Best Over-ear Headphones for Conferencing 2026
Dedicated UC headsets and consumer headphones ranked for video call quality.
Our Top Picks
Full Rankings
Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC
Best OverallThe best conferencing headset for most people. Acoustic Fence isolates your voice even in open offices, the boom mic delivers consistently clear audio, and at 175g it's the lightest option by far. Teams/Zoom certified with a USB dongle included for reliable PC connectivity. At $159, it's also the best value.
Pros
- ✓Acoustic Fence technology
- ✓Ultra-lightweight at 175g
- ✓Dynamic Mute Alert (notifies if speaking while muted)
Cons
- ✗Sound quality trails music-focused options
- ✗ANC not as strong as Sony/Bose
- ✗Plasticky build
Jabra Evolve2 85
Best PremiumThe enterprise workhorse with a 10-microphone system and retractable boom that delivers the most consistent voice isolation in noisy open offices. Built-in busylight and Teams/Zoom certification make it IT-friendly. At $460 it's expensive and the hardware dates to 2020, but nothing matches its mic system for extreme noise environments.
Pros
- ✓10-microphone system for voice isolation
- ✓Retractable boom mic
- ✓Built-in busylight
Cons
- ✗Expensive at $460 (launched 2020, aging hardware)
- ✗Heavy for all-day wear
- ✗Overkill for home-only workers
EPOS Impact 1060 ANC
The only headset with true triple-device multipoint (PC + 2 phones simultaneously). 3-microphone boom with EPOS AI noise cancellation and hybrid adaptive ANC. At $289, well-priced for the feature set—Zoom/Meet certified (UC model) or Teams certified (1060T variant).
Pros
- ✓Triple-device multipoint (PC + 2 phones)
- ✓3-microphone boom with EPOS AI noise cancellation
- ✓Hybrid adaptive ANC (BrainAdapt technology)
Cons
- ✗On-ear design may cause discomfort in long sessions
- ✗UC model not Teams certified (need 1060T variant)
- ✗AI noise suppression can occasionally clip speech
Sony WH-1000XM6
A consumer ANC headphone with significantly improved call quality (12 mics). Best choice if you want ONE headphone for music, travel, AND calls. However: no USB dongle (Bluetooth-only can be flaky on Windows), no boom mic, no hardware mute button, and no Teams/Zoom certification. Dedicated UC headsets above are better for calls-first users.
Pros
- ✓Industry-leading noise cancellation
- ✓Foldable design (brought back from XM4)
- ✓30mm carbon fiber dome drivers
Cons
- ✗Not audiophile-grade for critical listening
- ✗Premium price at $449
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
Included for those who prioritize comfort and ANC above call quality. Best-in-class noise cancellation and legendary all-day comfort, but beamforming mics without a boom trail every other option here. No dongle, no certification, no hardware mute. Buy this for music/travel and accept 'good enough' call quality—not as a dedicated conferencing headset.
Pros
- ✓Class-leading ANC blocks virtually all background noise
- ✓Legendary all-day comfort (best in this list)
- ✓Lossless USB-C audio for music between calls
Cons
- ✗No boom microphone—beamforming mic trails dedicated UC headsets
- ✗No USB dongle (Bluetooth-only can cause issues on Windows)
- ✗No hardware mute button (must mute in software)
Score Comparison
| Product | Microphone Quality 35% | ANC Performance 25% | Comfort 20% | Connectivity 10% | Battery Life 10% | Weighted Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC | 9.5 | 8 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 8.97 | $159 |
#2Jabra Evolve2 85 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8.95 | $460 |
#3EPOS Impact 1060 ANC | 9 | 9 | 8.5 | 10 | 8.5 | 8.95 | $289 |
#4Sony WH-1000XM6 | 8 | 10 | 9.5 | 7 | 9.5 | 8.85 | $398 |
#5Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8.55 | $449 |
Buying Guide
For the best call quality, look for dedicated UC headsets with boom microphones, USB dongles (more reliable than Bluetooth on Windows), and Teams/Zoom certification. Consumer ANC headphones (Sony, Bose) work for calls but lack boom mics, dongles, and hardware mute—they're better as do-everything headphones than dedicated conferencing tools.
What We Evaluate
Microphone Quality
Voice clarity and noise isolation
ANC Performance
Background noise blocking
Comfort
All-day wear comfort
Connectivity
Multipoint, range, reliability
Battery Life
Hours of talk time
Our Testing Methodology
We test call quality in various environments (office, home, outdoor, street) and verify Teams/Zoom certifications. Microphone quality is evaluated by call recipients across platforms. This list includes both dedicated UC headsets (Poly, Jabra, EPOS) and consumer headphones (Sony, Bose)—we clearly note the trade-offs of each type.
Learn more about how we test →Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a UC headset and consumer headphones for calls?▼
Do I need a boom microphone?▼
Why does the Poly Focus 2 beat the more expensive Jabra?▼
Can I use Sony XM6 or Bose for Teams/Zoom calls?▼
Are business certifications important?▼
Related Comparisons
Best Over-ear Headphones for Music (Wired Audiophile)
Open-back wired audiophile headphones for dedicated home listening with amplification.
Best Over-ear Wireless Headphones for Music
Best wireless ANC headphones for music listening on the go.
Best Over-ear Headphones for Gaming
Gaming headsets with positional audio for competitive advantage.
Best Over-ear Headphones for Studio
Professional studio headphones for mixing, mastering, tracking, and production.