Universal Audio Apollo x16 Gen 2
Audio Interfaces
Value 10Quality 10
$3,899 approx.
(paid link)
Home Studio Gear Guide
Gear I've tested and recommend, each with a quality score and a value score — so you can build your studio without buying twice.
By Chrys Gringo — producer and educator, 20+ years in the studio, 290K+ YouTube subscribers.
97 items
$3,299 approx.
(paid link)
APPLE Logic Pro
Music Software & DAWs
Value 9Quality 9
$200 approx.
$200 approx.
(paid link)
Shure SM57
Microphones
Value 9Quality 8
$109 approx.
(paid link)
SSL BiG SiX
Audio Interfaces
Value 9Quality 9
$3,300 approx.
(paid link)
Universal Audio LUNA
Music Software & DAWs
Value 9Quality 7
$0 approx.
Sonofield Ear Trainer
Music Software & DAWs
Value 8Quality 7
$0 approx.
Adam Audio H200
Studio Headphones
Value 8Quality 8
$180 approx.
(paid link)
Arturia AstroLab 61
MIDI Controllers
Value 8Quality 8
$1,599 approx.
(paid link)
Cockos REAPER
Music Software & DAWs
Value 8Quality 7
$60 approx.
Genelec 8020D
Studio Monitors
Value 8Quality 8
$1,390 approx.
(paid link)
Hotone Ampero Mini
Guitar Gear
Value 8Quality 7
$230 approx.
(paid link)
Lewitt LCT 441 FLEX
Microphones
Value 8Quality 8
$449 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus Quantum HD 8
Audio Interfaces
Value 8Quality 8
$800 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus Quantum HD 2
Audio Interfaces
Value 8Quality 8
$350 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus Quantum ES 2
Audio Interfaces
Value 8Quality 7
$200 approx.
(paid link)
Rode NT1 5th Generation
Microphones
Value 8Quality 7
$214 approx.
(paid link)
SSL 18
Audio Interfaces
Value 8Quality 8
$1,200 approx.
(paid link)
SSL 12
Audio Interfaces
Value 8Quality 8
$500 approx.
(paid link)
Adam Audio T5V
Studio Monitors
Value 7Quality 7
$480 approx.
(paid link)
APPLE GarageBand
Music Software & DAWs
Value 7Quality 6
$0 approx.
Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 mk3
MIDI Controllers
Value 7Quality 7
$249 approx.
(paid link)
Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 mk3
MIDI Controllers
Value 7Quality 7
$299 approx.
(paid link)
Lewitt LCT 440 PURE
Microphones
Value 7Quality 7
$299 approx.
(paid link)
Nektar SE49
MIDI Controllers
Value 7Quality 6
$90 approx.
(paid link)
Neumann TLM 102 (Nickel)
Microphones
Value 7Quality 7
$799 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus HD7
Studio Headphones
Value 7Quality 6
$60 approx.
(paid link)
SSL 2 MKII
Audio Interfaces
Value 7Quality 7
$230 approx.
(paid link)
Steinberg Cubase Pro
Music Software & DAWs
Value 7Quality 7
$580 approx.
(paid link)
Tascam US-16x08
Audio Interfaces
Value 7Quality 7
$399 approx.
(paid link)
Tascam US-4x4HR
Audio Interfaces
Value 7Quality 6
$249 approx.
(paid link)
Warm WA-47jr Large-Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone
Microphones
Value 7Quality 7
$299 approx.
(paid link)
Yamaha HS5 5-inch Powered Studio Monitors (Pair)
Studio Monitors
Value 7Quality 7
$400 approx.
(paid link)
Ableton Live 12
Music Software & DAWs
Value 6Quality 7
$349 approx.
(paid link)
Amplitube TONEX ONE
Guitar Gear
Value 6Quality 6
$150 approx.
(paid link)
Amplitube TONEX Pedal
Guitar Gear
Value 6Quality 7
$330 approx.
(paid link)
Audio-Technica AT4040
Microphones
Value 6Quality 7
$329 approx.
(paid link)
AVID Pro Tools
Music Software & DAWs
Value 6Quality 7
$299 approx.
(paid link)
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Cable (USB-C to USB-C, 100W)
Studio Cables
Value 6Quality 7
$35 approx.
(paid link)
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen
Audio Interfaces
Value 6Quality 7
$340 approx.
(paid link)
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen
Audio Interfaces
Value 6Quality 7
$770 approx.
(paid link)
Image-Line (FL Studio) FL Studio
Music Software & DAWs
Value 6Quality 7
$179 approx.
(paid link)
Lewitt RAY
Microphones
Value 6Quality 7
$349 approx.
(paid link)
SSL 2+ MKII
Audio Interfaces
Value 6Quality 7
$300 approx.
(paid link)
$250 approx.
(paid link)
AKG P120
Microphones
Value 5Quality 6
$99 approx.
(paid link)
AKG Perception P3 S
Microphones
Value 5Quality 6
$89 approx.
(paid link)
Arturia MiniFuse 1
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$119 approx.
(paid link)
Arturia MiniFuse 2
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$199 approx.
(paid link)
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 7
$159 approx.
(paid link)
Audio-Technica AT2020
Microphones
Value 5Quality 6
$119 approx.
(paid link)
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 6
$109 approx.
(paid link)
Band Lab BandLab
Music Software & DAWs
Value 5Quality 5
$0 approx.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 Ohm
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 7
$200 approx.
(paid link)
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 7
$230 approx.
(paid link)
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$225 approx.
(paid link)
Nektar Impact GX61
MIDI Controllers
Value 5Quality 6
$130 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus HD9
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 6
$80 approx.
(paid link)
$100 approx.
(paid link)
Tascam US-2x2HR
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$199 approx.
(paid link)
Tascam TH-05
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 5
$39 approx.
(paid link)
Tascam TM-82 Dynamic Microphone
Microphones
Value 5Quality 6
$29 approx.
(paid link)
Tascam TH-07
Studio Headphones
Value 5Quality 6
$99 approx.
(paid link)
$200 approx.
(paid link)
Volt 176
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$199 approx.
(paid link)
Volt 2
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$199 approx.
(paid link)
Volt 276
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$299 approx.
(paid link)
Volt 1
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$139 approx.
(paid link)
Yamaha AG03MK2
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$200 approx.
(paid link)
Yamaha AG06MK2
Audio Interfaces
Value 5Quality 6
$240 approx.
(paid link)
$230 approx.
(paid link)
AKG K92
Studio Headphones
Value 4Quality 5
$89 approx.
(paid link)
Audient EVO 4
Audio Interfaces
Value 4Quality 5
$180 approx.
(paid link)
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
Studio Headphones
Value 4Quality 5
$59 approx.
(paid link)
Audio-Technica AT2035
Microphones
Value 4Quality 5
$159 approx.
(paid link)
Behringer Ultravoice XM8500
Microphones
Value 4Quality 5
$20 approx.
(paid link)
Edifier R1280DB
Studio Monitors
Value 4Quality 5
$190 approx.
(paid link)
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen
Audio Interfaces
Value 4Quality 6
$170 approx.
(paid link)
M-VAVE ANNBLACK BOX
Guitar Gear
Value 4Quality 5
$95 approx.
(paid link)
Nektar Impact GX49
MIDI Controllers
Value 4Quality 5
$110 approx.
(paid link)
Novation Launchkey Mini 25 MK4
MIDI Controllers
Value 4Quality 5
$130 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus AudioBox GO Creator Bundle
Kits
Value 4Quality 5
$127 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus Eris E4.5 Studio Monitors (Pair)
Studio Monitors
Value 4Quality 5
$140 approx.
(paid link)
PreSonus AudioBox GO
Audio Interfaces
Value 4Quality 5
$79 approx.
(paid link)
Samson C01
Microphones
Value 4Quality 5
$80 approx.
(paid link)
Superlux TM58S
Microphones
Value 4Quality 5
$45 approx.
(paid link)
XSonic XTONE Pro
Audio Interfaces
Value 4Quality 5
$210 approx.
(paid link)
Audacity
Music Software & DAWs
Value 3Quality 1
$0 approx.
Edifier MR4
Studio Monitors
Value 3Quality 4
$170 approx.
(paid link)
M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3
MIDI Controllers
Value 3Quality 4
$129 approx.
(paid link)
Pyle PDMIC78
Microphones
Value 3Quality 4
$19 approx.
(paid link)
Sonicake Pocket Master
Guitar Gear
Value 3Quality 4
$60 approx.
(paid link)
XSonic XTONE
Audio Interfaces
Value 3Quality 4
$140 approx.
(paid link)
Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 / UMC202HD
Audio Interfaces
Value 2Quality 3
$53 approx.
(paid link)
Edifier R980T
Studio Monitors
Value 2Quality 3
$100 approx.
(paid link)
Adobe Audition
Music Software & DAWs
Value 1Quality 1
$276 approx.
(paid link)