Do you know what are the three most important things you should consider when buying a headset for speech recognition purposes?
It’s comfort, sound quality (it affects the accuracy), and obviously, the price.
But before we jump in explaining why are these factors important, you might get an immediate answer and simply get the best headsets for speech recognition right away. So here they are:
Sennheiser MB Pro 2
RANK
Best Wireless
This is a premium wireless Bluetooth headset for professionals on the move who demand high-quality audio and exceptional wearing comfort.
Logitech 3.5 mm Analog Stereo Headset H151
RANK
Best 3.5 mm
With its superior sound quality, comfort, the Logitech H151 is among our top recommendations for a 3.5 mm headset.
Koss CS100 USB Headset
RANK
Cheapest
If you’re looking for a great headset that works with the latest Windows 10 commands—for only a few bucks, our pick is a good choice.
Now, if you want to get to the buying guide, click the Table of contents and skip to it. And if you want to see other headsets for speech recognition for Windows 10, keep reading!
Here’s the list of the best headsets for speech recognition, be it for Windows 10 or for Dragon:
| Editor’s Pick | Headset Name |
| Cheapest Headset for Speech Recognition | Koss CS100 USB Headset |
| Best Wireless Headset for Speech Recognition | Sennheiser MB Pro 2 |
| Best USB Headset for Dictation | Mpow HC6 USB Headset |
| Best Headset for Music and Dictation | Audio-Technica BPHS2 Stereo Headset |
1. Koss CS100 USB Headset For Speech Recognition
If you are looking for a simple cheap headset that will always be ready to use, then this is the right one for you. This microphone can connect to your PC just with a USB cable. With no complicated installations or problems with drivers, all you have to do is plug it in and start talking!
The sound quality isn’t perfect but for the price it’s the best that you can get. It wouldn’t be the best choice for dictation, but if you need a headset for Windows 10 speech recognition to dictate the commands, Koss CS100 should do well. It does good job picking up the voice and it’s comfortable and lightweight enough to wear it all day.
We recommend this headset for people who want the best headset for Windows 10 commands for the cheapest price possible. If you’re looking for headphones with great sound quality and a microphone with better speech recognition accuracy, take a look at our next headset.
CHECK PRICE2. Sennheiser MB Pro 2 Best Wireless Headset For Dictation
If you are looking for a high-quality device for speech recognition which can also provide perfect sound quality, then look no further.
Sennheiser MB Pro 2 is an amazing masterpiece of German engineering! Made to impress, this headset uses an advanced noise canceling technology that lets you enjoy clear, crisp sound regardless of your surrounding environment. Once you have this headset on, you’re immediately cut out from the outer world.
The mic in this headset is also great. Compared to other wireless headsets for speech recognition, its accuracy is much better. It easily catches your speech and the error rate is significantly lower.
It also has this ActiveGuard technology that protects your ears from damaging short blasts of noise.
Sennheiser MB Pro 2 is very comfortable for wearing all day. You don’t feel them at all after a while.
Battery life is important for wireless headsets and Sennheiser MB Pro 2 can last really long. It’s designed for wearing all day so the battery time is about 15 hours.
Overall this is a great headset for speech recognition for Windows 10, dictation with Dragon Naturally Speaking, conference calls, Skype, and other “business” purposes.
3. Jabra Evolve 40 UC USB Headset
The Jabra Evolve 40 pro headset is a combination of advanced acoustic technology and ergonomic design. It provides a stylish and comfortable way to take hands-free calls, listen to music, use it for speech recognition and so much more, wherever you are.
You can easily connect this headset to your mobile device via the 3.5 millimeter jack or the USB connector so you can work or listen to music at home, in the office or on the go.
The passive noise cancellation technology helps keep outside noises at bay and lets you concentrate on what’s important while enjoying crisp audio output through its world-class speakers. It even eliminates high frequency sounds like human voices to ensure that you feel free from distraction while talking or listening.
Comfort is assured thanks to the on-the-ear design along with the leather-feel cushions. Choose this elegant design and enjoy an extremely comfortable wearing experience for hours.
With Jabra Evolve 40 you get great sound quality headphones plus a super accurate microphone for a very reasonable price. We do recommend this wired headset if Sennheiser is too expensive for your budget and Koss is too simple. You will not regret buying this one!
4. AAAPrice (Andrea) USB Headset
This headset is specifically designed for dictation purposes. The headset build is pretty basic but the built-in USB sound card allows for better recording and sound quality.
The headset has a professional flex microphone boom which allows for accurate placement of the microphone. Usually, the microphone is positioned too far from the mouth so your voice can’t get into the computer clearly. So this headset has a flexible microphone that can be moved close to the mouth easily. The accuracy would be much higher when I speak with the headset because of its microphone boom which you put near your mouth.
It also has a windsock that minimizes breath popping and makes it easier to achieve optimal mic positioning.
It has superior noise-canceling technology so that even if there is a lot of noise in your surroundings, it won’t be detected by the microphone. And that way, your voice would be very clear when it gets into your speech recognition software.
Moreover, it has 40mm speakers with large comfortable ear cushions so that you can listen to high definition audio on your computer without having those uncomfortable earphones making my ears feel sore after wearing them for a long time.
If you’re looking for a headset to be used specifically for Windows 10 speech recognition software, it would definitely do the job. Increased accuracy, decent sound quality, and very reasonable price make this headset a great option for a non-picky user.
5. Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Wireless Bluetooth Headset
The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth headset combines excellent sound quality, comfortable design and outstanding reliability. This is easily one of the best headsets we’ve ever tested.
The Voyager Focus uses advanced noise-canceling technology to filter out ambient sounds, so you can enjoy rich, balanced sound without outside interference.
The headset also features a dedicated mute button, which lets you mute the microphone immediately, perfect for when you’re in a meeting or when you don’t want to be disturbed.
The triple-mic with enhanced DSP ensures all your communications come through loud and clear. The mic also provides good accuracy for speech recognition software.
The Voyager Focus is easy to pair with your phone or other devices via Bluetooth, and the range allows you to wander up to 98 feet away from your paired device.
The battery lasts for up to 14 hours of talk time, so you can go a full workday without recharging.
The soft, cushiony ear gels and foam tips provide a perfect fit that feels almost customized to your ear.
This is one headset that will last you for years to come! The Plantronics Voyager Focus is one of the best headsets we’ve ever tested. It’s a durable, well-crafted headset with fantastic sound quality and all the bells and whistles you’d want in a Bluetooth headset.
6. Logitech 3.5 mm Analog Stereo Headset H151
The Mpow HC6 USB headset combines excellent sound quality, comfortable design, and outstanding reliability.
The sound quality on the headset is top-notch, with bright and clear treble and powerful bass. Music sounds fantastic on the device, which is something you can’t say about all Bluetooth headsets, which focus on voice calls instead of music playback.
We were also impressed by the comfort of a device. If you wear the headset for more than six hours a day, it’s vital that it doesn’t become a nuisance. The Mpow HC6 USB headset uses artificial leather that feels good on your skin and can be worn for hours at a time without discomfort.
With its superior sound quality, comfort, and long battery life, the Mpow HC6 USB is among our top recommendations for a Bluetooth headset. It’s easily one of the best devices we’ve ever tested.
7. Cyber Acoustics AC-201 Stereo Headset
The Cyber Acoustics AC-201 stereo headset is a great choice for those who want to work with voice or speech.
It has a comfortable padded headband that can be adjusted to fit most heads. The ear cushions are also very comfortable, they are made of a soft leatherette material. The ear cushions are angled so that they completely cover your ears for maximum passive sound isolation.
The sound quality is good, music sounds rich and full. You can even turn the volume up fairly loud before you start to get any distortion.
The AC-201 uses two 3.5mm plugs, one for the microphone and one for the speakers. The two plugs are attached to a 7′ cord, this gives you the ability to move around while working without having to sit right next to your computer.
This is a great headset if you work with voice or speech recognition software, the unidirectional noise cancelling microphone reduces unwanted background noise so that the speech recognition software can better pick up your voice.
The easy to adjust headband and soft leatherette ear cushions make this headset very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
If you are looking for a great quality stereo headset that can be used with voice or speech recognition software then the AC-201 is an excellent choice.
8. Audio-Technica BPHS2 Stereo Headset
This headset is a great choice for someone who not only wants to use it for speech recognition but also for music, Skype, voice recordings, gaming, etc.
Audio-Technica is a well-known brand of studio level sound equipment. This particular model is designed for broadcasting studios where people need both the perfect sound quality in the headphones and good microphone for talking and voice recordings.
Audio-Technica BPHS2 is a closed-back stereo headset with a driver diameter of 45mm. It allows the headset to cover your ears and cut you out from the outer noise very effectively.
The sensitive hypercardioid microphone provides excellent sound quality for recordings and super great accuracy score at speech recognition. Whatever software you’re using (Windows 10 speech recognition or Dragon Dictation), it would easily pick up your speech and ensure low error rates.
It’s meant to be used for long hours at work so Audio-Technica made this headset extremely comfortable.
It’s a bit on the higher price range but it definitely worth the money. For a reasonable price you get an outstading studio-level sound quality and highly accurate microphone that is designed to filter out your voice from the background noise.
What Should You Consider When Buying a Headset for Speech Recognition for Windows 10
Comfort: You will be wearing the headset for hours at a time, all day every day, especially if you have a full-time job related to dictation.
Sound quality (in relation to dictation accuracy): Sound quality is essential. If the headset mic is not good enough, speech recognition software cannot recognize your speech. If you speak into a headset with poor sound quality, it can be hard for voice recognition software to pick up your speech and understand it. The error rate will increase and your work won’t be as efficient as it could be with a good headset.
Price: obviously. You want the best headset for speech recognition for the least price possible, right? The more you pay, the better headset you get. What you really need to do is find a balance between reasonable pricing and decent quality that would work for your needs.
