What’s The Best Place To Buy Audio Equipment Online?
Even though many parts of the world are now returning to a state of normalcy, the COVID-19 pandemic is probably going to have a lasting impact on many aspects of our day-to-day lives. One of the biggest changes was a shift from office work to remote work, which came with a new slate of benefits and drawbacks for the average worker. And many businesses, including Synchrony Bank and Facebook, are making this change permanent, effectively setting a new standard for white-collar employment.
As someone who has worked remotely for five years, I can say that there are tradeoffs. With remote work, your commute can be a short as the distance between your bedroom and your home office, or the coffee shop down the street. However, many expenses that used to be covered by employers are now being thrust upon employees.
Whether you need to record voiceover for a creative production or you need people to hear your voice clearly in Zoom, audio equipment is more important that ever for a growing population of remote workers. And unless your employer is willing to foot the bill, you’ll want to see our list of the best websites to buy audio gear that’s affordable and actually works!
Where to buy a microphone online
Most amateur audio needs start and end with a microphone. If all you’re trying to do is teleconferencing or social gaming, a sub-$100 USB microphone would be a great and affordable choice. If you’re looking for higher sound quality for podcasting, voiceover, or voice acting, then you’ll want to look into good XLR microphones instead; please don’t drop $200 on a high-end USB mic!
There are several online retailers that sell this equipment, but my personal recommendation is to use zZounds. I’ve turned to this website for most of my audio equipment purchases because they have a great support team, fast shipping times, and financing options for expensive products.
Buying audio interfaces for PC use
When you make the switch from USB to XLR, you still need to connect your audio device to your computer via USB. Audio interfaces are portable, affordable, and powerful pieces of equipment that are essential for any home recording space; however, their novelty and huge range of pricing/features can make it tough to pick the right one.
If you want to make an informed purchasing decision, I recommend checking out the community at Reverb. This site is an authorized retailers for tons of high-end audio equipment, but there’s also a thriving community of resellers and users who leave detailed reviews of their equipment. They also sell audio production software that can further enhance your recordings, which is great for music production!
Where can I buy headphones online?
Although microphones and interfaces are great tools with a ton of versatility, a nice pair of studio headphones will tie everything together and allow you to monitor your recordings live. This ensures that you get the best quality out of your recordings, which is essential if you’re an audiophile or you’re trying to make money with your voice.
If you don’t want professional audio equipment and just need something cheap with a mic attached for gaming/conferencing, a headset is the obvious choice. But unless you’re willing to drop a lot of money, most headsets offer the worst of both worlds: uncomfortable headphones and a poor-quality mic. Here’s what I recommend instead:
Reverb is a great place to research popular headphones and get an idea of how long a new pair will last you. But due to hygiene concerns and the possibility of burn-in, I wouldn’t recommend buying a used or refurbished model. Instead, check zZounds once you’ve picked the headphones you want and buy a brand-new pair instead.
Hopefully this advice helps you find the equipment you need to stay productive and comfortable in a remote work environment!
