Cyber Acoustics AC-304C headset review

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: 30-second review

 The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C promises to be the ideal headset for call center workers or anyone who works from a busy home environment, all while keeping reasonably priced for what it offers. 

We’ve tested out loads of the best headphones with mics and best headsets for conference calls, with the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C fitting squarely into the work-focused category. These won’t be headphones for listening to music and enjoying anything other than a neutral experience. However, for taking calls and being heard clearly even if chaos is reigning around you, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C are exceptional. In particular, the headset is a good option for anyone who works from home and has the challenges that come with that.

Inline controls make it simple to adjust the volume or mute your mic without having to fumble for it. There’s also a long cable for ensuring there’s a bit of flexibility with how you move although it won’t compete with wireless options, of course.

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C is also very lightweight so you hardly notice it on your head during the working day. However, we did find the earcups a tad uncomfy after extended periods of use and a little adjustment was needed. It’s no deal-breaker but if you’re used to memory foam cushioning your ears, you may want to spend more. In this price range though, it’s hard to fault the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C as we’ll soon see.

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Price & availability

• $99.99/£99.99 
• Available now

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C is available directly from the Cyber Acoustics website or you can buy it on third-party retailers like Amazon US. It’s available both in the US and UK with seemingly no stock issues right now. 

• Score: 5/5

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Design & fit

• Lightweight build
• Inline controls
• Leatherette material

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C headset looks fairly unassuming. We’re talking super lightweight headset with a drop-down mic on one side and soft leatherette earcups to keep your head snug. The headset is sufficiently slender, one would think it would be fragile but it seems fairly robust when tossed around a little or simply plonked on a desk frequently. 

Inline controls reside about three feet down. There are two volume adjust buttons with a large mic mute button in the middle. It changes between red and green depending on if the mic has been muted or not. It’s also suitably large enough that you can easily tap it even while midway through a call or video chat. The only extra it’s missing is that while the buttons are divided up, there’s no tactile feeling to help remind you of what you’re about to tap without looking. In particular, that can be problematic when trying to find the volume up or down button while not looking down.

Five feet further down the line is the USB-C connection with the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C coming with a USB-C to USB-A adapter if you prefer or need to use an USB-A port. 

The mic can be swung up or down depending on if you need to be heard, while the headset overall can be adjusted to accommodate larger heads.

The fit is simple but mostly effective. Easy to slip on with adjustable parts on the headset, the only issue arises with the earcups. These start out comfortable but over time, can start to press on your ears a tad. I found moving the earcups around did help so some of it comes down to the size of your ears and arrangement, rather than deliberate clamping force. 

• Score: 4/5

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Sound quality

• Environmental noise cancellation
• Neutral sound profile
• No sidetone

Designed with video conferencing and work in mind, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C focus on providing a neutral sound profile rather than elevating bass or similar like your regular headphones may do so. That means that you get a crisp and clear experience each step of the way but not one that lends itself to listening to music during your breaks. 

Crucially, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C uses AI-based microphone noise cancellation to eliminate background noise around you. Appropriately, it sounds too good to be true but in our time using it among construction noises nearby and a yelling cat, anyone we spoke to didn’t hear what was going on in the background. It works far better than your average microphone and perhaps more importantly, provides good peace of mind as you don’t have to worry about disruptions. It’s professional and due to it being tied into the headset, it works with all the audio and video conferencing tools you could plan on using it with.

With home working remaining popular for at least some of the week, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C instantly proves more useful than in the past. For regular calls such as call center support, there’s no sidetone. Sidetone allows you to hear some of your own voice to check that you’re connected but also potentially proving irritating too. So, the lack of the feature is going to be good and bad news depending on how you feel about it. It’s also a feature we’d typically see on pricier headsets so it’s hardly surprising that the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C lacks it.

• Score: 4/5

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Final verdict

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C gets straight to the point and is a useful USB-C headset. With its environmental noise cancellation, it easily blocks out irritants around you while you’re trying to speak. More importantly, you don’t need to install separate software to do so which is timesaving as well as practical for anyone using a heavily locked down work machine. 

The inline controls cover all your needs while being clearly laid out. If only, they were a little more tactile and the headset itself was a touch more comfortable. Minor quibbles aside however, and the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C is a well-priced option for anyone taking many calls.

Should I buy the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C?

How I tested the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C

I reviewed the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C over a period of 10 days. In that time, I predominantly used the headset on Microsoft Teams and Zoom calls. I also used it to record audio for personal projects. For testing the audio in other contexts, I watched Twitch streams and YouTube videos, as well as listened to music through Spotify. During my time with the headset, I had to handle a noisy cat and near constant construction noises going on nearby.

I have extensive experience in making video and voice calls through my PC and I’ve used many headphones and headsets over the years.

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