We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a recording chain built around the interface first — Focusrite preamps, Auto Gain, Clip Safe, and a closed-back headphone that keeps the click track out of the mic — choose StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2; if you need a complete starter studio in one box, with a condenser mic, shockmount, headphones and a DAW already in the kit, choose LyxJam 2×2.
• StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 — biggest strength: a genuine 4th-Gen Scarlett 2i2 at the center, with 69 dB of preamp gain, one-press Auto Gain, Clip Safe sampling 96,000 times per second, and Air mode with Presence and Harmonic Drive switchable per channel.
• StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 — biggest trade-off: the bundle gives you the interface, the Cans50 headphones and two XLR cables, but no microphone. You supply the mic yourself.
• LyxJam 2×2 — biggest strength: six items in one purchase — interface, cardioid condenser mic, shockmount, closed-back monitoring headphones, XLR cable and Waveform OEM DAW — so a beginner can go from unboxing to a first take without buying anything else.
• LyxJam 2×2 — biggest trade-off: the interface is the value piece here, not a boutique preamp. There is no Auto Gain, no Clip Safe, and no per-channel tone shaping, so you set levels by hand.
• Who each is for: StreamEye for someone who already knows which mic they want and cares about preamp headroom and tracking protection. LyxJam for the first-timer who wants every cable accounted for.
• Recording studio headphones angle: both kits include closed-back headphones, which is the correct choice for tracking. Closed-back cups keep the click and backing track from bleeding into a live mic, and both sets are voiced for monitoring rather than casual listening.
This bundle is a monitoring-first kit. The headline item is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen), a class-compliant USB-C interface with two combo XLR/TRS inputs, 24-bit/192 kHz conversion, and 69 dB of gain range on the preamps. That gain figure matters more than it sounds: low-output dynamic mics and quiet singers both sit comfortably, and you are not cranking the trim to the edge of its travel just to get a usable level.
The two features that change how a session actually feels are Auto Gain and Clip Safe. Auto Gain listens to a ten-second test pass and sets the input level for you. Clip Safe samples 96,000 times per second and pulls gain back before a transient ruins the take, while the Dynamic Gain Halos flash red as you approach clipping. In my opinion that combination is the single best argument for this kit over a cheaper interface, because it removes the most common beginner mistake — a great performance lost to a clipped recording. Air mode then adds high-shelf brightness modeled on the original ISA preamp plus even-order saturation, and each input switches independently, so a vocal and an acoustic guitar tracked at the same time each get their own treatment.
Buy this one if you already own a microphone you trust, or you know exactly which mic you want next, and you care about preamp quality, headroom and take protection. Skip it if you are starting from absolutely nothing and need a mic in the box — that is the one gap in this kit.
LyxJam 2×2: Who It's For
The LyxJam 2×2 is the opposite philosophy: one purchase, everything present. You get the 2×2 USB interface, a LyxPro cardioid condenser microphone, a vibration-isolating shockmount, a pro XLR cable, closed-back monitoring headphones, and the Waveform OEM DAW. Six items, one box. For someone who has never built a recording chain before, that removal of guesswork is a real feature.
The interface itself is a 2-channel unit with dual combo inputs, a Hi-Z switch for electric and acoustic guitar direct, +48 V phantom power for the condenser, independent gain knobs, and a mono/stereo monitor toggle. It runs 24-bit/192 kHz and uses a low-latency ASIO driver, which is the part that matters for playing guitar or keys through amp sims and virtual instruments without a distracting delay. It is compatible with Windows 7 through 11 and macOS, and the bundled Waveform OEM adds unlimited audio and MIDI tracks with plug-ins, virtual instruments and loop content.
The microphone is the standout piece of the kit. A pure-aluminum diaphragm condenser with a tight cardioid pattern, 20 Hz–18 kHz response, -34 dB sensitivity and a 134 dB SPL ceiling. That SPL figure is generous — it means the mic will not choke on a loud rapper, a snare, or a close-miked guitar cab. The tight pattern rejects room noise, which is exactly what you want in an untreated bedroom. The shockmount is not decoration either: it decouples the mic from floor vibration and desk bumps, so you are not printing rumble into every take.
The included closed-back headphones use high-resolution neodymium drivers with extended bass, padded earcups and an adjustable headband — built for long sessions, which is what mixing, tracking and video editing actually are. Buy this if you are a beginner, a podcaster, a streamer, or a singer-songwriter who wants to open a box and record tonight. Skip it if you already own a condenser mic and a DAW, or if you specifically want per-channel tone shaping and automatic level setting on the interface — those are not here.
• Best for automatic level setting → StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Auto Gain and Clip Safe do the work that a producer would otherwise do.
• Best for a complete first studio → LyxJam 2×2. Interface, mic, shockmount, cable, headphones and DAW in a single purchase.
• Best for vocal tone shaping → StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Air mode's Presence and Harmonic Drive switch independently per channel.
• Best for loud sources → LyxJam 2×2. The condenser's 134 dB SPL handling takes a loud rap vocal or a drum hit without strain.
• Best for low-output dynamic mics → StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. 69 dB of preamp gain range is the headroom that quiet mics and quiet singers need.
• Best for guitar and keys through software → LyxJam 2×2. The Hi-Z switch plus a low-latency ASIO driver is the direct-injection path.
• Best for tracking with a click track → either, but the reasoning differs. Both kits ship closed-back headphones, which is the right call for isolation; the Cans50 specifies 32-ohm impedance, so it drives easily straight from the interface.
• Best for someone who already owns a mic → StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. You are paying for the interface, the monitoring and the cables, not for a mic you would replace.
If I were buying for myself, I would take the StreamEye Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. In my opinion the interface is the part of a home rig that is hardest to outgrow, and Auto Gain, Clip Safe and per-channel Air mode are the features that actually save takes — the ones you cannot retrofit later. I already know which microphone I want, so the missing mic is not a gap for me, and the Cans50 plus both XLR cables means the monitoring and cabling are solved on day one. If you are starting from zero and want to be recording the same evening, the LyxJam 2×2 is the smarter first purchase — just understand that the interface is the part you will likely upgrade first.
what is the use of headphones in recording studio
In a studio, headphones are the monitoring path during tracking. Closed-back models like the ones in both of these kits isolate the performer from the room and keep the click track and backing mix out of the live microphone, while still letting you hear pitch, timing and reverb tails accurately.
what are the best recording studio headphones
There is no single answer, but the spec that matters most for tracking is a closed-back design. The Cans50 in the StreamEye kit is closed-back circumaural with 50 mm drivers, 15 Hz–25 kHz response and 32-ohm impedance; the LyxJam kit's headphones are closed-back with neodymium drivers and padded earcups for long sessions. Both are voiced for monitoring rather than casual listening.
what are good studio recording headphones
Look for isolation, a flat-ish response and an impedance your interface can drive. 32-ohm impedance, as on the Cans50, is easy for a bus-powered USB interface to drive loud and clean. Padded earcups and an adjustable headband, as on the LyxJam headphones, matter more than most people expect once sessions run past an hour.
what are the best home studio headphones
For a home setup, closed-back is the safer default because most home rooms are untreated and bleed is a real problem. If you also mix on them, prioritize drivers with extended bass and a comfortable fit so you can work for hours. Both kits here ship closed-back sets, so either one covers home tracking out of the box.
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See also: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 vs Kellards HD 480: Closed Back, LyxJam 2x2 vs Tiksounds Hybrid Active Noise, LyxJam 2×2 vs Turnstile Audio TAPH100: Recording Studio