CAUTION: Fake Shure SM7Bs on the rise! What’s the deal??? - (How to spot a fake) 

I'm so glad there are honest people like yourself acting as a barrier between false products and the true thing.

Great review - Nice to see the breakdown. Delighted your eyebrows moved @6:26 ;)

Julian you rock brother. Your one of the best breakdown product specialists on youtube. Bravo !!

Thank you Julian! Great video as always, I did want to hear the voice comparison, but that's ok... 😀. I didn't even know there was a fake market for these and others..

Many thanks for taking the time and making the effort to make us aware of these fake mics. I have had my SM7B for about 8 years now and still am loving it. Do you perhaps have an opinion on the RODE NT1 5th Gen? Thanks in advance.

I was just wondering this recently and was wondering why no one was really talking about it! (I'm on the market currently for a SM7B and was browsing the used market but was growing wary because of the rise of fakes...) very interesting video! Top quality as usual.

While watching your video I was looking at the differences on my own, before you mentioned the missing Trademark on newer models I got a bit scared a sec lol. Thanks for this comparison!

Great video! I can see how it's often hard to spot a fake one given the inconsistencies. For instance. I own two SM7B's both registered with Shure by their serial numbers, so I know they are real, but get this... Both have the sticker on both sides of the collar, they also don't have the trademark R logo. And what's more interesting. One is a bit shinier than the other, and one is a darker shade of gray. The most noticeable difference between the two however which led me to believe at first that one was fake is that one of them has a pop filter that looks like the one in the fake SM7B in this video. Very interesting manufacturing inconsistencies..

After a gig I noticed someone took the blue band off my SM 58 beta. The microphone stopped working about a month later, so I opened it up to repair it only to discover … no … they didn’t take the blue band, they swapped my microphone for a fake Beta Blue. Damn!

I had the bad luck to buy a fake Neumann KMS105. I had my previous one stolen, so I knew the mic very well. When I first sang on a venue I was terrified, larsen all the way, thin sound etc... I saw a video online how to check the differences with a real one, and mine was a fake.

Thank you! You are doing good job!

This is a greatly appreciated video and much needed as the fake SM7bs are really really difficult to tell apart from the real deal (until you plug it in of course). I had the misfortune of purchasing a fake from a popular website that sells used gear and there are a few other things to look out for in identifying a fake that weren't pointed out in the video. #1 is the internal wiring, the capsule to filter switch wiring it a larger gauge and very very poorly soldered verses the real deal. #2 Is the paint job on the control plate and internally, the fakes have very sloppy and less precise internal/control switch paint particularly around the screws (see 2:07). #3 I'm not sure if it was just the particular fake that I received but it had terrible EMI (think single coil guitar pickup). Very unfortunate though that if you didn't have a real SM7b in hand for comparison and had never previously hear the mic IRL it would be incredibly difficult to discern a difference. When in doubt, contact Shure directly. They were incredibly helpful in confirming the authenticity (or lack thereof) of the counterfeit I had purchased and were key in getting my money back and the seller removed from said used gear website.

Buying an SM57 was the best decision I could've ever made when it comes to getting that SM7b sound (with EQ and the A2WS windscreen), whilst at the same time having a fantastic instrument microphone.

I was looking at SM57s and 58s earlier today. Some are obviously fakes, but with others, it's hard to tell. I'm tempted to try a 50th Anniversary Edition 58, as it seems an odd one to replicate the packaging of, and it's only slightly less expensive than a normal one from the various brick and mortar music shops here. Always tempting!

Thanks for doing this!

I too hate fake/counterfeit products. I stopped buying stuff like microphones, memory cards, and other often faked stuff from Amazon a few years ago. Even if you ensure Amazon is the seller, there's no way to be sure the stock hasn't mingled and you won't get a fake. I hate that fake products cheat people who spend their time and money developing products and I hate that fake products mislead buyers.

this make so much more sense as to why these are being sold for $200 on newegg, AND why this mic didn't live up to it's "epic standards". thanks for this very informational video! in my opinion for half the price and authentic packaging, if you're not extremely anal on the sound it's a decent buy

Hey @JulianKrause If recording silence w/ the fake mic, then boosting the signal +24dB, you can hear a tiny voice saying "I'm not Shure, I'm not Shure…"

Thank you for your alert, Julian! That's totally a scammy and scummy surprise. That fake one sounds scooped! BTW, Is it just me or the fake is cheating by using a modified capsule that seems to come close to the signature of an... SM58?

Thank you for the content

Good thing I bought at my local store, but I used my Austrian Audio Oc16 a little more for gaming and general because I can talk while sit back at my chair.

Would love to see your review of the SM7dB built in preamp.

Had me worried about a minute had to look through my Emails and thank god I bought it form the Shure in 2021

Would be interesting to hear the difference in the internal shock absorber. The real SM7B has a real good internal shock mount. Does the fake one copy that? Doubt it as it might drive the cost. Very nice video. I bought my SM7B two months ago and I'm very happy with the results.

Can you please do a review on the Bose T4S? I'm super curious how it stakes since it is so versatile for live and studio gigs.

I have never gave much thought to if my sm7b could be fake. I don't think it is, but somebody asked me today how to spot a fake so now I'm on RU-vid and wondering. I'm gonna check the serial number when i get home. But I'm 99.9% sure mine is real based on my experiences with it

can you share the preamp detail used in this video, and what is gain that you set on it. Also if you could provide details on post processing that give such a nice silent noise free detailed sound. much apricated

Hi, Julian can you make a video on how to flatten the frequency response of rode mini nt usb? I’d say it's a good-sounding USB mic but sometimes my vocal becomes nasally

Thank you very much Julian for this very informative video. I would insist on the fact that the original manufacturer is having a responsability in this problem of counterfeit mics. The fact that shure didn't developped and made accesible a cross check for serial number or any other way to check that you have a genuine mic in your hand is bad. It also show a bit of low consideration to the buyers. Since years there was no reaction. The silence is deafening.

These fakes have killed my desire to buy the sm7b on the used market to flip for a quick buck. Great video as always. And excellent work on the music!

If there were some ubiquitous, consistent good enough sound producing device (or a couple), people who aren't experienced professionals could maybe run a frequency sweep file and compare the resulting FR to references from a confirmed real one. But aside from AirPods and Galaxy Buds, I can't think of one, and IEMs are too quiet and finicky for that...

Hi! is there a difference in the sound of the original shure SM7B produced in China and the Mexican one released in the same year? maybe have you compared them?

Man.... Just found out the one I have is fake...damn! I knew it sounded off. Thank you for the information 😭

I wish I'd seen this video a LONG time ago. I bought an SM7B recently, only to watch your video and discover the worst. I tried to return it, but I'd had the product for too long to return it. I'll remember not to just go for the cheapest option next time, and do a little more research before buying. The reviews tricked me as well, they all said how happy they were with the product, making it seem legit. Guess they all got tricked too.

link to buy the fake microphone? and good video

What is that audio track for the comparison?

Thank you! The crime is selling a used fake as a genuine. However, cheap mic’s that emulate popular mic’s is getting more and more common. I just ordered a cheap C-414 knock off and can’t wait to compare it to a real AKG. This is the new world 😢

SSL released a 4 channel audio interface it has 32 bit depth! make a review about it

My fake SM7B never had those differences. I had mine modded with the Trace Audio Anser mod that adds 48v of phantom power. Basically turns into a SM7DB.

Is there any way to know without opening the package ?

@Julian Krause So how do I avoid buying a fake is their a website that is very reliable and trust worthy?

good stuff!

Hey, I need some help and as I've seen you are one of the best audio reviewers in youtube, I'm about to buy Beyerdynamic DT-770 (250 ohms) and I really need help to choose my dac, I have seen lot of reviews but no one talks about the dac they are using on the headset and there's also lots of opinions on RU-vid and forums, people talk about power and that stuff but as I really don't know about audio I need help. Most of the people says power makes the difference but I think that having much power isn't always the best because there must be a limit for the headset loudness but i don't really know which is the max power i should buy for that headset, I would really apreciate if u help me. I've seen people use to recommend FiiO DACs but I don't know, help me so i can choose properly please. Thank you. Edit: I was also thinking about 80ohms version but i really liked the coiled cord on 250 ohms version. If you can also recommend me about which one buy would help me a lot. I would be using them for gaming if you recommend me 80ohms version which DAC would you buy for it. Thanks

a better looking pop filter? sharper lines? a logo that's printed on straight? Seems like the fakers improved a few things :D

Hi Julian. That was a fantastic video, but I still have some doubts. I'm looking for a mic solution to reduce the echo in my studio. Currently I'm using a zoom h5 with the zoom ssh6 capsule. From what I've seen and read it seems that perhaps the SM58 might be the best option to reduce echo and noise. I already got 2 fetheads thinking I would buy the SM7B, but now I don't know what to do. If you watch my last video you'll see how the sound currently is (and it is a treated small studio room with 10 sound panels). Any help / feedback would be much appretiated. Thanks!

The Fakes highs sound dull and dark, like a lite version of putting a blanket over a speaker. the midrange was better, but hard to say, less a problem vs the highs. i am using the motu m4, and akg k371, k271, AT m50x. same picture in all headphones, the fake mic sounds dark and dull. still good i guess, but the real mic is for sure better. i write this before i watched Julian Krause's conclusion. Thx for making the video.!

Upon viewing this video, I felt compelled to return my SM7b to Amazon. I suspect it may have been a counterfeit. Beforehand, I had my doubts about whether it could truly deliver the "most legendary sound" as advertised. However, upon examining your capsule, my suspicions were confirmed. The product, though listed and sold by Amazon, simply didn't seem authentic. I speculate that, perhaps due to the constraints imposed by the pandemic, Amazon's product authenticity verification process may have been compromised. In the past three years alone, I've received an alarmingly high number of counterfeit products.

Got a question.. did the fake Sm7b need the same amount of gain as the original one in your tests? Was it gain hungry as the original one?

Does it have Behringer printed on the side?

How is the signal boosted? Does this work with resistors? After all, it runs without phantom power?

Absolute legend! I had my SM7B arrive a few days ago & was disappointed to hear it sounds worse than my RODE-NT USB, which I was upgrading from... Just by luck your video popped up & I gave it a watch to find that everything you mentioned screamed that mine was a fake! I bought it from an online marketplace & now requesting a refund. I promptly ordered another version from a more trusted seller. Luckily I've only had it a few days so I should be able to return it. You just saved me a bunch of wasted cash & hours of sub-par audio quality! 🙏

Interestingly, I actually preferred the fake on guitar - that mid hump ended up being in just the right place, with the duller highs removing some of the harshmess. On bass I liked them about the same, but on voice, I definitely preferred the real one. The SM7b isn't something I'd typically reach for when micing up a guitar cab anyway, so I'm not really surprised at the fake sounding better to my ear there!

What's going on with the Frequency Response Comparison, I only see one plot?

I'm in Africa. Where can I get the fake mic?

hello julian, is the real one is made in mexico?

Had a hard time telling the sound apart on the guitar and bass, but on your voice, even with my crappy ear buds, it was night and day.

Unfortunately I bought a SM7B for 250$ price , i was very excited and thinking this is just a good deal , i was really happy but after 5 months i knew mine is fake and for the good luck I could refund it and get RODE Nt1-a , the rode is very good mice but i just want the sm7b till now cuz I wouldn’t spent all that money in mic unless its sm7b , im sad and happy .. thank god for everything

Where you get yours

Julian! I just bought my first windows Machine in 18 years (Been using linux) What Daw do you use?

When I tell you I got straight up out of bed after watching this video to make sure mine isn’t a fake lmao. Luckily it looks like I’m all good 😂

I would love to buy one if they are cheaper so i can rip out the capsule and do some stuff with it. I'm interested in random capsules and identifying them.

I would not have a problem with that fake! It only sounds slightly less impressive when you compare them side-by-side, with meters. I would be happy with paying the lower price.

The obsession with this microphone is somewhat amusing imo. After working in TV for 20 years (and recording sound pretty much on daily basis) I can share the following - which microphone one uses is pretty low on the priority list how to get good sound. Recording in a quiet place, with walls that do not reflect the sound is what one needs. Second - be at proper distance from the microphone and (ideally) use a pop shield. After that - one can record with pretty much any microphone.

The Frequency Response doesn't show both graphs in the 1st comparison. Also wouldn't there might be differences between Real Shure Mics in frequency response. I thought they both sounded quite similar. The reason why I looked is someone was selling them on the Marketplace for Facebook for $179. I asked and he said he got 2 as gifts, but marketplace also said 21 had been sold. Please do a search, because after I asked for a picture of the serial numbers he either blocked me, or took the item down. See if you can find it!

I'm convinced I was duped by one of these. Mine looks like a real one, but it sucks big time. Clips really easily, very middy sound, picks up even the smallest vibration.

Makie onyx producer 22, Kadance studio midiplus 2 & vault ai 22 hd ..... review 🙏

Where did you get your fake one

I need your help please bro, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the Audient ID 14 which one should I buy for my house studio

Please.make.a comparison of neumann u87 and good Chinese copy))

Please test new revision of motu m2/m4! There are 3 different revisions, the rev 1 was in your test, rev 2 have completely new pcb design, usb controller (NXP) and new dac (ES9026pro) and rev 3 also have new adc (ES9840) and Atmel usb controller. Rev 1 firmware is 1.xx version and both rev 2 & 3 have 2.xx. It's almost 2 years since rev 3 release and I think now all fresh stocks of motu m2/m4 is rev 3. Unfortunately I found no one detailed enough measure of rev 2/3 but there is a big difference in design and used components compared to rev 1 so I ask you to test it pls

2:18 Mine's about 2 years old, sticker still only covers half the collar.

the fake sm7b shouldve just been an own mic. because its sounding quite good for 130€ with considerably good materials

I prefer your voice on the fake SM7B

The shure sm7b and the Neumann I will not buy on line because of this particular reason

Funny timing. I literally just realized my Shure Sm57 is a fake… it broke in half and I looked into it further and realized it was a little off. Luckily my sm7b is real 😅

Thanks for the Test as usual . BUT the big questions?? is it actually a bad mic and do the changes in frequency response make it more desirable to some 🤷‍♂?

Shure microphones in particular seem to be the most targeted make by far.

That’s it. I’m getting 2 fake SM7 B’s then gutting them and putting a Beyer M-160 in each one. Call me old school, but I’ve always preferred ribbon microphones for broadcast compared to transformer less dynamics.😂

Due to the variance in price, etc., I took the precaution to contact Neumann to be sure of where to buy a Neumann mic that is not a fake. "They do not sell fakes" :-)

Thank you for this video. I just brought the one from the Amazon link and it is FAKE. The pictures show the real but I got the fake.

BRO it's a bit thinner but its not noticeable for podcast and just streaming. Its only noticeable when your doing things like singing and music

The switch area fit & finish looked crap on the real one😅.

Thanks! Great content! But in the FRC from 4:47 I (we?) only can see one curve. Somehow the 2nd one seems to be missing...(* edit:) I stand corrected, my fault. I didn't know how to read this curve. Please see in the comments below.

People are better off buying the SM57 with the pop filter like you showed in your other video.

The real one has a serial number? Mine is also pretty easy to move when the screws are maximum tight. Is that normal? It came in a sealed package.

so much audible vibration with the fake one especially with the bass guitar sample.

Just buy all of your gear from Sweetwater. If you got taken by a fake whatever that means Sweetwater got taken too; and once they discover that error, they WILL make it right at no cost to you. Total purchase assurance for all of your audio production needs. 🤗

I actually preferred the sound of the fake on the guitar. 😅 Sort of old-school, up to my liking. One thing is making a clone of the circuit, which would be legal after 10 years, if I remember well. Also, industrial designs are protected by a limited amount of time, the shape of the microphone is an industrial design. And sometimes and somewhere the visual aspect can be protected as a trademark. This is to be taken into account, since these fake microphones might not actually be «illegal», at least not everywhere. However, they're certainly misleading to the customer when branding is exactly like the original, which in turn definitely is a trademark infringement.

I hardly think it's gonna be nearly as good as the real deal... But I'll hold off on my judgement till the end of the video

i actually liked the sound of the fake one XD

How and why do these manufactures get away with copying and then selling a product like if it were their own? A tidal wave of lawsuits should be coming their way.

Where is the SM7B made? And the fake one? Please consider making more videos exposing fake versions. Thank you.

I HATE the extra bass boost/boominess in the SM7B that it gives to people's voices! 😣 Though it was interesting/odd that thou the fake sounded thinner in the music tests, it sounded exactly the same in the bass test! 😱🤷‍♂

I bought fake mic which I didn’t know it was fake and there is no different from real one,only when you open the microphone and colors of the internal wire is different and only that’s the different,new fake mic is exactly same microphone

Does the sm7b actually need to be as expensive as it is tho

pretty SHURE i just found the same fake you bought. 105 bucks on a certain website i won't promote. crazy thing is while the Shure sounded much better on music, while you spoke, I much preferred the fake. oops.

Danke!

Excellent job as usual, but I can't entirely agree that the sound is completely different. Even with the slight difference in frequency response, it still presents a pretty "57-like" (unidyne capsule) sound. As you mentioned, inconsistencies from mic to mic and small changes in manufacture over the years could easily provide the same difference, as well as just the capsule placement and resonance in the copy. A small EQ curve could smooth it out and match them easily. Unless you need the exact sound of the current SM7b or the milspec construction, it looks like a decent buy to me. I look forward to companies making better clones as they have with the Neumanns.

Hello Julian! Is there a chance of you testing out rodecaster pro 2?

This is going to be a nightmare on the second hand market in few years. The difference is quite big on the listening. Too bad.