The Best (And Worst) Audio Gear I've Tried In 2025

I’ve been lucky enough to try a lot of audio gear this year, microphones, monitors, channel strips, preamps, and outboard gear across every price range. In this video, I’m breaking down the best and worst audio gear I used in 2025. We’ll talk about: • The best inexpensive large diaphragm condenser microphone • A few pieces of gear that genuinely impressed me • The most overrated audio gear I tried this year • High-end and budget outboard gear • Channel strips, preamps, and tone-shaping tools • Tube microphones • What’s actually worth it This isn’t about hype, specs, or marketing buzz. It’s about how this gear performs when you’re recording vocals, tracking instruments, and mixing music in your hone studio, not just reading a spec sheet. Whether you’re building your first home studio, upgrading your mic locker, or deciding where to spend your money in 2025, this video should help you make smarter, more confident decisions. GEAR LINKS (affiliate unless otherwise noted): The Audient Oria Mini: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... Thomann (Europe): https://clickfi.re/cai5sDrP The SSL Revival 4000 Series Channel Strip: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... Thomann (Europe): https://clickfi.re/cai5sDrP sE Electronics VR2 Voodoo Active Ribbon Microphone: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... Thomann (Europe): https://clickfi.re/cai5sDrP The Dachman Audio DA 87 SE: https://www.dachmanaudio.com/?sca_ref... The United Studio Technologies UT Twin 48: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vPXXKA Thomann (Europe): https://clickfi.re/cai5sDrP The Dachman Audio DA 67: https://www.dachmanaudio.com/?sca_ref... Warm Audio WA-87 R2 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... Thomann (Europe): https://clickfi.re/cai5sDrP The Chandler TG2 500 Series Preamp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aOajEM Thomann (Europe): https://clickfi.re/cai5sDrP Other Gear I Use For My Videos: My Interface: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... The A Designs P-1 500 Series Mic Pre: http://sweetwater.sjv.io/kO6NWN My Main Monitors: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... My Headphones: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... My LiN76 Compressor: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... Plugins: https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=691... My Camera Gear: My Main camera: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/RGQarg My Main Lens: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/554z7L My Main On Camera Microphone: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/it... My B Lens: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/qzPo2L My Softbox: https://amzn.to/3EyfA2Q My Video Lighting: https://amzn.to/4oISvMC #microphone #homestudio #homerecording #recordingstudio #musicproducer #musicproduction Timestamps: I'm Super Lucky: 0:00 The Gear I Wanted To Love, But Couldn't: 0:40 The Gear I Didn't Want To Like, But I Loved: 3:28 The Biggest Surprise In 2025: 5:14 The Best Buget Condenser Microphone: 7:23 My Favorite Tube Mic Of 2025: 10:29 The Most Overrated Gear Of 2025: 14:10 My Absolute Favorite Gear Of 2025: 17:02 Stuff Coming Up In 2026: 19:17