The Year in Gear: 2026 TEC Award Winners & Nominees

2025 is in the books, and the sheer amount of amazing gear released last year has been overwhelming. From tools for recording, mixing, and mastering to breakthroughs in immersive and live sound, both favorite brands and exciting newcomers delivered plenty to get excited about.

The annual TEC Awards celebrate the year’s most outstanding pro audio gear and innovations, culminating in an awards ceremony at the NAMM Show. Check out this year’s full list of winners and nominees below.

Microphones

Microphones – Recording

- AEA NUVO N28 Ribbon Microphone - WINNER
- Austrian Audio OC-S10 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
- Nordic Audio Labs NU-24K Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
- Royer Labs R-12 Active Ribbon Microphone
- Shure SM4 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
- United Studio Tech UT Twin48 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

Microphones – Sound Reinforcement

- Audio-Technica ATM355VF Condenser Microphone
- DPA Microphones 4099 CORE+ Condenser Microphone
- Mojave Audio MA-D Wireless Head
- Sennheiser MD 421 Kompakt Dynamic Microphone - WINNER
- Shure Nexadyne Microphones (8/C, 8/S, NXN2, NXN5, NXN6)
- Telefunken Elektroakustik M80-WH2 & M81-WH2 Capsules

Monitoring

Studio Monitors

- ADAM Audio D3V Monitors - WINNER
- Augspurger Monitors Quattro 415-Sub418-ET703-SXE3/3500 Ultimate Monitors
- Barefoot Sound Footprint03C Monitor
- EVE Audio EXO Series Monitors (EXO 24, EXO 25, EXO 27, EXO 28)
- Focal Utopia Main 112 and 212 Monitors
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro Monitors
- Telegrapher Loudspeakers Rhino Monitors

Headphone / Earpiece Technology

- ADAM Audio H200 Closed-Back Headphones
- Audeze LCD-S20 Closed-Back Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa Open-Back Headphones - WINNER
- Neumann RIME Immersive Monitoring Environment Plug-In
- Sony MDR-M1 Closed-Back Headphones
- Ultimate Ears Professional UE Reference Remastered Plus Pro

Amplification Hardware / Studio & Sound Reinforcement

- EAW UXA4807D Amplifier
- L-Acoustics LA1.16i Amplifier Controller
- LEA Professional Connect Series Digital CS-1504D Amplifier
- Powersoft Unica-T Touring Amplifiers
- Radial Engineering Nuance Select Monitor Controller
- Universal Audio Apollo Monitor Correction (Powered by Sonarworks) - WINNER

Outboard Gear, Audio Interfaces & Accessories

Microphone Preamplifiers

- Audient iD48 Audio Interface
- British Audio Technologies BAT 1588 Preamp
- GC Audio Malcolm Toft Equate X Preamp
- Harrison Audio 32Classic MS Mix Strip Channel Strip
- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 5053 Transformer-Gain Mic Pre & Inductor EQ - WINNER
- Universal Audio Apollo e1x Remote-controlled Unison Preamp

Recording Consoles

Large Format Console Technology

- Avid VENUE 8.0 + E6LX-256 Engine Digital Mixing Console
- DiGiCo Quantum326 Digital Mixing Console
- Harrison Audio 32Classic Console
- Solid State Logic Oracle Console - WINNER
- Wolff Audio Console ST Consoles
- Yamaha Rivage PM v6.6 Digital Mixing Console

Small Format Console Technology

- Allen & Heath Qu Series Digital Mixers
- API ASM 164 Summing Mixer
- Roland BRIDGE CAST ONE Dual Bus Streaming Mixer
- Solid State Logic System T Desktop Fader Tile + Tempest Control App
- Tascam Model 2400 Analog Recorder/Mixer/Interface
- Yamaha DM7 v1.72 Digital Mixer
- Waves Audio eMotion LV1 Classic Digital Mixing Console - WINNER

Instruments, Effects & DJ Production

Musical Instrument Hardware

- Moog Music Muse Synthesizer - WINNER
- Nord Organ 3 Combo Organ
- Novation Launchkey MK4
- Rhodes Music Rhodes MK8 MIDI Piano
- Rhodes Music Rhodes Stage 61 Piano
- Roland V-Drums 7 Series Drums

Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects

- Ampeg SGT-DI Blue Line Anniversary Edition Preamp Pedal & DI
- Eventide Audio Knife Drop Fuzz Octave Pedal
- Positive Grid Spark 2 Practice Amp
- Strymon EC-1 Tape Echo Pedal
- Universal Audio Enigmatic ’82 Overdrive Special Amp Pedal - WINNER
- Warm Audio WA76-P FET Compressor Pedal

DJ Production Technology (Hardware / Software)

- AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ DJ System
- Denon Prime Go+ DJ System
- L-Acoustics DJ Stereo System
- Native Instruments Traktor Z1 MK2 DJ Mixing Controller - WINNER
- Roland SP-404MKII Sampler - Version 5
- Serato DJ Pro v3.3.2 Software

Software

Workstation Technology / Recording Devices

- Ableton Ableton Live v12.2 DAW
- Apple Logic Pro v.11.2 (desktop version) DAW
- Avid Pro Tools 2025.6 - WINNER
- Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 20 FX
- PreSonus Studio One Pro 7 DAW
- Universal Audio LUNA 1.8.4 DAW

Musical Instrument Software

- Avid Sibelius Composition Software
- Native Instruments Komplete 15 Production Tools
- Softube Model 77 Dual Layer Synth
- Steinberg Etude Grand Piano
- Universal Audio UAD Dream ’65 Reverb Amplifier - WINNER
- Vienna Symphonic Library Synchron Solo Violin 1

Signal Processing Software (Dynamics / EQ / Utilities)

- Apogee Electronics Clearmountain’s 8068 Console Plug-In
- Antares AutoTune Vocal Prep Plug-In
- Bettermaker C502V Plug-In
- FabFilter Pro-Q 4 Plug-In - WINNER
- FLUX MiRA Analyzer Software
- Softube Weiss Exciter Plug-In

Signal Processing Software (Effects)

- iZotope Aurora Reverb Plug-In
- Soundtoys SpaceBlender Reverb Plug-In
- Strymon Cloudburst Reverb Plug-in
- Universal Audio A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer Plug-In - WINNER
- Vienna Symphonic Library Synchron Stage Reverb Plug-In
- Waves Audio ILLUGEN AI Sample Generator Plug-In

Audio Apps & Hardware / Peripherals for Smartphones & Tablets

- Apple Logic Pro v.11.2 for iPad - WINNER
- Caedence
- Fender Studio
- Music AI Music AI v6.2
- Rational Acoustics Smaart RTA
- Steinberg Cubasis 3.7.5

Live Sound

Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers

- d&b audiotechnik CCL Compact Cardioid Line Array Series
- EAW NT206L Line Array Loudspeakers
- JBL PRX900 Series (925 and 935) Powered Loudspeakers
- JBL SRX900 Series Powered Flyable Subwoofers
- Meyer Sound ULTRA-X80 Loudspeakers
- QSC KC12 Loudspeakers - WINNER

Wireless Technology

- Clear-Com FreeSpeak Icon Wireless Intercom
- Positive Grid Spark NEO
- RF Venue CP Stage Antenna
- Roland WT-10 Wireless Trigger Adapter
- Sennheiser Spectera Digital Wireless Ecosystem
- Shure Axient Digital PSM In-Ear Monitor System - WINNER
- Sound Devices A20-HH Digital Wireless Handheld Microphone

Studio Installs & Education Tools

Studio Design Project

- Studio 33:3 - Haverstick Designs - WINNER
- Alibaba Recording Studios - WSDG
- Brainworx Studio Europe - Acoustic Spaces
- Distillery II - Distillery Music Group
- Fabulous Room - Flux Studios
- Violet Isle - WSDG

Audio Education Technology

- Bobby Owsinski Media Group - Mastering Engineer’s Handbook (5th Edition)
- Focal Press - The Audio Circuits Cookbook
- Mixerman Publishes - Mixerman’s Ultimate Guide To Producing Records, Music & Songs
- Musicians Health Resources - The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention & Better Health
- Shure - Axient Digital PSM “How To” Series - WINNER
- Thames & Hudson - Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studios

If you’re interested in purchasing any of the gear mentioned in this blog, contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.

Products in this Article

IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor - Pair

$ 349 .99