英文原称Headset。1910年由Nathaniel Baldwin发明，后被美国海军收购。但当时麦克风尚未小型化，无线麦克风更要到1950年代才问世。。

现多指罩耳式（Circumaural）耳机与麦克风一体化的I/O。可粗略分成单听筒与双听筒，有线与无线。

与耳机相比较不重视乐曲拨放，而着眼于针对佩带者的即时远隔双向语音通信。听筒多为封闭式以避免回授杂音。

常用于塔台通信、运动竞技、广播录音、语音聊天、免持电话听筒。

A headset combines a headphone with a microphone. Headsets are made with either a single-earpiece (mono) or a double-earpiece (mono to both ears or stereo). Headsets provide the equivalent functionality of a telephone handset but with hands-free operation. They have many uses including in call centers and other telephone-intensive jobs and for anybody wishing to have both hands free during a telephone conversation.