Journey to find a headset with a good side talk cancellation mic for calls in an open office

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Hi, in Windows 11 some sound cards have build in

Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC)

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/audio/windows-11-apis-for-audio-processing-objects#acoustic-echo-cancellation-aec

Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) is a common audio effect implemented by Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) as an Audio Processing Object (APO) in the microphone capture pipeline. This effect is different from other effects typically implemented by IHVs and ISVs in that it requires 2 inputs – an audio stream from the microphone and an audio stream from a render device that acts as the reference signal.

This new set of interfaces allows an AEC APO to identify itself as such to the audio engine. Doing so results in the audio engine configuring the APO appropriately with multiple inputs and a single output.

[Murz]

Thanks, but this is about Echo, not about the cancellation of side voices :(

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I think it works as you want, I tested, I hear my voice and no external noises and no echo of my own voice. I think you must try. it works better then Jabra from article.

[Murz]

The problem is not an echo or external noises, but the voice of another person, speaking 2-3 meters outside of you. Could you please ask someone to do this and check how loud their voice will be recorded, compared to your own? Thanks!

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I tested, 2-3 meters voices have around -10 dB, it seems it's not a very good suppression

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;-)

[habr_gpt]

I confirm, Jabra works good. JBl not bad too.

[Murz]

Thanks, but that optimized for speech mono sound in Jabra drives me crazy! :( And about JBL - which model did you try? Does in declare some kind of mic noise cancellation?

[lexas]

I have SteelSeries Arctics 1. They are wireless (RF wireless) and the microphone is short-distant. So they don't switch to low bitrate sound when you are in the call and due to short-range microphone they don't capture too much surrounding sounds.

Also they have SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P - I haven't tried them yet but they looks really promising.

[Murz]

I had SteelSeries Arctics Nova Pro model, and yes, about bitrate and sound quality in calls - it's okay! but about "short-range microphone" - it didn't work for me, it was catching all surround sounds in the room. Yes, using the SteelSeries Sonar app you can cancel most of that sounds, but not the side speeches :(

So, could you please ask someone to talk in 2 meters from you and do the recording of your voice, to understand how it really is?

[Murz]

And, as I understand, it's impossible to cancel side talks correctly on the software side, because in the software we have only a single mono/stereo stream. But for detecting the real direction (angle) of the voice we need the raw information from 2+ microphones.

All SteelSeries nose cancellation is happening on the software side, so the chances that they can implement this feature (cancelling side voices) are pretty low :(

[Murz]

And seems I've found another candidate - Logitech Zone Vibe 125 Wireless Over the Ear Headphones - it declares "Featuring a flip-to-mute, noise-canceling mic with beamforming technology, Zone Vibe 125 reduces background sounds for those listening on the far end so you are always heard clearly.". And the price is pretty good! I've purchased it, waitng for shipping now.