Monoprice Wireless Web Meeting Headset Review: 5.0 Bluetooth Video Conferencing with a Surround Sound Twist

Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset Review

Headsets have become a defacto standard, and most of the ones in the middle of the market are pretty much the same. Mostly Bluetooth®, over the ear, usually without Active Noise Cancelation (ANC), and a boom microphone jutting before your face.

Well, that describes the Monoprice Wireless Web Meeting Headset, but not in a bad way. These headsets are just what they are, but sometimes, the engineers decide to throw in a twist. The twist from Monoprice’s engineers arrives as booming and head-shaking 3D stereo surround sound. Gamers will love it, but movie watchers will also enjoy audio that, how should I put this, goes beyond being loud. 

Specifications

Bluetooth Version	5.0
Bluetooth Range	Up to 32 feet (10 meters)
Supported Bluetooth Profiles	HSP, HFP, AVRCP, A2DP
Bluetooth Pairing Name	MP43905
Battery Type	Lithium‑ion polymer
Battery Capacity	3.7V 1000mA
Charging Time	2 hours
Standby Time	BT connected with vibration OFF, 125 hours USB dongle connected with vibration OFF, 26 hours
Playback/Talk Time	32 hours (BT ON, 80%Volume 26 hours (BT + vibration ON, 80% volume)
Driver Size	ø40mm
Frequency Response	20Hz ~ 20kHz
Nominal Impedance	32Ω
Weight	8.6 oz. (244g)

What we like

Pros

• Good sound for the price
• 3D stereo surround sound
• 27 hours of listening and talking time
• Bluetooth 5.0® 

First of all, the Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset does what it says it does. It connects via Bluetooth to a device to support audio in and out. The over-the-ear headset includes a removable microphone with a foam wind cover. Keep in mind this is a sub-$60 device.

As for connectivity, the Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset with a USB Bluetooth dongle pairs after installation with the headset. Many dedicated headsets (versus headphones) supply a dongle to improve the quality and resilience of the Bluetooth connection. Unlike other dongles that come prepared and offer nothing but a USB connector, the Monoprice dongle includes a multi-function switch that supports momentary disconnections and re-pairing.

I suggest that the dongle be used on a Mac or a PC, regardless of the aesthetics of a dongle hanging out of a USB port on a device with built-in Bluetooth. The dongle does make a difference in quality. That said, those disposed to using their device’s native Bluetooth may do so.

The headset also arrives ready for a wired connection, which is supported by a very nice braided fabric cable, and thankfully uses standard 3.5mm 4-conductor plugs at both ends.

The long battery life of up to 27 hours is a plus, one likely to find rarely tested at home or in the office—and because of the lack of ANC, I would not suggest this headset for travel, except to be used, perhaps, in a hotel room for calls. This is not a headset for listening to movies or music on a plane. Charging takes about 2 hours via the USB-C port.

The thunderous 3D surround sound is the differentiator for the Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset. Gamers will appreciate the vibrations that run through their skull. It only rumbles on deep base, but when it rumbles, it rumbles. Many people may choose to leave off this feature, but once invoked, it feels very cinematic—like sitting in a Dolby Surround Sound theater during a blockbuster superhero film opening. In quiet moments, the rumble remains calm.

For portability, the Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset folds, but they do not come with a storage bag.

What could be improved

Cons

• No ANC
• Can be a bit uncomfortable in long sessions
• Buttons are not intuitive
• The manual is very tiny and hard to read without a magnifying glass
• Monoprice needs to improve the use of recyclable packaging materials

The lack of ANC does not require any more discussion. In many office situations, sound isolation from the earcups may be enough.

While the headset is fully adjustable, I found the need to tuck my ears into the earcups. After wearing the Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset for several hours, I found the pressure on the top of my ears to move from occasionally annoying to moderately painful. They are fine, however, for a couple of hours of sustained use.

The combination of the very tiny manual (please include a QR code to a PDF) that requires a magnifying glass and the poorly labeled buttons made mastering the headset harder than it needed to be. The use of the power button for playback and call control is non-standard. The other buttons just control volume (and resetting Bluetooth). That may not seem confusing, but when trying to stop playback or increase volume, I find myself running my fingers over the buttons and then counting them off to figure out which one I need to push. Improved spacing, size, embossing and other approaches could be used to better differentiate the buttons.

And unlike the other buttons, the surround sound is a toggle, not a push—another poor user experience choice. It does differentiate it from the other buttons—and it is further away, but then users must remember to flip rather than tap.

I would also like to see Monoprice™ step up to blister packs and other packaging materials that are fully recyclable. Read the recent review of the InfinityLab accessories to understand what state-of-the-art recyclable packaging looks like.

Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset: The bottom line

3D sound and above-average battery life transform otherwise basic headphones into something intriguing. The Monoprice™ Wireless Web Meeting Headset is perfectly serviceable and will deliver value to a wide range of users seeking a budget headset. The attractively priced sub-$60 list also limits expectations. 

Those who need all-day comfort, ANC or high-quality audio codecs should look to more expensive headsets like those from HP’s Poly or Targus.

Monoprice™ provided the Wireless Web Meeting Headset for review. Images courtesy of Monoprice™ unless otherwise noted.

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