We are all doing more videoconferencing these days, so the Avantree Aria Me ($149.99) arrived at the perfect time. This is a desktop-oriented headphone for the office that can also travel well. It's ideal for the office because of the clever charging stand that is included. The headphones rest on the stand and charge, giving you one less thing to worry about. When traveling, you can use the microUSB cable to charge the headphones directly. I would have preferred USB-C, similar to Apple's iPad Pro, so there would be one less type of cable to carry.
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The Aria Me is also great for the office because of the detachable boom mike. This helps pick up just your voice and not your home surroundings, which is helpful for Zoom calls. The headset is quite comfortable thanks to the over-ear design with padded ear cushions. The sound is high quality, thanks to their secret ingredient: a free companion app, which tests the hearing of each ear individually and adjusts playback! It uses different frequencies which older folks find harder to pick up. It's so thorough, I bet it can tell how old I am!
It can also connect to two devices at once so you can alternate between your computer and smartphone. It's only sold in black and a it is a bit plasticky, given the price, but Avantree offers discounts on their web site. You have to provide an email address to use the app anyway, so sign up and get a deal.
Pros
- Robust app to test the hearing of each ear and adjust playback
- Clever charging stand and detachable boom mike
- Works wired or wirelessly via Bluetooth and can connect to 2 devices at once
- Active Noise Cancelling, aptX LL, and aptX HD
Cons
- Only in black and a bit too much plastic given the price, but there are discounts on their web site
- Uses microUSB not USB-C
- Need to register email address within the app in order to personalize audio
Final Verdict
The Aria Me from Avantree is great for those with audio issues, particularly if each ear hears differently, and for anyone looking to streamline their desk thanks to its convenient charging stand.
