Gear Guides
Research-based buying guides for protecting your hearing, recording, measuring noise, and tuning up.
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Hearing Protection
Best Kids' Ear Defenders (Ear Muffs)
Ear muffs for babies to teens, with sizing, fit, and sensory-needs advice.
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Best Earplugs for Concerts and Musicians
Hi-fi earplugs for gigs, festivals, and musicians, with the ratings explained.
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Best Earplugs for Sleeping
Earplugs for snoring partners, side sleepers, and noisy streets.
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Best Shooting Ear Protection
Electronic muffs and earbuds, with NRR, SNR, and doubling up explained.
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Measuring and Tuning
Best Sound Level Meters
Class 2 meters for spot checks and for logging noise over time.
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Best Clip-On Tuners and Tuner Pedals
Clip-on and pedal tuners, and when a free online tuner is enough.
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Recording
Best USB Microphones for Podcasting and Streaming
Dynamic USB mics for podcasts, streams, and calls, with USB vs XLR explained.
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Best Audio Interfaces for Beginners
Two-input interfaces for vocals, guitar, and podcasts, with the jargon explained.
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Best Studio Headphones for Recording and Practice
Closed-back headphones for recording and practice, with impedance explained.
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Best Studio Monitors for Beginners
Powered desk monitors for home studios, with placement and room size explained.
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How We Choose
We compare specs, protection or accuracy ratings, features, and price, and read published expert reviews and lab tests. We haven't tested every product ourselves, and we never say we have. Each guide lists the sources we read, shows real published and updated dates, and gives a typical price range rather than a live price.
Each Compare All page lists the products we researched in that category, with a spec sheet score worked out only from the maker's published specs. It shows how the specs stack up, not which product sounds or fits best.
More Tools
- Decibel MeterMeasure how loud it is, right in your browser.
- Mic TestCheck your microphone works before a call or stream.
- Classroom Noise MeterShow the class how loud it is with a full-screen traffic light.
- Concert Decibel MeterSee how loud the show is, and how long is safe at that level.
- Neighbor Noise MeterMeasure the average noise level over time to document a problem.
- Workplace Noise MeterCheck noise at work against the 85 dBA guideline.
- TunerTune any instrument or your voice with a chromatic tuner.
- Guitar TunerTune acoustic or electric guitar to E A D G B E with your mic.
- Bass TunerTune a 4-string, 5-string, or drop D bass with your device's microphone.
- Ukulele TunerTune a soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone ukulele with your device's microphone.
- Banjo TunerTune a 5-string or tenor banjo with your device's microphone.
- Flute TunerTune your flute with your device's microphone.
- MetronomeKeep time with an accurate click. No microphone needed.
- Speaker TestCheck left, right, bass, and wiring. No microphone needed.