Can You Use a Gaming Headset For Phone Calls?

Gaming headphones are a type of headset that is made to cater to the demands of gamers and provide them with an incredibly immersive gaming experience.

Is it possible, though, to use them for other purposes besides gaming, such as Can you use a Gaming Headset for Phone Calls?

Yes, gaming headsets can be used for phone calls and will not disappoint. The clarity and vibrancy of gaming headsets are fantastic. Phone conversations are also enhanced by integrated microphones, extra sophisticated functions like active noise cancellation, and customizable controls on the headset.

What is a Gaming headset?

A gaming headset is a type of headphone that is designed specifically for use while playing video games. They are usually much more comfortable to wear than regular headphones and have features that allow them to be used for gaming purposes, such as noise cancellation, ease of use for long hours, and surround sound.

What are the benefits of using a gaming headset?

There are many benefits to using a gaming headset, including:

• Improved game audio: Gaming headsets allow you to hear your game audio more clearly, giving you an advantage over other players.
• Noise cancellation: This feature helps to reduce background noise so that you can focus on your game.
• Surround sound: This gives you a more immersive gaming experience by allowing you to hear audio from all around you.
• Longer battery life: Some gaming headsets come with batteries that last for up to 10 hours, so you can game for longer without having to worry about recharging.

Now that you know what a gaming headset is and what features to look for, you may be wondering Can you use a Gaming Headset for Phone Calls? The answer is yes! Gaming headsets can be used for phone calls, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

How to Choose the Best Gaming Headset for Phone calls?

If you’re looking for a gaming headset that can also handle phone calls, there are a few things to think about before purchasing one.

1. The cushion material of the earcups
2. Wireless or Wired
3. Microphone
4. Sound Quality of the gaming headsets
5. The type of the gaming headset

1. The cushion material of the earcups

People usually seek a headset for phone calls if they spend an extensive period on conference calls during their work. They might have to spend hours wearing the headset. Thus, comfort is necessary when it comes to headphones. The cushion material is a deciding factor for the performance rate and comfort of the user.

For example, if there is leathered cushioning provided with the headset, you will feel huge discomfort during a long conference call. The constant sweating due to lack of ventilation will irritate you further. And the leather material tends to heat up quickly which will lead to a burning sensation.

But, foam-cushioned ear cups with mesh material for ventilation will keep your ears cool and comfortable for a longer period and you will have a great experience. There are some dedicated fabric and leather materials as well that have been designed to ventilate and keep your ears cool. They might be a little pricey but they will offer a greater level of comfort.

2. Wireless or Wired

There are two variants of gaming headsets available in the market- the wired ones and the wireless ones. It is up to you to decide what kind of connection you want for your gaming headphones.

If you are looking for a wireless gaming headset, the primary factors that you should check are the range of connection, the version of Bluetooth, and the battery life of the headset on a single charge. There are many gaming headsets available that offer over 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. They also come with rapid charging technology which will allow the headset to get a couple of hours’ worth of battery life in a few minutes of charging. 

You also need to make sure that the Bluetooth Audio Codec and the Bluetooth version provided on the wireless gaming headsets are the latest ones as they offer a better range of connection, low audio latency or delay, and a higher sampling rate of bandwidth. A good range of connections will allow you to move from one room to another without any interruption in the call.

If you are into wired gaming headsets, you are in for distraction-free clear sound quality. The drawback that it offers is that you need to be near the source all the time as the length of the wire is limited and it won’t allow you to wander between rooms while you are on the call. But, ensure that the length of the wire is long enough to put your phone in the pocket without any tautness in the wire.

3. Microphone

A good gaming headset for phone calls will need a high-quality built-in microphone. It has been seen that a gaming headset with a boom microphone performs best if the primary purpose of the gaming headset is to make or take phone calls. Even a cheap headset with a boom mic works far better compared to an expensive gaming headset without a booming mic.

Since, boom mics are placed in the front, just below the mouth, they are capable of picking the voices better with higher clarity.

4. Sound Quality of the gaming headsets

Important things are reserved for the last. Sound quality is the foremost thing that you should check while purchasing any audio device and it is the same with the gaming headsets for phone calls. Make sure all the ranges (low, mid, and high) are clear without any distortion. If an expensive headset is particularly focused on one kind of range, it can produce poor sound when the frequency range varies. If you are investing say over $150 or $200 for a decent pair of gaming headsets, you should be able to hear all kinds of sounds and instruments pretty clearly even at higher volumes without any distortion.

5. The type of the gaming headset

There are three kinds of gaming headsets available depending on how they fit on the ears:

• The on-ear gaming headsets clasp onto your ears
• The over-ear gaming headsets cover the whole ears
• The in-ear gaming headsets go into the ear like earbuds

The on-ear gaming headsets for phone calls are lighter and slimmer in design and it doesn’t cover the whole ear. If you are someone with a sensitive ear or prone to sweating, you will want these kinds of headsets as they provide proper ventilation to the ear while sitting on them. They also provide accurate sound without any distortion.

The Over-ear headsets come mostly with comfortable earcups that tend to cover your whole ear to create that passive noise cancellation and isolation effect. Thus, there are fewer interferences from the noises from the outside. The Active noise cancellation also seems to work better with the over-ear design.

The in-ear gaming headsets are the new favorite among users as they are quite comfortable, lighter, and easy to carry around. Further, since it goes inside the ears, the outer part of the ear is free from any kind of heating or sweating. It also offers a powerful and clutter-free audio performance. But, it still lags behind the over-ear and on-ear headphones when it comes to dynamic frequency range coverage.

Why Shouldn’t You Use a Gaming Headset for Phone Calls?

While it is justified to use gaming headsets for phone calls, some reasons will make you reconsider your decision and look for a normal headset rather than a gaming one for phone calls.

1. Gaming headsets are heavier than the regular ones
2. Most Gaming headsets are Bass-centric
3. Absence of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature

1. Gaming headsets are heavier than the regular ones

Gaming headsets indeed offer a more immersive and clear sound quality compared to the ordinary ones but they are built heavier with specialized drivers and hardware to reach that optimal performance. You might feel the weight on your head after the long and extensive usage of such gaming headphones during phone calls.

2.  Most Gaming headsets are Bass-centric

Gaming headsets are designed with a special emphasis on the lower frequency ranges to get an in-depth feel of the games when you shoot or launch a grenade for an explosion. So if your gaming headphones are bass-heavy, you might have trouble achieving a greater level of clarity with the voices during the phone calls. Further, you might experience a consistent buzz sound during conference calls while using a gaming headset.

3. Absence of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature

Low and mid-range gaming headsets do not come with active noise cancellation features and premium gaming headsets can be too expensive to purchase. So, if there is too much noise in the background of your call, you will feel constant distraction due to the interference from them during the phone calls.

Also, the microphone needs to be a booming one (the one present in the front with an extended handle), or else your voice might not be captured by the headset properly. So if you have a high-end gaming headset but the mic is not booming, you should not consider it for making phone calls at all as you might experience interruptions.

Best Headset for Phone Calls in 2022

 With the “work from home,” culture taking center stage amidst the ongoing pandemic, long-duration conference calls, Zoom meetings, and Skype chat is quite inevitable. In such a scenario, you will need a pair of comfortable and high-quality headsets. If you are looking for a gaming headset that is capable of serving a dual purpose, here is the list of the best headsets for phone calls in 2022 –  

1.  Audio-Technica ATH-G1

The first gaming headset that is at the top of this list if you want to make long phone calls is the Audio-Technica ATH-G1. The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is one of the best and most premium gaming headsets that are capable of being your companion during your gameplays and conference calls. The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 comes with large diameter drivers (45 mm) which are specially tuned.

The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 can take a maximum input of around 1300 mW and this allows it to deliver such an immersive audio output that provides the ultimate experience during gaming and phone calls. The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is a wired gaming headset which means the audio latency or delay is minimum. Further, the state-of-the-art boom microphone attached to the Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is both flexible and detachable. Thus it ensures that your voice gets captured with the ultimate clarity and loudness.

When it comes to built quality, the Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is sturdy and strong with a lightweight material. In addition to that, the headband pad is breathable along with high-quality earpads which allow you to wear the headset for a long time without any discomfort or pain. The cable attached to the Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is 6.6 inches long and comes with a volume rocker along with a microphone mute button for your convenience and ease of operation.

Since the boom microphone is detachable, you can remove it and you will still have a headphone that matches the professional studio quality and high-fidelity output. The 3.5 mm jack makes allows it to connect to multiple types of devices without any fuss.

Under the hood, the Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is provided with a short Y-type adaptor cable. This cable is designed in such a fashion as to split the headphone and the microphone signals along with the microphone windscreen. The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 is compatible with all the major gaming consoles including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and laptops. So, gaming and phone calls will be a breezy experience with the Audio-Technica ATH-G1.

AVG Price – $165

 Pros

• The boom microphone is amazing
• Construction is lightweight and durable
• The earpads are replaceable
• The integrity of the audio remains intact at max volume

Cons

• The volume dials can be adjusted accidentally
• Absence of software or EQ Presets
• Loud notification while muting and unmuting

2. Vont Bluetooth Headset with Microphone

If you are not into gaming and the only purpose to buy a quality headset is for phone calls, you can skip the gaming headsets and get a normal headset. The Vont Bluetooth Headset with Microphone is one of the best headsets in this category.

The Vont Bluetooth Headset is a versatile and inexpensive pair of headsets that will allow you to play and work easily with the flexibility that it offers. The Vont Bluetooth Headset boasts a battery backup of 12 hours with continuous talking via Bluetooth with Active Noise Cancellation activated. This will allow you to conclude your hour-long meetings without the need to charge your headset.

The Vont Bluetooth Headset is completely wireless. Thus, you can connect it to your phone, or laptop on the go and use it without the obstruction of wires or cables. The earpads are soft and breathable and the headband is flexible enough to provide you with the best comfort for a long duration.

The boom microphone can swivel up to 330 degrees which will allow you to keep the microphone away from your mouth when not in use. The Bluetooth version on the Vont Bluetooth Headset is 5.0 which means better range, minimal audio latency, and minimal interruption during calls.

The Vont Bluetooth Headset comes with an integrated noise cancellation feature that will block unwanted noises from the background. This makes it perfect for Skype meetings, call centers, and delivery professionals who have to deal with customers on the phone with lots of noise in the background.

The Vont Bluetooth Headset is insanely lightweight, weighing around just 0.09 pounds, and gets exceptional reception. To add icing to the cake, the CVC technology employed in the Vont Bluetooth Headset suppresses ambient noise and provides a clear sound.

Another interesting feature that the Vont Bluetooth Headset offers at a mere price of $22 is the ability to connect to multiple devices at once. If you have two working devices for conference calls, you can connect both of them to the Vont Bluetooth Headset and it will work without an issue within a range of 30 feet.

The best part about purchasing a Vont Bluetooth Headset is the Lifetime Warranty against loss, theft, and defects. Overall, the Vont Bluetooth Headset is a perfect choice for VOIP, Office place, Skype, Zoom, Truckers, and call centers.

Price – $ 22.09

Pros

• Connectivity range up to 30 meters from the paired source devices
• Can be connected to two devices simultaneously which facilitates multitasking
• Talktime of 12 hours on a single charge
• Quite inexpensive
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Stiff for users with a big head

3. Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth Headset

We now enter the premium segment of headsets that are best for phone calls. If you are not afraid of shelling out some extra cash, you can get a high-quality headset for phone calls like the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth headset.

The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC offers a noise-free sound quality that gives you a feeling that you are talking to the other side in person. It facilitates an audio quality that is conversation-focused and thus projects your voice via the microphone without the cacophony in the background. If you like to listen to music while working, you are in for a treat with the immersive audio which is simply stunning.

The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC comes with active noise cancellation technology which is adaptive enough to prevent excessive noise blocking, thus providing that perfect balance for the ultimate treat to your ears. You can pair the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC with Poly’s awesome voice tech to get the best experience.

The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC can be connected to your PC or smartphone with ease and provides a wireless connectivity range of 98 feet so that you can move around while taking calls and the audio quality will remain at its best.

You get a smart mute feature with the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC, thanks to the intelligent mute and related sensors built-in in the headset. You can either use the dedicated mute button to mute or simply take the headset off and put it back on. If you speak during the mute, you will be given an audible reminder by the Dynamic Mute Alert feature.

The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC is not only for phone calls but for high-fidelity music experience as well. It is designed in a way to provide rich and deep bass with crisp high. The mid-tones are natural in the pleasant stereo. The features don’t end here. With the smart mic boom, the volume and track controls are adjusted automatically.

Price – $ 167.67

Pros

• Comfort is unmatched
• Incredible battery life and excellent voice quality
• The sound signature for music is nicely balanced
• There is dedicated support for NFC
• The boom mic is great
• Active noise cancellation with adaptive adjustment
• Bunch of smart features

Cons

• Only Bluetooth connectivity is available
• The wired connection is missing
• Slightly wobbly on the head.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)