20 Best Microphones For Home Recording (Feb 2023 Update)

Sound: While the Blue Yeti may not be THE best sounding USB mic right out of the box, it does have good sound quality. With a little tweaking through a free audio mixer software like Voice Meeter Banana will result in a very professional sounding mic without spending the big bucks. Stock settings will give you more than sufficient sound quality though. With easy access to the knobs to control the gain and pic up pattern makes for easy adjusting on the fly. Due to the pic up patterns I would only recommend this mic for individual use and not for an interview setting. Price: Being priced at $130 isn't terrible, but should probably be closer to the $100.00 mic segment given it doesn't have XLR. Personally, I would opt to buy the Blue Yeticaster Broadcast Bundle which includes the mic (no desktop stand), boom arm, and shockmount for $180-$200 vs the stand alone Blue Yeti Mic for reasons below. Purchasing all three items individually would be in the $280 range Keep in Mind/Cons: I would highly, highly, highly recommend a boom arm for this mic. The desk stand for the mic is not very useful. I found myself slouching over due to having no height adjustment. Additionally, to get your mouth the appropriate distance from the mic for optimal sound quality (without cranking the gain) means the mic stand is sitting at an awkward spot in relation to your keyboard/mouse. I also found that with the desk stand no matter how I positioned the mic, set the pickup, gain or gate I could not eliminate picking up desk noise such as keyboard clicks, mouse clicks, or even setting my phone down on the desk due no shock dampening. Even setting the stand on a towel did not assist much. Mounting the mic to the Blue Boom Arm completely fixed the unwanted sound and positioning issues. If you are going to mount this mic to the Blue Boom Arm I would recommend installing it with the shock mount. The shock mount isn't much of an advantage sound quality wise, but definitely helps weight wise with the boom arm. While this mic is heavier than normal it's not quite heavy enough on it's on for the Blue Boom Arm. I found the boom arm wanting to "snap open" on the loosest tension settings due to there not being enough weight at the end of it. Adding the yeti shock mount to the mic and boom arm allowed for the proper weight to adjust the mic to my desired position without any sagging or raising. In conclusion, I would highly recommend this mic being purchased in the Yesticaster bundle due to the savings vs buying the individual components. While I still can recommend the mic being purchased individually, I believe you're going to be wanting a boom arm sooner rather than later due to the desk stand offering no dampening or height adjustment.Preston H

So far so good, sounds excellent as expected. I will likely need to put it on a box to elevate it, or get a boom mount. Installation was removing from packaging and plugging in the usb cable. Done. This review is taking longer to write than the installation. What surprised me though is that it's about twice the size I expected. I figured it was maybe an inch and a half wide, subconsciously extrapolating from smaller hand held mikes I've had previously. It's 2-1/2 wide at the screen, 2-3/4 on the main body. 11-1/4 or so tall. I've seen complaints that the stand is flimsy, but it sure isn't, it's pretty weighty and metal, not plastic, which is good. You do need to tighten the side screws to firm positioning up, but that's done with fingers. There's a threaded hole on the bottom that's about 1/2 wide, apparently you can get a 1/4-20 adapter for it. I'm guessing it'll screw into a mike stand, but I don't have one to check. Nice rubber bottom, anti-skid and won't mark your desk up. I'm pretty happy with it, the build quality is good, no complaints there. Using with a Mac, just showed up in preferences as a selection for both input and output (has a headset amp built in, 1/8 jack). Recorded a test video screen capture with voice over, no problem. The multiple patterns are nice, I haven't tried them all yet, but I'll probably just use the Cardoid/single person pattern mostly. Ideal speaking distance seems to be around a foot, but you can easily use it from a yard or more away. Has gain control that I didn't even need to turn up at all. All in all, it seems like a no-brainer. I see why the major reviews are pretty unanimous in recommending it.Jay

White-out is gorgeous, nice to have software support but also physical buttons. Yeti mics used to not have any native software controls but now they are recognized inside Ghub so if you want to do things like equalizing via that, you can (or whatever other audio software you are using). The physical buttons are also great though because you can make adjustments on the fly without having to navigate to software. That makes it pretty versatile for a lot of different use cases. Some people are experts and doing some serious audio work, others just want a nice mic for their zoom meetings. I'm in the latter category. I do think there are better mics out there for audio experts but for the price, this is an awesome mic for someone who just wants to sound better than everyone else in their meeting or want some good controls for things like background nosie.Spacey

I set up in my basement with it a few weeks ago and started messing around, have found nothing to be disliked. The overall sound is good, it has strong low end for my growls, and it doesn't have any problems with recording at any volume. I even put it in front of my drumset to see if it'd pick up okay, which it did surprisingly well with. I haven't been doing vocals for very long, but from what I can tell it easily competes with mics twice the price. 10/10 would recommend, worth it. P.s. get a pop filter toothe wheat man

The Seiren Mini is an honestly wonderful microphone for personal computer usage. It picks up voices accurately and clearly while often successfully ignoring background noises such as large summertime fans. This mic is about the size of a 355ML soda can, which makes it easy to relocate on your desk when in or out of use. Unfortunately, this size comparison makes it easy to accidentally attempt to drink from your microphone out of reflex if you're a habitual soda drinker. My only real complaint is that the microphone's top half is designed in a way that's very easy to collect dust or other stray particles that you wouldn't want on your mic. Cleaning has been easy, though it may concern messy eaters or people who work with paints or other craft materials. I'd happily recommend this product, though do be very careful to keep the space it's in clean!V1ral

I pick one of these up while I was building a better zoom/Microsoft teams set up. I wanted something that had better sound quality than the integrated mics in laptops or webcams like the c920, along with good enough noise isolation that I could use it on a desk with speakers, and perhaps most importantly it had to be truly plug and play. One of the primary users of the system it would be part of is my elderly father so having to fiddle with settings menus regularly would be an immediate disqualifier. I'm happy to say this little mic exceeded my expectations in every way. Sound is crisp and clear even when the mic is positioned fairly far away from the speaker and the pick up pattern is tight enough that there's no weird echoes or feedback from the speakers on the desk. The easy of use is also great, I did a little fine tuning in the settings menu of zoom and teams but honestly that step could be skipped it worked perfectly well right out of the box.Cecil

The microphone quality for recording is excellent much better than the built-in microphone on my computer or iPad. The one drawback is the connection of the MicroUSB that goes into the Microphone is weak and seems easily damaged and the chord that came with the Microphone had a bad connection (once replaced it worked). If they could find a way to make that more secured, then I would rate it 5 stars. By the way, on the iPad, the normal video/camera app doesn't work with this external microphone but Garageband does. You need to find another video recording app if you need the microphone for an improved video AND audio recording.DrAndrewRice

I used a mic at work with some button functionality and wanted a stand alone mic that I wouldn’t have to hold all day. Ideally one that was a bit more clear and better for dictating. While the Yeti does the job, there are a few issues. The anti EMI device is too close to the microphone/stand and limits the ability to change the mic angle. The mic sits a bit low, so without being able to angle it, you have to set it up on something to be closer to your mouth for best audio. Testing it against my computers built in mic, the difference wasn’t as pronounced as I was hoping, but I am no audiophile.Jon S

As we have all become dependent on using zooms throughout lockdown, finding a good mic was very important as I have been using my laptop one and often people cannot hear me clearly whilst also ensuring I am sat very close to speak. The build of this Yei Nano is very robust and the smooth finish instantly shows how good the quality is. The base is well build so issue about it accidently falling over. The compact size is great as it doesn’t take up too much space on the table. The setup is quite easy (which I am glad about) – The cable is connected via the bottom of the microphone and there is a small hole on the bottom of the stand where the cable runs through so it keeps it nice and tidy. Sound quality is fantastic – you can hear really clearly and the volume is quite loud with no echoes in the background. The best thing is you do not need to be particularly close to the mic to talk in order for others to hear you. This is an amazing top of the range mic which I highly recommend. It has made meetings much easier and comfortable to do.Annie12188

This microphone looks nice and also sounds nice. However, I have purchased this microphone for the second time now and for the second time it has stopped working without reason. It is not due to any pc port, audio driver, or cable problem. All of these things are working just fine after checking. Supposedly this microphone has an issue with it's firmware that causes this problem for me and many other people. I think this microphone is way too expensive for it to just give out unannounced like that. While it may look and sound nice, I can't see myself recommending this microphone to others due to how faulty it is. I'd spend my money elsewhere.Kayla

I absolutely love this microphone. I have been using a Samson Meteor Microphone up until this purchase, so, yes this is quite the upgrade – even though in the right hands even the Samson Meteor can sound great. However, I am not a microphone expert; I am of above average microphone knowledge but not by much. Right off the bat I notice that the setup's ability to transfer from the included stationary stand to my boom swing-arm AND have the ability to change adapters which is incredibly convenient. Keep in mind, this is all without having to remove the shock mount that the quadcast comes with either. The microphone works well in any orientation whether in vertical or inversed position, to even sideways or offset. The microphone is painless to setup and easy to use, having a gain knob underneath, a touch-tap mute button on top, and a mode selector on the back. The ability to choose from four pre-programmed scenario-based settings (podcast vs. interview vs. chat etc..) without needing a complex software is great and it is all at your finger tips with the mode selector. Speaking of software, the accompanying downloadable application for your desktop allows you to customize your sound settings and, of course, the RGB colors, patterns, ambience, and reactiveness. I am always partial to my blues and greens and, boy, did I get them. The sound of the microphone is great even when using my typical chat services, Discord, Zoom, and Teams. I unfortunately do not have experience with recording with intent like as voice overs, but my friend does like to capture instances of us playing various videogames together. Even without a "boosted server" the quality is crystal clear with a wide range. The addition of a built-in pop filter allows for some better hands-off control, giving the user the optional freedom of no external pop filter mounts or covers should they choose to do so. Although, it is always recommended to consider getting one depending on your vocal habits. The material used in the construction is very reassuring and has a nice matte black. The stand itself is very solid and you would have to put in a little effort to knock this thing over. I don't see myself getting a new microphone anytime soon, and I hope that I never have to!Ryan Z

I got this mic to replace a cheaper one i got from amazon for streaming on twitch. The audio quality is stellar, and i would even argue that its on par with the higher end stuff from rhode and sure, except its much cheaper AND its made by what is essentially a gaming company. With just a noise gate and a noise supression filter through OBS it already sounds like a professional grade mic. The physical aspects of it leave a few things to be desired as it is quite large. There is a more important problem though, the USB C port is on the back which creates the need for a steep bend in the cable right at the connector. So far i havent had any problems and the cable it comes with is pretty sturdy so its not a deal breaker, but i feel like it could have definitely been designed better. Overall the lighting, sound quality and construction make this a very solid choice.spencingt0n

Whether you are an amateur, a want-a-be, or a professional, the Blue Yeti X Professional Condenser USB Microphone is a fun, exceptional piece of equipment that you should consider adding to your workspace studio. This mic has everything you could need or want from a mic for podcasting, recording, long distance instruction, gaming, or creating YouTube productions. For starters, the design of this ultimate in microphones is pseudo-retro and reminiscent of earlier microphones in broadcasting like the one history records Walter Cronkite of CBS sitting behind to deliver historical events of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s a solid design constructed of quality materials and one that is timeless where form truly follows function of what is necessary to make an exceptional microphone, and one uncluttered by applied plastic ornamentation surely to disintegrate upon use after it has caught your eye and purchase. It's simply beautiful and its recording possibilities are pretty much unlimited. Packaged well and easy to install, I first removed it from the box along with the USB plug and play cord, positioned it vertically and tightened the screws on either side, and selected it as my favorite recording mic in my recording software. I then plugged my headset into the mic. Next, I downloaded Logitech G HUB software from the LogitechG.com website and installed it onto my desktop computer. When installed, the G HUB software allows customization of the mic’s vocal effects, lighting, EQ and provides detailed advanced options. This software allows you to test the mic and to adjust the volume, gain and blend. After this initial setup the real fun began. Features of this microphone are numerous. In addition to the four capsule condenser arrays built into the microphone, the Yeti X provides four pickup patterns. Selecting the proper one for your recording is the initial step to laying the foundation for success. The four pickup patterns are: 1. Cardioid – a setting for one-person podcasts and game streaming, 2. Omnidirectional – a 360-degree pickup for recording live performances and group podcasts, 3. Bidirectional – a perfect selection for one on one interviews because it provides front and rear pickup on the mic, and 4. Stereo – a pickup pattern which projects a wide, realistic sound that is ideal for recording acoustic guitar, etc. Any one of these four pickup patterns can be set by toggling through four clicks, each designated by a small LED light, on the rear button of the mic. The front control, through rotation of an 11-dot volume meter, allows the ability to set the mic gain, headphone volume, and blend the mic and computer sound in your headphones. Pushing this button instead of rotating mutes the microphone. There are only these two physical control buttons on the microphone itself. All other adjustments can be done to fine tune through your streaming or recording software and through the G HUB software. I used the G HUB to test my voice and vocals through several presets and heard a distinct difference. Some presets made my voice seem dull and other made it fuller and more professional sounding. I liked the “Classic Radio” preset best as it added clarity to my voice and made it stronger. When set as the default microphone, Yeti X is marketed to work with any streaming or recording software. I tried it with three different ones that are installed on my computer and it worked well with all three. It doesn’t matter which software you use, because the Logitech G HUB allows for fine tuning of the audio settings so that you can create your own ultimate, signature sound. System requirements for the Blue Yeti X are as follows: PC – Windows 7,8.1, 10 MAC – macOS 10.10 or higher USB 1.1/2.0/3.0 Internet access for Logitech G HUB software is optional, but through G HUB the firmware can be updated periodically as needed. The firmware can also be updated over the USB using Blue Sherpa found at bluedesigns.com/Sherpa. The Blue Yeti X Pro USB microphone is impressive and fun to use. It's very easy to install because of its plug-and-play capability. The four capsule condenser arrays, the four pickup pattern settings, the G HUB presets, and the numerous built-in mixer capabilities make this an exceptional buy. Its affordable, professional, built to last and has a variety of unlimited customization possibilities. I would highly recommend you look at this product if you are in the market for or considering the purchase of a good microphone. I expect to use it in a variety of capacities for many years to come. Simply put – I love my Blue Yeti X.SwigglesMilam

When I was offered the opportunity to test, and review, the new Yeti X Professional USB Microphone from Blue, I jumped at the chance, and for a few reasons. First, I have been considering getting a mic for my computer for several months now, and Blue was the primary (ok, “only”) brand on my list. Second, knowing that Logitech now owns Blue, there are bound to be people praising, and condemning, this acquisition, as well as those who believe Blue’s quality would go down because of it. So, wanting to have first-hand experience, and be able to report the “results”, this opportunity was, as Spock would put it, “logical”. UNBOXING AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: Packaging is fairly high-end, with a box-within-a-box design…the outer box is your typical thin, but sturdy, box, covered with information. The info is minimal, but is also presented in 6 languages. The inner box, however, is constructed of plain black corrugated cardboard…QUITE sturdy…and, it needs to be, considering the weight of the mic…this thing is HEAVY. Open the box, and you’re presented with a quick-start guide. Unfortunately, this isn’t your typical quick-start guide, which would have walked you through the steps of getting the mic set up & operational. Instead, it’s a quick guide walking you through the operation of the mic, itself…and it’s NOT very clear. While the images and named function are large enough, there are NO words to inform you as to what you’re actually doing. So, where is the actual manual. In-short…and this is VERY disappointing…there isn’t one. You can go to Blue’s website, and download the real quick-start guide, but it’s not really that informative – page 2 provides the “installation” info, page 3 provides some very brief info on software control options, pages 4-5 cover the buttons & meter info, pages 6-7 cover the “smart knob” & LED metering info, and page 8 covers “pickup patterns”. The remaining pages provide no operational info. SETUP: Setup was both simple, and difficult. Starting with the ‘difficult’, this is because there was no manual, nor quick-start guide included. Not even the aforementioned included sheet contained any info. It was only on a whim that I Googled ‘blue yeti x’, found my way to the product page, clucked “downloads”, and found the (so-called) “manual”…which, again, is actually nothing more than a ‘quick-start guide’. If you don’t already have it installed on your computer, you will also need to download/install the Logitech G-Hub software. After installing G-Hub, you’ll need to restart your computer, then plug the mic in…and wait…and, once the mic’s drivers (which are stored on a chip inside the mic) have been installed, you’ll need to restart your computer again. Think you’re done? Not quite. Once the computer reboots (and you’ve logged in, if your computer requires a password), you’ll need to go to your audio settings, and set the Yeti X as the ‘Default’ recording device. Only then is everything set up, and ready to go…well, once again, not quite. Next, you’ll need to start up the G-Hub software, wait for it to recognize the Yeti X mic (future occurrences of opening G Hub, it will instantly recognize the mic, as long as it’s already plugged into a USB port), and then go through the process of properly setting your gain, EQ, and (if you choose) “Advanced Controls”. Alternately, instead of playing around with the EQ & Advanced Controls, you can play around with the “Blue Voice” presets (of which there are 11). You can also download more presets, through the “BROWSE MORE PRESETS” option. NOW, you’re finally set. G-Hub: This is where all of the mic’s “magic” comes from. It’s also what Logitech uses for accessing all information & settings pertaining to Logitech G-series products, and products from other Logitech-owned brands. If you already have a G-series keyboard and/or mouse, then you’re already familiar with G-Hub, and how it functions. Not only does G-Hub update itself whenever a new version is available, but it also monitors the “attached” device’s firmware, and will inform you when new firmware is available. Having owned Corsair gaming products, and having had to deal with Corsair’s iCue software, G-Hub is much more user-friendly. While iCue is more powerful, G-hub is MUCH easier to use. CLOSING THOUGHTS: To be completely honest, I haven’t yet had time to test out all of the Yeti X’s functionality (that could take several weeks, if not longer, especially with my job), but, from what I’ve experienced so far, this thing is absolutely fantastic. several years ago, I was a DJ for an online radio station, ands, instead of using an actual mic, I used the built-in mic on my gaming headset. While it performed great for what I was using it for, in real-world usage, I would have barely considered it “adequate”. On a scale of 1-10, I would have given that Logitech headset’s mic a 3..maybe 4. The Yeti X, for now, deserves at least a 9 (the only reason I can’t (yet) give it a ‘10’ is that I hPanther68

Pros: -If you tweak the settings (especially the gain level) via G Hub, this mic captures voice/sound amazingly -sturdy build quality -futuristic yet classy look to it -for a USB mic, the sound quality comes very close to the quality of an XLR mic Cons: -Doesn't come with a pop filter, I suggest you get one for this mic -This is just my experience but this mic did NOT sound great out of the box. You need to customize the settings to cater to YOUR voice -The EQ settings take patience w/experimentation and tinkering till you get that "sweet spot" -For some reason, this mic has the presets in G Hub with the gain level set way too high -pricey, this should be around the $129.99 range, not $169.99 -lastly, if you intend to use a boom arm with a shock mount, the two mounting holes on the sides are exposed. Very awful looking but you eventually get used to it. Bottom Line: This is an intermediate level mic. It takes some tinkering and patience with the EQ settings via G Hub (you have to download this) to make it shine. In my experience, this mic sounded really flat and awful out of the box. Thank goodness the EQ via G Hub gives you the power to customize the mic to cater to YOUR voice 🙂VESPA5

This is the first microphone I bought. All the other microphones I have owned were always part of another device. This microphone was easy to install. Just plug it into the USB port and it's ready. It was immediately recognised by Windows 11 and ready to use. It's not exactly small and does take up some space. I use the microphone mainly for voice recordings for video films. The sound quality is very impressive and from my point of view really good. Background noise is effectively suppressed and the speech is very clear. However, I have no comparison with other microphones, but for my purpose it is excellent and I can recommend it.HenMet

When my Blue Yeti broke, I decided to use the mic built into my headset. I wasnt really into the sound, but I didnt want to spend Blue Yeti money again. Eventually when I was buying some other items at Microcenter, I decided to pick up the HyperX QuadCast.I love how much better the HyperX QuadCast sounds. The headset mic was quite tinny compared to the QuadCast. This one has a nice bit of bass to it that makes things sounds a lot better. Of course, theres also the advantage to a mic like this being better quality as a special purpose device. I also like that theres a pop filter built in.There are just two things that brought it down from 5 stars. One is that the mic gain is incredibly easy to move accidentally if you brush up against it while moving the mic or moving your hands past it. The Blue Yeti had the gain controls on the back, which made it harder to accidentally move. The other thing, its kind of both a procon. The mute button up top is capacitive touch. On the plus side, you dont get the audible sound of unmuting like you do with the Blue Yeti. On the minus side, it can trigger when your finger is still a few centimeters off the mic, so I could see it perhaps accidentally muting if you get too close to it especially in a boom mic configuration. At least its not hard to notice if its off because the entire mic lights up red when its unmuted.Overall, it seems to produce great audio at least for my purposes but Im more of an amateur enthusiast and its a big cheaper than the Blue Yeti.Eric M

Our church has a few aging SM58 mics. Some time ago I purchased an XM8500 and just recently added three more to our closet. Buying the Behringers was cheaper than upgrading the SM58 mics. The Behringers actually seem more brilliant than the Shures, but admittedly I am comparing them to the aging SM58s. Regardless, the sound is excellent. A big thumbs down for the mic clips, which were totally useless. I couldn't even slip a mic into them. I ended up forcing them onto an old mic and then I hit them with my heat gun to relax the plastic. That seems to have worked OK. At least I can get a mic into them now.rer-tar

To my ears, the XM8500 sounds just as good as any other XLR microphone. Its body is fully metal, and feels strong enough that I could throw it at a wall without so much as scratching it. It even comes in a hard plastic carrying case, which is much higher quality than the price would suggest. The included clip isn't amazing, you need to permanently stretch it to even be able to put the XM8500 in it, but it's still much better than nothing. If you're going to be close to the XM8500, I recommend getting some kind of foam windscreen, which DJ City doesn't sell for any kind of reasonable price. All in all, I highly recommend the XM8500 if you're after a high quality mic at a fair price.Charles M.

I heard a ham radio operator using one of these and his audio was simply GREAT! Based on this, I decided to invest $20 for one. It came promptly as scheduled. I connected it to my Elecraft K3S {an absolutely awesome radio} in place of either my Heil PR-781 or Shure SM-58. I immediately got GREATsounding audio reports. In comparing the specs and frequency response of the Shure SM58 {basically a $100 mike} and the Behringer XM8500, the 8500 has a wee bit more high end. Otherwise they are identical I've listened to my station and my voice in a critical listening environment, and I agree, it is a good sounding mike. Correctly interfaced to the radio and with the radio properly adjusted, it should produce great sounding audio on yours as well. Of note – I find with many mikes, and this one is no exception, the correct mike technique is the single most important factor to getting great audio reports. You can equalize and compress and process until you run out of knobs to turn and settings to adjust. If you don't use the correct mike-to-mouth distance and correct mike position, you'll never get great audio!k4tax

I was debating between the razer seiren mini, seiren X, blue yeti nano, and this. My friends happen to own each one of these except the hyperx solocast, so I bought it to compare this with the other mics. Superficially, they all sound pretty much the same, but on closer analysis, both the razers sound like you're speaking through a tin can. It's a subtle difference, but it's there. The blue yeti nano and the hyperx solocast have very similar sounds and build quality, and they both have a mute button. I like the black color for the solocast, and the fact that it is slightly cheaper than the blue yeti nano, so I decided to go with the solecast. After a few weeks of use, I'm in love with this tiny little microphone. It has really good build quality, and for people looking for a casual microphone for team meetings/talking with friends/gaming, this is perfect.Jazz

I purchased this as a replacement for a Blue Snowball that died on me after 4 good years of daily use and abuse. Physically, the Solocast feels solidly built, and the “tap to mute” button on the top is pretty intuitive. This mic is good for the price, but don’t expect it to be the “end-all” of USB mics. The Solocast is very “mid-heavy”; lows and highs have noticeable compression to them. This isn’t inherently bad, but it can cause the Solocast to sound flat. It’s very apparent in voice calls where bitrate is on the lower side of “good” (Discord, Teamspeak, Zoom, etc). I strongly suggest buying a shock mount and pop filter as well as this mic loves to pick up plosives. The Snowball, while having a lower frequency range, almost sounded better tonally in my opinion. It picked up more “low-end” and gave an almost announcer or podcast feel. I ended up returning this mic and purchasing it’s bigger brother: the HyperX Quadcast. The price jump for the Quadcast is definitely worth it, but if you only have $60 to spend, the Solocast should suffice. However, I highly recommend looking at the Snowball for comparison before purchasing. You can’t really go wrong with either for $60, but what kind of sound you want will determine which you should get.Caleb

This microphone was extremely good, but to the point where it’s too good. It catches everything and is extremely clear, but if you have a boom arm you have to be careful, cause almost every movement or small noise is apparent. I added a pop filter recently so that fixed most of the extra noise. All in all the microphone was really good and I definitely would recommend to others. The quality was great, it’s metal and the included tripod is also very good quality. Once again the sound quality is phenomenal and the microphone is extremely good, but you will probably need a pop filter if you intend to keep the microphone on for recordings, podcasts, or streaming. If you got it for zoom and intend to unmute for a short period of time then you probably won’t need a pop filter.Mahad

It has a reputation, because it is that good. Takes any vocal and places it at a higher level. Clarity, warmth, presence, yep. If you could only buy 1 piece of gear and youre doing vocals, forget everything else and get this microphone. Run through any interface with a daw, and youll see the difference. Its expensive, yep, but its an investment. Been doing more serious recording over the past 2 years, now I want to go back and re-record all the prior vocals.wdalgabbar_0

An ultimate aspirational mic for me. I have compared this with a vintage u87. For vocals, the vintage U 87 has a slightly more noticeable presence. By presence, I mean that you feel like the microphone is a noctilux-level macro lens focusing in on the singer's articulation and bringing them up close to your ear. All that, but it doesn't sound like it's trying. The new U 87 Ai is almost the same as the old U 87, but a bit more neutral. Less emphasis of sounds like ch (as in, chess), and the specs say less noise. That's my two cents, at least! The U 87 Ai is an amazing sounding mic and lives up to its name. I'd agree with so many reviewers who say that it's just plain good on anything.Peter

This microphone is made of the highest quality. The sound is absolutely unbeatable for voiceovers. Very natural, neutral, and clear in the midrange. It has a reputation for being the best for a reason. Yes, you can buy wonderful microphones for cheaper, but none of them are a Neumann U87. Neumann uses the best materials and craftsmanship out there. If you are looking to record primarily vocals and like the magic of tubes I would also recommended the Neumann M149 and if you are on a budget the Miktek CV4 is quite good. The Neumann U87ai will do anything however. It's great on any instrument and is probably the accurate microphone for realistic voiceover work. It just sounds polished and EQ's nicely. I use a Neumann Pop Screen and a Neumann Wind Cap on it usually to reduce noise as it is very sensitive. Must have for a quality home or professional studio.king11.11

The JBL Quantum STREAM is a very good and recommendable, as well as affordable microphone, it is perfect for private as well as professional everyday life. It is very suitable for live games, online conferences like zoom, podcasts, etc. The directionality of the microphone can be easily switched by simply pressing and holding the volume button on the main unit. The main body can be rotated 360 degrees and e.g. mounted on a tripod and placed on a table depending on the location. One can toggle mute on or off with a simple tap of the button on the top of the main unit, making it a model that combines high functionality and ease of use. The illumination, which is also a feature of the JBL Quantum series, is designed so that the ring on the bottom of the main unit lights up and you can see the operating status by changing colors. The stylish and highly durable design and the stable aluminum stand should also be emphasized.Katharina1984

I got this JBL Quantum Stream for testing and my 13 year old son catched it immediately and take it to his room. The packaging was good and not to much waste, just paper and cardboard. It was very easy to install and connect to the PC, just plug and play. My son don't need any help. He used the microphone for gaming and for his YouTube videos. To turn it on and off you just have to tap on the top and the colored ring at the bottom will show you green – on or red – off. My husband tried the microphone also for telephone conferences at work. It was totally easy, just plug the mic in and it was ready for teams and others. With the control dial you can adjust the volume. If you push this dial you can adjust the sensitivity of the mic which is shown in the brightness of the colored ring at the bottom. All very easy and intuitive. We will recommend this mic as a good and valuable helper for work and fun.aidu

As someone who works in IT, remotely from home – you can never have too many or too good of a microphone (or speakers, etc). I think most of us have had that person or coworker speaking over the phone or in a meeting and they sound like they are in a fishbowl or 300 feet away – no issue there with this microphone. I typically enjoy the build quality of JBL products – not much different here, it is solid (won't tip over easy) – with a metal base that is padded and can swivel. Can't really ask for much else with a microphone of this style. It is a little on the big side for my taste – but I have OCD and enjoy as clutter free of desktop real estate as I can get (hence monitors on monitor arm). The LED light is a nice touch and can be changed – not much to report there – not a big deal in my eyes since I don't have a flashy setup it will co-mingle with in that sense. My coworkers commented on the clarity of it the first time I got on to a meeting so that was a promising sign upon first use – no complaints or issues since. Only "gripes" I have are the USB power placement (underside pointing towards the base) and the oddly colored striped USB cord they provide – orange seems a bit out there and doesn't really go with anything I can see most people having on their desks but its a minor thing and getting another cable is no biggie. The software for this (JBL Quantum) seems pretty robust and the windows interface is nifty looking but for me personally I likely will not mess with it much – I could see if I was into actual streaming etc it would probably be nice to be able to fine tune settings.jbarnr

Just what I been looking for to connect to my laptop. Its kind of hard to find a very good microphone to use with your laptop but this one is awesome to use. I do lots of karaoke and I enjoy this microphone. An A+ ..saturn278

I am blown away with the results of this mic. It is durable, sturdy, and adds new meaning to form and function. Thanx! nv88snv88s

Man, idk where to start. DONT TRY TO USE THIS MIC WITH A USB-C extension cable or nothing with a pc, I can’t speak on the apple compatibility but yea, besides that this thing is amazing!!!!! No cap! The preamp compressor combos compliment the microphone emulations amazingly imho. The software is intuitive and I don’t have any complaints, I’m jus extremely appreciative of the quality provided at this price point.JAE

This is the best mic at this price I have ever owned! Great on vocals and acoustic guitar. This mic is as good as any AKG-414 I have ever owned! I also bought the Lewitt LCT 640 and that one is even more mind-blowing. Next I will get the LCT 840. For the sound quality, built, features and price, there are no better mics on the market today. Thanks, Lewitt for helping me get my signature vocal tone!lidiachimbotana

( Note, not applicable to the 240pro) the sound quality of this mic is smooth, rich, and full without sounding boxy or boomy in the bass frequency range. there are no electronic or unnatural sounds in the mid frequency range. the treble range is clear without sounding harsh or overly sibilant and it doesn't over-react to vocal dynamics. the mic maintains a natural sound quality after eq adjustments are made. singing note to note, sonically, its an extremely accurate mic. the multiple features are easy to use because of the led display panel. this is a great sounding mic for both male and female voices. its comparable to microphones that occupy the 2 and 3 thousand dollar price range. I am a recording engineer from the analog days.bgr_bry_ewbcropgwj

This microphone is the gold standard for vocal recording, and I can't believe that I used anything else before now. What's the secret to the sauce? While besides the decades of experience backed by the Shure name, this microphone features a VERY defined cardioid pickup pattern. What's a cardioid? Why do I care? If you're asking these questions, I'll simplify it by saying this: if you're recording in a situation where you want the least amount of background noise, this is the pattern for you. Especially vocal recordings, podcasters, and the like, will enjoy the dynamic range that won't clip or cut out at loud sounds like you do with condenser microphones. The pickup range is not directional, but you do need to be conscious of distance, as I'm sure you'll find once you start using it. I did use this microphone plugged into an audio interface into my computer, so that may have introduced a tiny bit of noise, but I was blown away by the results I got from recording. This is nothing like the lower cost and less dedicated microphones I have used in the past. Very well made, as you would expect from a microphone at this price point, and the frequency response modes are set by sliders on the back of the mic. The mounting and cable connector are set up for a boom arm or a stand. Because of the integrated pop filter cover for this microphone I toyed with the idea of using it without a pop filter, but I think i'm just too "spitty" for that, so I've shifted to using one. I highly recommend this microphone. If you're someone who records vocals, spoken word, etc, this will change your game.dronedad

The Shure brand is synonymous with quality microphones, and with the SM7B comes the top-notch build as well as the dynamic range appropriate for multiple applications. Its versatility, craftmanship, and overall reliability make the Shure SM7B a must-own for serious recording. Out of the box you'll notice the mic comes with only a few accessories (cover plate, large foam windscreen, thread adapter) and no XLR cable. You should be familiar with your own audio applications and interfaces to use this mic, as it is no joke. It is pretty weighty and should be mounted on a good microphone stand or hung firmly from a boom. The swiveling bracket adjusts easily for precise positioning. The SM7B feels great, slim and smooth, and its construction feels reliable and sturdy, though I personally limited my usage to studio and workspace recording. In my testing, the SM7B sounds amazing. It has just a very clean output for my instruments and vocals alike. It performs exceptionally well in my small, soundproofed studio affixed with foam wall fixtures. But I was more impressed with the sound quality in a non-optimal, unfixed bedroom environment. The flat, wide-range frequency response is unmatched; there is zero feedback and no static interference whatsoever, even around several operating laptops, two external monitors, and numerous electronic devices. The included windscreen makes up-close vocals and whispers move without the pops and crackles of lesser microphones. Bottom line, this is the microphone that provides the professional performance you need to be taken seriously in any recording environment. Shure's SM7B is everything you need in a dynamic microphone, with its rugged build, versatile application, and unparalleled quality. The brand you should trust with your recording needs did it again, and it isn't a surprise. This is the mic you want to have. Full disclosure, I received this product for my honest, unbiased review.NJRY

SUMMARY: As we dip our toes into the world of podcasting, we all start with an elementary setup that might be as simple as aiming your face into your cell-phone camera and talking into its microphone. But if you get serious, you will soon want a better audio/video setup. The Shure SM7B cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone will be a fine choice until you’re so famous that you have your own professional studio with a production crew and your name on the building. Honestly, most people’s hearing and their listening equipment can’t hear any improvements as you advance beyond this level of studio mic. FEATURES: • The switches under a cover at the back end allow you to set up the dynamic response of the mic. Shifting curves give you a visual indication of what frequencies you are pushing or reducing. • Excellent sound reproduction. • Fits standard mic mounts. • The Cardioid sound pick-up pattern is very direction and ignores sounds coming from anywhere in the room except the front making it a VERY quiet mic for studio use. • Two Year Limited Warranty. PROS: • Pop Filter, Air Suspension and Shock Isolation assure only the voice gets through without ambient studio noise. • Advance electromagnetic shielding prevents interference or hum from monitors and computers in the studio. CONS: • At this level of mic, it’s assumed you’re probably upgrading your system, so if you don’t already have certain other audio items like Mic Stand, Cable or Mic Activator, you’ll have to purchase them separately to begin using this mic. It won’t simply plug into your cell phone. CONCLUSION: The SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone won’t hold you back in creating excellent sound quality.JimF

This microphone is the gold standard for vocal recording, and I can't believe that I used anything else before now. What's the secret to the sauce? While besides the decades of experience backed by the Shure name, this microphone features a VERY defined cardioid pickup pattern. What's a cardioid? Why do I care? If you're asking these questions, I'll simplify it by saying this: if you're recording in a situation where you want the least amount of background noise, this is the pattern for you. Especially vocal recordings, podcasters, and the like, will enjoy the dynamic range that won't clip or cut out at loud sounds like you do with condenser microphones. The pickup range is not directional, but you do need to be conscious of distance, as I'm sure you'll find once you start using it. I did use this microphone plugged into an audio interface into my computer, so that may have introduced a tiny bit of noise, but I was blown away by the results I got from recording. This is nothing like the lower cost and less dedicated microphones I have used in the past. Very well made, as you would expect from a microphone at this price point, and the frequency response modes are set by sliders on the back of the mic. The mounting and cable connector are set up for a boom arm or a stand. Because of the integrated pop filter cover for this microphone I toyed with the idea of using it without a pop filter, but I think i'm just too "spitty" for that, so I've shifted to using one. I highly recommend this microphone. If you're someone who records vocals, spoken word, etc, this will change your game.dronedad

The Shure brand is synonymous with quality microphones, and with the SM7B comes the top-notch build as well as the dynamic range appropriate for multiple applications. Its versatility, craftmanship, and overall reliability make the Shure SM7B a must-own for serious recording. Out of the box you'll notice the mic comes with only a few accessories (cover plate, large foam windscreen, thread adapter) and no XLR cable. You should be familiar with your own audio applications and interfaces to use this mic, as it is no joke. It is pretty weighty and should be mounted on a good microphone stand or hung firmly from a boom. The swiveling bracket adjusts easily for precise positioning. The SM7B feels great, slim and smooth, and its construction feels reliable and sturdy, though I personally limited my usage to studio and workspace recording. In my testing, the SM7B sounds amazing. It has just a very clean output for my instruments and vocals alike. It performs exceptionally well in my small, soundproofed studio affixed with foam wall fixtures. But I was more impressed with the sound quality in a non-optimal, unfixed bedroom environment. The flat, wide-range frequency response is unmatched; there is zero feedback and no static interference whatsoever, even around several operating laptops, two external monitors, and numerous electronic devices. The included windscreen makes up-close vocals and whispers move without the pops and crackles of lesser microphones. Bottom line, this is the microphone that provides the professional performance you need to be taken seriously in any recording environment. Shure's SM7B is everything you need in a dynamic microphone, with its rugged build, versatile application, and unparalleled quality. The brand you should trust with your recording needs did it again, and it isn't a surprise. This is the mic you want to have. Full disclosure, I received this product for my honest, unbiased review.NJRY

SUMMARY: As we dip our toes into the world of podcasting, we all start with an elementary setup that might be as simple as aiming your face into your cell-phone camera and talking into its microphone. But if you get serious, you will soon want a better audio/video setup. The Shure SM7B cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone will be a fine choice until you’re so famous that you have your own professional studio with a production crew and your name on the building. Honestly, most people’s hearing and their listening equipment can’t hear any improvements as you advance beyond this level of studio mic. FEATURES: • The switches under a cover at the back end allow you to set up the dynamic response of the mic. Shifting curves give you a visual indication of what frequencies you are pushing or reducing. • Excellent sound reproduction. • Fits standard mic mounts. • The Cardioid sound pick-up pattern is very direction and ignores sounds coming from anywhere in the room except the front making it a VERY quiet mic for studio use. • Two Year Limited Warranty. PROS: • Pop Filter, Air Suspension and Shock Isolation assure only the voice gets through without ambient studio noise. • Advance electromagnetic shielding prevents interference or hum from monitors and computers in the studio. CONS: • At this level of mic, it’s assumed you’re probably upgrading your system, so if you don’t already have certain other audio items like Mic Stand, Cable or Mic Activator, you’ll have to purchase them separately to begin using this mic. It won’t simply plug into your cell phone. CONCLUSION: The SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone won’t hold you back in creating excellent sound quality.JimF

This is for the #sweepstakes but even without it I would still review this product. I'm a producer that's starting out and originally I bought some cheap mic on some random online service. But once I had more money I bought my SM58 since I knew how much of a classic mic it is. It was a great decision I solely use it now and it sounds great and so clean. It gives this great tone to the sound that sounds more professional and I look cool singing into it in my music videos. Thanks for the classic productBrian C.

I loved the sound, finish and ruggedness. It's been my go-to ever since. The finish kept it from upstaging the talent. Back then, this was a selling point. The 565 would glare in the stage lights, but not the 58. I once accidentally through one across the stage showing off how rugged it was. Small bent in the windscreen, but otherwise fine. But I never owned one myself. So, when I saw that I could buy one direct, I jumped on it.Scott M

Ordered this for our church. Mostly vocals and some speech. Mic is a fantastic upgrade from our older model Shure BG3.1 mics. I know we had these for a long while but this sm58s sounds fantastic and made a huge difference in clarity and crispness. I was told the Shure sm58 is one of the best all general purpose mics for sound quality and build and so far (a few months now) I couldn't agree more! As far as the switch goes, our old mics had them so I kept them the same but I seem to like having the switch in the event you don't have someone at the sound board you can set it up and just switch on when needed. Also bought this in a bundle with a boom stand and mic cable which was a good value. If your in the market for a great all purpose mic def check this bundle out. You won't be disappointed! Thanks AMS!Brent

Just what I been looking for to connect to my laptop. Its kind of hard to find a very good microphone to use with your laptop but this one is awesome to use. I do lots of karaoke and I enjoy this microphone. An A+ ..saturn278

I am blown away with the results of this mic. It is durable, sturdy, and adds new meaning to form and function. Thanx! nv88snv88s