Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Shure SM7B is the industry standard for vocal recordings. It is used in music studios for vocals, podcasters, and by voiceover artists. I’ve been using a Rode NT-1 microphone for a couple of years, so I thought that rather than rehashing what others have likely said, I’d compare the two microphones. Both are dynamic microphones, which mean that you’ll need to have them plugged into an input or a board which can power them (has a 48v output for the microphone). Other than that, these are very different microphones. The NT-1 is extremely sensitive. If there is any other sound in the room while you are recording, it will pick up on it. It is best used in an extremely controlled acoustic environment. The signal you get will be bright and readily usable without needing to turn up the gain on your input very much. In contrast, the SM7B is fairly isolated. It may pick up some background sounds, but not much. The sound is much darker with a greater emphasis on clearly capturing the lower frequencies. The signal is also much weaker, which requires turning your gain up just about to the max just to get a usable signal for recording. Ultimately, the sound is a little dead when plugging straight into the input. One point that others have made is that the SM7B really shines when run through a Cloudlifter device to boost the signal. I can confirm this is the case. I recorded the same song using the Rode NT-1, the SM7B, and the SM7B through a Cloudlifter. It is a world of difference. When just comparing the microphones, the NT-1 seems to be better, despite being a bit overly sensitive. When using the Cloudlifter, you get the improved volume and some added clarity which makes it better than the NT-1 to my ears. The real question is: What are you using the microphone for? If you’re a hobbyist, you probably will want a more versatile microphone like the NT-1. I use it for guitar and vocals, and it performs admirably at both. If you’re a professional vocalist/podcaster/voice over artist, you’ll probably want to go with the SM7B with a Cloudlifter. That being said, the NT-1 is about $250 where the SM7B with a Cloudlifter is $550. Is it better to have the SM7B than to have two NT-1? Probably not. The SM7B is more for you if you want the absolute best quality recording for your voice. For any other use, you’re probably better off with the Rode NT-1.

I absolutely LOVE this microphone. The Shure SM7B is far and away the best microphone I have ever had the pleasure of using. Everything from the build quality to sound production to aesthetic is just flawless. Now this is not necessarily the mic for everyone, as it could be a bit overkill depending on your use case. That is not a negative statement, it is simply the reality. While a novice or entry-level person could certainly use this mic, it is NOT a beginner-level device. To start, this isn't a USB or plug-and-play mic. To utilize this mic you will need an XLR cable and audio interface. I would also highly recommend an arm mount and pop screen. So as you can see, it could be a significant upfront investment, which potentially places it out of reach for some. With that said, the dividends pay off huge in the long run. You will receive unmatched performance, incredible audio results, and years of use. Setup is really quite easy, especially for those who are familiar with, or use, XLR mics and audio interfaces. Installation was actually the fastest part for me. Running the audio tests can take a bit. Finding the correct input levels, gains, etc. is rather important and should not be rushed. Do your research when it comes to the additional required equipment. Not to say that you have to buy the most expensive XLR cables, pre-amp, audio interface, etc., but don't skimp on the quality. This is a mic that deserves quality accessories and will show its full prowess when paired with such. Regarding actual use, there are some things you can do to achieve the best results. First, make sure you are supplying this mic with enough power. Like I said, it isn't a plug-and-play USB mic. Feed it the power it needs to perform effectively. Second, be aware softer voices are harder to detect. You can help by speaking with a bit more volume and sitting closer to the mic. Also, positioning is a key point. While your voice can be detected from the side, you should be speaking directly into the top of mic which means the mic should be pointed directly at you, not off to the side. I really can't say enough about the Shure SM7B. Everything about this microphone is spectacular. I have no concerns about recommending, actually highly recommending this mic to anyone.

I've been using this microphone for almost ten years in my home studio and it is by far the most versatile and reliable of the bunch. It is not a condenser, which means it doesnt capture as much of the airy high frequencies so much, but with a good preamp it can come pretty close. A low-cost ribbon-mic activator - such as the Cloudlifter or SE Electronics TNT or the Triton Audio Fethead - can be used as the preamp, and all do fairly well at boosting the mic gain and clarity quite well. I have used this mic for male and female vocals (and legend has it Michael Jackson used it on Thriller, as well as tons of Hip Hop and RnB singers), guitar and bass amps (Fenders, Ampegs), and almost all "smash" drums (ie great on Kicks, snare and toms). I've also done some survey research on gearspace and found many producers recommend it for hi-hats; although I would not expect it to do so well for cymbals. Of course, it's been the crowd favorite of radio DJ's for decades and decades, and more recently podcasters. It delivers smoothness, almost like a compressed track without the need for an expensive compressor. Because it's a Shure mic, it's built like a brick, so you don't have to treat it like glass, as with most condenser mics. Ten years on this is still my "desert island" mic. Super massively recommended.

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.

A true game changer for my streaming! My audience loves it and it was incredibly easy to use right out of the box. Highly suggest if you wanted to get to the next level when this bad boy

The Shure SM7B is a very good microphone. It’s been around for a while and is an industry standard for use in Podcasting, Vocal recording, and Instrument recording. It’s not like most microphones, which can be used to pickup sounds throughout the room. This microphone is mainly designed to pickup only sounds that are directly in front of it and in close proximity of it. This helps in blocking out unwanted room ambience noise, while picking up just your voice. For those looking to purchase this microphone, this is not your plug-n-play microphone. It’s just a microphone only. In order to record from this microphone you will be looking to spend a few hundred dollars in order to record to your computer if you don’t already have the needed equipment. The microphone does not come with a stand or cables. You will need a microphone arm boom or stand. You will then a some type of USB audio interface of good quality. A Cloudlifter or Tritan Audio Fethead is used by many in order to boost the gain of the microphone without having to boost the gain on your audio interface or recording software. This helps in providing at least a 20 dB gain without adding little to no noise. The microphone is built of high quality materials and will last for years. The quality you get from this microphone along with having the right recording gear is a reason why this is one of the best microphones out there.

As a twitch streamer you have got to have the best equipment. When this microphone came up on my radar I felt like this is what I needed. After doing a little bit of research, this type of microphone is used by DJs and VJs all the time. So it's definitely good enough for me and my streaming. I hooked it up and ran one game with it and people said that they could hear me so much clearer. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing but that's not all they heard, they picked up a little bit of background noise. That part is my fault because of the way I have my audio adjusted. After adjusting my audio levels I was off and running. It didn't come with amount. Just the microphone itself and a close talk windscreen interchangeable microphone screen that goes over the mic. I played with both and in my case it doesn't seem to matter, what mattered the most is my audio levels. Depending on what overlay program you are using and how you have your audio setup on your computer that is going to change. I recommend this for streamers and for VJs and DJs looking to to have a more authentic and professional sound.

If you search the Shure SM7B on Google, one of the top ads from Shure identifies it as "The Mic You've Already Heard." It's true--I've seen plenty of podcast videos with the SM7B in the studio. Ever since I started using the Shure MV7 as my day-to-day microphone, I've wanted to make the leap to the SM7B but always hesitated. Price was one of those big reasons...the SM7B is no doubt a quality piece of gear, but it comes with a $400 price tag. If you're in the business of any type of audio production, this may not be much...but I'm anything but in the business. I love gadgets, and over the last two years (thanks, COVID...) I've worked to incorporate higher-quality sound and video production into my regular 9-to-5. Exceedingly better studio speakers, audio interfaces, amplifiers and proper microphones have all found their way to my desk setup at home. For what you ask? Better video conferences, of course. So as ridiculous as that may sound, here's a hot take on the SM7B. It is a very quiet microphone, quieter than the other XLR mics I've used in the past. An audio interface with the ability to add gain is a requirement at a minimum, but if that gain isn't clean you might find yourself needing a preamp booster (Cloudlifter, or similar). There is only an XLR connection, so an audio interface of some sort is required. Shure also sells an XLR to microphone adapter called the X2u, which might work in place of a traditional audio interface and preamp booster. The back of the mic allows for some basic on-device adjustment ("Flat Response," "Bass Rolloff" and "Presence Boost"). Depending on how you mount the SM7B and the quality and size of your XLR connections, you may find you need (as I did) an extension tube to allow for complete movement once mounted. I have a desk-mounted boom arm and purchased Shure's A26X 3" extension tube to allow for the most flexibility when positioning the arm and the mic (If your setup is more static, this extension tube may not be a requirement). The SM7B itself looks great, as you'd expect from Shure products. It has solid construction and sounds great, once properly amplified. Is it overkill for someone who doesn't do any professional sound production? Probably--even the MV7 was a bit overkill for that. Hopefully, though, you have a slightly better handle on the other pieces that may be required alongside the SM7B to add to your setup.

For vocals, I don't think you can do much better at this price range than the SM7B. It's a talked about mic a lot and I was excited to finally try it out. I did not leave disappointed. Setup is as simple as any XLR microphone. Just plug it in and you're ready to go. The SM7B just needed a little bit more gain than my previous microphone that I replaced but my GoXLR mixer was able to supply that just fine. The microphone has a nice weight to it and it looks great and professional if you're using it in a setting that will be recording. I stream on Twitch and with a couple tweaks, I was able to get this microphone to sound pretty good from a little further of a distance than my last mic so it just barely peaks into the frame now but it still looks good. There's an extra plate you can screw into the back to hide the boost switches once you have them set the way you like them, which is a nice extra touch. Speaking of those boost switches. Probably the one "meh" part of this microphone depending on how you look at it. It doesn't bother me because my mixer does all of the processing so I keep the switches flat. They aren't bad, either. I just think they do too general of a job. The ranges they both effect are really broad so you might find that they work for you, but I think it's just better to keep things flat to keep this mic sounding the best it does and dealing with any post processing on your interface or computer during editing. So by "meh" i just mean that I pretty much ignore the switches now, but they might work great for you. I don't really know what else to say. The microphone sounds great. That's all there is too it. I'm not doing a ton of EQ or anything but I was able to clean up a few areas specific to my voice pretty easily. Everyone sounds different so you'll need to tweak to your liking but you're starting with a really really solid base here. The hype around this microphone is pretty real and I'm happy I finally got my hands on one to experience it first hand. I can't see myself needing another microphone for some time. If you're looking for high-end sound at an upper mid-range price point, I think this is the best microphone you can get without spending thousands of dollars. I've tried lower priced condenser mics and replaced a microphone that was only a little cheaper with this one and I'm really happy I did. If your budget allows you to get this microphone, do it.

So I am a musician, but by no means am I a singer. While the SM7B is one of the gold standards for voice (podcast, streaming, singing vocals, narration) this is not what I use it for. I use this microphone instead for recording trumpet, trombone and guitar. While most people tend to lean towards ribbon microphones for brass instrument, I was always a fan of the sound that a cardioid microphone gave brass, it has the nice crisp sharp attenuation with a well rounded base. Some ribbon mics sound too muddy, some dynamic mics will sound too harsh, this one is just like goldilocks porridge, just right! I have mine plugged into a scarlet solo and I tried it with and without a cloudlifter pre-amp. I feel that I get better results using my cloudlifter to boost the gain. The microphone is fairly subdued without a gain boost, but once boosted, I only need to turn the gain up to +10-15 on my interface as opposed to 75-80%. I barely have to EQ my horns with this microphone, I was able to create a short 30 second 4 part brass chorale with this microphone and barely touched EQ and it turned out amazing! Just a little reverb, a slight compressor and this thing is ready to go for brass. With my acoustic guitar, you get a rich velvety well rounded sound, not too harsh and the bass does not get muddied up. This microphone will most definitely be my new go to for all my brass recordings. I love to have a microphone that is ready to go for recording and this one fits the bill. Paired with my shure sm57 as a room microphone, this and it's little sibling are a match made in heaven.

Superior build quality and sound I've been using this mic for over a year and I love it more everytime I use it!

this is a great sounding mic for streamers and podcast! great build quality too!

One of the Best items i have purchased in a while. It does everything I need. I couldn’t have gotten anything better, will definitely shop again

Best mic on the market and I love that it’s pretty much plug and play

Can someone buy me this headset ? to expensive for me, and i wanna start streaming

For some reason with the cloudlifter it still sound kinda low for no reason if i up the gain the problem is i dont want to hear the background. But so be it a microphone is a microphone