For one thing, having a headset improves ergonomics because it frees up your hands and allows you a larger range of movement. Call quality is also better with a headset because you can hear through both ears rather than one, and speakerphone is typically low quality too. Additionally, if your headset has a dedicated boom microphone, your colleagues will be able to hear you crystal clear.

Stereo headphones aren't just for listening to music; they also make calls, often quite well. So, if you're thinking about some wireless headphones to rock out to, you might not need a separate Bluetooth headset. Remember that stereo headphones can sometimes be bulky and might not block distracting environmental noises competently.

By contrast, the stereo headsets in this roundup are lighter and often have boom mics that easily isolate your voice. We compare the two options more decisively in our roundup of the best headsets and headphones for your home office.

Noise canceling headphones are they’re fantastic at immersing the wearer in a cocoon of silence, blocking out the chaotic hum of the world around. But, when you’re chatting on a call, your listener might is not as lucky. Noise cancelation works wonders for the headphone user, but for the person on the other end? Not so much. They will still catch wind of background noises. So, while you’re shielded from the ambient sounds, your conference call buddies might still get an earful of that lively cafe background.