What is the best microphone for Dragon NaturallySpeaking?

The best microphone for Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a headset with a boom microphone that stays at the same distance from your mouth every session. Nuance's own microphone tips point that way, and the distance research points the same direction. Position matters as much as the model. We did not find a Nuance list of certified headsets, so the models named below are examples from a university and a reseller, not Nuance endorsements.

A headset is Nuance's starting point

Nuance's microphone tips say that "when you're first starting with Dragon, it's best to use a headset" ¹. A headset keeps the microphone in position, which matters more for long sessions than a handheld microphone does. Nuance says "Don't use a hand-held microphone if you dictate for long periods of time" ².

Position is the number to get right. For a headset, Nuance's guidance is to keep the microphone element "about an inch" from the side of your mouth, but not touching it ³. Check the boom after you put the headset on, and again after you adjust it.

The distance evidence is consistent with that advice. In one study, a close-talking recording made in a studio had a word error rate of 3.7 percent ⁴. A single distant microphone in a real apartment gave 12.0 percent ⁵. The two conditions differ in more than distance, so read the gap as a direction. Keep the microphone close. The two results point the same way, but neither tests a headset.

Wired headsets are the most predictable choice

A wired or USB headset keeps the connection the same from session to session. The University of York's IT services page on Dragon says that VoicePower, a Nuance partner for Dragon software, can recommend the "Wired headset: Plantronics Blackwire C510" ⁶. That is one reseller's recommendation, passed on by a university, so use it as an example of the kind of wired boom headset to look for.

The reason to prefer wired is practical. There is no battery to run down during a long dictation, and no radio link to drop. The question on wireless headsets explains the voice-quality limits of Bluetooth in more detail.

A wireless headset needs its dongle and a test

If you want a wireless headset, check the dongle first. The same University of York page describes the Plantronics Savi 400 Series as the wireless option and warns that the headset "comes with a USB dongle, which if lost, means that the headset will not work" ⁷. Keep the dongle plugged in, and buy a spare if your seller sells one.

Test any wireless headset in your own room before you rely on it. Dictate the same passage with the wireless headset and with the built-in microphone, and count the errors for each. Use the question on wireless headsets for the Bluetooth checks, and the question on AirPods if you are considering earbuds.

Room noise changes the answer

Nuance's dictation guidelines tell users to reduce background noise, because Dragon hears and transcribes everything ⁸. In a noisy office, a headset with a boom microphone close to the mouth matters more than in a quiet room, because the microphone picks up your voice rather than the room. The question on laptop microphones covers that case.

A profile stores details such as your microphone type ⁹, so a new room or a new headset may call for a new profile. The glossary entry for voice profile explains what the profile holds.

It depends: budget, room and how long you dictate

The right choice depends on three things. If you dictate for a few minutes at a time in a quiet room, a good wired headset is enough, and a wireless one is a convenience. If you dictate for hours, a wired headset that fits comfortably is the safer choice, because a handheld microphone is what Nuance advises against for long periods. If your room is noisy, spend on the headset rather than on the software, because the microphone sets the quality of the sound Dragon receives.

A reseller-recommended model is a starting point, not a verdict. Other headsets can be as good, and a headset that does not fit your head will be worse than a cheaper one that does. Try the headset on, check the boom position, and run the microphone check before you dictate.

What to do

1. Choose a wired headset with a boom microphone for your main desk, and treat it as the default.
2. Position the boom about an inch from the side of your mouth, and check it after every adjustment.
3. Run the microphone check after you switch microphones, and make a new profile if the room or the microphone changes.
4. If you want wireless, check the dongle, buy a spare, and test it against your wired headset in the same room.
5. Read the guide to setting up Dragon NaturallySpeaking for the profile and training steps that go with the microphone.

For a complete comparison of Dragon with its alternatives, see the question on the best dictation software and the overview of dictation software. The microphone guide covers the full set of microphone types in more depth: how to choose a dictation microphone, and the question on how close the microphone should be.