Headsets for Amira Testing: Four Options from Encore Data Products

As digital reading assessments become a routine part of the classroom, schools need technology that supports students without making testing more complicated. For schools using Amira Learning assessments, that means thinking about the audio setup students will use when reading aloud and completing assessment activities.

Amira Learning does not require students to wear headphones or headsets. Amira supports a built-in device microphone or a USB or 3.5mm headset with a microphone. However, Amira recommends using a headset for assessments whenever possible, because a built-in device microphone can sit too far from the student and capture audio that is too quiet, and because a headset helps in noisier classrooms.

For schools that prefer dedicated audio equipment during Amira testing, Encore Data Products recommends four classroom headset options: the AVID AE-36, the AVID AE-15 USB-C, the HamiltonBuhl ST2BK Smart-Trek, and the Cyber Acoustics AC-204.

Why a Headset for Amira Testing?

Amira is a browser-based assessment that runs on Chromebooks, Windows PCs, Macs, and iPads. Browser support is specific: Chromebooks must use Google Chrome, and iPads must use Safari. Amira also calls for at least 4 GB of RAM and a minimum of 10 Mbps of bandwidth per student.

Since students interact with reading activities using their voices, a functional microphone is part of the technology setup. A headset is not strictly required, but Amira points to two situations where one helps: noisy classrooms, where a headset reduces the ambient sound competing with the student, and quiet readers, where a boom microphone positioned near the mouth captures speech a built-in device microphone would miss. Teachers may also use headphones during small-group rotations to help students focus.

The right choice depends on your devices, testing environment, and connectivity requirements.

AVID AE-36: A Familiar Testing Headset

The AVID AE-36 is already a testing headset in Encore Data Products’ lineup. Encore specifically calls out the AE-36 as a popular option for school testing and notes its use with WIDA, TELPAS, and READ 180 testing.

The AE-36 combines stereo headphones and an adjustable boom microphone in a single classroom headset, and Encore stocks it in multiple connection types. The original 3.5mm TRRS version is the match for devices with a single combination audio port. Encore also carries an AE-36 USB-C version for newer device fleets, so schools moving to USB-C do not have to leave a familiar model behind.

Its classroom design includes a six-foot cord, a padded headband, and padded earpieces. Encore also highlights the washable leatherette earpads as easy to wipe down and clean, an important feature when you have sets of shared testing equipment.

For schools already standardized on the AE-36, the connector choice is the only real decision to make.

AVID AE-15: USB-C for Newer Classroom Devices

As school device fleets change, USB-C connectivity is becoming more relevant. The AVID AE-15 USB-C classroom headset with microphone is an option for schools using compatible newer-generation Chromebooks, tablets, and laptops.

Encore says the AE-15 is plug and play with current-generation USB-C devices, with no adapters required. It has an omnidirectional microphone mounted on a 270-degree rotating boom so students can wear it on either side and position the microphone while wearing the headset.

The AE-15 also has an adjustable headband, soft on-ear cushions, and a four-foot chew-resistant cable with reinforced strain relief. If your technology department is moving away from 3.5mm audio connections, a native USB-C headset eliminates the need to manage separate audio adapters. This is worth noting for iPad classrooms in particular: Amira’s own iPad guidance recommends using USB-C headsets on USB-C iPads for more reliable audio.

HamiltonBuhl ST2BK Smart-Trek: Built for Student Use

The HamiltonBuhl ST2BK Smart-Trek Deluxe Headset is another option Encore has recommended for school testing. It connects with a single 3.5mm TRRS plug and includes in-line volume control.

Encore describes the Smart-Trek as a durable headset with an adjustable headband that snaps into place to fit students of all ages. Its leatherette ear cushions are designed to be durable and easy to clean while providing noise isolation. The headset uses a flexible, steel-reinforced gooseneck microphone and HamiltonBuhl’s Dura-Cord, a chew, kink, and knot-resistant PVC-jacketed braided nylon cable.

That durability can matter in classrooms where multiple students are doing digital activities at the same time. Reducing surrounding distractions can help create a more focused environment, which is in line with Amira’s guidance to consider a headset when ambient classroom noise is a concern. Schools that need a different connector can look at the Smart-Trek line’s USB and USB-C models.

Cyber Acoustics AC-204: An Adjustable Testing Option

The Cyber Acoustics AC-204 is also an Encore Data Products recommended school-testing headset. It uses a single 3.5mm plug.

Encore highlights its over-the-head design and flexible boom microphone. The microphone is unidirectional and noise-canceling, and the boom rotates 180 degrees so students can wear it on either side. The AC-204 also ships with a Y-adapter, which splits the single plug into separate headphone and microphone connections for computers that still use two audio ports.

For schools with a mix of classroom computers, including older desktops with separate audio jacks, the AC-204 is an option to consider.

Match the Headset to the Device

There is no one headset that is right for every Amira deployment. Before you buy, identify the devices students will actually use and verify the audio connections available.

For environments with 3.5mm combination audio ports, the AVID AE-36, the HamiltonBuhl ST2BK Smart-Trek, and the Cyber Acoustics AC-204 are all straightforward solutions. For newer USB-C devices, the AVID AE-15 or the AVID AE-36 USB-C keeps students on a native connection with no adapters to track. For older desktops with separate microphone and headphone jacks, the AC-204 and its included Y-adapter cover that case.

Schools should also test their chosen headset with their actual devices before an assessment window opens. Amira recommends granting browser microphone permissions ahead of time, plugging the headset in before launching Amira, and confirming the headset is selected as the active input. Input levels matter too: Amira advises about 50 percent on Chromebooks, where higher levels can cause clipping, and roughly 75 to 85 percent on Windows.

Prepare Students for a Better Testing Experience

Audio equipment is just one piece of assessment preparation, but choosing the right headset can help schools create a more consistent environment for students.

The AVID AE-36, the AVID AE-15 USB-C, the HamiltonBuhl ST2BK Smart-Trek, and the Cyber Acoustics AC-204 are options to consider based on connection type, classroom environment, and student needs. These are Encore Data Products recommendations for headsets used during Amira testing, not an official Amira required or Amira approved product list. Amira maintains its own headset guidance, and schools should confirm device compatibility with their assessment coordinator before purchasing in volume.