Wireless USB speakerphone comparison - Bluetooth vs 2.4 GHz vs Hardwired USB

CRS_Man_Microphones

Finding a good wireless USB microphone is easy and we put together this helpful blog post to review the different technologies. If you are setting up a web video conferencing system that requires either a USB or bluetooth connection to your computer than you have 3 options: hardwire USB, use Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz speakerphone. Below you will find a quick wireless USB speakerphone technology overview along with some test recordings recorded with Windows Media Recorder.

USB 2.0 hardwired connection (Example below: Phoenix Audio Quattro)
1. This connection is always the highest quality
2. It also poses the problem of cabling
3. USB provides power so most likely your microphone will not require additional power.
4. USB 2.0 is easy to extend
Bluetooth (Example below: Jabra Speak 510 )
1. Requires pairing of bluetooth connection to computer which can be difficult
2. Bluetooth pairing can be broken with a simple restart of your computer
3. Easiest technology to pair with a Smart Phone
4. Lowest quality audio
5. Usually the least expensive option
6. Lower power consumption provides wireless connectivity even with battery operated devices
7. Potential wireless frequency interference with microwaves
2.4 GHz (Example below: HuddlePod Air)
1. Usually includes a wireless USB dongle with no need for bluetooth pairing.
2. Noticeably better quality than bluetooth
3. Easiest technology to pair with a Mac, PC or Android computer
4. Unrecognizable wireless frequency
5. Also a affordable technology

Example 1: Hardwired USB 2.0 Speakerphone

Always the best quality, a hard wired USB 2.0 connection is ideal for the highest quality experience. Knowing this is not always possible or required we will dig into wireless technologies for audio conferencing below.

Phoenix Audio Quattro

Example 2: Bluetooth Speakerphone

Bluetooth is by far the most popular wireless speakerphone technology because of cost. The quality if fair but as you will see here it is pale in comparison to a hardwired USB connection. Later we will take a look at this same microphone hard wired vs bluetooth.

Jabra Speak 510 Bluetooth

Example 3: 2.4GHz wireless speakerphone

Now try listening the HuddlePod Air which uses a technology we consider superior to Bluetooth (2.4 GHz). This microphone is recorded "wirelessly" but it still maintains a high quality audio recording.

huddlepodair-1

HuddlePod Air

In an effort to perform a base line wireless microphone test we recorded the popular Jabra Speak 510 using bluetooth and a direct USB connection. Listen below and you might be surprised by what you here.

Jabra Speak 510 USB

Jabra Speak 510 Bluetooth

Because audio quality is such a crucial element for any online meeting we have compiled this complete USB and Bluetooth microphone test recordings to compare and contrast audio quality. Listen for audio quality with these microphones commonly used for web video conferencing and online meetings such as MS Lync, Cisco Jabber and Skype.

But don't take our word for it! Listen to the recording for yourself!