Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a substantial shift in the usage patterns of individuals who work and study from home. The microphone is now an integral aspect in the buying decision of users when it comes to purchasing headphones, and for good reason. A good microphone can be the difference between a bad-quality call filled with disturbances and a good-quality one with a clear and distinct voice with minimal distractions. Headphone manufacturers are increasingly using a combination of good beamforming or boom mics mixed with AI algorithms that enhance the user's voice and mitigate background noise. We’ve included both over-ear headphones and TWS earphones in our suggestions, so you get plenty of options to choose from including the Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose NC 700, Jabra Elite 7 Pro, Nothing Ear (2), and more.
- 1.
- Exceptional Active Noise Cancellation, Supremely comfortable, LDAC codec support, Great battery life, Convenient features like Multipoint and Quick Attention
- Slightly boosted bass and low mids, Less portable than before, No IP rating
The Sony WH-1000XM5 pretty much sits at the pinnacle of everything that’s considered important in a good pair of headphones. So, naturally, the microphone quality is fantastic. Equipped with eight microphones and a noise rejection algorithm powered by AI, the Sony WH-1000XM5’s call quality is just impeccable. Background noise is mitigated to a great degree and the caller’s voice sounds distinct and clear whether indoors or outdoors. The headphones’ microphone is massively improved over its predecessor as well, sporting better background noise rejection and more clear voice pick-up.
- 2.
- Impressive sound quality, LDAC codec supported, Sony Headphones Connect app is fantastic, Excellent ANC performance, IPX4 water resistance
- No multipoint connectivity, Bulky earbuds
Sony massively improved its microphone performance with the Sony WF-1000XM4 compared to its predecessor – the Mark 3s. Beamforming microphones coupled with bone conduction sensors result in excellent call quality where voices are extremely clear and void of distortion. Now, this set up doesn’t work for everyone so, kudos to the Sony team for implementing bone conduction well and not just being a gimmicky feature. The microphone setup also drastically reduces ambient noise when on calls, meaning that even in noisy environments, you are going to be able to enjoy mostly distraction-free conversations.
- 3.
- Mesmerising design and great fit, Well rounded package, Near perfect app, Intuitive pinch controls
- Lacklustre ANC, Sound signature could have been better
The Nothing Ear (2) has fantastic microphone intelligibility for its price. It has a six-microphone setup paired with Nothing’s Clear Voice Technology that honestly, works wonders. This combined with the extended stems of the earbuds means that you’ll get clear-sounding calls in which the caller’s voice is crisp and natural-sounding. The background noise is mitigated to a degree which is rarely seen at its price point – be it traffic, fans, or your noisy coworkers. You will barely receive any complaints about call quality with the Nothing Ear (2) – which is a massive improvement over the Nothing Ear (1) which didn’t provide as great results.
- 4.
- Excellent overall performance
- Loaded with features
- Seamless connection with Apple devices
- Limited compatibility and features for Android devices
- Glossy case picks up scratches and scuffs easily
The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) made a lot of improvements over its predecessor. One of these is call quality. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) come packing two beamforming microphones. The mics face inwards, meaning they are located closer to your mouth which translates to better voice pick-up. In our testing, we found that the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) has a dependable microphone. The microphone performs well even in large rooms and eliminates most of the echo. The caller’s voice is usually clear and crisp in most conditions, making these ideal – especially for Apple users.
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Dhriti Datta
Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile
