Prices outlined are MSRP at the time of writing August, 2020. Please note they are subject to change or inaccuracies and does not cover sales or discounts.
USB Microphones
The use of a USB microphone will significantly increase the audio quality of your live meetings, streams, and academic content. Even if your video quality falls short (especially common during online calls), good audio will keep your audience engaged with your content and delivery. We recommended the Blue Yeti Nano for the value and overall sound quality.
Webcams
Although laptop built-in webcams are fine for most meetings, they may fall short for creating academic content in image quality especially if you are writing on camera or demonstrating techniques/content. We'd recommend you steer clear of most no name webcam brands since they lack the software to tweak keystone (warping), custom settings/outputs, and oftentimes colour/image quality is untested and unreliable. We recommend the Logitech C920 for 1080p quality and value and the Razer Kiyo with its built in ringlight and image quality.
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Logitech C310 720p/30fps - $70
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Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000 720p/30fps - $100
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Logitech C920 1080p/30fps - $100 (Recommended)
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Razer Kiyo 1080p/30fps + Ringlight - $140 (Recommended)
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Logitech StreamCam 1080p/60fps - $200
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Logitech Brio 4K - $260
Headphones
The speakers on your laptop/system are great for most meetings, however they often send audio through your microphone. This creates a continuous signal called "feedback". To avoid this problem we'd recommend these headphones for a comfortable audio experience in meetings with numerous participants whilst using a USB microphone. We recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x or Sony MDR7506 for a balanced listening experience at a great value.
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Audio-Technica ATH-M20x - $80
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Audio-Technica ATH-M40x - $150 (Recommended)
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Sony MDR7506 - $170 (Recommended)
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AirPods Gen I - $220
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Bose QC 35 Series II NC - $380
Headsets (Alternative to Headphones + Microphone Combo)
If having a separate microphone and headphones is too much to think about, another alternative is a headset, essentially a pair of headphones with a microphone built in. This is for individuals who need sound isolation in both the output to their ears and input from their voice. We recommend the Logitech G Pro headset for the best sounding mic and audio quality for the price. If mic quality os a concern, a Pro X version with a microphone tuned by Blue Microphones is available for a $40 premium. The other alternative we recommend are the Apple Airpods Gen I for the wireless capability and call quality compared to other bluetooth earbuds in the price range.
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Logitech H151 - $30
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Corsair HS60 Pro - $100
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Logitech G Pro - $130 (Pro X version with Blue Mic is $170) (Recommended)
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AirPods Gen I - $220 (Recommended)
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Beats Solo Wireless - $250 (Pro version is $300)
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Corsair Virtuoso Wireless - $270
Digital Writing Tablets
Instead of Lightboards, whiteboards or chalkboards, using a drawing tablet connected to software such as OneNote or Corel Studio is also a viable method of visual demonstration. There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using these drawing tablets but they can be invaluable tool once adjusted to. Keep in mind, each model comes in various sizes depending on the screen size of the connected device and the prices listed here are for the smallest sizes each. We recommend the base Wacom Intuos for the price to performance. In addition, we've also included the iPad with Apple Pencil to be used as a secondary touch display when connected to new Mac computers via Sidecar (check iPad compatibility) as well as the Microsoft Surface Pro with the Surface Pen as an all in one device.
Monitors
When looking for a monitor for your home office, resolution is important for greater clarity at regular viewing distances. For 24inch monitors, we recommend looking for a 1080P resolution with an IPS panel if possible. If you intend on getting a 27inch, we encourage you to look for one at a 2K (1440P) resolution due to the screen size with the same IPS panel type where possible for clarity. Typically 24inch displays will benefit dual monitor setups while 27inch will benefit single monitor + laptop type setups due to the real estate of the screen.
