For agents who stay at a computer, start with a wired USB headset. For an existing desk-phone installation, confirm the exact phone and cable before choosing a QD headset. Add DECT wireless when agents need to keep talking away from their desks. Use the calling device, required controls, and movement needs to narrow the shortlist.
The five options below cover simple mono USB calls, Teams controls, a wired QD setup, USB with active noise cancellation, and DECT mobility. They are shortlist options based on manufacturer documentation, not a hands-on performance ranking. Wantek publishes this guide and sells one of the featured models.
Five call center headsets to shortlist
Match the connection first, then compare the features that change an agent's working day.
| Model | Connection | Reason to shortlist | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantek H600 USB 600NJUSB |
Wired USB | Single-ear calls with inline volume and mute | Exact USB plug; no QD |
| Logitech H570e Teams version |
Wired USB-A or USB-C, by SKU | Teams integration in mono or stereo | Teams versus UC version |
| Poly EncorePro 720 QD 8R707AA |
Wired Quick Disconnect | Dual-ear headset for a matched QD installation | Compatible connection cable or processor |
| Poly Blackwire 8225 | Wired USB; current HP configuration is USB-C with a tethered USB-A adapter | Listening-side ANC without a wireless charging routine | Exact connector and platform variant |
| Jabra Engage 65 SE Mono or stereo |
DECT headset with a base for supported desk-phone and computer setups | Calls while moving away from a workstation | Phone support, base connection, regional SKU, and charging plan |
Wantek H600 USB: a simple mono option
The Wantek H600 USB headset, model 600NJUSB, is a single-ear corded headset with a boom microphone, inline volume adjustment, and one-key microphone mute. Wantek lists its weight as 85 g, cable length as 1.2 m, and quick disconnection as “No.”
That makes it a candidate for a seated agent who wants one ear open and straightforward cable controls. Measure the route from the computer's USB port to the agent's normal sitting position: a short cable can become inconvenient when the computer sits under the desk.
This recommendation covers the USB model only. The specification says USB without identifying USB-A or USB-C, so confirm the physical plug before ordering. If your procurement policy requires documented Teams certification or a QD connection, those requirements need a different verified configuration.
Logitech H570e: choose the Teams version deliberately
The Logitech H570e range includes mono and stereo headsets. Logitech lists USB-A for its UC versions, while Teams versions are offered with USB-A or USB-C. The headset family name alone will not identify the connector or platform version in a supplier's quote.
For agents using Teams, the Teams version adds a dedicated Teams button alongside inline call, volume, and mute controls. Choose it when that integration is a purchasing requirement. For a different contact-center application, test the controls in that application rather than assuming Teams certification covers it.
Poly EncorePro 720 QD: fit the existing connection system
The Poly EncorePro 720 QD, model 8R707AA, is a dual-ear wired headset. HP's EncorePro 700 Series documentation describes a noise-canceling microphone and an extendable boom.
Shortlist this exact model when the team already uses a compatible Poly QD connection system or plans to specify one. QD identifies the headset's disconnect point; it does not tell you which phone or computer it can connect to on its own. Ask the supplier to name the required cable or audio processor for your endpoint, and include it in the quote.
Do not substitute an EncorePro USB model or a similarly named digital version without checking the complete connection path. Require the supplier to identify any changed cable, adapter, or processor before approving a replacement.
Poly Blackwire 8225: wired USB with listening-side ANC
The Poly Blackwire 8225 combines hybrid active noise cancellation with Acoustic Fence microphone processing. HP lists three ANC settings, inline controls, and a current USB-C configuration with a tethered USB-A adapter.
This is the option to evaluate when an agent wants less surrounding noise in their ears but does not need wireless movement. ANC addresses what the wearer hears; the microphone system addresses what reaches the caller. Check both sides of a sample call instead of treating either feature as proof that neighboring conversations will disappear.
HP also offers a Teams version with a dedicated Teams button. Match the supplier's connector and platform variant to the workstation rather than relying on the “8225” name alone.
Jabra Engage 65 SE: DECT mobility from a base
The Jabra Engage 65 SE uses DECT for its wireless headset connection and supports desk-phone and computer workflows through its base. Jabra lists a directional noise-canceling microphone and busylight for the mono and stereo versions in the official Engage 65 SE datasheet.
Choose it for a real movement requirement: an agent may need to retrieve paperwork or consult a colleague while staying on a call. It is not a direct Bluetooth phone headset. Confirm the base's connection to your desk phone and whether the required setup supports answering and ending calls away from the phone.
Plan where each headset will charge between shifts. During the pilot, walk the routes agents actually use; an advertised maximum wireless range does not establish coverage through your office walls.
Compare Wantek options for your calling setup
Browse the call center range by connection and wearing style, then check the exact product against your computer or phone.
What makes a good call center headset?
Start with the endpoint and call controls
Write down the computer or phone model, available port, operating system, and calling application. For a laptop, also note whether the headset will connect directly or through a dock. For a desk phone, identify the headset port and the exact supported cable; a modular plug that fits is not a compatibility check.
Audio support and button support are separate requirements. Microsoft's Teams peripheral certification documentation says certified devices are designed for plug-and-play use and basic Teams call control such as answer/end, mute/unmute, and volume. That gives a buyer something specific to verify, while a broad “works with calls” statement does not establish the same functionality in every softphone.
If you are still choosing a connection type, use Wantek's call center headset buying guide before requesting samples.
Identify which side of the call has the noise problem
- The caller hears nearby agents: evaluate microphone pickup and the outgoing voice sample, with the boom positioned as directed by the manufacturer.
- The agent struggles to hear the caller: compare wearing style, passive isolation, and listening-side ANC where the model provides it.
- The agent needs one ear open: try a mono headset and check whether surrounding conversations remain manageable during calls.
A headset advertised with a noise-canceling microphone does not automatically have ANC in its earcups. Likewise, an ANC switch does not establish how well the microphone rejects another person's voice. The Blackwire 8225 illustrates why these features belong in separate columns on a purchasing checklist.
Count the complete working setup
Request a per-seat quote that includes the headset, required connection cable or processor, adapters, and any charging equipment. Then ask separately about replacement cushions, compatible spare parts, warranty handling, and delivery time.
A lower headset-only price is not enough to establish lower deployment cost. For the pilot, record setup time and support incidents as well as agent feedback. Only compare costs across configurations that actually meet the same requirements.
Using a desk phone? Check the model first
Find the full phone model and review its supported headset connection before selecting an RJ-style headset or cable.
Run a small pilot before standardizing
Use the actual calling application, workstation, and background conditions. Keep the sample script and software settings consistent so a headset change is not confused with a different test setup.
Establish a working connection
Place an incoming and outgoing call, then check what happens after reconnecting the headset or waking the computer.
Test every required control
Check answer/end, volume, and microphone mute where supported. Confirm whether the application shows the expected mute state.
Compare incoming and outgoing sound
Have a colleague listen while normal nearby conversations are present. Ask which words were difficult to understand, rather than only asking whether it sounded good.
Check fit during representative work
Include agents who wear glasses and those with different mono/stereo preferences. Record pressure, cable interference, and repeated readjustments.
Test movement when buying wireless
Walk the required routes, return to the desk, and check the planned charging handoff between shifts.
Set the acceptance criteria before collecting results. A connection failure, an unusable required control, or persistent discomfort should lead to a different configuration or another sample, not an automatic bulk order.
Questions before placing an order
Will the headset's mute button also mute the application?
Not necessarily. A microphone can be muted at the headset without the application's mute indicator changing. Test synchronization in the exact softphone and connection mode if agents rely on the on-screen status.
What should be written on the purchase order?
List the exact headset SKU, connector, mono or stereo version, platform variant, and required accessories. Add the approved computer or phone model so a supplier can identify an unsuitable substitution.
How should a team assess comfort before a large order?
Include agents with different fit needs in the pilot and have them wear the sample during representative work. Record pressure points, interference with glasses, microphone positioning, and cable pull.
