Can you use Bluetooth headphones for podcasts? That’s a complicated issue to answer since it depends on your goals for your setup.
While Bluetooth connections are good for podcasting while mixing and mastering recordings, premium wired headphones and studio monitors will provide you with higher sound quality, improving the audio generated.
Wireless headsets will most likely meet your demands, but if you’re working in a studio all day, wired headphones are preferable since you won’t have to bother about charging.
We’ll discuss why wired is superior to Bluetooth later in the text!
Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones For Podcasts?
Bluetooth headsets relieve you from cords and ensure that you don’t get tangled up in them if you grab them. They are also significantly more comfortable than wired headsets.
Unfortunately, BlueTooth technology creates compressed audio, resulting in a loss of quality. Also, the compression procedure often results in the dreaded lag.
Using Bluetooth headsets for podcasting isn’t the best option. But, if you want to use them for other reasons other than recording, you should be alright.
The general rule is that Bluetooth doesn’t sound as well as wire due to the additional bandwidth provided by a decent cabled device. That isn’t to suggest that all wired headsets are superior to all Bluetooth headsets.
Although some low-cost wired sets may perform similarly to or worse than Bluetooth, Bluetooth bandwidth is just too restricted to carry the variety of sounds that cables can.
Bluetooth’s other technologies (batteries, etc.) reduce the space available for audio drivers. Bluetooth headsets’ drivers are often smaller as a result of this.
Bluetooth must come with a battery to be portable. Batteries are bulky and require recharge when they run out of power.
If you’re in the middle of a recording session and your headset runs out of battery, it may not be delightful. Not only that, but batteries deteriorate with time, and their performance suffers as a result.
If you can change the batteries at all, they may be pricey, and if you can’t, you have to replace the whole headset.
What Kind Of Headphones Should I Use For Podcasting?
Don’t have much experience using headphones? Here’s a breakdown of the many kinds of headsets available on the market today.
In-Ear, On-Ear, Or Over-Ear?
Because of their compact size, in-ear headphones are exceptionally portable.
But, when worn for lengthy periods, they might become uncomfortable, making them unsuitable for extensive recording or editing sessions.
In addition, in-ear headsets produce inaccurate frequency representation due to their tiny driver size, making them unsuitable for podcasting.
On the other hand, on-ear is a small and lightweight device worn on the ear. Because they are portable and lightweight, on-ear headphones are top-rated.
Lastly, over-ear headsets, often known as “circumaural headphones,” are the most popular choice among podcasters and sound engineers. It produces excellent audio quality and an incredibly comfy fit.
Open-Back Versus Closed-Back Headphones?
While open-back headphones sound better than closed-back earphones at the same price range, they are not ideal for podcasting owing to sound leakage.
If you monitor while podcasting with open-back headsets, your microphone will pick up the leakage from the headsets as well as your live voice.
Closed-back headphones are suitable for podcasters since they do not leak sound. It implies that your microphone will not pick up any echoes throughout the podcast recording process.
With Or Without A Mic?
An integrated microphone is a convenient, easy-to-use, and cost-effective solution since it eliminates the need for a separate microphone.
However, the built-in microphones purposefully restrict the frequency since they can pick up near noise.
A solo microphone offers a more significant frequency response, allowing it to capture the intricacies and subtleties of your audio.
A decent microphone will beat an integrated microphone, but this is a matter of personal opinion, and there are numerous excellent alternatives available.
Wired Versus Wireless Headphones?
In comparison to wired headphones, wireless headsets are handier. On the other hand, wireless headphones have a higher delay than tethered headsets, making them unsuitable for podcasting, recording, and editing.
What Are Good Specs For A Podcast Headphone?
Buying headphones doesn’t have to be difficult, but there are a few things to consider to ensure you get the most out of your investment.
Here are a few things to think about before you buy.
Frequency Response
The frequency response of your headsets is connected to how they sound, which makes a significant impact while listening to your recording.
A flat frequency response ensures your audio will be accurate and unfiltered. Ideally, it should be between 20Hz and 20,000Hz.
Noise-Canceling Versus Sound Isolation
Headphones with sound isolation shut out external noise like traffic, fans, and other low-level noise, making them perfect for podcast production.
Noise cancellation has numerous benefits, but it isn’t necessary for podcast audio. Noise cancellation that is too strong might distort the audio, and it also comes at a high cost for a function that isn’t necessary for podcasters.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity refers to how effectively a set of headsets can convert an electrical signal to an acoustic signal, as well as how loud they may be.
High-sensitivity earphones will create louder sounds than low-sensitivity headsets. You should search for a sensitivity range of 80 to 125 decibels.
Impedance
Impedance refers to the quality and volume of the sound your headsets produce.
You will want headphones with a low impedance of 32 to 80 Ohms, which means they consume a minimal amount of power to provide high audio volumes.
Why Do Podcasters Use Earphones?
If you don’t have headsets, the audio transmitted by your speakers will create severe feedback in your microphone when distant podcast guests talk over Zoom or Skype.
Wearing headsets, in general, eliminates audio echo and bleed, maintaining the quality of your recording.
You have greater control because you can alter your levels while recording. As unsettling as it may be, wearing earphones allows you to hear your voice as others do.
You can notice minute audio variations when wearing headsets, and your mic technique increases immensely.
Wearing headphones will allow you to check whether extraneous audio is interfering with your recording, preventing unpleasant surprises in post-production or the embarrassing request for a re-record from your visitors.
Overall, it’s evident that using headsets is essential for creating a professional-quality podcast recording.
The video below will describe a debate when comparing headphones vs. no headphones when podcasting.
Final Words
While Bluetooth connections are great for podcasting, premium wired headphones and studio monitors will give you better sound quality, enabling you to increase the quality of the audio you make.
If you’re serious about improving the quality of your podcast’s production, investing in a good set of closed-back wired headsets may help a lot.
For the reasons stated above, the Audio Technica ATH-m50x, Sony MDR-7506, Audio Technica ATH-m20x, and Sennheiser HD-25 are my recommendations for hundreds of headsets models available.
