Best Headsets and Speakerphones for Clear Calls in Australia: Simple Buying Guide

The camera on a video call gets all the attention, but it is the sound that decides whether the call is a pleasure or a strain. A built-in laptop microphone picks up the whole room, the speakers are thin and tinny, and before long someone is asking everyone to repeat themselves. A good headset or speakerphone fixes that for a small outlay, and it is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to a computer.

There are really only two paths. A headset puts the sound right by your ears and the microphone near your mouth, which is the clearest option of all and the kindest if hearing has slipped. A speakerphone sits on the desk and lets you talk with your hands free and nothing on your head. This guide explains which suits whom, names models you can actually buy in Australia, and keeps the jargon out of it. If you are also choosing the computer, see our best laptops for seniors in Australia guide.

How the main options compare

Start with how the person likes to sit and talk. That matters far more than any feature on the box.

Need	Better fit
The clearest possible sound, especially if hearing has slipped	A wired USB headset, such as the Logitech H390
Nothing on the head, hands free, talking from your chair	A desk speakerphone, such as the Jabra Speak 510
To move about the house while you chat	A wireless headset, such as the Logitech Zone Vibe
The simplest, cheapest thing that just works	A plug-in wired headset, no charging, no pairing

What matters most

Wired is the easier life

A wired USB headset has one job and does it the moment you plug it in. There is no battery to charge, no pairing to fiddle with, and nothing to go flat halfway through a call with the grandchildren. For a lot of older people that simplicity is the whole point. Wireless is lovely if you genuinely want to walk to the kitchen and keep talking, but it adds a charging routine and the odd connection hiccup. If in doubt, go wired.

A microphone near the mouth beats one across the room

This is the real reason calls sound muddy. A laptop microphone sits half a metre away and hears the fridge, the telly and the echo off the walls. A headset boom mic sits an inch from your lips, so your voice comes through clear and the room drops away. A good speakerphone uses several microphones to do something similar on the desk. Either way, getting the microphone closer is what makes the other person stop saying “sorry, you cut out”.

Comfort and hearing aids

If a call lasts longer than ten minutes, comfort matters. Look for soft, padded ear cushions and a headband that adjusts. If you wear hearing aids, a desk speakerphone is often the friendlier choice, since you can leave the aids in and let the sound fill the room rather than pressing a cushion over them. Some people happily wear an on-ear headset over their aids, but it is worth trying before you commit.

Best options to look at in Australia

All four below are sold widely here, through Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and the usual online shops. Prices move about, so check the current listing rather than trusting a figure, but the order of cost runs roughly from the H390 at the gentle end up to the wireless and speakerphone options.

Logitech H390 (wired USB headset)

This is the one we suggest first for most people. It plugs into a single USB socket, works the instant it is connected, and the sound is clear and warm. The padded headband and ear cushions are comfortable for a long natter, the microphone folds down by the mouth, and there is a little volume and mute control on the cable so you are never hunting through menus.

May suit someone who

Wants the clearest, simplest option, finds calls hard to hear, and would rather not deal with charging or pairing.

Things to check

It needs a spare USB socket, which every laptop and desktop has. It is wired, so you stay within the cable’s reach of the computer.

Plain-English verdict

Clear, comfortable and almost foolproof. The best first choice for clear calls without spending much.

Logitech H540 (wired USB headset)

A small step up from the H390, with on-ear controls you can reach with a thumb and slightly richer sound for music and films as well as calls. It is still a plug-in USB headset with no battery to worry about. JB Hi-Fi and other shops carry it.

May suit someone who

Likes the simplicity of wired but also listens to music or watches the odd film on the computer.

Things to check

The controls sit on the ear cup rather than the cable. Some people find that handier, others prefer the H390’s inline buttons.

Plain-English verdict

A comfortable all-rounder. Worth the few extra dollars if you will use it for more than calls.

Jabra Speak 510 (desk speakerphone)

If the idea of anything over the ears does not appeal, this is the answer. It is a round speakerphone the size of a saucer that sits on the desk. You plug it in by USB or connect it by Bluetooth, and then you simply talk. It picks up your voice clearly from a comfortable distance and plays the other person’s voice loud and clear into the room, which suits hearing aid wearers well.

May suit someone who

Dislikes headsets, wears hearing aids, or likes to have a family member in the room sharing the call.

Things to check

It costs more than a headset, and because it fills the room it is less private than something on your ears. In a quiet home that is rarely an issue.

Plain-English verdict

The most relaxed way to make a clear call. Nothing to wear, just sit and talk.

Logitech Zone Vibe (wireless headset)

For the person who likes to keep moving, this is a light wireless headset that connects by Bluetooth and lets you wander off to put the kettle on without dropping the call. The microphones are good and it is comfortable for hours. It is the dearest option here, and it does ask you to keep it charged.

May suit someone who

Hates being tethered to the desk and is happy to charge a device now and then.

Things to check

It needs charging and a one-time Bluetooth pairing. If that sounds like a faff, the wired H390 will make you happier.

Plain-English verdict

Lovely freedom for the right person, but more than most older users need.

Your rights if something goes wrong

A headset or speakerphone is a small purchase, but the Australian Consumer Law still has your back. Anything sold by a business in Australia comes with automatic consumer guarantees: it must be of acceptable quality, match how it was described, and last a reasonable time for the price you paid. These guarantees sit on top of any manufacturer’s warranty and can outlast it. Your agreement is with the shop that sold you the headset, not with Logitech or Jabra, so the retailer is who you go back to.

For a minor fault the retailer can choose to repair it. For a major failure you can ask for a refund or a replacement, and the choice is yours. If a shop will not help, contact your state consumer body, such as NSW Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs Victoria, or the ACCC at accc.gov.au. Keep your receipt, as it is your proof of purchase.

Setting it up

A wired headset or speakerphone needs almost nothing. Plug the USB connector into any socket on the computer and wait a few seconds while it sorts itself out. On most calls it will be picked up automatically. If the other person still cannot hear you, open the settings in your video calling app and choose the new headset as both the microphone and the speaker. That one setting solves nearly every “they cannot hear me” problem.

A headset pairs nicely with a good camera, so if the laptop camera is grainy it is worth looking at one of the best webcams for family video calls at the same time. You will find both alongside the rest of our laptop and computer guides.

The best overall

If you want a single recommendation, the Logitech H390 is the one to buy. It is inexpensive, it is clear, it is comfortable, and it works the second you plug it in. The Jabra Speak 510 is the one to choose instead if the person would rather wear nothing and let the sound fill the room. Most families will be happy with one of those two.

Next steps

Once the sound is sorted, the picture is the other half of a good call. Have a look at our guide to webcams for family video calls, and if you are still setting things up, how to video call on a laptop walks through it gently from the start.