Working from home? You still need the best audio quality and you don’t always want to have a headset on. In these stressful times, why not also go for the most convenient?
Speakerphones are both in one device: the most convenient method for hands free, professional audio at home, in the office or on the road — one device.
Why Use a Speakerphone?
Portable and simple to use, speakerphones improve on the sound quality of the native speakerphones in a desk phone and are certainly a vast improvement on the microphones and speakers that come with a computer.
They are full duplex devices, meaning you can transmit and receive audio at the same time. Unlike a headset, you don’t need to wear it. They offer 360° audio pickup using an omnidirectional microphone or a multi-microphone array.
Call controls are integrated into the device, so you answer calls with just a tap.
Speakerphones work as well for personal communications as for conference calls with small groups. Rather than using a full conference phone, you can use a speakerphone.
They offer plug and play functionality and extensive interoperability with communications platforms and services.
One of the real advantages of a speaker puck is portability. Most weigh only around half a pound and are designed to be tossed in a travel bag. This includes a common feature: a USB cable that wraps around the speaker puck for a clean, convenient way to keep the cable from getting frayed.
Speakerphones offer a wealth of connectivity options. Here are just a few examples of use cases:
- Bluetooth speakerphone. Wireless connection to mobile phones to improve sound quality while leaving hands free.
- USB speakerphone. Plug and play integration with softphones for simple, professional audio.
- 3.5 mm speakerphone. Simple connection to laptops or tablets wherever you are.
Let’s take a look at three of the best speakerphones on the market today.
Jabra Speak 750 Portable Speakerphone
Jabra Speak 750 is a portable speakerphone with premium audio quality.
With rich, full duplex audio and advanced echo cancellation, Speak 750 works as well for music as it does for conversations. The omnidirectional microphone picks up voices in 360°. Jabra recommends using it for groups of up to 6 people.
Speak 750 offers two methods for connecting: USB-A or Bluetooth.
The 3-ft USB cable coils neatly around the speaker when not in use. Use it as a USB speakerphone with any computer — it’s compatible basically every softphone or unified communications platform out there.
As a Bluetooth speakerphone, Speak 750 has a 100-ft range. It works seamlessly with phones or tablets — with the flexible placement only a wireless speakerphone can offer. It can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time.
The elegant design of Speak 750 includes capacitive buttons on the rim of the speakerphone, which include volume up/down, call answer/end and power.
The Microsoft Teams version of Speak 750 has a dedicated Teams button for answering calls and launching the service.
It also has a button for linking two Speak 750s together via Bluetooth. Get stereo sound for music and media or extend the reach of the speakerphones for conference calls.
All you need to do is tap the Link button on the two speakerphones.
Yealink CP900 Portable Speakerphone
Yealink CP900 is a Microsoft Teams certified speakerphone with elite audio performance.
The six MEMS microphone array and 7W speaker mean your voice will be clear and sound will be powerful. It has 360° microphone pickup out to almost 7 feet, good for groups of up to 6 people.
Integrated digital signal processing, noise suppression and echo cancellation improve sound quality.
CP900 offers two methods for connection: USB-A and Bluetooth. The 3-ft USB cable make it a plug and play solution for professional audio via laptop or PC.
Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity means mobile convenience — whether you use it with a smartphone or tablet.
Poly Calisto 5300 Portable Speakerphone
Poly Calisto 5300 is a personal speakerphone. The phone looks great with a dramatic slash in the design that not only looks fabulous but means the mute button is simple to find.
Call controls are integrated with lights that indicate status. The Microsoft version of Calisto 5300 has a dedicated button for Microsoft Teams.
It offers 360° audio pickup with Poly’s legendary audio quality. In fact, Calisto 5300 offers professional, conference quality sound.
Connect the speakerphone via USB or Bluetooth. There are models with USB-A or USB-C connectivity, so you can get the model that works with the ports on your computer.
As a wireless speakerphone, it has an elite 16 hours of talk time.