Help Me Buy: Music Gear Finder Quizzes

  • 39 free quizzes
  • 60 seconds each
  • 3,822 products ranked
  • No sign-up

Help me buy music gear

Pick what you are shopping for, answer a few quick questions, and get your top 5 with a plain-English reason for each, plus one upgrade only when it is worth it.

Ivan Meshcheriakov (IvanFromRnD)By Ivan Meshcheriakov (IvanFromRnD), producer. Built on the Bibles scorecards and Sweetwater product data.

Studio & recording

HeadphonesMixing, recording, travelTake the quiz →Audio interfaceVocals, bands, streamingTake the quiz →MicrophoneVocals, podcast, instrumentsTake the quiz →Studio monitorsSized for your roomTake the quiz →Acoustic treatmentPanels, bass traps, boothsTake the quiz →Preamp & outboardPreamps, comps, EQsTake the quiz →PluginsVocals, EQ, comp, reverbTake the quiz →Headphone ampPersonal and multi-channelTake the quiz →Monitor controllerVolume, switching, room correctionTake the quiz →ConverterADAT, mastering, big I/OTake the quiz →Portable recorderMusic, podcast, filmTake the quiz →DI boxActive, passive, acousticTake the quiz →Studio subwooferFor small to big roomsTake the quiz →Studio deskKeys, racks, compactTake the quiz →Podcast mixerSolo and guestsTake the quiz →Power conditionerRack and deskTake the quiz →

Keys & production

SynthAnalog, digital, grooveboxesTake the quiz →MIDI keyboardMatched to your DAWTake the quiz →Digital pianoHome, portable, stageTake the quiz →KeyboardLearning, arranger, workstationTake the quiz →MIDI controllerPads, grids, fadersTake the quiz →Drum machineDrum machines, samplers, MPCTake the quiz →

Guitars & bass

Guitar pedalsDrive, delay, reverb, multi-FXTake the quiz →Electric guitarStrat, Tele, Les Paul, metalTake the quiz →Acoustic guitarDreadnought, small body, classicalTake the quiz →Bass guitarP, J, active, short scaleTake the quiz →Guitar ampPractice, gigs, modelersTake the quiz →Bass ampPractice and gigsTake the quiz →UkuleleSoprano to baritoneTake the quiz →

Drums

Electronic drum kitQuiet practice to proTake the quiz →Drum kitComplete kits, shell packsTake the quiz →CymbalPacks, crashes, rides, hatsTake the quiz →

DJ & live sound

PA systemGigs, DJs, eventsTake the quiz →DJ controllerrekordbox, Serato, standaloneTake the quiz →TurntableDJ and listeningTake the quiz →MixerAnalog and digitalTake the quiz →Wireless mic systemHandheld, lav, instrumentTake the quiz →In-ear monitor systemWireless and wiredTake the quiz →Vocal effects processorTuning, harmony, loopsTake the quiz →

How it works

  1. Tell it about youWhat you play or make, your budget and your setup.
  2. It filters and weighsStudio quizzes use my hand-scored Bibles; the others use Sweetwater data: popularity and customer ratings where we have them, plus prices, stock and specs. Your answers decide what matters most.
  3. You get 5 picks and the whyPlus one pricier pick only if it is clearly better, and what the extra money buys.

FAQ

Are the quizzes free?

Yes, no email or sign-up. Store links are affiliate links: they cost you nothing extra and never change the ranking.

Where do the rankings come from?

Studio quizzes (headphones, interfaces, mics, monitors, synths, MIDI keyboards, plugins, treatment, outboard, pedals, PA) use my Bible scorecards: measurements, owner reports and 100+ interviews with Grammy-winning engineers. The other quizzes use Sweetwater data: popularity and customer ratings where we have them, plus prices, stock, specs and the features you ask for.

How current are the prices?

Each quiz shows the date its prices were checked. Prices change fast, especially around sales, so always check the live price before you buy.

Free download

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The plugins and settings 100+ Grammy-winning engineers actually use — collected from 5 years of interviews, in one free PDF.

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