My Favorite Audio Gear of 2023

A rundown of the top 5 favorite audio gear picks from 2023, mostly new releases or gear newly reviewed that year.

#1: The Rode NT1 5th Generation large-diaphragm condenser mic, sonically similar to the 4th-gen (a long-time daily Zoom-call driver) but adding USB output with 32-bit float recording and built-in DSP (compressor, de-esser). At $250, it’s fantastic value — to this reviewer’s ear, it and its siblings (4th gen, Signature Series) sound better right out of the mic on his voice than his own Neumann U87. Valid criticisms: no headphone output, and the XLR and USB ports share the same physical space, so you can’t use both simultaneously.

#2: The Mackie DLZ, a dedicated podcast/livestream mixer-recorder, preferred over its main rival the Rodecaster Pro II (notable irony: Rode had just acquired Mackie as of this recording). Advantages: a much bigger 10.1-inch screen, context-aware knobs, NDI audio support over Ethernet (including DLZ-to-DLZ), a physical master fader (missing on the Rodecaster), and properly line-level balanced quarter-inch outputs to a camera, which were finicky on the Rodecaster. Used weekly on the reviewer’s livestream with great results.

#3: The JZ Microphones V11 (“Vintage”), a distinctively shaped large-diaphragm condenser especially good for voices with sibilance (harsh “s”/“c” sounds), producing a smooth, broadcast-quality tone great for voiceover and podcasting. Despite fitting the reviewer’s voice better than any other LDC he’s used, the dedicated review video underperformed badly in views even after title/thumbnail optimization — yet whenever this mic is used (unnamed) in other videos, it’s one of the most commonly asked-about mics in the comments. Regular price around $800-900, though frequently on sale (as low as $500 with the wooden box at time of filming).

#4: The Deity Theos, the most anticipated prosumer wireless system release of the year. A digital UHF system with wide tunability, 32-bit float recording on the transmitters, priced at about $550/channel ($1,100 for the two-transmitter/dual-channel-receiver kit). Not flawless — some listeners note faint digital modulation artifacts — but a clear step up from Deity’s earlier, noisier wireless generations and a solid upgrade path from consumer 2.4GHz systems.

#5: The Sennheiser MKH50, a small-diaphragm condenser boom mic the reviewer personally bought in 2023 (despite it being a decades-old design) and used as his primary boom mic all year, also used in his workplace studio. At $1,200 US, it’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of “buy once for your career” microphone that consistently delivers if positioned and gained correctly — a recommended way to step off the constant gear-upgrade treadmill rather than repeatedly trading up cheaper mics. Would love to hear other people’s 2023 top picks in the comments. Get out there, make some great sound, and we’ll talk to you soon.