We offer customer review videos of keyboards, mice, foot switches, and other accessibility devices such as these headsets. We tried various options such as the Andrea Communications NC-185VM, Corsair Void Elite, AirPods Pro, and Andrea Communications NC-185VM headset, and we found that the Plantronics (Poly) Voyager 5200 UC wireless headset works the best for use with Nuance Dragon Professional Individual speech recognition software. This headset is wireless, does not include an over-the-head strap, and only goes in one ear, allowing you to play music through an earbud from another device (without interference) at the same time while using Dragon!
We tested 5 different headsets so far, and after over 6 months of trial with each option, we determined that the Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC headset, when paired with the Andrea NC-185VM as a wired backup, is the best option for Dragon. The Plantronics Voyager headset does not have an over-the-head strap, preventing a messy hair day when you use Dragon! Despite the high price, it is extremely effective and accurate with Dragon, picking up commands well. Since there are still two small issues with this headset – which is that the lowest volume is still a bit too high for some calls, and the headset needs regular charging – we recommend getting the budget-friendly Andrea Communications NC-185VM headset as a backup for certain calls and for charging emergencies, since it is wired and don’t require charging.
- Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC wireless headset
- Andrea Communications NC-185VM wired headset (great for small sized head)
- Corsair Void Elite wireless headset (great for large sized head)
- Apple AirPods Pro
- Apple EarPods
We hope to also try the following additional options in the future for further comparison:
- New versions headsets similar to Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC as they become available (e.g. with a lower minimum volume, and more reliable charging when inserted into the outer slot of charging case)
- Jabra Engage 75 Wireless USB Headset, Convertible Version
- Plantronics Savi 8240 UC USB Wireless Headset
- Any additional newer wireless headsets recommended by other Dragon users in the future
Compared to most headset options, the Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC is higher quality and more versatile and convenient than most, and it costs ~$100, which is well worth it. The Andrea NC-185VM headset at ~$40 is a great budget-friendly price and is actually nearly just as accurate and effective with Dragon as the alternatives we have tried so far! We recommend getting both the Plantronics and the Andrea headset so that you can use Dragon optimally while also having a good backup that works with Dragon but also works better for calls and doesn’t need to be charged. Note that if you have a much larger head size (head width), we recommend getting the Corsair Void Elite instead of then Andrea Communications NC-185VM as your backup. The Corsair Void Elite actually performed the best of the headsets we tried when paired with a Corsair One desktop windows computer, however it is very large and clunky.
Regardless of which headset you choose, it is EXTREMELY crucial to ensure you have a high-performance computer that meets the system requirements for Dragon software. If your computer is a cheaper laptop that does not meet system requirements, don’t expect it to work fast and accurately no matter which headset you pick!
If you current sell any of the “additional options” of headsets listed above which we have not tried yet, please contact us. We would love to receive trial/free devices so that we can review them in our videos to provide a wider variety of comparisons for our viewers. However, we do not necessarily guarantee a positive review since we wish to provide only the most truthful information to our viewers.
WorkingHandsFree.org 