Best speakerphone in 2020 for working from home
The speakers and microphones on our laptops and mobile devices aren’t terrible (by that I mean they can be used), but now that many of us work from home – and have a lot more virtual meetings – we’re looking for a better audio experience . One way is to get a number of headphone It’s good to make calls, but the other is to get a speakerphone that is specifically designed to make and answer calls. Since these are usually lacking in a bit of bass and instead focus on midrange performance (voices), they are not ideal for playing music or providing audio for watching movies, but they also work for it, play louder and sound fuller than Your mobile device speakers.
I have checked or anecdotally tested all of the models listed here. Note that those with USB connections work with Macs and Windows PCs, while Bluetooth models also work with cell phones and tablets. And most of them are compatible with that universal communication format This is essentially the industry standard.
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Continue reading:: Best headphones for work at home in 2020
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Anker launched a new hands-free wireless system earlier this year that offers solid performance for the money. Six microphones are arranged in a 360-degree array to record the voice of up to eight people in a room. It is charged via USB-C and connected to your computer (if you want to go the wired way) and can be easily connected to phones and tablets via Bluetooth. With an integrated 6,700 mAh battery, you can also charge your devices using the hands-free system. The battery life is 24 hours for the call time.
The speaker performed well with good clarity and sound quality similar to the Jabra Speak 510. Jabra’s Speak 710 delivers a somewhat fuller sound with a little more bass, but this speaker costs $ 100 more. While this can also be used as a speaker to listen to music or watch movies – and is a significant advance over the built-in speakers on your phone or laptop, particularly in terms of volume – Anker says that this is primarily the case is conference calls. A carrying case is included.
Note that you cannot connect multiple Bluetooth devices to it at the same time.
Jabra
The Jabra Speak 510, which has been available for several years, can be connected directly to a computer via a USB cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth. It doesn’t offer as much volume as the increase Speak 710, which costs about twice as much. According to Jabra, the speaker is suitable for smaller rooms with a cover for 4 people in a meeting. It has an omnidirectional 360-degree microphone and a battery life of up to 15 hours in wireless mode. A carrying case is included.
You can purchase this model with a Universal Communications (UC) USB dongle that allows you to connect directly to a PC wirelessly, also for about $ 150. However, the wired USB option is fine and offers the same softphone functions for Windows PCs or Macs.
David Carnoy / CNET
The Speak 710 from Jabra (around $ 230) noticeably improves the sound and microphone quality of the Speak 510 (it is larger, but still compact). While the 710 is more expensive, it offers first-class performance with excellent noise reduction in a hands-free system for end users. According to Jabra, this is suitable for up to six people in a conference room. However, you can connect some of them in a larger room in a row to double the number of people involved. It also has an integrated USB cable for direct connection to a computer and a UC-USB dongle (Universal Communications) for reliable wireless connections to a Windows PC or Mac without the need to install software (there is one Companion app for both).
Don’t expect it to sound great for watching music or movies, but it has more bass than the Speak 510 and Anker.
David Carnoy / CNET
The eMeet M0 is a compact USB hands-free system that is connected to your computer via the included USB-A to USB-C cable. No drivers are required – it’s plug and play – but there is no wireless option. It has four intelligent microphone arrangements, acoustic echo cancellation and noise reduction technology and is suitable for meetings with up to four people. It is louder and clearer than the typical laptop speakers and picks up your voice well from a distance.
Amazon
If you can’t afford the Jabra Speak 710 and are looking for a compact, “more professional” speakerphone, the eMeet M2 costs less than $ 200, has a wide range of functions, and has performed well in my tests (it plays louder than You think for its size). It is equipped with an array with four microphones, acoustic echo and noise reduction technology and can be used in larger rooms with five to eight people who take part in a conference call. You can connect it directly to a computer (Mac or Windows) with a USB cable or work wirelessly with the included Bluetooth USB dongle. You can also connect to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. A carrying case is included.
Sarah Tew / CNET
The iPhone-friendly Pioneer Rayz Rally has been around for a while – I checked it back in 2017 – but it’s still on sale and costs just $ 50 (from an initial list price of $ 100).
The small hands-free kit fits in your pocket and has an integrated Lightning cable so that it connects directly to your iOS device and draws power from it, if not much (this has little impact on battery life). It’s not in the same class as the other hands-free kits in this summary in terms of sound quality or microphone performance, but there is a slight degradation in sound through your phone’s speakers. The latest generation iPhones have improved internal speakers, so the difference is no longer as big as a few years ago with the iPhone 7 or 8, but still more volume (of course, everything in the middle range).
The single button on the speaker serves as a mute button on phone calls (so callers can’t hear you) or as a pause / play button when listening to music or videos. And like that Rayz Plus Headphones, a pass-through lightning connector is integrated into the speaker, through which you can charge your phone with a separate lightning cable.
Read our Pioneer Rayz Rally test.
