Top 10 Products for Setting Up a Podcast from Scratch

Starting a podcast has never been easier, but having the right equipment makes all the difference between amateur and professional sound quality. These carefully selected products will help you build a complete podcasting setup that delivers broadcast-quality audio without requiring a huge investment. From recording to editing to distribution, here's everything you need to launch your podcast successfully.

1. AKG K371 Pro Audio Studio Headphones

Best Monitoring Headphones

A closed-back reference pair widely cited as a strong neutral monitor at this price. Sound on Sound's review of the K371 noted "noticeably increased openness and clarity, as well as low-frequency precision and detail," attributing the result to AKG's Reference Response Tuning (Sound on Sound, "AKG K275 & K371"). RTINGS' independent measurements describe the K371 as having "a well-balanced and neutral sound profile" suitable for studio work, while flagging an unstable on-head fit and weak passive isolation as limitations (RTINGS, "AKG K371 Review"). For seated podcast editing those caveats matter less than the tonal accuracy.

2. Sony Extra Bass Noise Cancelling Headphones

Best Guest Headphones

Comfortable wireless noise-cancelling cans for guests who don't need a flat reference response. RTINGS' measurements of Sony's WH-XB910N Extra Bass model show a heavily boosted low end — roughly a 20 dB lift around 40 Hz versus their preference target — which makes them lively for casual listening but unsuitable as a tracking reference (RTINGS, "Sony WH-XB910N Wireless Review"). Use these for guests; keep the K371 on the host.

3. Zoom 5354 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Router

Best Internet Connection

A reliable DOCSIS 3.0 modem/router covers the connectivity layer most podcasters actually depend on: stable upload bandwidth for remote-guest video calls (Riverside, SquadCast, Zencastr) and uninterrupted cloud backups of session files. Verify compatibility with your ISP before purchase — DOCSIS 3.0 hardware is approaching the end of its useful life on some networks, and DOCSIS 3.1 may be required for higher upload tiers.

4. USB Condenser Microphone

Best Entry Microphone

A USB condenser is the lowest-friction starting point: one cable to the laptop, no interface required, headphone monitoring built in. Wirecutter's long-running USB microphone guide has historically favored large-diaphragm cardioid designs for spoken-word work because of their off-axis rejection of room sound (Wirecutter, "The Best USB Microphone"). If you expect to scale up later, look for a model that also exposes an XLR output so the mic can move into an interface-based rig.

5. Audio Interface for XLR Mics

Best Recording Setup

A 2-channel USB interface with two mic preamps and 48 V phantom power is the standard upgrade path once you outgrow USB mics or want to record a co-host. Sound on Sound's review of the Focusrite Scarlett family — a representative pick in this tier — noted greatly improved low-latency performance and a quoted dynamic range of 106 dB on the 2i2's I/O (Sound on Sound, "Focusrite Scarlett"). Whatever you choose, prioritize clean preamps, headphone monitoring with a direct-monitor blend, and class-compliant USB so it works on macOS, Windows and iPad without driver hassle.

6. XLR Dynamic Microphone

Best Professional Mic

Dynamic microphones are widely preferred for untreated rooms because they reject more off-axis room sound than condensers. The Shure SM7B is the canonical example; Sound on Sound's review of its newer active sibling, the SM7dB, profiles the same broadcast-voicing pedigree and notes the family's reputation as a "go-to" microphone for radio and podcast voice (Sound on Sound, "Shure SM7dB"). Dynamics typically demand more clean preamp gain than condensers — pair an SM7-class mic with an interface that has at least ~60 dB of gain, or add an inline preamp such as a Cloudlifter.

7. Microphone Boom Arm Stand

Best Positioning

A desk-clamped boom arm keeps the capsule in a consistent on-axis position session to session, which matters more for tonal continuity than most beginners realize. Look for an arm rated for the weight of your specific microphone (an SM7B is heavier than a typical condenser) and a built-in or compatible shock mount to attenuate desk thumps. Spring tension and clamp depth are the two specs that most determine whether the arm stays where you put it.

8. Acoustic Foam Panels

Best Room Treatment

Foam panels reduce mid- and high-frequency reflections that make untreated rooms sound boxy on a recording — but their effectiveness is bounded. Sound on Sound's beginner's guide to acoustic treatment notes that 4-inch foam is effective above roughly 1 kHz, while 2-inch foam mostly addresses frequencies above 2–3 kHz; bass below ~250 Hz is essentially untouched by foam at typical thicknesses (Sound on Sound, "A Beginner's Guide To Acoustic Treatment"). Place panels at first reflection points (the spots on each wall directly between you and your mic) for the best return on a small budget.

9. Pop Filter for Microphones

Best Vocal Clarity

A nylon-mesh or dual-layer metal pop filter sits a few inches in front of the capsule and breaks up the directed air blast from plosives ("p", "b", "t") before it reaches the diaphragm. It does not change the underlying tone of your voice; it just prevents the low-frequency "thump" that an unfiltered plosive imprints on the recording.

10. Closed-Back Monitor Speakers

Best Playback

Active nearfield monitors give you a flatter reference than consumer speakers when checking a final mix. Note that small monitors (5-inch woofers and below) inherently roll off in the bass — Yamaha's HS5 spec sheet, for example, lists a –3 dB point at 74 Hz (Yamaha HS Series — manufacturer spec page). For spoken-word podcast editing that's a non-issue; for music-heavy shows, cross-check your master on headphones and on a phone speaker before publishing.

Sources & Citations

1. Sound on Sound, "AKG K275 & K371," soundonsound.com/reviews/akg-k275-k371 (accessed 2026-04-20)
2. RTINGS, "AKG K371 Review," rtings.com/headphones/reviews/akg/k371 (accessed 2026-04-20)
3. RTINGS, "Sony WH-XB910N Wireless Review," rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sony/wh-xb910n-wireless (accessed 2026-04-20)
4. Wirecutter (NYT), "The Best USB Microphone," nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-usb-microphone (accessed 2026-04-20)
5. Sound on Sound, "Focusrite Scarlett" (4th-gen review), soundonsound.com/reviews/focusrite-scarlett (accessed 2026-04-20)
6. Sound on Sound, "Shure SM7dB," soundonsound.com/reviews/shure-sm7db (accessed 2026-04-20)
7. Sound on Sound, "A Beginner's Guide To Acoustic Treatment," soundonsound.com/sound-advice/beginners-guide-acoustic-treatment (accessed 2026-04-20)
8. Yamaha, "HS Series (HS5/HS7/HS8/HS8S) — Overview," usa.yamaha.com/products/proaudio/speakers/hs_series (manufacturer spec page, accessed 2026-04-20)

For specific findings linked inline above, see each citation. See our full Editorial Methodology for how we select and verify sources.

Last verified: 2026-04-20