Studio questions

• Behringer ALPHA vs HPX2000 headphones: which should I buy?

  Buy the Behringer HPX2000 if keeping costs down is your priority: it’s £10 versus £42 for the ALPHA. With no specifications or listening comparisons supplied, there’s no firm basis for saying the ALPHA is worth the extra £32.

• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen vs Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig: which should I buy?

  Choose the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen if you’re keeping spending down; consider the AudioFuse 16Rig only if you’ve confirmed it meets recording or routing needs the Scarlett cannot. They’re very different spending commitments, so buy for your actual setup.

• Is the Arturia Audiofuse 16 Rig worth the extra cost over a cheaper audio interface?

  The Arturia Audiofuse 16 Rig is only worth the extra cost if its capabilities match needs that a cheaper interface cannot meet. At the supplied best new price of £1,002, check its connections, routing and compatibility against your setup before buying.

• Is the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD worth buying on a budget?

  The Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD is worth considering if your priority is a low-cost USB audio interface: its best listed new price is £55. Before buying, check that its connections and computer compatibility suit your setup.

• Is the Tascam DR-70D a good choice for recording audio with a DSLR?

  The Tascam DR-70D is worth considering for DSLR audio: it is a dedicated recorder intended for that job. At the supplied best new price of £220, check its connections and recording options against your camera setup before buying.

• Is the Warm Audio Lifter inline microphone preamp worth buying?

  The Warm Audio Lifter is worth considering if your microphone setup needs extra gain before your existing preamp. At the supplied best new price of £152, it makes more sense as a targeted fix than an automatic studio upgrade.

• Sennheiser HD 25 vs Sony MDR-7506/1: which should I buy?

  Buy the Sony MDR-7506/1 if keeping the cost down is your priority: its listed best new price is £85, versus £113 for the Sennheiser HD 25. Choose the HD 25 if a listening and fit test makes the extra £28 worthwhile.

• What alternatives should I compare with the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen?

  Compare the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen with the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD, and consider used audio interfaces too. The Arturia Audiofuse 16 Rig is another option, but its listed price makes it a much bigger-budget consideration.

• What are cheaper alternatives to the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones?

  The Sony MDR-7506/1, Behringer ALPHA and Behringer HPX2000 DJ headphones all have lower listed new prices than the Sennheiser HD 25. The Sony is the closest in price at £85, compared with £113 for the HD 25.

• What are good alternatives to the Sony MDR-7506/1 headphones?

  The Sennheiser HD 25 and Behringer ALPHA are alternatives worth comparing with the Sony MDR-7506/1. Their supplied best new prices are £113 and £42 respectively, versus £85 for the Sony.

• What are the best headphones for musicians under £120?

  The Sony MDR-7506/1 Professional Stereo Headphones at £85 and Sennheiser HD 25 at £113 are worth shortlisting. There is no single proven best here: the supplied prices establish affordability, but not sound quality, comfort or suitability for your setup.

• What is the best budget audio interface for recording musical instruments?

  The Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD USB Audio Interface is the budget pick on price among the options listed, at £55 new. Check that its inputs and recording capabilities suit your instruments before buying.

• What is the best mixer under £600 for recording musical instruments?

  The Mackie Onyx16 is the strongest choice here for multitrack recording under £600: its listed best new price is £584, and it combines a 16-channel analogue mixer with multitrack USB.

• What’s the best microphone preamp under £1,200 for a home studio?

  The Warm Audio WA273-EQ is the strongest fit here if you need a two-channel microphone preamp with EQ, at a listed best new price of £1,165. If you only need an inline preamp, there are cheaper options.

• Which K&M stands should I consider for a home studio?

  For a home studio, consider the K&M 26722 Monitor Stand, 20800 Overhead Microphone Stand and 19797 Tablet PC Table Stand, depending on what you need to support. Check compatibility and dimensions before buying.

• Which PreSonus StudioLive mixer should I buy: the SE16 or AR8c?

  The PreSonus StudioLive AR8c is the lower-cost choice if you want a USB-C mixer; the StudioLive SE16 is worth investigating if you need a digital mixer. Choose around your connections and workflow, rather than assuming the dearer option is the better fit.

• Who is the Mackie ProFX12v3 mixer best suited to?

  The Mackie ProFX12v3 suits buyers looking for a 12-channel analogue mixer with USB for a live or studio setup. It is worth considering if you prefer hands-on mixing, but check its input layout and USB recording capabilities against your needs before buying.