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Any good virtual office must have readily available headphones or earbuds to deliver care. Clients will frequently not have top-of-the-line teletherapy setups. You might be using inexpensive, less reliable external microphones, such as the earbuds that came with your mobile phone. Or you might just be using the computer’s internal mic for communicating. Wired headphones will bring the sound as close to your ears as possible, limiting how technical issues involving sound might impact a typical professional meeting or teletherapy session if you are a healthcare provider. For such providers, using a wired headset or wired headphones will also prevent anyone in your environment from hearing what your client or patient is saying – which is essential as one of many components needed for you to be HIPAA-compliant.
Of course, just choosing any set of headphones at random hardly seems like a sensible choice. That is why Telehealth.org has taken the time to compile the Top 5 Wired Headphones. This guide should offer enough information to help you decide on your audio needs.
Wired Headphones vs. Wireless
Wired and wireless headphones may ultimately serve the same purpose, but users will undoubtedly experience them differently. Wireless listening devices tend to be most commonly found in the earbud-style—although not universally—and therefore offer a lightweight feel. The lack of a cord also gives you more freedom in terms of movement. There is significant controversy about the safety of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) being created in such proximity to your brain. If that is a concern, you may opt for the wired variety, which delivers less of an electrical charge directly to your brain. Also, wireless earbuds may experience unexpected glitches and disconnects that could disrupt the teletherapy process.
Wired headphones tend to present a richer and more consistent sound quality. Provided you have correctly connected to the device; you can reliably count on the sound provided by a pair of wired headphones throughout each session. Ultimately, it comes down to a personal and professional choice whether you think a wireless or wired approach will be best for you. If you decide wired is needed, this will be the right article for you. If you prefer wireless, please check out Teleheath.org’s Best Wireless Earbuds.
Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones
When it comes to personal electronics, Sony remains one of the best-known and trusted names in the business. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to find these Sony wired headphones at the top of the pile.
Economically priced at $9.99, these headphones boast the kind of sound quality that will make you want to use them not just professionally for telehealth, but in your personal time to appreciate music as well. That is because they boast a frequency range reaching from 12 Hz to 22 kHz, enabling the headphones to capture low bass notes, high treble notes, and everything in between with rich clarity.
One of the advantages of on-ear wired headphones is that they can often feel more comfortable than earbud or earbud-style headphones that nestle into your ear canal. The ZX Series confirms that advantage with wide cushioned earpads that encircle the ear comfortably.
Finally, this set of wired headphones features earpads that swivel. This ensures that they store easily and they travel well, must-haves for any set of headphones.
For just $10 more, there is also an edition with a microphone for clinicians who would prefer a single unit rather than a separate mic and headphones.
Marshall Headphones
On the other end of the price scale comes this Marshall offers. Marshall, a Swedish company embraced by the likes of Iggy Pop, has been delivering excellent sound since its inception via its amps. It seems their headphones maintain that proud tradition.
The sound affirms that Marshall has transferred their gift for the auditory from their history of delivering excellent amps. You will hear your clients and hear them well with this model.
As you might expect, the Monitor Headphones do not just deliver comfortable earpads, but the entire unit is aesthetically pleasing. The black vinyl leather with visible stitching details has undeniable appeal for those who love something that works well and looks good while doing so.
The gift for design extends to the wire as well. As noted above, the limitations of wired headphones can often stem from the frustration of being connected to the computer. While Marshall cannot eliminate that in their wired model, they do give you a cord that inserts on either side to the headphone. If the right side will interfere with your typing or anything else you might have to do during a telehealth session, switch it to the other side and out of the way.
The cord also features a built-in remote. Now you can raise or lower volume on your client without lots of typing and/or mouse clicks. Subtly adjust the volume with the cord remote, and you will be able to hear them as loud as you need and never interrupt the flow of a telehealth session.
Microsoft Surface Headphones
Microsoft tends to be thought of as software and operating system company, but the fact remains that they have created a great deal of hardware over the years. That list includes this set of highly recommended headphones.
At $109, this set has one of the higher price tags, a price arguably justified by Omnisonic Audio, an approach to sound unique to Microsoft products. It creates an immersive sound experience that will fully ground you in the task at hand.
The price also justifies itself with its top-of-the-line design. Microsoft stresses how they are made with people who will be wearing them all day in mind. The headphones are light and the earpads breathable ensuring you could go through a day of teletherapy sessions and never feel uncomfortable.
The headphones being from Microsoft means they carry several features that Microsoft users are familiar with but are unique to the field of headphones. Once paired with your Microsoft Cortana Assistant, you can use your voice to raise or lower the volume including all the way to mute and end the call, all without touching a single key.
Finally, Microsoft offers these headphones in a soft warm grey while most everyone else is still focused on the classic black look. It may not seem like much, but it is always nice to try something a little different from what everyone else has going on.
bopmen T3 Wired Over-Ear Headphones
bopmen T3 Wired Over Ear Headphones
bopmen began as a company specifically focused on music sound quality. However, as they moved into personal audio devices, they have naturally moved to being more concerned with sound quality in total.
Priced at just $16.99, the bopmen T3 headphones offer plenty at a generously economic price point.
While suffering some in comparison to the Sony offering, these bopmen wired headphones nonetheless offer an impressive audio range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, a range sure to capture and present most people’s speaking range.
Encased in a thick earmuff design, the earpads fit snugly and comfortably over the ears. The combination of the two eliminates significant amounts of outside distraction and further enhances the audio experience, especially for those on the more bass side of voice.
A steel headband wrapped in leather makes the T3 model both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing to behold. The leather also makes wearing them a bit more comfortable experience than if the steel was exposed.
Finally, the T3 comes standard with an attached mic. As noted above, that makes a great option for the clinician doing teletherapy who does not want too many peripheral gadgets to get the job done.
LORELEI X6 Over-Ear Headphones with Microphone
Costing between $14.99 and $16.99, the LORELEI X6 headphones, by all reviews, do not suffer for the frugal price point.
As with other models, the X6 boasts a good dynamic range that is likely due to internal computer speakers and quite a few external ones as well. The earpads enhance the experience by limiting distractions from external noises too. While you might only be buying them for teletherapy, they have the versatility for several different purposes.
The X6 features padded earphones and a headband. As with others on this list, it expects you to be using these on-ear headphones for long periods of time. Therefore, they have been made to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
As with the T3 above, the X6 wired headphones have an attached microphone in their standard offering. The microphone control also enables you to accept and end calls without having to type or click on the computer.
If you want a little more color in your teletherapy experience, the X6’s offer by the far the most options for the headphones including black, orange, pink, and navy. On a long day of telehealth appointments, a bright splash might be just what you need to metaphorically lighten things up a bit.
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