Choose the Right Podcast Equipment for You

Having the right equipment can significantly enhance the quality of your podcast and, in turn, attract more listeners.

And the best part is, you don't need much gear to record a podcast. Podcasting does not have to be expensive, and you might even have some of what you need to get started already.

In this post, we'll cover the best microphones, headphones, and a sample one and two-person recording setup!

Our top podcast microphone recommendations (USB & XLR)

Here are some of our top mic recommendations for podcasters just starting out.

Best budget-friendly option: Samson Q2U ($59.99)

This microphone just has it all. It is easy to use, user-friendly and versatile. The sound is full and rich, a stand comes with the mic, it can do both USB and XLR and it costs you just about 70-80 bucks. That is a pretty sweet deal for such a great piece of hardware.

Check this independent review to learn more about this great microphone:

Best high-end option: Shure SM7B ($399)

This premium XLR microphone has a warm, silky-smooth, and full sound. It isolates the speaker's voice very well from the environment, reducing noise and distortion. It is a very robust microphone that will last you for at least a decade.

The downsides? It's a little pricey, and being XLR requires a much more complex setup with additional hardware and stands. While the mic is $399, the full setup will cost you around $1000.

But if you have the budget and want to go premium, look no further. 

Check out this Shure SM7B setup guide:

Other options: Mobile podcast microphones

Do you want to record flexibly while you’re on the move, perhaps because you travel a lot or do a lot of work on the road? If so, consider the following recommendations for mobile podcast equipment that takes up little space but still sounds good.

Rode Smartlav

It’s hard to get them smaller than this. You can’t go wrong with the clip-on microphone (lapel microphone) from RODE. Once connected to a smartphone or tablet, you’re ready to go. Due to the small size, the sound isn’t quite as precise and rich as the above options, but it’s good enough for most podcasters.

Yellowtec iXm 

This mic has built-in recording software, allowing you to record audio directly to the microphone without the need for additional external recording devices. It's convenient, portable, and effortlessly balances volume fluctuations.

With the premium microphone head from Beyerdynamic, it always sounds good even in rooms that aren’t well-suited for podcasting due to loud echoes, for example.