The overear style headset is by far the most attractive - it has the glamour and "hi-tech” appeal and gets the publicity shots. However, the headband style is the most popular. Why?

To begin to answer the question, we need to imagine what people think and feel about headsets before they own or wear one.

When prospective users think of headsets - quite often they visualize something overear; something trendy. But when it comes down to actually wearing one, they go for the headband type in droves.

Somebody suggested it's because we in the industry, don't actively encourage the overear style, because, we have perhaps personal preference for headbands: they're generally easier to sell so, in laziness we persuade them to go for headband styles.

However, irrespective of whether the client has either bought the headset or has trialed it, the headband style is accepted in higher proportion, in my experience, upward of 90% of sales. You can 'sell' it as much as you want, but people almost always hand back headsets they don't like.

I have though, in a few memorable instances, witnessed the 'herd' mentality; where everyone in a particular company or work area was led by a dominant personality, to either wear one style or the other and the meek complied. Checking back with these clients I found individually that many users said they either hated the headset and didn't wear it anymore or 'learned to live with it”.

Sometimes though, as an adroit administrator - limiting choice is definitely the way to go, otherwise they, and their supplier are given the run around, pandering to the whims of the indecisive. But, as earlier described, it's also not a good idea to entirely stifle an individual's preferences either; otherwise the headset will end up in the desk draw.

Manufacturers are captivated by the overear concept. As can be evidenced by the plethora of new Bluetooth headsets - all of them over ear or earbud styles - with at the time of writing this, not one headband style that I know of. Maybe, they don't think people would ever consider wearing a Bluetooth headset with a headband?

Its likely, these models have been created for use with cell phones and they're trying to cover all bases with one particular form factor for use in the office environment too. That wearing a headset with a headband in a car is both more difficult and perhaps looks 'un-cool'?

Lets take a simple 'for and against' approach.

Overear Style (when compared to a headband)

Pros:

· Better for long hair - headbands get caught up in the users hair. · Vanity - less interference with the wearer's hairstyle. · Head size and shape - some people have heads that don't work with headbands. · More attractive for some - overear, is to many, impressive. · More comfortable for some - many cannot stand anything going over their head. · Lightweight - definitely lighter than a headband.

Cons:

Can be hard to wear - · Sore ears - many hate the sensation of something hanging on their ear. · Itchy earhole - some earbud types fit just inside the ear canal. It can irritate. · No good for ear infections - some users are more prone than others to this. · Fiddly to get on - some people get the 'knack' of putting it on; lots don't. · Not as secure fit - many 'flop' around on the wearer's ear, despite best efforts. · Use of clothing clip mandatory - or the cable pulls the headset off the wearer's ear. · No good for people with glasses - frames clash with the headset creating 'sore spots'.

(There are 'cradles' that attach some headsets to the frame of the glasses - but these can be fiddly too and for many are not a solution)

Cost: · Generally around the same price as headband.

Performance:

· Some models don't transmit enough sound to the ear and don't perform well without amps. · Mostly no good for noisy environments - Earbud types with noise canceling may work though. · Sometimes weaker construction - cables are usually lighter and thinner. · Sometimes harder to get good microphone placement as the headset may move around.

When compared against the headband style, the overear, is trounced by the headband's overall, greater ease-of-use. But to someone who has long hair or a dislike of headbands - its in many cases the only headset style they will wear - and to them, the preferences of the majority doesn't matter, one iota.