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14. Raspberry by Blue Microphones ($199.99) For any college student heading back to campus with their laptop in January, the Raspberry mobile microphone from Blue would make an excellent gift. This highly portable, premium microphone will vastly improve the audio quality of recordings over any laptop, and can even be used directly with iPads and iPhones for improved recording and audio transmission. Skype calls and Facetime events will no longer be plagued by the tinny sounds of built-in microphones; podcast recordings will sound cleaner and sharper; online multiplayer voice chat will be much more crisp and audible; and online Twitch streams and YouTube videos will be taken to the next level. The Raspberry comes in a premium package and includes a carrying case to protect the leather wrapped microphone and detachable stand. Included in the box is a lightning cable for iDevices, as well as a standard micro USB cable for basically all other laptops and devices. The stand allows for various configurations, whether the mic is sitting on a tabletop, hand-held, or attached to a tripod or other peripheral. Operation is simple, with a volume knob for your reference headphones (that plug directly into the back of the mic) and another knob for the microphone recording volume that also functions as a mute button when pushed in. The Raspberry mic goes from unboxing to fully functional in a matter of minutes. With the build quality you’d expect from Blue, and many premium features (like Blue’s patent-pending Internal Acoustic Diffuser) that you’d only think to find in larger microphones, the Raspberry is a great gift for all of the budding content creators out there. For more information, visit: http://www.bluemic.com 15. PX24 by Turtle Beach ($79.95) Console gamers looking to fully immerse themselves in their gaming experience for a modest budget should take a look at the PX24 from Turtle Beach, which retail for around $80. The SuperAmp is what sets these apart from most other gaming-focused headphones. These wired headphones are routed through the SuperAmp, directly into a PS4 or Xbox One controller via a standard 3.5mm jack. Charged via micro USB and providing about 30 hours of gaming enhancement per charge (no batteries required), the amp provides powered audio and adjustable audio features, which make a noticeable difference in-game or even listening to music. The amp gives you access to the included in-line volume control, virtual surround sound, microphone monitoring, and bass boost, which are all adjustable. The extra juice from the amp powers 50mm neodymium drivers that produce the quality sound you’d expect from Turtle Beach. Additionally, the amp has large buttons for mute and to activate Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing which is designed to boost ambient noises like footsteps, bullet fly bys, and weapon reloads - giving you an advantage on the battlefield. The headphones themselves take styling cues from their PX12 and PX22 brethren, including a neutral black design that won’t be off putting in the living room, and copious amounts of padding on the band and ear cups for extended gaming sessions. The microphone does a commendable job for the price range and can be swung up out of the way, though not removed. As long as you are leveraging the technology packed into the SuperAmp, the PX24s are a great way to elevate your gaming audio on all systems. For more information, visit: https://turtlebeach.com/