How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
These two products are not really rivals. They are two different halves of a podcasting setup, and the confusion comes from the word "headphones" sitting in the middle of both. So let me untangle it before you spend anything.
• JLab's biggest strength: true wireless in-ear earbuds with 35+ hours of total playtime, three EQ presets and touch controls — genuinely useful for long editing sessions and listening back.
• JLab's biggest trade-off: no noise cancelling and no wired jack, so they are for listening, not for capturing or monitoring a live mic feed.
• Facmogu MC9's biggest strength: a handheld microphone with a built-in sound card, real-time zero-delay headphone monitoring, voice effects and a 6–8 hour battery.
• Facmogu MC9's biggest trade-off: it makes no sound on its own — you must plug in headphones or an external speaker, and it is a recording input, not a listening device.
• Who JLab is for: the podcaster who already has a mic and needs comfortable, long-lasting earbuds for the rest of the workflow.
• Who Facmogu MC9 is for: the beginner who wants mic, sound card, effects and monitoring in one box with no drivers to install.
The JLab Go Air Pop+ Tones are true wireless earbuds built around endurance. You get 9+ hours in each earbud plus another 26+ hours in the USB-C charging case, which adds up to 35+ hours of total playtime. For a podcaster, that number matters more than it sounds. If you record a two-hour interview, then edit for three hours, then listen to a rough cut on a walk, you have burned most of a day without ever thinking about a charger. The case even gives you roughly an hour of playback from a ten-minute top-up, which is the kind of detail that saves you on a deadline.
The audio side is more thoughtful than the price bracket suggests. There is a 6mm dynamic driver with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range, 16 ohm impedance and 103 dB sensitivity — an easy load for a phone or laptop to drive. More useful for spoken word is EQ3: three presets (Signature, Bass Boost, Balanced) you can switch with a touch. For podcast listening I would park it on Balanced, because the midrange is where voices live and Bass Boost tends to muddy a close-mic'd host. There is also a Be Aware mode that lets ambient sound in, which is genuinely useful if you edit while walking or commuting.
Each bud has a built-in MEMS microphone, so you can take calls or record a quick voice memo single-eared. Dual Connect lets you use either earbud independently or both together without re-pairing, which is handy for one-ear monitoring while you work. Bluetooth 5.1 with a 10 metre range, IPX4 sweat resistance, touch controls, three sizes of gel eartips, Google Fast Pair and a two-year JLab warranty round out the package.
Buy JLab if you already own a USB or XLR microphone and want comfortable, long-life earbuds for everything around the recording itself. Skip it if you were hoping these would capture your show.
Facmogu MC9: Who It's For
The Facmogu MC9 is a different animal entirely. It is a handheld microphone with a built-in sound card, and its whole pitch is removing the gear between you and a finished recording. Plug the receiver — which carries both USB-C and Lightning connectors — into your phone, tablet or PC, power on the mic, open your app, and you are recording. No drivers, no interface, no mixer. For a first-time podcaster, that is the single biggest hurdle removed.
The feature that actually matters most for podcasting is real-time monitoring. You connect your own headphones to the mic and hear your voice with zero delay — exactly what your audience hears. That is the difference between guessing and knowing. You can hear yourself going off-mic, catching a plosive, or drifting flat, and correct it live instead of fixing it in the edit. The mic also applies noise reduction to cut room hum from fans, traffic and air conditioning, and it captures what Facmogu describes as clean, warm vocals.
Then there is the playful side: a Mode button cycles through Pop, Professional, Male, Female, Monster and Original voice presets, and buttons 1–6 fire applause, laugh tracks and stings. A "Dodge" smart-ducking feature automatically lowers background music when you speak, and you can stream background music over Bluetooth so voice and music mix on their own. Volume for mic, music and reverb each get their own control.
There is a warning worth repeating: the MC9 does not play sound by itself. You need headphones for monitoring or an external speaker over the included 3.5mm AUX cable for room audio. That second option turns it into a karaoke mic for gatherings, classroom sessions or backyard sing-alongs. Battery life runs about 6–8 hours, which covers a full session, and it carries a one-year warranty.
Buy the MC9 if you are starting from zero and want one device that handles mic, effects and monitoring without a learning curve. Skip it if you already run a proper audio interface and studio microphone — the MC9 is a convenience tool, not an upgrade path.
• Best for long listening and editing sessions → JLab. 35+ hours total playtime versus 6–8 hours on the MC9.
• Best for recording your voice → Facmogu MC9. JLab is an output device; the MC9 is an input device with a built-in sound card.
• Best for hearing yourself while you record → Facmogu MC9. Zero-delay headphone monitoring is its core feature.
• Best for wearing during workouts, commutes or walks → JLab. IPX4 sweat resistance, a charging case and three gel eartip sizes.
• Best for total beginners with no gear → Facmogu MC9. Plug-and-play, no drivers, works with TikTok, Twitch, Kick, Reels and similar apps.
• Best for fun, personality-driven content → Facmogu MC9. Voice changer modes, sound-effect buttons and smart ducking.
• Best for solo focus with no distractions → JLab. Be Aware mode when you want the room, closed listening when you do not.
• Best for a two-person setup or group fun → Facmogu MC9. The AUX speaker mode turns it into a shared karaoke mic.
If I had to pick one for podcasting from a standing start, I would buy the Facmogu MC9. In my opinion, real-time monitoring and a built-in sound card are worth more to a new podcaster than anything else on this list, because they fix the two things beginners get wrong: not hearing themselves, and fighting their software. The JLab earbuds are the better product for everything after the recording stops — long editing sessions, listening back, taking calls — and if you already own a microphone, I would recommend the JLab instead without hesitation. But as a single first purchase for someone who wants to start a podcast this week, the MC9 does more of the actual job.
how to set up headphones for podcast
With the Facmogu MC9, plug the receiver into your phone or PC, power on the mic, then connect your headphones to the mic's monitoring output so you hear your voice with zero delay. With JLab, setup is simply pairing the earbuds over Bluetooth 5.1 — there is nothing to route, because they are a listening device rather than part of the recording chain.
why do you need headphones for a podcast
Headphones let you hear what your audience hears while you record, so you can catch off-mic moments, room noise and pitch problems in the moment instead of in the edit. The MC9's real-time monitoring is built for exactly this. JLab earbuds serve the other half — reviewing and editing the finished audio comfortably.
what is the best headphones for podcasting
In my opinion, the honest answer is that you want two things: a monitoring path while recording, and comfortable earbuds afterwards. The Facmogu MC9 covers the first with zero-delay monitoring through your own headphones, and the JLab Go Air Pop+ Tones cover the second with 35+ hours of total playtime and EQ3 presets tuned for spoken word.
what are good headphones for podcasting
Look for a stable fit, a cable-free option for long sessions, and a neutral-ish sound that favours voices. JLab fits that brief with three sets of gel eartips, Balanced EQ and 9+ hours per earbud. If you need monitoring while you record instead, the MC9 requires you to supply your own headphones — it does not include them.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: ZOHAN Kids Ear Protection vs Amylove 6, ENJOY-UNIQUE Mic Headphones Comfort vs JBL Vibe Beam 2, HYGAMOCC Long Playtime Touch vs MMWOWARTS Hybrid Active Noise, JLab JBuddies Learn On-Ear vs Micool Ear Headphones: On Ear