This site is sponsored by Crucible Technologies. It has information on telephone headsets and is designed to help you choose the most suitable telephone headset for the job.
Headset connectors
Headsets come with different types of connectors for different applications. In this section we try and show the various ones available.
RJ11: This is the most common type of connector used on telephone headsets. The connector has 4-pins. About 90% of telephone headsets use an industry standard wiring on the headsets. However, some manufacturers have used a different wiring configuration which can cause compatibility problems. Telephones from Cisco, Ascom, Philips, Plantronics, Panasonic and Avaya (Callmaster) use a non-standard configuration.
2.5 mm jack plug: This plug is not very common. They are used on some DECT telephones and also on some Panasonic system telephones.
Two 3.5 mm jack plugs: These plugs are provided on headsets that are designed to be plugged into PC soundcards. They can be used for any application on the PC that requires sound as well as for VoIP.
USB connector: This is provided on digital headsets for use on a PC. They will even work on PCs without a sound card. Like the headsets above, they can be used for any application on the PC that requires sound as well as for VoIP.
Will my telephone work with a telephone headset?
It is possible to use a headset with most telephones. Please use the chart below to work out the type of headset that you require.
- Most analogue or digital telephones have a curly cord leading from the base or side of the telephone to the handset. This is usually detachable and enables an adapter or amplifier to be inserted into the socket to allow a headset to be used.
- This socket is called an RJ11 socket and the square connector on the headset is called an RJ11 connector.
- Some phones are designed to work with a headset and provide an additional RJ11 socket for the headset to be installed into. These phones often provide the user with volume control to enable both the operators and the caller’s voice to be adjusted to suit the operator.
- An adapter is a device which having been installed into the handset socket of the telephone adapts it for a headset. Both the handset and headset are then plugged into the adaptor.
- An amplifier also works as an adapter but in addition provides the telephone user with volume control.
- Some new telephones on the market have a 2.5 mm round jack socket, instead of the traditional RJ11 socket. Headsets with this type of sockets are available.
