Today’s communication is mobile. So much of how we talk to our peers, whether that’s business colleagues or friends and family, happens on our smartphones and tablets. If those are the devices being used, then it’s video or audio conferencing happening over our laptops in a location that can vary from conference room, to office space to coffee shop.

Either way, we’re communicating using devices that give us the ability to move around at our convenience. However, some of the locations we use to connect with others are not private or are too noisy, meaning we need to decrease noise in order to focus.

Enter earbuds. As with our preferred devices, be it a smartphone or a laptop, these devices increase mobility. These days, many of the most popular earbuds are wireless. Instead of needing to be plugged in, they connect over Bluetooth to our other devices with an easy push of a button.

Of course, the best earbuds for conference calls are equipped with quality microphones that can easily carry our voices to those on the other lines. Others also have noise canceling features that help us stay focused on the conversation and topic at hand during the calls.

The problem, though, is that there are so many earbud options available. How do you find the best for conference calls rather than simply listening to music or some other more straightforward task? That’s where this guide comes in. Here, we’ll equip you with some recommendations for finding the best earbuds for your upcoming conference calls with business colleagues, potential clients and current customers that allow for excellent call quality and a better overall call experience for everyone – you and those listening to you.

Audio quality

Audio quality is, without a doubt, the most important factor of any earbud, headphone or headset. Without high-quality sound, you might as well move on and find another piece of equipment to spend your hard earned money on.

Now, there are two parts to consider for audio quality, speaker and microphone. Let’s dive into a little more detail for both.

Speaker quality

As far as earbuds go, the ones with the best sound quality coming from the small, built-in speakers are often some of the larger and, to be honest, pricier models.

You get what you pay for with hardware and software. The same is true for earbuds. When you need optimal sound quality for important conversations, though, the price may be worth the additional investment.

The best way to ensure you will get optimal sound quality? Make sure the ear bud fits. Of course, this can be difficult when it’s not often possible to try before you buy. That’s where research comes into play. Read product descriptions and reviews to make sure you are getting earbuds that will deliver the best audio experience during your conference calls.

Microphone quality

Most wireless earbuds available come with a built-in microphone, sometimes more than one on the higher-end of the price range. But there are several other features that separate the low-end earbuds with microphones from the best of the pack.

For example, the best earbuds will cancel noise from your microphone – other than your own voice – to decrease the amount of distracting background noise from what’s going on around you that could leak its way into your phone call.

In addition to that noise reduction from the mic, the best earbuds for conferencing will also offer what is known as sidetone. This feature lets you hear yourself speak much more clearly through the headphone speakers, which decreases the sometimes disorienting feeling of listening to the crystal clear voices of others while your own voice is muddled.

Earpiece size

Everyone’s ears are unique. Unfortunately, earbuds are not a one size fits all piece of headwear. True, most come with several different pieces to adjust to your ear, but certain sizes just won’t work for everyone.

Getting the right earbud size absolutely matters – for multiple reasons, as a matter of fact. Not only will finding the right size make audio quality better, but it will also allow you to keep the earbuds in your ear for longer stretches of time.

Nobody wants to be listening to a conference call for multiple hours on end when their ear starts to ache. That sounds terrible, to be honest. Too big of an earbud will put far too much pressure on the inner ear. Not only will the ear itself start to force the head piece out, it will be painful as it does.

Wired or wireless

When we talk about earbuds, most people think of truly wireless models, or at least models that are connected to each other but still do not have a direct, wired connection to your smartphone or other device.

However, wired headphones or headsets can have several advantages over wireless earbuds.

First, the highest quality headphones aren’t even earbuds. They are often larger and do not fit directly into the ear. The same goes for headsets. While larger hardware nowadays does not always correlate to higher quality, they can mean better comfort.

Many modern headphones and headsets that are perfect for taking business calls and conference calls even come with optional wired ports for charging that let you listen as you participate in calls.

Battery life and charging

You could say that we’ve saved the most important factors for last. Let’s start with battery life.

Many average earbuds will have battery life spans of 6 hours or less. Once we start talking about high-end, high-quality headphones and earbuds, though, you will want to look for battery life abilities of 8, 9 and even pushing 10 hours or more.

This can be useful when you are on the phone for much of your work day. You don’t want to risk needing to charge in short spans between meetings if your hardware can’t charge and operate at the same time.

Price

Finally, we’ll touch even more briefly on price. In short, you get what you pay for when it comes to earbuds, headphones and headsets for conference calls.

However, there’s no need to overspend if you know what you need. As with any other aspect of your business, stay within your budget. After all, nobody on the other end of the conference call is going to know whether or not you have the absolute best model available versus one that gets the job done just fine.

Pair with a quality free conferencing service

Finally, even with the best earbuds for conference calls, there’s no successful call without the best conference service. But paired together? That’s an unbeatable match.

Think about it: Better quality sound means better quality free conference calls, especially when we’re talking easy-to-use audio conferencing tools.

Give Conference Town a try. With our guaranteed HD quality calls, and the right set of earbuds, we’re confident your next conference call will be the best sounding call you’ve ever had.