Gear of the Year: Audio

Posted on Jun 20, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker

Gear of the Year is here – cast your vote and back the best audio tech of 2025

Sound is often the biggest difference between a good project and a great one, so having the right audio gear is essential. For this year’s awards, we’ve selected the most impressive, reliable and creator-focused sound equipment spanning the four key categories found to the right.

Versatility and quality define this year’s recorder nominees in the recorder and audio adapter class. The Tascam Portacapture X8 remains a standout with its touchscreen control, 32-bit float recording and excellent built-in mics. For compact versatility, the new Zoom H6essential, H4essential and H1essential all boast some truly amazing performance – perfect for run-and-gun shoots.

The Tascam FR-AV2 brings pro-level audio interfacing to DSLR and mirrorless cameras, while the Beachtek DXA-Max delivers rock-solid XLR adapter performance for camera-mounted use.

Serious production demands serious mics. The Sennheiser MKH 416 remains the gold standard for location dialogue, while the very latest MKH 8018 adds flexibility with a switchable pattern. Audio-Technica’s BP4029, Deity’s S-Mic 3 and Rycote’s BD-10 and HC-35 round out an impressive set of tools built for capturing crisp, cinematic sound in tough environments.

Run-and-gun shooters, vloggers and hybrid creators of all stripes will require quality sound with minimal hassle – ideally from gear that plugs directly into the camera for ease of use. Well, the Rode Videomic Pro+ and Videomic NTG are two leaders in this space, while Canon’s DM-E1D integrates seamlessly with EOS cameras and the Sony ECM-B1M is tailored for Alpha users.

Sennheiser’s MKE 400 and 440, plus Shure’s VP83F, offer premium sound in compact packages, with the Shure offering on-board recording. For ultra-portable solutions, Deity’s V-Mic D4 Mini and Saramonic’s Vmic5 Pro punch above their weight.

Wireless audio keeps evolving fast, and this year’s field is stronger than ever. Rode’s Wireless Go Gen 3, Wireless Micro and Interview Pro lead with creative flexibility and app integration. Sennheiser’s Profile Wireless, DJI’s Mic Mini and Hollyland’s Lark M2 prove you don’t need wires to capture pro audio.

Deity’s high-end Theos system brings timecode sync into the mix, while the Saramonic Blink Me, Icon Airmic Pro, Shure Movemic 88+ and the innovative 3 Legged Thing Str3amcase show just how far wireless gear has come.

From indie filmmakers to pro crews, these tools ensure your sound is always as sharp as your visuals. Let us hear which you prefer!