Podcaster's High Quality Microphone Shootout - Heil PR40, Shure SM7B, Telefunken M82 + 

C was definitely the best to my ears.

Wow, the SM7B was just miles above the rest. Really dynamic and rich, without those muddy mids. That said, I did like the Audio Technica, too, and if it can serve as a double-duty mic, it might be the most bang for your buck.

Thanks for this! Real quick though isn't the at875r and the Beta 87a a condenser mic while the others are dynamic? So you would need a better preamp, and the angle REALLY affects cardioid mics a lot, so the ones off to the side would have sounded different than straight on. Not arguing, obviously your audio sounds awesome, just thought i'd mention the variables so that the dynamics have a chance!

I got to say that I liked the Heil PR40 the best. But I like bright and full. Great video. Thanks!

Mic C was actually my favorite one. I was surprised when it was the SM7B. And I was even more surprised when he said it sounded "dull". Mic A&C sounded the best to me.

C!!! Its sooo clear!

You're the first one I've ever seen do a BLIND test! I thought "A or F, MAYBE C." Previously i had pretty much settled on the SM7B based on other shootouts, but none have been blind. But then I kept wanting to find out what you're using in the video. I saw you're shotgunning with the AT875R and wow. So thanks for saving me a few hundred bucks and making me super confident in that decision.

Dude you totally saved me from buying an expensive mic! A most excellent video, for sure! Honest to goodnes I picked A and D before I knew which would be your pics. Plus it was genius to obscure the source of the sound to keep things unbiased. Word.

I really wanted to hear more about Barrett's brunch burger. Sounds delicious. Heading to /podgear now...

Great video and a nice plug for your website ;) I am so torn between Audio-Technica AT 875 R and the Sennheiser MD46. I can't believe that so few people talk about these mics compared to the tanks like SM7B, Heil ect.

Thanks for the excellent review! One excellent mic you didn't check out that I felt had to be mentioned is the Electrovoice RE 20, one of my favorite mics of all time (not just for podcasting but also for podcasting!). It's smooth and crisp without being harsh and keeps out background noise really well (most dynamic mics do). Definitely worth checking out...

SM7B for sure

I like how you arranged lights in the background so you made a mess look really cool

I can't help but think you guys got C and D mixed up. C has way more high frequency content and sounds nothing like a dynamic mic especially the sm7b. D sounds much more like an sm7b. I think the shure sm7b is D and C is actually the beta 87. Let me know if I'm right.

Thanks for a review. What camera and lens did you use for the intro? really nice colours and contrast

Good video, Chase. For our current podcast, I use a PR40 on my voice and my co-presenter uses a SM7B, which tames a lot of his sibilance and adds some body to his voice. Both do a pretty good job of rejecting the noise from the nearby refrigerator, but I didn't purchase either mic specifically for podcasting. I bought the PR40 as a drum/guitar+bass amp/upright bass mic, and the SM7B for general vocal and VO, as well as talk balk, vocoder, and guitar amps. Both have served me very well, but you do have to get right up to the grill when podcasting, and I believe there are certainly less expensive options out there, as you have shown. To me, the best thing about large-diaphragm dynamic microphones is that they are usually much better than condenser mics sold at the same price point (and I don't know of any dynamic microphones that sell for more that $500). Good information, thank you.

Thanks a ton for this video. Been looking at the SM7B for a while, but it's so close to the Audio-Technica AT875R.. But for the price difference, I will be getting the AT for sure. Saved me a ton of money! Now I can invest in a better amp/pre-amp

Thank you for your reviews as it has helped me releive my fear of what mic I wanted. I feel it was a real test and I sat up with my system and listened to it and circled what I liked and disliked about each mic and I had a circle around A C and for the girl G. By the end I listened to those again and I had to choose C as my favorite. It was really a clear good sounding mic. I do agree that the difference between a and c were so small that I would be happy with either, but I choose C.

Great video. Must say I found the Heil to be the best sounding mic in your test!

OMG! I was surprised about the mic C the Shure SM7B! WOW! What did you use for the Shure SM7B? What did you connect it to? Which audio interface etc? Did you use a cloudlifter?

Excellent review - thanks! I found it really interesting and a bit surprising - I had them scored A, F and C/E right together in third - so the 875R, SM57, then the SM7b/PR-40 close together (but for different reasons). I agree that the preamp makes a difference with the SM-7b. I've been looking for a travel mic when I'm on the road, and I think the 875r would be great, but it is easy to forget just how useful a plain-old 57 can be, especially when you throw a windscreen on it.

I thought c and e sounded the best by far

This guy LOVES his brunch burger salad.

Awesome video Chase! Our podcast does a in-room/in-person conversational style. You mentioned that a good shotgun microphone would be better suited to this situation! Would you still recommend today this ATR AT875R? Thanks so much and once again an amazing video!

I like the Telefunken M82 and it has a high boost which I prefer on with using it on a pod cast. It has a rich low end that adds nice weight. It did sound a little boxy but again with the mid cut and top boost switches on it, it is very flexible and it comes with a great shock mount

the 2nd vocal made them all sound good, the first was much more mid-freq and all needed some eq, the 3rd voice I liked C the best, ....noise rejection SM7b type, one mic missed is the BCD1 MXL.. great video!!

Thanks for doing this. Been wanting to want the Shure SM7B to step up from my Audio-Technica 2005USB (connected via the iRig pro to my PC), but the Shure didn't really stand out to me at all. I actually liked the Beta87A a lot. I think I should spend the same money (or less) on a good interface and/or mic preamp. Thinking about getting the DBX 266S to pair up with my AT2005USB in hope that I don't need to crank up the gain on the iRig, which is really noisy (but okay for what I do for now - teaching English via Skype). Using that shotgun sounds like a great idea, too since I can remove the mic from the picture completely and engage more with my students. It would give me more room to move around, too, it seems.

Nice shootout! Really great audio and video here too. What camra and mic do you use? Thanks in advance. (Y)

Fabulous comparison. Five stars.

So the sm7b was way more high end in the test, but High End is one of those things that is not like "you can remove it but not add it.." it's actually the opposite. It's really hard to remove high end from a mic, but really easy to add it (unless it's high end from a tube mic.. different topic). So I'd be interested in matching the High end a bit more and see how each mic responds. For example, I tried a cheap Aston Spirit mic and sure at first it sounds great bright etc.. but when you go to mix it, there's always this annoying high end that is hard to remove.. Whereas something cheap on the same price range like a Roswell mini K87 doesn't have much high end at first, but when you add it w EQ and Saturation.. it just always end up sounding better than the Aston. Food for thought.

Great video , thanks!!!!

I have a couple of questions: 1) In background noise test, where were you standing in relation to the mic cluster (behind, to the side, distance, etc.) and which way were you facing? 2) Why did you put the mics in a cluster like that vs having them lined up and recording each mike on a new take? It seems like you had mics at different angles and heights to everyone's mouth which would capture a different timbre than if they were all at the same angle and height. It could be put as: with the mics being at different angles/heights, it would capture a different part of the voice; therefore, not be an even comparison of the qualities (or lack there of) of the mics. 3) On the M82, what position were the switches in? Have you tested it with the high boost off?

Letter C (Shure SM7B) was overall crisp, clear, and I thought that for sure it would be the most expensive of the 7.

Do you have a link to the pop filter/shock mount you used for the Audio-Technica AT875R? Thanks and great video!

Great video - subscribed. Question though - for a two person podcast (in an apartment), how would 2 AT875R's with pop filters be plugged directly into a Zoom H5? (looking to get a Mackie 1202-VLZ4 mixer later).

I was torn between A, C, and D. C (sm7b) on some voices sounded somewhat more neutral than the others, but there is a presence boost on the mic which I assume would fix that? The (A) shotgun mic sounded nice, couldn't fault it, although I too found overall D (87A) edged out the others. I have the SM7B already; no complaints, but honestly, it does look prettier then the others -- and when doing video work, I think the fact it looks prettier than the others is quite important. It does require a good preamp tho, which I guess is the biggest downside of it to me. Great video tho. thx

Can you please tell me what kind of camera & lens did you record yourself with? The video quality looks amazing. Also, is the audio when you’re talking in the beginning being picked up directly from the camera’s mic or are you using an external mic to pick up your voice?

Hi. You mentioned that you would link up post-production suggestions too. I don't see the link, can you update? Thanks!

amazing. thanks! quick question.... the Shure beta 87a... is it the Cardioid or Supercardioid version?

My ear favored the SM7B and the SM57 almost equally.

Hey man, nice comparison. Curious what the on mic settings were for the Telefunken M82. I know they have that high-shelf switch and that 350hz kick drum scoop on there and was wondering if they were engaged or not. If you remember, looks like you made this video like a year ago... Thanks!

F, F, and F. That's what I was thinking. And it turned out to be the sm57. But I wonder if the mics clustered up muffled each other.

Great video!

In terms of the HEIL PR40 , is it best to use the foam cover or the pop filter? I have both incidentally.

Without knowing which was which my favorite 2 were C and E - not surprised it was the SM7b. Have one myself and love it. I'm surprised you didn't include the Electro-Voice RE20

Great vid!

Chose C and E which sounded better on the Females voice. Just my luck that they turned out to be the most expensive ones. Surprised by the M82.

I am completely astounded at the performance of the AT875R. After listening at max volume between the SM7B and the AT875R, I can say that I am hardly able to hear a difference. Jesus, there is even less noise than the SM7B. I really need to buy that mic.

Mic A was the best from the beginning. Amazing!!

Hello Can you please do a video about a good foam windscreen for the blue spark?

Hey Chase, awesome video! I'd like to ask your for an advice concerning microphones and the interfaces. I'm torn between: Focusrite 2i4, Focusrite 6i6 2nd Gen, Mackie Onyx Blackjack and Steinber UR22. I'm teaching languages on-line as well stream on Twitch. Apart from that I'd like to record my instrument, namely classical and acoustic guitar. Which one, in your opinion, should I pick? Do you think Shure SM-57 would be a good mic to record my guitars and the Audio-Technica mic you recommend (named "A" in your review) good for streaming / teaching? Also - do these interfaces support simultaneous recording of two mics (as if I was doing an interview and there were two mics present). Thank you for your help,

Hey! does the audio technica require clean gain from something like a cloudlifter?

wow i loved A right away. i liked A and C by far the most. I really thought A is the sm7b. And i was curious what mic is C. It sounded nearly as good as A to my ears. SURPRISE!!!! I have to get a AT 875 Thanks for this comparising.

Were the vocal boost and/or highpass filter engaged on the SM7B when testing?

The SM7B clearly had the least amount of background noise, but it's weird that the mics sounded almost the same overall, whereas it sounds a lot different with other people.

Why didn't you clearly indicate in the details section of your RU-vid video, what mic and interface (sound chain) you used for the beginning of this RU-vid video? It sounds great.

Hey, thanks for posting this. It's a great comparison. I guess it's not surprising that you preferred the mic you've been using a lot. I know a lot of recording engineers and producers who gravitate to mics they're used to hearing and working with. Oddly, I really liked C, the SM7b, which is funny because I generally hate it for male vocals - but I think that's because of controlling it in a mix. I've never been able to pull off that "MJ" vocal quality with that mic. Here the SM7b had all the qualities I want in a VO mic, depth, good consonants and surprising clarity. (did you use a CL?) I also consistently rated the AT as "good" and "natural." But I also have an AT 897 shotgun which I love so I guess I'm not surprised. I did not like the 87 on the male voices, but thought it was better on the female. I was not surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of the Telefunken. They always start out sounding great but then the hype wears off and you start to pick up the metallic sounds of the capsule and body - something I'm not into being stuck with in a mix. I was surprised I didn't consistently like the PR40.

Noise floor test would have been nice... recording at least 3 seconds with complete silence in the room.

I thought the SM7B was my honest blind favorite on all the voices; quite a relief as it was what I was eyeing as a purchase. That said, I wish this review included the EV RE-20, as that is the other option I am curious about. I prefer the 'look' of the Shure though, which is important to me, but I keep seeing many mixed reviews on it. :/

I honestly thought that that E would be the SM7B because I was certain that F was the SM57, which it was, and they sounded so similar (and good). The PR-40 sounds really great, honestly, better than I would have thought. D, the Beta 87A, was really noisy. I also instantly knew that the Podcaster was G because it sounds like boxy, AM radio garbage. I think A, the AT875R, was one of my least favorite microphones in this test. It sits slightly ahead of the Beta 87A.

That SM7B did seem brighter than I'm used to hearing it - did you confirm whether the high boost/low cut was enabled or it was kept flat?

< Angelic chorus singing "Aaaaaaa" as the heavens part > I'm buying equipment for podcasting AND making videos and was really hesitant to fork out $300 for the Heil PR-40 and then another $300-700 for a great shotgun mic. You have solved all my mic envy/distress, and at a such a good price! It looks like the AT875R is my new best friend

You have another channel? :O Subbed.

I like the E the best to my ears; just sounded more fuller to me. When the reveal came up I was very glad, because I just bought a refurb'd PR-40, waiting for it to arrive and I was scared that I might have made the wrong choice. Even refurbished those Heil's are expensive.

Hey thanks for this video it is extremely helpful. I was looking for a good dynamic mic and came here to hear the rode podcaster and it ended up sounding the worst to me by far lol. I agree 100% with the your take on the AT875R. In my blind testing I picked it # 1 for the most natural and flattest sounding mic (much better as is and for post processing imo). I picked the Shure Sm7b as my second favorite. Smooth and I was surprised that it wasn't as dull as I though it would be (had a nice touch of brightness, maybe the presence boost was engaged?). The M82 and PR40 were good, and although they are different sounding mics I place them at a tie for 3rd. The PR40 has an upper mid range focus but it is a little too aggressively sibilant for me. The M82 is more of a flat sounding mic (like the AT875R) but it loses points for it's scooped out mid range sound. 4th place I give to the Beta 87a (a little too dull and a bit more scooped sounding than the M82). 5th place goes to SM57 (I actually thought this was the SM7b but ultimately too dull in caparison to the others). Unfortunately my last place is the podcaster: too tinny, unnatural, and sounds like pure ass. Thanks for saving me the money and heartache!

Chase I loved your presentation and will seek out more of your stuff! I did have one question about how you tested the mics for rejection - it looks like you adjusted all the rejection files to the same level? That only lets us compare the relative rear/side eq curve of the mic, not the rejection. Ideally, you'd play white noise in front of the group of mics, and calibrate the input levels so each is the same, then do your test. This would have produced A-G files from the mics, which would potentially be at different volume levels. Setting EQ preferences aside for a moment, the quietest recording in that scenario would be the winner. Thoughts?

Personally I like the way the SM7B sounds for podcast duty. It has a easy on the ears sound that just makes podcast listening an easy and relaxing experience. Sound if very subjective though good luck getting people to agree on one sound.

The SM87 was actually the one I liked least. I liked the SM7B the most, hands down.

Ironically this sold me on the SM7B (C), that sounded the best of all the tests hands-down to me. Weird.

would this be a great choice for a group video... like lets say 3-4 are playing a local game and I use this mic? also is it good for laughing and talking-yelling? im deciding between this shure sm7b and the Audio-Technica AT875R... PLEASE HELP!! ik this is podcasting but u seem knowledgeable about the whole mic scene

a and c sounded great other mics sounded muffled

C & F seem similar to A (but with damped transients as you would expect from dynamic mics). The others all sounded terrible to me.

First thing, what interface/pre have you used in this comparison? Mics like the SM7B (that sounded the best to me) need a ton of gain, I use a FetHead to boost those mics to get the best sound. The Audio-Technica AT875R sounded awesome, working in TV I can tell you that some shotgun mics (like the MKH 416) are just awesome as vocal mics. Why didn't you include the Neumann TLM 103? It's not a cheap mic but it's a standard in broadcast all over Europe.

Without seen the test key, I’ll say 1 C, 2 A (really close to the first one!), 3 F and maybe 4 G. I didn’t care about the other ones, specially B. Post seen the test key: The SM7B is no surprise, but I’m surprise by the fact that the two others I chose are the two less expensive ones, really interesting.

exceeded my expectations~

I've heard the Telefunken M82 sound much better when you engage it's High Boost switch making it very condenser-like. Also, no Rode Broadcaster in the test?

Hey, do you think I could use 2 AT875R for an interview? I liked the sound and wonder if it'll be good as an interview mic?

just use a gate if you have background noise?

From the blind test C and E were the best and G coming close behind with less detail in the high-mids.

Very surprised to see that Electro Voice mics were not included in this shootout, of the mics tested, the SM7B is the definite winner.

SM7B :3

One good ribbon mic (figure-8) between them COULD also sound very good. Provided their studio acoustics are fairly ok.

so the 57 sounded amazing i liked the heil and 7b best but man the 57 was great

Where are the ElectroVoice mics (R20 and R27)? The R20 is one of, if not the, most used mic (among the dynamic mics) for radio and podcasting. I am not a particular fan of them but they should have been included in the list. There is also an interesting dynamic mic to take into consideration for the same purposes: Audio-Technica BP40.

where is the key for what mics were what?

C was my favourite, I was hoping it would be something cheaper!

C: ' s vocals were heart felt.!!! E: sounded nice G: sounded good ( but was hiding something. It was like a Chrysler 300 being passed off as a Phantom.

Tell me why the rode podcaster sounder better then all them?

Which one will make me sound like I know what I'm doing and not a knob with my first podcast?

Thank you for mic testing with a female voice! We need more reviews on YT like this!

SM7B, *Just bought it and then came here to sniff around...I'm even more satisfied with my purchase now!*

I preferred C! Which is great, because I just got one!

D: Shure Beta 87a had pretty noticeable static IMO. but it sounded nicer than; G: Rode Podcaster I did not like this one at all. If used in its 'requires nothing' state sounds flat and not engaging. I did like the sound of the others and I'm a fan of the AT mic as I record my gameplays with an AT2020usb+ That's a lot of money to spend on mics, feel free to send me one that you arent using, any one except G haha! Good vid.

I like both A and C

Try a TLM101 aka as Sennheiser MK4.

Greetings, I currently have a sennheiser md 421 II and a shure sm7b, but I am seriously thinking of buying a TELEFUNKEN M82, MY DOUBT IS IF THE M82 HAS THE HIGHER GAIN THAN THE SHURE SM7B. Could you also send me a speech with a spoken voice? Attentive to your comments to proceed to buy the M82

A was clearly the winner for me too.

I have to agree with you about the AT875R and Shure Beta 87a, they really sound great, buttttttt the Telefunken did a great job too. Besides that, to be honest, it's not about the mic, it's about the voice, like, the second male voice sounded better in a diferent mic then the first, and the girl, same thing. Thank you for this video, well done! Best regards!

Kinda weird, I've been doing some research to look for a good quality mic, and after that time I simply knew that C would be the SM7B before checking and I don't even have a lot of experience with microphones at all lol

I prefer the peak design 5l sling to the sm7b. Just my opinion