Item — HN Reader

For WFH, if you have your own space for working, then get a desktop conference speaker/mic, like the Plantronics Calisto 7200:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DCDKB2C

(Jabra makes something similar).

It has HW buttons for volume, answer, hangup, and mute - no hunting for the correct window to click a button.

It has noise filtering, good mic, and decent speaker quality. I've had many compliments on the audio quality. My keyboard sits 6" from the unit and nobody can hear me typing during calls (I'm a heavy-handed typist!).

Being free of a headset is wonderful. It can be BT or USB, I used USB so there's never any connection issues.

3 comments

Totally concur. I have been using a generic/cheap "USB Conference Boundary Microphone" from Amazon for a few years, and the results are excellent.

The thing is chucked away under my monitor, about 2-3 feet away, and yet the sound quality is about the same as what I get with my semi-pro boom mike. My (clicky mechanical) keyboard is also about 6: from the unit, and I have had no issues with typing sounds. The only downside is that the mike does not have any control buttons.

For use in a group setting in a conference room, I use the Anker Powerconf Bluetooth speakerphone, which does a fine job.

Also, these things are usually battery powered and work great in a pinch to turn any space into a conference room. If you've ever tried to have 4 people in a room on headphones or laptop speakers having a remote-inclusive meeting, you know it's challenging - such a device solves this problem.

I agree the desktop conference speaker/mic setups are really good - not just for your own space - but also for huddling with others. I've been using the Poly Sync line and I'm really happy with there performance.