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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want serious passive noise blocking for loud environments and deep focus, choose Pro For Sho 34dB; if you need a plug-and-play USB headset for office calls, softphone apps and PC gaming, choose DUKABEL USB. These two products get filed under the same search, but they solve completely different problems. One is a hearing-protection earmuff rated at 34 dB NRR. The other is a wired USB in-ear headset with a built-in mic. Let's break down which one actually belongs on your desk.
• Pro For Sho 34dB biggest strength: 34 dB NRR passive noise reduction in a compact, foldable earmuff that weighs just 7.2 ounces.
• Pro For Sho 34dB biggest trade-off: It's passive isolation, not active noise cancelling — you get no microphone, no audio playback and no controls.
• DUKABEL USB biggest strength: Plug-and-play USB 2.0 connection with a built-in mic, in-line volume control and mute support for calls and chat.
• DUKABEL USB biggest trade-off: It's a USB-only wired headset — no 3.5mm jack, and it doesn't work with cars, TVs, PS3, Xbox or disc players.
• Choose Pro For Sho 34dB if you're buying protection from noise, not sound into your ears.
• Choose DUKABEL USB if you're buying a headset for talking and listening at a PC.
The Pro For Sho 34dB is an earmuff, not a headphone. That distinction matters more than anything else in this comparison. It carries a 34 dB Noise Reduction Rating, certified to ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352-1, and OSHA-adjusted to 31 dB. Those numbers put it in a genuinely high-protection bracket — and unusually for that bracket, it folds down to roughly pocket size at 7.2 ounces.
In an office context, this is the tool for people who need the world to get quieter. Open-plan floors, loud HVAC, a nearby workshop, a data center, a production floor — anywhere constant noise is the enemy of concentration. The brand also positions it for sensory use and concentration, which is a real use case for people who find ambient office chatter genuinely draining. Because it's passive, it reduces noise rather than cancelling it, and the maker is upfront that low-frequency sound like conversation and bass is less affected. High-frequency noise — tools, engines, alarms — is where it earns its rating.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs to hear audio, take calls or control volume. There is no mic, no cable, no driver. It is sound isolation and nothing else. Also note the fit — the cups clamp snugly by design, and the brand suggests clamping them over the box for a few hours if they feel tight at first. It comes in Standard and Large, and larger heads should look at the Large version.
DUKABEL USB: Who It's For
For office work, the headline feature is the built-in microphone with mute support and an in-line remote for volume. That combination is exactly what softphone calls, video meetings and voice chat need. The drivers are dynamic, 32 ohm impedance, 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — a standard full-range spec that covers speech and music without drama. The enclosure is ABS plastic, the tips are rounded, and it's a black on-ear placement in-ear design.
The trade-offs are worth stating plainly. It's USB only — the brand explicitly lists cars, TVs, PS3, Xbox, trucks, DVD players and CD players as incompatible. There's no play/pause function. And for accurate volume you should control levels on the device rather than relying solely on the inline remote. If your desk setup is USB, this is frictionless. If it isn't, look elsewhere.
• Best for blocking loud ambient noise → Pro For Sho 34dB. A 34 dB NRR is a protection rating, and nothing on the DUKABEL side competes with that.
• Best for office calls and meetings → DUKABEL USB. Built-in mic plus mute and inline volume is the whole point.
• Best for listening to music, movies or games → DUKABEL USB. The Pro For Sho has no audio playback at all.
• Best for focus in a noisy open-plan office → Pro For Sho 34dB. Passive isolation on high-frequency noise is its strength.
• Best for travel and storage → Pro For Sho 34dB. It folds to pocket size and weighs only 7.2 ounces.
• Best for a clean one-cable desk setup → DUKABEL USB. One USB 2.0 plug, six feet of cable, done.
• Best if you need both quiet and audio → neither alone. In my opinion, the honest answer is that these are complementary, not competing.
• Best if your devices aren't USB → Pro For Sho 34dB. The DUKABEL won't work with TVs, cars or Xbox.
For an office, I'd buy the DUKABEL USB. The job of "headphones for office" is overwhelmingly about calls, meetings and listening while you work, and the DUKABEL does all three with a mic, mute and inline volume over a simple USB connection. The Pro For Sho 34dB is excellent at what it does — a compact 34 dB NRR earmuff is a legitimately impressive piece of kit — but it can't play a single sound or carry a single call. If your actual problem is a deafening open-plan floor and you don't need audio, flip my answer. Otherwise, start with the DUKABEL.
what are the best headphones for office calls
For office calls specifically, you want a built-in mic and call controls. The DUKABEL USB offers a built-in mic, mute support and in-line volume control over a plug-and-play USB 2.0 connection to PC, laptop, PS4 or PS5. The Pro For Sho 34dB has no microphone, so it can't handle calls at all.
what are the best headphones for the office
It depends on the job. For listening and talking, the DUKABEL USB's dynamic 32 ohm drivers and 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range cover speech and music. For blocking loud ambient noise so you can concentrate, the Pro For Sho 34dB's 34 dB NRR passive isolation is the stronger tool — just remember it doesn't play audio.
can you wear headphones in the office
Yes, and both of these are built for it in different ways. The DUKABEL USB is designed for office, live broadcast and gaming use over USB. The Pro For Sho 34dB is designed for loud environments and sensory or concentration use, and its compact foldable build makes it easy to keep at your desk.
which headphones are best for office calls
The DUKABEL USB, in my opinion. The built-in mic, mute function and wired in-line remote are exactly what call work needs, and USB 2.0 plug-and-play removes setup friction. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, and confirm your machine has a USB port rather than relying on a 3.5mm jack.
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