The Verge Favorite audio equipment

every year i ask edgeWhat kind of audio equipment do employees prefer to use? They’re the best people to ask questions: In addition to making videos and podcasts, our Slack channel is filled with discussions about the podcasts and music we listen to while working, walking, exercising, or hanging out.

Here are some headphones, earbuds, and other devices that people enjoy using on both a professional and personal level.

Andrew Marino, Senior Audio Producer

The RØDE NTH-100 headphones are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. The memory foam cushions allow me to wear them all day long at work without getting tired. The sound is also very good for the price, and the optional headset mic is one of the best quality I’ve heard on a consumer headset.

Song Qian, senior reviewer

On sunny walks and runs, I don’t want to get squashed by wayward SUVs nearby – I need this situational awareness. Many open-ear headphones wrap around the top of the ear, and since I wear glasses a lot, this is a big burden on my poor ears. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses kill two birds with one stone; they are my go-to headphones these days. The audio quality is great, they protect my eyes from UV damage, and occasionally, I use them to take photos of random rabbits or stray cats. There’s a microphone next to the bridge of your nose, so you sound really good when you’re talking. Who doesn’t love multitasking gadgets?

Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter

They’re not my go-to wireless earbuds all the time, but when I’m relaxing on my bike at the end of the day, the Sony LinkBuds’ open design helps keep me aware of my surroundings – whether it’s approaching vehicles or other cyclists in a hurry . Even with the compromise in sound quality, the LinkBuds still sound really good, and because they sit in my ears, they’re easier to wear with a helmet. My favorite feature is tapping the side of my head to control playback or adjust volume while riding. The earbuds detect nearby vibrations as input, so I don’t have to pinpoint buttons or trackpads.

I love my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro; they’re the first wireless earbuds I’ve ever used, and they make the most sense to me now that I’m already deeply involved in Samsung’s ecosystem. They fit comfortably in my ears, and their active noise cancellation works great at the gym or on a plane—almost too good.

Andrew Marino, Senior Audio Producer

The Shure MV7 USB has always been our go-to microphone for sending to remote guests edge podcast. It’s a very flexible dynamic microphone suitable for podcast interviews because it sounds similar to a typical radio microphone (such as Shure’s SM7b) and has USB and XLR outputs, making it suitable for almost any recording setup.

Nathan Edwards, Senior Comments Editor

Eliminating the headphone jack was and still is bad for users and stupid. I need an adapter to connect wired headphones to my tablet, it’s stupid I need an adapter, it’s stupid different Adapter to use them with my phone.

At least Apple’s Lightning and USB-C headphone adapters are small and cheap. USB-C is a very good DAC. I keep one in a small pouch in my backpack, along with some cheap wired earbuds. If only there were some universal wired audio connectors! Maybe one day.

Andrew Marino, Senior Audio Producer

If you have a lot of audio equipment in your workspace, I recommend installing some equipment under your desk to free up some space. I purchased a 3D printed mounting bracket for my Motu audio interface from an Etsy shop, which makes my setup look more professional and keeps the technology away from any spilled drinks.

Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter

I’m definitely not a musician, but I do enjoy living out my Daft Punk fantasies with the Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO! It’s part of the company’s Pocket Operators line of calculator-sized drum machines, but what’s unique about the PO-33 is the built-in microphone that can be used to record sounds that can be converted into beats. I won’t be releasing an album anytime soon, but PO-33 is an endlessly fun diversion – easy to learn, yet versatile enough that it feels like it’ll take years to master.

Barbara Krasnoff, Comments Editor

my partner spent a lot of He often wears headphones — among other things, he has a radio show and a YouTube channel — but sometimes he does have to put them aside. When he did, he used an Audio-Technica AT-HPH300 headphone stand he purchased a few years ago. It attaches securely to the edge of the table and has an adjustable padded hook. The hook swivels so he can move the headphones out of the way and put them under a desk if needed.

Nathan Edwards, Senior Comments Editor

I hung the headphones on spring clips I found in the garage.