REVIEW – I’ve been working from dwelling for over ten years now, and someway, I nonetheless have numerous conferences on-line.  At my firm, we use Microsoft Groups and Slack for our calls, so I would like a headset with a microphone that permits me to listen to and be heard clearly by my co-workers.  For years I’ve used an outdated Logitech wired headset, however the ear cushions are worn and frazzled.  I would like one thing new, so I’m attempting out the H16 wi-fi headset from EKSA.

What’s it?

The EKSA H16 is a headset that helps Bluetooth 5.2 or a USB dongle for wi-fi connectivity.  The H16 is out there in each on-ear and over-ear kinds and contains noise-cancelling know-how.  The EKSA Telecom model is focused on the office market, and their slogan is “be heard wherever.”

What’s within the field?

The field contained the EKSA H16 headset, the USB-A dongle, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a consumer handbook, and a assist card. EKSA graciously included their headset stand as effectively.

Specs

• Bluetooth:  5.2
• Vary:  50 ft
• Battery:  Rechargeable Lithium ion
• Change time:  2.5 hours
• Battery life:  35 hours when speaking
• Speaker measurement:  40 mm
• Weight:  5.3 ounces

Design and options

The EKSA H16 wi-fi headset appears to be like like a typical on-ear headset to be used within the workplace.  The ear cushions are small and spherical—I’m testing the on-ear type—a rotatable mic extends from the left ear cup, and there are buttons for energy, quantity, and mute.  There’s extra cushioning on the headscarf, and the headscarf is extendable.  The headset is plastic and really mild, and it’s fully black in shade apart from some orange highlights within the cushions.

Set up and setup

The EKSA H16 arrived well-protected in a trendy black and orange field.  I virtually didn’t discover the USB cable that’s hidden within the middle piece of orange cardboard, the place it says “Be heard wherever.”

There are solely two issues required to arrange this gadget.  First, I used the USB-A to USB-C cable to cost the headset.

A small LED on one ear cup is purple whereas charging and turns blue when completed.

Second, I paired the EKSA H16 wi-fi headset to my MacBookPro by way of Bluetooth.  My Mac had no issues detecting and pairing with the H16.

Though EKSA has included a USB dongle cleverly hid within the headset, it’s USB-A.  As USB-A is reasonably antiquated at this level—it’s been years since MacBookPros have included USB-A ports—I by no means tried this characteristic. I want to see EKSA use present USB know-how and swap out the USB-A in each the cable and the dongle with USB-C.

Efficiency

The largest concern for me in relation to wi-fi headsets is connectivity.  Some headsets disconnect steadily or have a second or two of lag when becoming a member of a gathering.  I by no means skilled any of those points with the H16; its connectivity was simply nearly as good as my outdated wired headset.

I discovered the sound high quality of the EKSA H16 wi-fi headset’s audio system to be good although not good.  I used to be in a position to clearly hear everybody with whom I spoke, and after I requested, they all the time commented that I used to be coming in loud and clear.  My solely criticism is that the headset sounds a bit mushy on among the decrease tones, which I tended to note when talking when male co-workers with a deeper voice.  It was not something horrible, however it was simply noticeable. Regardless of this, the H16 is an efficient headset for speaking throughout distant work conferences.

The H16 has an excellent quantity of cushioning underneath the headscarf.

It has an identical quantity of cushioning on the ear cups.  Regardless of this cushioning, the H16 just isn’t as snug as I anticipated it to be.  The ear cups press in too tightly in opposition to my ears, and the ear cushions don’t fairly lay flat in opposition to my ears.  After a little bit of experimentation, I found out why:  They’re too slender for my head.  I laid the H16 on high of the CA Important headset that I reviewed final 12 months, and the distinction between the 2 is apparent:  The curve of the headscarf for the CA Important is extra rounded, thus making it wider on the ear cups; the curve for the H16 is significantly extra oval, thus making it narrower.  I discovered the identical factor after I in contrast the H16 to my older Logitech headset.  Briefly, this headset is good for individuals who have smaller, narrower heads.  Moreover, the CA Important has a pivot level the place the headscarf meets the ear cup, permitting it to rotate within the horizontal aircraft and thus lay flat in opposition to my ears.  The EKSA H16 wi-fi headset’s ear cups are linked on to the headscarf; they’re angled a bit an excessive amount of ahead, maybe due to the slender headband, and thus don’t lay flat.  For infrequent use, I don’t assume both of those points shall be an issue for me; if, nonetheless, I used to be carrying this headset all day, it might undoubtedly give me a headache and be unusable.  Maybe it’s going to loosen up over time, however throughout the 4 weeks that I examined this headset, it remained tighter than I would like.

The headscarf is adjustable and permits me to configure the ear cups to be proper over my ears.

EKSA asserts that the H16 has a 50-foot vary, and I can affirm that is precisely proper.  My dwelling workplace is in a single nook of our home, and I used to be in a position to stroll all through the home and on to our back and front porches with none lack of audio.  Solely after I went to the far nook of my storage, which is greater than 50 ft away from my workplace, did I expertise audio stuttering.  The liberty to wander about wirelessly is a large benefit for this headset, because it permits me to do one thing in one other room of my home, like get one other cup of espresso, whereas nonetheless listening to no matter is being stated in a gathering.

There are controls on the left ear cup, one for energy, one for quantity up, and one for quantity down that each one work completely.  The EKSA H16 wi-fi headset publicizes in a heavily-accented voice when the headset is powered on and off and when its pairing.

There’s one other small button on the surface tip of the mic that mutes the mic.  When pressed, it mutes the mic and publicizes that mute is on or off, however it doesn’t give any visible indication that I’m muted.  There’s no purple LED on the mic, nor does it change the microphone icon in Groups and Slack.  My outdated Logitech headset, which is wired, modified these icons.  This can be a fairly massive problem for me, as I typically should be sure that I’m muted in an effort to stop introducing any undesirable noise after I’m in a gathering.

I set a reminder on my work calendar to cost the headset each Friday afternoon in order that it’s contemporary and able to go on Monday morning.  EKSA says that the H16’s battery is sweet for 35 hours of speaking.  Fortunately I haven’t but had per week the place I’ve wanted to speak for 35 hours, however I’ve by no means had any issues with it working out of energy throughout the work week.  I may most likely go two weeks earlier than having to cost it, although I favor to be protected and cost it each weekend.

EKSA included their headset stand within the bundle that they despatched me.  It’s easy but efficient; it holds the headset and reduces the house consumed on my already crowded desk.  Whereas not required to make use of the H16, I like this stand and am very glad that EKSA despatched it.

What I like

• Good audio high quality
• Light-weight
• Dependable Bluetooth connectivity

What I’d change

• Replace charging cable and dongle to make use of USB-C
• Make the headscarf extra rounded
• Present visible indicators when muted

Remaining ideas

The EKSA H16 is an easy but efficient wi-fi headset focused for workplace use.  I used Bluetooth to attach it to my MacBookPro for distant work conferences carried out with Groups and Slack.  I discovered that it maintained a dependable connection and has good high quality sound.  The largest problem for me is that the oval-shaped design of the headscarf is a bit too slender for my head, inflicting it to press extra tightly in opposition to my ears than different headsets that I’ve used.  In case your head is narrower than mine, this is likely to be the right wi-fi headset on your company talk wants.

Worth: $59.99 (Amazon) or $79.00 (EKSA)
The place to purchase:  Amazon or EKSA’s on-line retailer
Supply: The pattern for this overview was offered by EKSA.