We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete USB podcast microphone that also gives you a built-in headphone jack for real-time monitoring, choose ZealSound Podcast Microphone; if you need a single ear-hook headphone for hearing speech clearly while staying aware of your surroundings, choose EXMAX SE-55.
• ZealSound Podcast Microphone — biggest strength: a full USB recording chain in one unit, with a cardioid condenser capsule, 40Hz–18kHz frequency response, noise reduction mode, mute, gain, monitoring volume and echo controls, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring.
• ZealSound Podcast Microphone — biggest trade-off: it is a desk-bound, plug-and-play mic rather than a headphone, so it does not replace a listening device on its own — you still need your own headphones to use the monitoring jack.
• EXMAX SE-55 — biggest strength: a voice-focused, single-ear ear-hook headphone with a 30mm driver, 32 ohm impedance, 105dB sensitivity and a 3.5mm gold-plated plug, designed specifically to make speech, talk radio and commentaries easy to understand.
• EXMAX SE-55 — biggest trade-off: it is a one-side, wired, sponge-free earpiece, so it is not a stereo music or full isolation headphone and it only covers one ear.
• Who each pick is for: choose ZealSound if you are setting up a podcast recording rig on a PC, Mac or phone; choose EXMAX if you want one ear on the conversation while your other ear stays open to the room.
The ZealSound Podcast Microphone is built around one idea: get a clean spoken-word recording without a rack of extra gear. It uses a high-performance condenser capsule with a cardioid pickup pattern, so it focuses on what is in front of it and pushes down what is behind it. The spec sheet lists a 40Hz–18kHz frequency response and a 46kHz sampling rate, which is the kind of range you want for capturing the body of a voice — rich lows, smooth mids and clear highs — rather than a thin, telephone-style sound.
What makes it genuinely useful for podcasting is the control set. There is a dedicated mute button with a red LED indicator, and holding that same button switches on Noise Reduction Mode, which is aimed at keyboard clicks, PC fan noise, air conditioner hum and background chatter. There are separate knobs for microphone volume, monitoring volume and echo, so you can fine-tune gain, adjust what you hear in your headphones independently, and add or remove echo in real time. That echo knob is a nice touch for creative segments; for straight interview audio you would simply turn it down.
Who should buy it: solo podcasters, streamers, YouTubers, TikTok creators, remote workers on Zoom or Discord, and anyone who wants one mic that handles recording, muting and headphone monitoring. Who should skip it: someone who only needs a listening device rather than a recording device, or someone who wants a stereo headphone for music — this is a microphone first, and it does not include headphones in the box.
EXMAX SE-55: Who It's For
The EXMAX SE-55 is not a recording tool at all. It is a single-ear, wired ear-hook headphone with a 3.5mm gold-plated plug, and every design choice points at one job: making human speech as intelligible as possible. The sound profile is deliberately voice-centric, amplifying the mid-to-high frequencies where speech lives while reducing background noise. The listed specs back that up — a 30mm driver, 32 ohm impedance, 105dB sensitivity and a 20,000Hz frequency response ceiling — and the tuning is described as bright and crisp rather than bass-heavy.
The ear-hook shape is the other half of the story. It hangs around the ear and can be adjusted 360° to sit better, with a sponge-free, non-porous earpiece that wipes clean with a damp cloth — handy in shared spaces like offices, schools or tour-guide setups, and for anyone who dislikes worn foam cushions. The cable runs about 120cm (45 in), uses a high-elasticity TPE jacket and is built with an anti-tangle design. Because it covers one ear only, your other ear stays open to the room.
That openness is the whole point in the situations it is made for: following a ballgame or a referee call, listening to talk radio late at night, picking up weak FM stations with less static, catching a podcast or audiobook while you commute, or coordinating with teammates outdoors. It also works as a hands-free calling tool with a voice-optimized mic.
Who should buy it: sports fans, talk-radio listeners, gym-goers, commuters, tour-guide and event staff, and anyone who needs clear speech in one ear and situational awareness in the other. Who should skip it: anyone who wants stereo music, deep bass, noise isolation, wireless freedom, or a full-size over-ear headphone — this is a purpose-built single-ear piece, and the listing itself leans into "tinny" as part of that speech-first character.
• Best for recording a podcast → ZealSound Podcast Microphone. It has the capsule, the cardioid pattern, the USB output and the onboard controls; the EXMAX cannot record anything.
• Best for hearing your own voice while you record → ZealSound Podcast Microphone. Its 3.5mm jack gives zero-latency monitoring with its own volume knob.
• Best for clean audio in a noisy room → ZealSound Podcast Microphone. Noise Reduction Mode targets keyboard clicks, fans, AC hum and chatter, and the cardioid pattern rejects off-axis sound.
• Best for one-ear speech listening → EXMAX SE-55. A voice-focused, mid-and-high-forward tuning with a single ear-hook design keeps you aware of your surroundings.
• Best for hygiene and shared use → EXMAX SE-55. The sponge-free earpiece wipes clean and never needs replacement foam cushions.
• Best for device flexibility → ZealSound Podcast Microphone. It covers PC, Mac, PS4/PS5, tablets and phones via the included USB-C and Lightning adapters, with no drivers.
• Best for portability and cable manners → EXMAX SE-55. A 45-inch anti-tangle TPE cable and an ear-hook that folds to your ear travel better than a desk mic with a stand.
• Best for a beginner podcast setup → ZealSound Podcast Microphone. Plug it in, mute when needed, dial in gain and listen through your own headphones — one device covers the whole chain.
In my opinion, if your goal is actually making a podcast, the ZealSound Podcast Microphone is the one I would buy. It records, it mutes, it shapes tone, and — the part that ties directly to the headphones question — it lets you monitor yourself through any 3.5mm headphones with no delay. The EXMAX SE-55 is a good, honest single-ear listening piece for talk-heavy content, and I would recommend it as a companion for reviewing your own recordings or following live commentary. But it cannot do the job the ZealSound does. Buy the ZealSound for the studio; buy the EXMAX if you only need speech in one ear.
how to set up headphones for podcast
Plug your headphones into the microphone's 3.5mm monitoring jack rather than into your computer. On the ZealSound Podcast Microphone, that jack gives zero-latency, real-time monitoring, and the dedicated monitoring volume knob lets you set headphone level independently of the mic gain.
why do you need headphones for a podcast
Headphones let you hear what is actually being recorded, so you can catch distortion, background noise, echo or a muted mic before you edit. The ZealSound's monitoring path is designed exactly for this, which is why the mic and the headphones work as one setup rather than two separate purchases.
what is the best headphones for podcasting
There is no single answer, but the deciding factor is the job. For recording, you want closed isolation and a reliable fit so you hear only the mic feed; for listening back or following talk content, the EXMAX SE-55's voice-focused, single-ear design is a strong option because speech stays crisp and your other ear stays open.
what are good headphones for podcasting
Good ones match your role. If you are hosting, any wired headphones with a 3.5mm plug will work with the ZealSound's monitoring jack, since the mic handles gain, mute and volume. If you are listening to podcasts rather than making them, the EXMAX SE-55 is tuned for clear speech and stays comfortable over long sessions.
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