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Free Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets have improved a great deal over the years and are now relatively affordable.

They offer the convenience of not getting tangled up with wires. They are now being used more regularly by many, especially in situations where portability is important.

When you're on the go working with your phone or laptop, it's nice to have the wireless option. With that being said, whether you are on the go with your laptop or tethered to your desktop, Bluetooth headsets still offer the benefit of having no wires. Cable clutter reduction is always a good thing after all.

Phone manuals and free pdf instructions. Find the user manual you need for your phone and more at ManualsOnline. How do I connect a Bluetooth headset to my cell phone? Connection is easy. Power on your headset, press and hold the call control button for about 6 seconds until the light starts flashing, release the button, and follow the pairing instructions for your cell phone. What is the best Bluetooth headset? DUTISON Bluetooth Headset V4.2 Single Ear Hands Free Earpiece with Dual Mic Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Cell Phones Earphone for Driving/Business/Office (Compatible for iOS Android) 4.8 out of 5 stars 16. Get it as soon as Wed, Aug 14. FREE Shipping by Amazon.

For those of you using a Bluetooth with Windows 10, you may have encountered some issues getting your mic to work. This is quite the drag when trying to make a VOIP. In cases like this, apps such as Skype then uses your machine's built-in mic by default if it has one.

This quite frankly sucks and can lead to a frantic scramble sometimes to find a wired headset with a mic. If you are encountering issues getting your Bluetooth headset's mic to work with Windows 10, stay tuned for some possible fixes.

Also Read: How to Turn Your Google Home Into a Bluetooth Speaker

1. Re-install Drivers

One of the first things you should try is to uninstall and then re-install the headset. To do this, first make sure your headset is connected. Then go to the Windows 10 Action Center and right-click the Bluetooth Devices tile. You then need to select Go to Settings.

Free Bluetooth Headset Driver

The Bluetooth & other devices subsection in the Windows 10 settings will then pop up in a window. Under Audio, click on your Bluetooth headset and select Remove device.

Next, you need to restart your computer. When it has finished booting up, re-pair your headset as outlined by the manufacturer's instructions and test out the mic function to see if it works.

2. Restart Bluetooth Services

To restart your Bluetooth services, first press the Windows key (the one with the Windows sign on it) and R at the same time to open the Run dialog box, enter 'services.msc' into the dialog box, and click OK.

The Services window will now pop up. Right-click Bluetooth Support Service and select Restart.

Toggle your headset off and then on again, checking to see if your mic works on re-connection.

3. Update Bluetooth Antenna Drivers

Another option for resolving your Bluetooth headset mic woes is the re-installation of the Bluetooth antenna drivers on your Windows 10 device.

Hands

Final Thoughts

These little problems with Windows can sometimes be very frustrating. Hopefully, one of these fixes works for you and allows you to use all the features your Bluetooth headset came with.

FreeSee Next: Bluetooth 5.0 is Here: What You Need to KnowAlso See#audio #bluetooth

Did You Know

The Apple Watch Series 4 boasts of Bluetooth 5.0.

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Do You Still Need a Bluetooth Headset?

The era of the traditional Bluetooth headset is coming to a close. If you look at Amazon or any other major retailer, you see that the single-ear headsets of 10 years ago have largely evolved into stereo Bluetooth headphones, almost all of which include microphones for you to make calls with. While there are still mono headsets on sale, many of them are either low-quality, no-name products, or several years old.

That means many people will want to head over to our list of the Best Wireless Headphones. Most have microphones and call control buttons, and we detail call quality in each review. But you don't want to wear headphones while driving, for instance, and that's not the only case where a traditional single-ear Bluetooth headset comes in handy.

Best Hands Free Bluetooth Headset

Picking the right headset might seem simple, but it actually comes with a challenge that's unique to all headphones, and, well, anything that needs to be placed in your ear: It's tough (and not completely sanitary) to try products out before plunking down the cash for them. But a major component of a headset's success depends on how it fits and feels—and that varies widely from person to person, or even from ear to ear. Other important factors include sound quality, design, style, battery life, and extra features. We've come up with the main points you should consider when shopping for a Bluetooth headset:

Bluetooth Headsets vs. Bluetooth Headphones

Stereo headsets aren't just for listening to music. They also make calls, often quite well. So if you're thinking about a pair of wireless headphones to rock out to, you may not need a separate mono Bluetooth headset.

That said, stereo headsets are usually bigger and heavier than mono headsets, and while an over-the-ear pair of headphones may be great at listening to calls, the outbound noise cancellation abilities of their microphones may not be up to heavy street noise. The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC combines both stereo audio quality and outbound noise cancellation well.

Call Quality

Call quality is an issue in both directions; one headset might sound full and crisp in the earpiece, but then transmit a thin, computerized-sounding version of your voice to the person you're talking to. If call quality is the most important consideration for you, you'll want to check out the Editors' Choice Plantronics Voyager 5200 or Voyager Focus UC.

Noise Cancellation

How well you can be heard when you're in a speeding car with the windows down, or in the middle of a noisy conference room, can quickly separate the good performers from the bad. Headsets with two or three mics usually perform the best, as there's at least one mic dedicated to detecting ambient noise, which the headset can then cancel out using adaptive digital signal processing algorithms.

You definitely pay a premium for advanced noise cancellation, but strong options in this category include the BlueParrott B550-XT and the Sennheiser Presence UC ML. We test noise-cancelling performance in every one of our reviews.

Battery Life

A guiding principle with mono headsets: If you don't want to charge, go large. Bigger headsets mean more room for big batteries. The bulky BlueParrott B550-XT, for instance, lasts a full day.

The new trend of true wireless earbuds hasn't been very friendly to battery life. Almost all of the wire-free models we've tested, such as the Apple AirPods, clock in at three to four hours of usage.

Comfort

This is a very personal choice. The best in-ear headsets have a range of fit styles—for instance, several different sizes of eartips, plus an option for an over-the-ear hook in case headsets always fall out of your ear. If you absolutely can't bear to put something in your ear, go for an over-the-ear stereo headphone pair like the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC.

Range

Most Bluetooth headsets offer about 30 feet of good range before they start popping badly or devolving into digital artifacts. Larger headsets, with larger antennas, can have a bit more range; we got decent calls on the Voyager 5200 up to about 40 feet.

Bluetooth Hands Free Headset

Price

The sweet spot for a mono Bluetooth headset is $99 list, and you can often find those models discounted to $70 or $80 if you shop around. A good stereo headset generally runs between $100 to $200. You can still find a decent headset for under $50, and sometimes you can find a really good one at that price since headsets tend to stay available in retail channels for a long time after they're discontinued. Typically you'll have to buy something a little bit clunkier, with noise cancellation that isn't up to par with the leaders, but you can't deny the value of models like the Jabra Style, which offers solid quality and can often be found for around $50.

Consumer Reports Best Bluetooth Earpiece

Best Bluetooth Headsets Featured in This Roundup:

Bluetooth Headset On Amazon

  • Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC Review


    MSRP: $219.95

    Pros: Excellent audio performance with deep bass and crisp highs. Strong mic clarity, with HD Voice mode for enhanced intelligibility. Comfortable fit. Adjustable boom mic. Solid battery life. Useful app.

    Cons: Expensive. Mic clarity in standard Bluetooth mode (not HD Voice) is just average.

    Bottom Line: The pricey Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC Bluetooth headset offers high-level voice clarity and powerful audio performance in a comfortable, easy-to-use design.

    Read Review

  • Plantronics Voyager 5200 Review


    MSRP: $119.99

    Pros: Long battery life. Won't fall off your ear. Long range. Built-in voice commands. Completely reversible. Solid noise cancellation.

    Cons: Ear hook takes some finesse to fit perfectly over glasses. Not quite as comfortable as previous Voyagers.

    Bottom Line: The Plantronics Voyager 5200 headset continues to set the standard for Bluetooth voice quality, but this model is a little less comfortable than previous generations.

    Read Review

  • Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Review


    MSRP: $299.95

    Pros: Very comfortable. Long battery life. Excellent voice quality. Balanced sound signature for music.

    Cons: Bluetooth only. No wired option.

    Bottom Line: The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth headset combines quality music playback with fantastic voice quality and unrivaled comfort.

    Read Review

  • BlueParrott B550-XT Review


    MSRP: $199.99

    Pros: Excellent mic clarity with solid intelligibility even in loud situations. Comfortable. Can be controlled by voice using app.

    Cons: Expensive. App could be more useful.

    Bottom Line: The BlueParrott B550-XT Bluetooth headset delivers excellent voice intelligibility in loud environments, making it perfect for noisy jobs that require clear wireless communication.

    Read Review

  • Jabra Evolve 75 Review


    MSRP: $279.00

    Pros: Excellent mic intelligibility. Quality stereo audio performance. Solid noise cancellation. Exceptionally comfortable. Ambient mics allow you to hear your surroundings when needed.

    Cons: On-ear controls could be more useful. No app to control settings.

    Bottom Line: Jabra's Evolve 75 Bluetooth headset is certified for Skype for Business, offers noise cancellation, and delivers strong mic clarity, though it could be easier to operate.

    Read Review

  • Sennheiser Presence UC ML Review


    MSRP: $199.95

    Pros: Solid mic clarity with excellent background noise cancellation. Lightweight. Can connect with up to eight devices at once. Included dongle for computer connection.

    Cons: Strong wind can overpower the mic. Pricey.

    Bottom Line: The versatile Sennheiser Presence UC ML Bluetooth headset delivers a useful mix of mic clarity in loud environments and multipoint connectivity in the office.

    Read Review

  • BlueParrott S450-XT Review


    MSRP: $179.99

    Pros: Long battery life. Wired and wireless options. Excellent outbound noise cancellation.

    Cons: Bass-heavy at the expense of midrange. Bluetooth quality isn't great if connected phone isn't out in the open.

    Bottom Line: The VXi BlueParrott S450-XT Bluetooth headset delivers decent stereo music performance with excellent outbound sound quality for over a day's worth of use.

    Read Review

  • Jabra Steel Review


    MSRP: $99.99

    Pros: Clear earpiece tone. Aggressive noise cancellation. Rugged design.

    Cons: Tinny transmission quality. Difficult to fit in small ears. No physical volume buttons.

    Bottom Line: The Jabra Steel is a Bluetooth headset designed for outdoor workers, or anyone who needs aggressive noise cancellation.

    Read Review

  • Plantronics Explorer 500 Review


    MSRP: $59.99

    Pros: Comfortable. Good sound and voice quality. Physical volume buttons.

    Cons: Range and call quality, while good, aren't outstanding.

    Bottom Line: The $60 Plantronics Explorer 500 sets the benchmark for affordable, no-frills Bluetooth headsets.

    Read Review

  • Jabra Style Review


    MSRP: $49.99

    Pros: Excellent audio quality for music. Adequate battery life.

    Cons: No volume controls. Below-average noise cancellation. Only one extra ear tip. Uncomfortable ear hook.

    Bottom Line: The Jabra Style is a Bluetooth headset with great audio quality for music, though its noise cancellation and fit could be a lot better.

    Read Review