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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Arama Phone Headset — biggest strength: an RJ9 headset aimed at a long list of Polycom, ShoreTel, Plantronics, Zultys, Toshiba, NEC, Nortel, Norstar, Meridian, Siemens, ROLM and Packet8 desk phones, with a metal-reinforced headband and a two-year warranty.
• Arama Phone Headset — biggest trade-off: it is a landline-only headset, and the cable-side controls are limited to a volume control rather than a dedicated mute button.
• Wantek RJ9 — biggest strength: purpose-built for selected Cisco IP phones across the 6800, 6900, 7800, 7900 and 8800 series, with push-button inline controls for volume and microphone mute.
• Wantek RJ9 — biggest trade-off: it does not work with the Cisco SPA series, and it is not an option for the non-Cisco brands that Arama covers.
• Who each pick is for: pick Arama if your desk phone is a Polycom or another non-Cisco model; pick Wantek if your office runs on Cisco IP phones and you want mute within reach.
The Arama Phone Headset (A600S1) is the more versatile of the two on paper, but only within the world of desk phones. It is an RJ9 headset, which means it plugs straight into the headset port of a supported landline phone — no USB, no 3.5mm, no 2.5mm. The compatibility list is where it earns its keep: Polycom SoundPoint and VVX models, plus a spread of ShoreTel, Plantronics, Zultys, Toshiba, NEC, Aspire Dterm, Nortel, Norstar, Meridian, Siemens, ROLM and Packet8 phones. If your office is a mixed bag of older business phones, that breadth is the whole point.
On the audio side, Arama leans on a high signal-to-noise ratio, an independent cavity design and passive noise cancellation. In plain terms, that combination is about keeping your voice clear and pushing down steady background hum — the kind of thing that matters in a room full of people talking. The microphone is described as noise-canceling, and the brand has been making wired headsets with noise-canceling mics since 2015, so this is a category they clearly live in.
So who should buy it? Anyone whose phone is on that compatibility list and who wants one headset that behaves like a workhorse — call centers, telemarketing desks, reception, general office use. Who should skip it? Anyone on a Cisco IP phone who wants a mute button on the cable, and anyone hoping to use this with a computer or a mobile phone. It will not do that.
Wantek RJ9: Who It's For
The Wantek RJ9 is a narrower tool, and it is better because of it. This is a Cisco-first headset: selected models from the 6800, 6900, 7800, 7900 and 8800 series, plus a list of specific Cisco IP phones and the M10, M12, M22 and MX10 amplifiers. Wantek states the incompatibilities just as plainly — no Cisco SPA series, no computers, no smartphones. That honesty is useful. You either find your phone on the list or you don't.
The feature that separates it from the Arama is the inline control pod. Wantek gives you push-button control for volume and, more importantly, a mute button. In a busy office, mute is not a nice-to-have; it is how you cough, sneeze, or talk to the person next to you without broadcasting it to a customer. Having it on the cable, within reach, is a genuinely practical difference for anyone who spends the day on calls.
Audio-wise, Wantek uses a noise-canceling microphone with environmental noise cancellation, and lists a 32-ohm dynamic driver. The stated goal is reliable voice transmission with reduced background distraction — the standard, sensible spec package for a business headset. Comfort is handled with an adjustable headband and ear cushions, in an on-ear, over-ear-shaped dark gray design built from leather and plastic.
Durability is framed around frequent daily use in call centers, corporate offices, reception areas and customer service teams, and it backs that up with a two-year warranty. Who should buy it? Cisco-based offices where the phone model is confirmed on the list and where mute on the cable is a daily need. Who should skip it? Anyone on a Polycom, Nortel, Siemens or other non-Cisco desk phone, since it simply will not connect. Also skip it if you were hoping for computer or mobile use — it does not have those jacks.
• Best for non-Cisco desk phones → Arama Phone Headset. Polycom, ShoreTel, Nortel, Siemens and the rest of its list are covered; Wantek is not.
• Best for Cisco IP phones → Wantek RJ9. If your phone is a listed 6800, 6900, 7800, 7900 or 8800 series model, this is the one designed for it.
• Best for quick mute access → Wantek RJ9. Its inline pod includes a mute button; Arama's control set is a volume control.
• Best for headband durability → Arama Phone Headset. One-piece metal headband construction is a sturdier starting point than an all-plastic frame.
• Best for the lightest all-day feel → Arama Phone Headset. It is explicitly built around ultra-lightweight materials and replaceable ear cushions.
• Best for a mixed-brand office → Arama Phone Headset. One model covering many older business phones is easier to standardize on than a Cisco-only unit.
• Best for a pure Cisco rollout → Wantek RJ9. Fewer surprises when every desk is on the same phone family.
• Best warranty support → a tie on paper. Both list two years, though Arama publishes a direct service contact for claims.
In my opinion, the deciding question is not which headset is better — it is which phone is on your desk. If you are running Cisco IP phones and want mute at your fingertips, I would buy the Wantek RJ9. If your office is built on Polycom, Nortel, Siemens or any of the other brands on Arama's list, I would buy the Arama Phone Headset and not think twice. For a mixed fleet of older business phones, Arama is the safer single choice. Check your exact phone model against the compatibility list first — that step matters more than any spec here. And if price is what is holding you back, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
No. Arama's compatibility list covers Polycom, ShoreTel, Plantronics, Zultys, Toshiba, NEC, Nortel, Norstar, Meridian, Siemens, ROLM and Packet8 models — Cisco is not among them. For Cisco IP phones, the Wantek RJ9 is the one designed for that job.
No. It is an RJ9 headset for selected Cisco IP phones and amplifiers only, and it has no USB, 3.5mm or 2.5mm connection. Wantek explicitly notes it is not for computers, smartphones or the Cisco SPA series.
The Wantek RJ9 does — its inline controls include volume and microphone mute. The Arama Phone Headset lists a volume control as its control type, so if mute-on-cable is essential to your day, that is a real difference between the two.
Both are on-ear designs with ear cushions and a two-year warranty. Arama emphasizes an ultra-lightweight build with replaceable foamy cushions and a metal headband; Wantek emphasizes an adjustable headband for extended sessions. In my opinion, Arama's lighter, metal-framed design is the better bet for eight-hour days, provided your phone is compatible.
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