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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• Dell ANC Headset WL5024 — biggest strength: Hybrid ANC plus an AI-based noise-cancelling boom mic, and Bluetooth 5.3 multi-point that pairs with up to eight devices (two at once).
• Dell ANC Headset WL5024 — biggest trade-off: It is a one-person device. There is no group channel, no crew talk, and replacement ear cushions are sold separately.
• EARTEC Ultralite PRO16 — biggest strength: True full-duplex wireless intercom for six users out of the box, expandable to 16, with roughly a half-mile range and no base station or hub.
• EARTEC Ultralite PRO16 — biggest trade-off: It is a closed system. PRO16 headsets pair only with other PRO16 headsets, it needs no phone or computer, and it is not a general-purpose music headset.
• Who each pick is for: Dell for a professional working solo across laptop, phone and tablet; EARTEC for a six-person team that must talk hands-free while working.
The Dell WL5024 is an over-ear Bluetooth headset with hybrid active noise cancellation. That means it tackles noise in two ways at once — outside and inside the ear cup — so the audio you actually want comes through cleaner. Around an open office or a busy home, that is the difference between hearing your meeting and hearing the room.
The microphone side is where this headset gets interesting. The boom mic uses AI-based noise cancellation to separate human speech from background sound, so your voice is what gets transmitted, not the traffic behind you. The boom arm flips up and down to mute and unmute, and it tucks away when you're done talking. There is also a smart sensor that mutes the mic or pauses audio when you take the headset off — a small thing that saves you from broadcasting a private conversation.
Connectivity is built for people who juggle devices. Bluetooth 5.3 supports multi-point, pairing with up to eight devices and holding two connections at once, with a stated range up to roughly 98 feet. In practice that means you can take a call on your phone and switch back to your laptop without re-pairing anything. The frequency response runs 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, sensitivity is rated at -45 dBV/Pa, and the headset weighs 0.48 lbs — light enough for long sessions. Battery life is rated up to 78 hours of listening on a full charge, and it charges on a dock. The box includes a USB-A adapter and a USB-C connection option.
Comfort is handled with an adjustable leatherette headband and replaceable memory foam ear cushions. Worth knowing: the replacement cushions are sold separately, so budget for that eventually. The headset is Teams certified and Zoom certified, which matters if your workday lives in those apps.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs several people on one open channel. The WL5024 is a personal headset, full stop. If your job is coordinating a crew in real time, this is the wrong tool.
EARTEC Ultralite PRO16: Who It's For
The EARTEC Ultralite PRO16 is not a Bluetooth headset with a team feature bolted on. It is a complete wireless intercom system disguised as six headsets. Inside each ear cup sits a compact full-duplex radio, which is why there is no belt pack and no wire. Full duplex is the key word: everyone can speak and listen at the same time. No push-to-talk button. No waiting for a gap in the chatter.
The system ships as one PRO16-DM main headset and five PRO16-DR remote headsets, so six people are talking out of the box. It expands to 16 users without a hub or base station — you just add headsets. Range is stated at up to half a mile, which covers a warehouse floor, a set, a field or a venue without anyone dragging a repeater around. There are also two channels of communication, so separate groups can split off and speak privately when they need to.
The dual-ear design is deliberate. Both ears are covered to block ambient noise — generator hum, machinery, crowd noise, applause — so the crew locks onto each other instead of the environment. The noise-cancelling boom mic pivots for left- or right-side wear and auto-mutes when rotated up. Battery life is rated at 10 hours per charge, a full operational shift, and the rechargeable LX950Li batteries pop out and back in by hand when you need to swap. The kit includes six batteries, a 10-bay multi-port charger and a padded carry case.
Two things to understand before buying. First, this is a closed ecosystem: PRO16 headsets pair only with other PRO16 headsets and are not compatible with UltraLITE Classic or UltraLITE HD. Second, connectivity is RF wireless with no headphone jack — there is no plugging this into your phone for music.
Who should buy it: coaching staffs running drills, event production and broadcast crews, warehouse supervisors, and any six-person team that needs to work with both hands while staying in constant voice contact.
Who should skip it: solo workers, anyone who wants one headset for calls and music, and anyone hoping to mix PRO16 units with a different EARTEC line.
• Best for solo professional work → Dell ANC Headset WL5024. One person, many devices, calls all day.
• Best for team communication → EARTEC Ultralite PRO16. Six users talking simultaneously, expandable to 16.
• Best for battery life → Dell ANC Headset WL5024. Rated up to 78 hours of listening per charge versus 10 hours for the EARTEC.
• Best for range → EARTEC Ultralite PRO16. Up to half a mile of wireless coverage, with no hub required.
• Best for device flexibility → Dell ANC Headset WL5024. Bluetooth 5.3 multi-point, up to eight paired devices, two active at once, plus USB-C/USB-A options.
• Best for noisy environments with a crew → EARTEC Ultralite PRO16. Dual-ear isolation plus a pivoting noise-cancelling boom mic on every headset.
• Best for hands-free group work → EARTEC Ultralite PRO16. Full duplex means nobody presses a button or waits a turn.
• Best for comfort over long shifts → Dell ANC Headset WL5024. Adjustable leatherette headband and memory foam cushions, with replacements available separately.
• Best for a single self-contained purchase → EARTEC Ultralite PRO16. Six headsets, six batteries, a 10-bay charger and a carry case in one kit.
If I had to pick one for the average buyer reading this, I would buy the Dell ANC Headset WL5024. Most people searching for a wireless headset want exactly what it does: noise cancellation on both ends of a call, multi-point Bluetooth across their devices, and enough battery to forget about charging. The certified compatibility with Teams and Zoom makes it a safe daily driver.
I would only point you to the EARTEC Ultralite PRO16 if you are buying for a team, not a person. It is the better product for six people who need to talk over each other in a loud space — but it is a poor fit for one person who just wants a headset for meetings. Buy for the job, not the spec sheet.
how to wireless headset
For the Dell WL5024, you pair it over Bluetooth 5.3 with your phone, laptop or tablet — it supports up to eight paired devices with two connected at once, or you can use the included USB-A adapter or a USB-C connection. For the EARTEC Ultralite PRO16, "wireless" works differently: each headset has a full-duplex radio built into the ear cup, so the units link directly to each other with no phone, computer or hub involved. You charge them, power them on, and the crew is on the same open channel.
how to connect wireless headset ps5
Neither of these is a gaming headset, and neither data sheet lists console compatibility, so I would not buy either one expecting a PS5 connection. The Dell WL5024 is a Bluetooth 5.3 headset built for phones, computers and conferencing apps; the EARTEC PRO16 uses RF wireless and pairs only with other PRO16 headsets. If console use is your priority, look for a headset that explicitly states console support.
how to connect wireless headset xbox
Same answer as the PS5 question — console pairing is not a listed feature on either product. The EARTEC PRO16 has no headphone jack and no Bluetooth, so it cannot connect to an Xbox at all. The Dell WL5024 connects via Bluetooth 5.3 or USB-C/USB-A, which suits computers and mobile devices rather than consoles. Check the current price on Amazon and the listed compatibility before assuming either will work for gaming.
how to work wireless headset
"Working" means two different things here. For the Dell WL5024, working means taking calls: flip the boom mic down to unmute, and the smart sensor mutes you automatically when you remove the headset. For the EARTEC Ultralite PRO16, working means running a team: six users talk hands-free at once across up to half a mile, with 10 hours of battery per charge and swappable LX950Li batteries when a shift runs long.
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