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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Kaschun 12-Channel — biggest strength: 12 XLR/quarter-inch inputs, 48V phantom power, per-channel 3-band EQ, built-in reverb and delay, Bluetooth 5.0 streaming and USB record/playback all in one ultra-slim console.
• Kaschun 12-Channel — biggest trade-off: It is a corded mixing desk, not a listening device. You still need your own headphones and microphones, and it does nothing for noise isolation.
• Elgin Discord Gen 3 — biggest strength: ANSI-certified 31dB NRR passive noise reduction with an 8mm dynamic driver, 20Hz–20kHz response, 14-hour playback and a Kevlar-reinforced neckband.
• Elgin Discord Gen 3 — biggest trade-off: It is a single-listener pair of in-ear buds. It cannot mix, route or record multiple audio sources.
• Who each pick is for: Kaschun for podcasters and streamers running several mics and sources; Elgin for the person who needs to hear clean audio in a loud, echo-prone space.
The Kaschun 12-Channel is a mixing console first and everything else second. Its whole reason to exist is to take a lot of inputs — 12 XLR and quarter-inch connections for microphones, electric guitars, keyboards and CD players — and give you independent control over each one. That means independent gain, FX and volume per channel, plus high, mid and low EQ on every strip. For a podcast with two or three hosts and a musical guest, that is the kind of control that separates a clean episode from a muddy one.
Two features matter more than the rest for podcasting. The first is built-in +48V phantom power, which lets you run condenser microphones without a separate preamp — the type of mic most home studios reach for. The second is PFL monitoring with a dedicated headphone output, so you can audition a channel in your own headphones before it hits the mix. Add Bluetooth 5.0 streaming from a phone or tablet and direct USB recording, and you can pull in a music bed or a remote caller and capture the whole session to a computer.
Who should buy it: podcasters, streamers, small bands, church AV teams and anyone running a live or recorded session with several sources at once. The ultra-thin chassis (about 19.7 by 13.4 by 1.4 inches) and sealed rotary controls built to resist dust make it a reasonable fit for a desk that gets used daily. Who should skip it: anyone who just wants to listen. It is corded electric, it has no noise reduction of its own, and it ships as a single unit — you supply the headphones and mics. If you want isolation while you work, this is not that product.
The Elgin Discord Gen 3 solves a completely different problem. It is a pair of Bluetooth in-ear earplug headphones built around hearing protection first: a 31dB NRR certified to ANSI standards, designed for high-noise environments like construction, industrial and manufacturing settings. The passive noise reduction is the headline, not an afterthought. That matters for anyone who records or listens in a loud room — a garage, a workshop, a busy open office — where background sound otherwise bleeds into everything.
The audio side is more serious than the "earplug" label suggests. An 8mm PET dynamic driver in a precision-molded acoustic chamber covers 20Hz to 20,000Hz, which is the full range you would expect from a general-purpose headphone. Impedance is 20 ohm and sensitivity is 101dB, so it is easy to drive from a phone. Bluetooth 5.3 gives you a 50-foot range, and the battery runs about 14 hours on a 3-hour charge via USB-C.
The practical details are aimed at long wear in rough conditions. Fusion ear tips combine a high-density memory foam core with medical-grade silicone, conforming to the ear canal for a secure seal and less fatigue over a long session — and they are replaceable for hygiene. Magnetic earbuds snap together around your neck when you pull them out, so they do not tangle or disappear. The enclosure is silicone, the neckband and cable are Kevlar-reinforced, and the buds resist sweat, dust and moisture.
Who should buy it: someone who needs to hear cues, a co-host or a monitor feed while working in a genuinely loud space, and who wants that audio without letting the room in. Who should skip it: anyone expecting to plug into a mixer or a wired interface — there is no headphone jack, it is Bluetooth only.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for mixing multiple mics and sources → Kaschun 12-Channel. Twelve XLR/quarter-inch inputs with per-channel EQ and gain.
• Best for isolating yourself from a loud room → Elgin Discord Gen 3. 31dB NRR passive noise reduction, ANSI certified.
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → Elgin Discord Gen 3. About 14 hours per charge, Bluetooth 5.3, 50-foot range.
• Best for recording and streaming a session → Kaschun 12-Channel. Direct USB recording, Bluetooth 5.0 streaming, PFL monitoring.
• Best for all-day wear in dusty or wet conditions → Elgin Discord Gen 3. Sweat, dust and moisture resistant with replaceable foam tips.
• Best for a fixed studio desk → Kaschun 12-Channel. Corded power, ultra-slim chassis, dust-resistant sealed controls.
• Best for a single listener on the move → Elgin Discord Gen 3. In-ear buds with magnetic tangle-free storage and a protective case.
In my opinion, these two are not really rivals — they answer different questions, so the honest answer depends on what "headphones for podcast" means to you. If you are building the podcast itself — mics, guests, a music bed, a recorded mix — I would buy the Kaschun 12-Channel, because nothing in the Elgin can route or capture audio the way a 12-channel console can. If what you actually need is to hear your own voice or a co-host clearly while the room around you is loud, I would buy the Elgin Discord Gen 3, because 31dB of certified noise reduction is the feature that fixes that problem, and the Kaschun offers none of it. Buy the tool that matches the job.
what is the best headphones for podcasting
There is no single answer, because "podcasting" covers two jobs. For capturing and mixing a show, the Kaschun 12-Channel is the more useful piece of gear since it handles 12 inputs, phantom power and USB recording. For listening in a noisy environment, the Elgin Discord Gen 3 is the stronger pick with its 31dB NRR.
why do you need headphones for a podcast
You need them to hear what the audience will hear — your own mic level, bleed between hosts, and any music or effects. The Kaschun 12-Channel gives you a dedicated headphone output plus PFL monitoring so you can check a channel before it reaches the mix. The Elgin Discord Gen 3 handles the other half: keeping outside noise from wrecking your focus while you talk.
how to set up headphones for podcast
Start with your source. Plug mics and instruments into the mixer, engage +48V phantom power if you are using condensers, and set gain per channel. Then connect your headphones to the monitoring output and use PFL to audition channels one at a time before mixing. If you are on the Elgin side, just pair over Bluetooth 5.3, confirm the fit with the memory foam tips, and you are monitoring wirelessly.
what are good headphones for podcasting
Good ones either give you control or give you isolation. The Kaschun 12-Channel delivers control: 12 channels, 3-band EQ on every strip, built-in reverb and delay, and USB recording. The Elgin Discord Gen 3 delivers isolation: an ANSI-certified 31dB NRR, an 8mm dynamic driver covering 20Hz–20kHz, and roughly 14 hours of playback. Which one you want depends on whether you are running the show or listening in a loud room.
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