---
title: 'The Best Microphones for Vocals (With Sound Tests!)'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=ez0H75g8TFo'
video_id: 'ez0H75g8TFo'
date: 2026-08-21
duration_sec: 995
channel: 'Music By Mattie'
---

# The Best Microphones for Vocals (With Sound Tests!)

> Source: [The Best Microphones for Vocals (With Sound Tests!)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ez0H75g8TFo)

## Summary

This video reviews eight popular microphones for vocal recording, providing live sound tests and ratings for each. The creator shares personal experiences and recommendations, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each microphone in different recording environments.

### Key Points

- **Introduction to Microphone Testing** [00:01] — The creator spent a month testing eight popular microphones for recording vocals and will provide live sound tests and a comparison chart on their website.
- **Shure SM58 Review** [00:39] — The SM58 is an iconic, affordable dynamic microphone (under $100) known for durability and suitability for live performances and untreated rooms. It lacks high-end sparkle, earning a 7.9/10.
- **Shure SM7B Review** [02:36] — The SM7B is a premium dynamic microphone (~$300) ideal for studio use, with a warm profile that handles EQ well and reduces room noise. It requires significant gain, often needing a cloudlifter. Rated 9.4/10.
- **Electro-Voice RE20 Review** [04:42] — The RE20 is a dynamic microphone (~$450) with a pronounced high-end and minimal proximity effect, making it easier to manage vocals. It may be harsh for thin voices. Rated 9.0/10.
- **Audio-Technica AT2020 Review** [06:29] — The AT2020 is a budget condenser microphone (~$100) that performs well for its price, though it lacks the clarity of more expensive options. Rated 8.4/10.
- **Rode NT1 Review** [07:56] — The NT1 is a large-diaphragm condenser (~$160) with a crisp, detailed sound and top-end shine, suitable for home studios. It can be harsh on some voices. Rated 8.6/10.
- **Warm Audio WA87 Review** [09:36] — The WA87 is a condenser mic (~$700) emulating the Neumann U87, offering a vintage tone with a midrange focus. It takes EQ well and is versatile. Rated 9.2/10.
- **AKG C214 Review** [11:12] — The C214 is a large-diaphragm condenser (~$500) with excellent clarity in the high mids (4-6 kHz), ideal for modern pop/hip-hop vocals. Rated 9.1/10.
- **Neumann TLM 103 Review** [13:07] — The TLM 103 is a high-end condenser (~$1,200) with a crisp, bright sound that requires minimal EQ for modern vocals. It may be too bright for thin voices and lacks versatility. Rated 8.9/10.
- **Final Recommendations** [15:48] — The creator recommends the SM7B for noisy rooms and the WA87 as the overall favorite for vocal recording, praising its close emulation of the U87 sound.

### Conclusion

All eight microphones are viable options, but the SM7B and WA87 stand out as top recommendations for different needs. The video emphasizes that the best microphone depends on individual voice and studio conditions.

## Transcript

vocal sound is to find a microphone that fits your voice but with all the options out there what the hell do you even pick I think I can help with that I've spent the last month testing the eight most popular microphone options for recording
show you exactly what I found and provide live sound test for each of them and some of the results I found were surprising I've also made a comparison chart of all of these microphones on my
website if you're really itching to find out my favorites Link in the description subscribe this video took a lot of time to make to start off we have one of the most iconic microphones to ever grace the stage the sure sm58 this is by far
in a way the most popular vocal microphone of all time for live performances if you've seen a live performance you probably heard this mic this mic is Affordable normally clocking in at under 100 bucks new I'd recommend
because it may have changed since filming and on top of being a budget microphone Enthusiast must have this thing is built like solid steel are you worried about dropping your mic doesn't matter even a dented wind screen won't
stop this bad boy I I think I have four of them and they're all dented this mic is also great for Studio recordings especially on vocals that are recorded in untreated rooms without blankets on the walls or even DIY acoustic panels I
made a video on how to make your own DIY acoustic panels right up here if you perfect it lacks a lot of the high-end Sparkle that other condenser mics have and isn't as ideal for Studio recordings for that reason my final rating is a bit
of me rambling let's hear how it sounds unprocessed version with no plugins and then I'll play a process version all of the vocal processing I'll use will come from my vocal preset pack vocal magic 1
which can transform a normal vocal recording into a radio ready track with one click and also so the video isn't 40 minutes long I'll only be showing a couple of song recordings in different genres to get an idea for the sound you
want the full audio comparison and all the recordings go visit my page on my website now here's what the sm58 sounds like like girl don't walk
away it's getting late under the sheets is late under the sheets is warmer girl I made you a
warmer girl I made you a place to feel I'll give this microphone a 7.9 out of 10 moving on to microphone number two I
like to think of this mic as the good-looking Grandpa of the Shure sm58 we just talked about the sm7b this Silver Fox is made by the same company Shure and almost has an equal track record of microphone famousness as the
record of microphone famousness as the sm58 and it comes highly rated by a lot of people and by also me the sm7b is another Dynamic mic but it's a more another Dynamic mic but it's a more premium version of the 58 around $300
more premium it's designed more for Studio use than road travel so you setting although you probably have seen it used in podcast Studios I record all though I am still trying to figure out the settings to adjust to sound like
Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman this mic is great at getting rid of unwanted room noise and it takes EQ and processing very well it's got a warm sounding profile to it which makes it fantastic for singers and females who
also my go-to microphone for singers who tend to yell or scream into the microphone I personally use the sm7b on so many tracks I've lost count even if I don't record lead vocals with it I track almost all of my background vocals on
sit in the mix really nicely however this mic isn't perfect it requires a ton of input gain that most budget audio interfaces can't handle that means you'll also have to purchase a device to help up the signal the most common one
this had me knock some points off my final rating but it's still a fantastic microphone also fun fact this is the mic that Michael Jackson used to record his Thriller album so yeah it's good enough for Michael let's hear what it sounds
for Michael let's hear what it sounds like in the these rocks in the park cars I'm not a rockar I never ever gone for I'm just a man here sitting wishing for a pool open I can jump in it shout out to my friends they always got my back I
would buy you all the glass if I only have the cash but I'm a little short have the cash but I'm a little short right now I always want up short somehow hey and I will give my final rating of the sm7b a 9.4 out of 10
moving right along to microphone number three the last dynamic microphone of the list it's called the re20 from electrovoice although it might not be as list it's still an iconic dynamic microphone it's also extremely Hefty it
costs around the same as the sure sm7b at around $450 below but even though they're both Dynamic microphones the sm7b and the re20 have different sound characteristics the re20 has a more
pronounced highend than the sm7b while having a little less mid-range this can need a bit more help in the high-end Sparkle but for an already thin sounding voice this microphone might add a bit too much harshness which absolutely
rating one of the coolest features about the re20 is that it has almost no proximity effect the proximity effect is the closer you get to a microphone the more low end of a sound is boosted the re20 doesn't have that which can make
your final vocal way easier to deal with if you're prone to eating the microphone while you record take a listen to some live sound examples we roll the J in the live sound examples we roll the J in the back of a cabin Detroit you WR YOLO on
the photo from your polar road we tried to smoke it but we broke it had us laughing all night when we we young dumb kids searching for a good time all right
this microphone a 9.0 out of 10 all right that will wrap up the dynamic microphones on this list keep in mind if you don't have any acoustic treatment or sound absorption on your walls the dynamic microphones are your best friend
condensers are more prone to catching every single detail and that includes the extra room noise that you might have but for those willing to put up some treatment and go the extra mile let's move onwards to the condensers the next
microphone up is the first microphone I ever bought this mic started my own it's still kicking strong it's called the Audio Technica at 2020 you know I really wish microphones would have more badass names than just letters and
numbers but that's what it is for the price this microphone swings well above its weight class you can buy the at2020 new for around $100 and it's still my getting started in the space of Home recording it lacks some of the clarity
that more expensive mic spring to the table but for only $100 it's really hard to go wrong here however this mic sound profile loses some points in the final ranking it doesn't quite stack up to some of the more expensive items on this
found it sounded on par with some it or let the results speak for themselves don't want to themselves don't want to over overthink it but she makes it so
much harder to breathe don't want to mess up our situation but if she thinks that she won't stick around
won't stick around me I'm a [Music] over I'm over and for the final rating
this mic I will give it an 8.4 out of 10 on to the next microphone on this list it comes from roads and it's called the nt1 this microphone and the one that I generation generation 5 which comes with a 32bit float which makes it almost
impossible to distort kind of cool also this microphone shouldn't be confused with the nt1a which is its slightly brighter cousin very similar but but different the nt1 is a large diaphragm condenser
microphone that's one of the best selling large diaphragm condensers ever made it's specifically geared towards the home studio musician and recording at home its budget friendly price point of $160 makes it accessible for anyone
microphone it's a step up from the at2020 in price and in my opinion sound quality the nt1 offers a crisp detailed sound recording that's filled with a lot of topend shine the shine sounds great on low voices but I found it could be
too harsh on others and you guess it that absolutely will affect my final ranking on my voice I think it sounds sounds pretty good but I'll let you hear it for yourself waiting in the dark I'm kicking these rocks in the park cars I'm
not a rockar I never ever gone far I'm just a man here sitting wasting for a pool open I could jump in it shout out to my friends that always got my back I would buy you all a glass if I only had the cash would I'm a little short right
the cash would I'm a little short right now I always want up short somehow for the final rating of the nt1 I'll give it an 8.6 out of 10 the next microphone I'll be covering is called the wa87 by warm audio the wa87 is a condenser mic
warm audio the wa87 is a condenser mic that was made to emulate the nyman u87 made and it's quite the Beast the folks at Al audio did a pretty good job of getting it close but the biggest kicker is this mic is only $700 new versus the
nyman u87 which will cost you around $3,200 you're getting a very similar soundscape and an almost identical body way less of the price nice the wa87 has
the nyman Vintage tone to it with more of a heavy focus on the midrange than some of the other condenser mics on this list this means that your vocals might not sound as good right after the recording as others but this mic takes
EQ very well and any Warmness you record can be changed with some simple processing afterwards this mic will also serve well as a studio Workhorse instruments and voice types you throw its way it's perfect for the musician
looking to record vocals and other live instruments as well which gives it some extra points for my final score check out what it sounds like you stay out what it sounds like you stay over cuz I can never find somebody like
over cuz I can never find somebody like you find somebody like you even if I Tred to a million places I could go but I
knew I never find you find somebody like you and for the final ranking of this microphone the wa87 I will give it a 9.2
out of 10 the second to last microphone I'll be reviewing on the list is the AKG c214 and it was probably the most surprising microphone that I recorded this is another large diaphragm condenser made to use on everything from
little brother of another famous microphone phone called the AKG c114 and when compared the c214 still holds its own the microphone comes in at around $500 brand new and it's a great mic for any vocalist to
have in the studio it's a solid step up and sound from the nt1 and the at2020 providing a detail and clearness that the other two budget microphones are lacking the microphone seems especially present to my ears in the high mids
between 4,000 and 6,000 Herz that range is one of the most important ranges to get right for that professional quality vocals especially modern hip-hop or pop vocals and though you can always add in that range with EQ afterwards the
results aren't always the same it's best to get it recorded right from the start with a nice microphone like the c214 this microphone might not be great for more laid-back folk or acoustic tracks but its Clarity lends itself well to
more modern hip-hop or pop vocals like I mentioned earlier check out the recordings I took of this one we roll the J in the back over the cabin Detroit you wrot YOLO on the photo from your
polar road we tried to smoke it but we broke it we were laughing all night we broke it we were laughing all night we we were young young kids looking for a good and as a final rating I'll give the AKG C 214 a 9.1 out of 10 if you've like
on all the vocals you can do that with one click if you get my vocal preset pack called vocal magic 1 Link in the description below we finally made it to the last microphone on this list this one happens to be the most expensive and
prestigious microphone brands in the world noyman think of them like the Rolls-Royce of microphone Brands the model I'll be reviewing today is called the nyman tlm 103 like all mics in the nyman lineup the tlm 103 is pricey to
get a new one it'll cost you around $1,200 and because of that high price tag I recommend this microphone for more serious musicians and vocalists only the sound quality of the mic itself is unbelievably crispy and at times too
much so the tlm 103 has a heavy focus on the high-end which could deliver some amazing sounding vocals whenever I use the tlm 103 I find myself having to hardly EQ my voice at all it's as if the sound profile was made for some Ultra
presentes and modern vocals right out of the box but as I stated earlier this get rid of if you've already got a thinner sounding singer especially a female singer this extra brightness will probably be too much to handle on the
other hand if you have a more robust and deep singer this microphone will sound amazing my biggest problem with this mic is the lack of Versatility it has in the studio for its price tag although it sounds good on the occasional deep voice
vocalist its thinness can be hard to transfer to other instruments don't get me wrong it still sounds great but I had to take that into consideration for the yourself take a listen to the live sound results don't want to
over overthink it but she makes it so much harder to it but she makes it so much harder to breathe don't want to mess up our
situation but if I think that she won't stick around me oh I'm a stick around me oh I'm a over
microphone the tlm 103 will get an 8.9 out of 10 if you want to hear even more of the LI sound test I did on these microphones check out the article on my website by clicking the link in the description it's important to remember
that while the saying you get what you pay for is still true for most microphones it's not always the whole story every voice and every studio will perfectly and it might be different for everyone out of every microphone I
covered on this list they are all totally viable choices for you and your studio you really can't go wrong with any of them and that's why all of them are such popular choices with that being said I did have two microphones that
stuck out to me and here are my final mic recommendations my first recommendation is the sm7b it's amazing for noisy room environments in my go-to I use it on every track I work on once you get past getting the proper gain on
it you'll be so happy that you got it and now my second recommendation and my favorite mic for recording vocals the wa87 it's not the most expensive item on this list but it's by far the one I use the most often the u87 that it's modeled
after is such a classic vocal sound although it doesn't sound exactly like the original it's so close to it it's hard to tell the difference it's my record my voice if you enjoyed this video I'm sure you'll enjoy this video I
made up here on how to process your vocals after you've recorded them go vocals after you've recorded them go check it out