The Joe Rogan Experience podcast is one of the most popular podcasts on the internet, and has very much become the template for how the modern podcast is formatted, and how the business model works.
As such, many up-and-coming podcasters find themselves looking to Rogan as a personal goal, taking note of what he uses in terms of equipment, and seeing this as the first step to their success.
But what equipment does Joe Rogan actually use, and how readily available is this to new podcasters?
Who Is Joe Rogan?
Joe Rogan is an American standup comedian currently based out of Austin, Texas.
Formerly from New Jersey, Rogan moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s, starring in the popular sitcom NewsRadio, and the highly successful reality television programme Fear Factor.
He is also incredibly active in mixed martial arts, as both a practitioner in his spare time, and a color commentator for the UFC.
However, his main profession is that of a standup comedian, making a name for himself in several cities around the country, before becoming a paid regular at the Los Angeles Comedy Store – the venue through which he achieved mainstream success.
Started in 2009, his podcast – The Joe Rogan Experience – was one of the first comedy podcasts of its kind, and inspired a whole movement of comedy podcasts within the United States and the world over.
Joe Rogan’s Podcast Setup – What Headphones Does He Use?
Since the early days of his podcast, Joe Rogan uses Sennheiser headphones – a widely available, and affordable, headphones brand that are renowned for their durability and effectiveness.
As of 2022, he continues to use the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones, which are standard, critical listening headphones widely used in a number of different podcasts and applications.
Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones: The Facts
These headphones are widely considered to be industry standard, providing excellent clarity, and allowing for users to properly hear detail while wearing them.
Design
The design has consistently been commended for its ergonomic structure, and breathability that helps to reduce sweating during long periods of use.
They are also known for their comfort during wearing, which makes them a popular choice for podcasting, wherein a session can last anywhere from one hour to 4 hours – depending on the genre and podcast.
Durability
They are widely praised for their durability, maintaining their firmness after repeated long-term use, and avoiding breakages associated with everyday wear and tear.
Even though they are most composed of plastic, they are still rigid and heavy-duty, making them a reliable piece of equipment – especially when you consider the price.
Sound Quality
The headphones have a great deal of audio reproduction, which perfectly capture the bass levels – creating a sense of quality that is hard to beat.
These headphones have become synonymous with clean, accurate audio, and are known to passively reduce external noise significantly.
Price
The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones are also renowned for their affordable price tag, which means that everyone from industry professionals to up and comers can get their hands on great quality technology without breaking the bank.
This makes them a natural fit within the podcasting industry, which is mainly composed of self-starting projects with minimal resources and pull.
Are There Any Downsides?
However, despite their great reputation, there are a couple of minor downsides to the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones.
Cable
Firstly, the cable is not detachable, meaning that transporting them, and using them in situations with a lot of cables, means that tangling can become an issue.
However, it is worth saying that this is only a minor complaint, and one that does not make any difference to their quality or suitability for podcasting.
Suitability
They also have limited suitability.
While perfectly suited to studio, professional use – such as when podcasting – they are less suited for simply listening to music on. This is because of their size, the wiring, and the level of clarity that they allow.
Can They Be Upgraded?
For those wanting to upgrade their Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones, there is another route to go.
Sennheiser have now released their HD 300 PROs, which deliver high resolution sound, with a closed back, wired design, and high passive isolation that makes them perfect for monitoring use.
They come with a detachable cable, improving on the 280 PROs, and come with easily replaceable ear pads and headphones, making them even more affordable and giving them a higher longevity than their predecessor.
It also has an even sturdier, heavier built design, meaning that users get the best of both worlds – possessing something that is transportable and suitable for versatile use, while also proving to be one of the strongest sets of headphones on the market.
Is Sennheiser A Reputable Brand?
Senheiser is a widely known and reputable brand, largely considered to be industry standard right across the board.
They also offer the perfect combination of affordability and quality, making them fairly versatile and accessible for various different applications.
They can quite easily be used in professional recording studios, as well as for training purposes in universities and colleges all around the world – with their clarity making them suitable for filmmaking, as well as radio production, and sound engineering.
The Rest Of Joe Rogan Podcast Setup
Aside from the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones, Joe Rogan uses pretty basic but solid podcast equipment to produce his chart-topping podcast. Joe’s podcast studio consists of a few core components: a microphone, audio interface, computer, and headphones.
His recording studio is equipped with multiple microphones, one for his guest and one for himself. He also has a large mixing board to control the sound from both sources. Here are more specifics of his podcast production equipment.
Microphone – Shure SM7B
Microphone Arm – Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desk-Mounted Broadcast Microphone Boom Stand For Podcasts
Headphone amplifier – Behringer POWERPLAY HA8000
Digital Audio Recorders – Tascam DR-100MKIII 192/24-Bit Stereo Portable Audio Recorder
Camera and Multi Camera Production System – Canon VIXIA HF G50 4K30P Camcorder
USB Audio Interface – Universal Audio Apollo FireWire Audio Interface
Final Thoughts
And there we have it, everything you need to know about Joe Rogan’s podcasting equipment, and the accessibility of it to new podcasters in the industry.
What is clear is the accessibility of Rogan, which has made him an icon to many, not to mention one of the key players in the pantheon of modern podcasting.
This same accessibility trickles down to the equipment he uses, which can easily be acquired by anyone looking to start their own podcasts from home.
So if you are looking for a great, affordable set of headphones for your own podcast, then why not try.