or in the control unit of the headset.

3.5 mm computer headset

Usually 3.5 mm headsets are much cheaper in pricing, and this is reflected in the quality of the material a developer chooses. For very basic communication, or entry level users, a 3.5 mm headset is more than sufficient. Connection is simple and compatibility is high. Virtually any device can be connected with a standard 3.5 mm jack, meaning users can connect the speaker (line-out) plug to a clarification needed]

USB headset

USB headsets are usually more expensive, but the sound quality is usually much better; not just in the actual sound quality of USB technology, but also in the choice of materials from headset developers. There are, however, actually two sub-types of USB headsets:(A) Headset with USB connection and (B) Direct USB headset. Fenix uses a Logitech USB headset.

Headset with USB connection

Headset with USB connection refers to those computer headsets with a standard 3.5 mm headset bundled with a USB adaptor. One end of the USB adaptor is a standard USB plug, but the other end is a pair of 3.5 mm jacks where the 3.5 mm computer headset is connected. The benefit of using this type of solution is that users can just buy the USB adaptor to use with their existing 3.5 mm headset, or they can use their existing Altec Lansing (now part of Plantronics).

Direct USB headset

Direct USB Headset usually has a noise canceling technology are very common. Brands offering these types of solutions include Plantronics, Jabra and Accutone.

With most newer Operating Systems (Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Linux) USB Headsets are plug-and-play, and no drivers are required. However, depending on the extra features the headset offers, some may require extra [6]

Mobile phone headsets

Mobile (Cellular) Phone Headsets are most often referred to as Mobile MP3 listening. There are brands which offer mobile headset outside of the mobile phones developer. The main reason for this is either for better sound quality or higher convenience in the form of wireless solutions.

High quality mobile headsets come in both earbud-wearing style, as in the case of Motorola have very different headset jacks now. These adaptors are relatively cheap and can be purchased at any mobile accessories store. Users should be aware that they should bring their telephone to test the headset, as 2.5 mm plugs may still have some differences in its pin-setting, and are not 100% universal.

As for Wireless Mobile Headsets, most of them now use A2DP profile.

Wireless headsets

Wireless headsets are quickly becoming a new trend for both business and consumer communications. There are a number of solutions for wireless, and they usually differ according to application and power-management.

DECT wireless headsets

Generic Access Profile), which is used to ensure common communication between base station and its cordless handset. This common platform allows communication between the two devices even if they are from different manufacturers. For example, a Panasonic DECT base-station theoretically can connect to a Siemens DECT Handset. Based on this profile, developers such as Plantronics or Jabra have launched wireless headsets which can directly pair with any GAP-enable DECT telephones. So users with a DECT Wireless Headset can pair it with their home DECT phones and enjoy wireless communication.

2.4 GHz wireless headsets

Because DECT specifications are different between countries, developers who use the same product across different countries have launched wireless headsets which use Bluetooth..., the bandwidth may be quite busy, so using this technology may be more prone to interference.

Because 2.4 GHz Wireless Headsets cannot directly "talk" to any standard cordless telephones, an extra base-unit is required for this product to function. Most 2.4 GHz Wireless Headsets come in two units, a wireless headset and a wireless base-station, which connects to your original telephone unit via the handset jack (similar to how telephone headsets are connected to a fixed-line telephone suggested in section 1 of this article). The wireless headset communicates with the base-station via 2.4 GHz RF, and the voice signals are sent or received via the base unit to the telephone unit. This type of solution is more primitive as more connection is required, however it is also highest in compatibility, as it will fit with almost all types of telephones in the market. An extra note is that some solutions will also offer an automatic Handset Lifter, so the user can wirelessly lift the handset off the telephone by pressing the button on the wireless headset. Jabra (previously known as GN Netcom) has some excellent solutions in 2.4 GHz wireless products.

Bluetooth wireless headsets

Most users have heard about Bluetooth, and although this technology was designed originally for a much wider application, it has today become largely for voice transmission (a notable exception to this would be the use of Bluetooth in the Nintendo Wiimote). The reason for this general exclusivity is because of the power/range settings of Bluetooth. Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz RF, similar to WLAN or Wi-Fi; however, by default it is set for a very close proximity usage for power consumption benefits. This deficiency for a longer-range coverage made bluetooth technology un-desirable for data transmission. As nowadays, more and more mobile phones come equipped with bluetooth, this technology has become a common wireless profile for wireless mobile phone headsets only.

When choosing a Bluetooth headset users should be aware that bluetooth headsets come in different types as well. Standard bluetooth headset's using version 1.0 or 1.1 are often a single-side monaural earpiece, which can only access the Headset/handsfree profile of Bluetooth. Depending on the phone's operating system, this type of headset will either play music at a very low quality (because the phone is converting it into a voice signal) or will be unable to play music at all (because the phone cannot perform such a conversion). Users who need a stereo-music playing Bluetooth headset should look for a headset with the [8] Users should note that some A2DP-equipped headsets will automatically de-activate the microphone function during music-listening, so if these headsets are paired to a computer via bluetooth connection, the headset may either disable the stereo function or the microphone function.

Bluetooth wireless desktop solutions

Some developers have offered complete desktop solutions using Bluetooth technology. With a base-station that connects via cables to the fixed-line telephone and also the computer via soundcard, users with any bluetooth headset can pair their headset to the base-station, hence enabling them to use a single headset for both fixed-line telephone and computer VoIP communication. This type of solution, when used together with a multiple-point bluetooth headset enables user to use a single bluetooth headset to communicate in Telephone/Computer/Mobile.

There are now Bluetooth office headsets that incorporate Class 1 Bluetooth into the base station so that when using with a Class 1 Bluetooth headset, the user can get a greater distance from the phone or computer; generally around 100 feet compared to the 33 feet of Class 2 Bluetooth, which is what most Bluetooth headsets run on. The headsets that come with these base stations connect to cell phones via Class 2 Bluetooth, so you still get the same 33 foot range from your cell phone.

History

The first-ever headset was invented in 1910, by a [10] and their main goals were to develop headsets which are lightweight and comfortable for pilots and subsequently general users.

Gallery

Typhoons "Jetswitch". The new technology automatically re-routes the sound from speaker to headset.	A Goldendance MGD-01 bone conduction headset.	A Plantronics Audio90 headset.	A wired headset for the Xbox 360.
An Xbox 360 Wireless Headset at TGS 2006	A SonyEricsson Bluetooth headset.	Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset.	Three different versions of Bose In-Ears headphones.

References