How wearing headphones helps make a Podcast sound better

The importance of why podcasters wear headphones (or earphones) cannot be understated. I often get asked what are the best headphones for podcasting. The answer is that it doesn’t matter. Any set of headphones is better than none. This is not something you need to splash out on. If you want a go-to pair, I have recommended a few at the bottom of this page.

Let’s get into the main reasons podcasters wear headphones and why it’s important.

Monitoring levels and diagnosing issues

In the video below, I explain the biggest reason for poor podcast audio and the biggest reason why Podcasters wear headphones.

This comes down to using a microphone incorrectly (aka Microphone Technique). Headphones are essential to this. Not wearing headphones while podcasting means you are recording audio blindly!

You need to get used to listening to your voice on headphones as you speak. This ensures you have an idea of how the audio sounds like you record. If your audio is recording too high or distorting and you have no headphones, you’re never going to know.

What’s more common is when the speaker is sitting too far away from a microphone (this goes for you or your guest). Unless you’re wearing headphones while podcasting, you are never going to pick up on these issues. A guest can be forgiven for not noticing, but as the host, you need to be somewhat audio savvy and make sure you know the difference between good audio and bad audio.

There is nothing an editor can do with distorted or distant audio, so don’t waste money trying to pay someone to salvage it. Get used to wearing headphones and listening to what is being recorded. This video provides more info:

How not wearing headphones can ruin a podcast

The majority of podcasts I work on now are recorded using zoom or a remote recording platform like Riverside.fm. First off, if you use Zoom, check out my previous article on how to use zoom for podcasting.

If you are recording on Zoom or any other remote platform and not wearing headphones to listen to your guest, that means you’re using speakers. What happens here is that when you are not speaking, your microphone is recording the audio coming out of your speakers.

So the speaker is being recorded by their mic, and then a split second later they are being recorded AGAIN by the speakers you are using. When put together in an edit, this will destroy your podcast audio and make it unusable.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen requests on Reddit or freelance sites asking to “fix echo on podcast audio” when I listen, it’s not echo… it’s someone who hasn’t used headphones and the audio is recorded twice with a split second between. When this happens it cannot be fixed, even the best engineer in the world cannot fix this. It can all be avoided by simply wearing headphones when you record a podcast.

Why your podcast guest should wear headphones

If you are recording a podcast on Riverside.fm or another remote recording platform, it is so important that your guest wears headphones. This is essential for all the same reasons I have outlined above. You don’t want audio inadvertently by speakers.

What type of headphones should your guest wear?… ANY! literally anything. Even the little earphones that come with a smartphone will do, just get them to use anything they have to avoid them listening on any speaker.

While the purpose of your headphones as the podcast host is to monitor and control the recording, the purpose of the guest wearing headphones is so that they are not listening to you on speakers and doubling up on a recording source!

Why Headset Mics are Great for Podcasting

Not the most glamourous, but headset microphones are underrated when it comes to Podcast recording, especially if you are a beginner. If you don’t have a microphone or headphones, a headset mic will solve 2 problems at once.

Headset mics give a very consistent and clear audio sound, they reduce reverb and roominess hugely no matter what room you recording in at home, they sound pretty much the same everywhere.

The biggest mistake I see on Podcast recording is people who have microphones but use them incorrectly by being too far away or purchasing the wrong mic for the room they record in.

The Mpow USB headphones are about the best quality I have found on the market, these can be difficult to find at the moment but you could try a search on eBay.

Jabnecter USB (25 dollar bargain)

This is an absolute hidden gem of an investment. Without a doubt the BEST value headset mic on the market. The quality you get from recording could be mistaken for an expensive microphone.

Listen to some Podcasters that use this headset mic:

I always recommend this to podcasters who want something cheap and easy to send to guests. In all episodes below are clients of mine and Podcasters are using the Jabnecter USB.

For this episode, we sent the guest uses the Jabnecter USB Headset:

Best podcast headphones buy 2023

If you already have a microphone and you will need headphones so that you can monitor your recording better and avoid feedback.

Additionally, if you are editing your podcast, you will need a good pair of headphones (unless you have an expensive pair of speakers).

I’ve been mixing audio and using headphones for over 15 years, I’ve tried a lot of different ones but there is one pair that I stand by as the best around and it’s the Sony MDR-7506. There is a crispness to them that you just don’t get with other headphones. They are the best alternative to professional mixing speakers. They are also ideal for podcast recording and editing.

If you have the budget to spend on high-quality headphones, here is what I recommend.

Beyerdynamic DTT 770 Pro

What I love about these headphones is the comfort and the audio sound. The sound is really warm, there’s a lovely bass to it. They are a little bit misleading so I wouldn’t recommend them for advanced editing or mixing but for podcast recording they are fantastic!

If you need something more affordable, Audio-technica is an incredibly reliable brand when it comes to all things audio. Their gear is amazing value too. This pair is a great option for headphones for podcasting:

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

Here’s an option if you need something more affordable. Audio-Technica are a wonderful brand for all audio equipment. They represent amazing value. This is a solid pair of headphones for podcasting:

Sony Earbuds

It doesn’t have to be complicated. When mixing audio I always wear a good set of headphones, but just for a call/podcast simple earbuds do the job! Wired are way more reliable than Bluetooth. If you record video podcasts, wired earbuds also look a lot less intrusive than a pair of bulky headphones.

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