10 Best Shure Vocal Microphones 2025 in the United States

The Shure SM7dB Dynamic Vocal Microphone is designed for streaming, podcasting, and recording, featuring a warm sound signature that’s popular among vocalists and content creators. One of its standout features is the built-in preamp, which offers adjustable gain levels of plus 18dB or plus 28dB, allowing flexibility depending on your recording needs. For quieter vocals, the higher boost is particularly useful, while the bypass switch lets you revert to the classic SM7B sound if desired.

The microphone's wide frequency response of 50 to 20,000Hz is impressive and ensures detailed audio capture, making it suitable for vocals and instruments alike. With a cardioid polar pattern, it excels at isolating your voice from background noise, which is a significant advantage in less-than-perfect recording environments.

The SM7dB is robust and versatile, though it may require an interface or mixer with phantom power to fully utilize the built-in preamp, which could be a consideration for those using simpler setups. Additionally, the microphone’s weight (2.7 pounds) and size might be a factor for users looking for something more portable.

The Shure SM7B is a highly regarded dynamic microphone that excels in various applications, making it a versatile choice for vocal recording, podcasting, and live streaming. One of its standout features is its unidirectional polar pattern, which effectively reduces background noise and captures audio from the front, ensuring clear and focused sound. This makes it particularly suitable for environments where other sounds might interfere, such as in a home studio or during live broadcasts.

With a wide frequency response and impressive sensitivity, the SM7B provides warm and natural vocal reproduction, which is why it is favored by many professionals in the music and podcasting industries. Additionally, its rugged construction ensures it can withstand the rigors of regular use, and the included detachable windscreens help reduce plosive sounds and breath noise, enhancing the recording quality.

The SM7B does have a few drawbacks. It requires a good amount of gain from an audio interface or mixer to reach optimal performance; users often recommend at least 60dB of gain for the best results. This may necessitate investing in additional equipment if your setup does not already provide enough gain. Additionally, being an XLR microphone means it is not as straightforward to use as USB microphones, which might be more appealing for beginners. The Shure SM7B is an excellent choice for serious content creators looking for a professional-grade vocal microphone. Its ability to deliver high-quality sound in various settings makes it a favorite. However, those who are new to audio production may find its requirements for gain and additional equipment a bit challenging at first.

The Shure SM58 Pro XLR Dynamic Microphone is a solid choice for anyone in need of a reliable vocal microphone for professional studio use, live performances, podcasting, and recording. One of its standout features is its unidirectional polar pattern, which means it captures sound primarily from one direction, reducing background noise effectively. This makes it great for live settings where ambient noise can be an issue.

The frequency response is tailored to vocals, providing clear and present sound with a brightened midrange that helps vocals cut through the mix. It has a frequency range of 50 Hz to 15 kHz, which is more than adequate for most vocal applications, ensuring that both lower and higher frequencies are well-reproduced. Additionally, the SM58 boasts impressive durability. Its metal construction and break-resistant stand adapter mean it can withstand the rigors of frequent use and transportation.

This microphone is particularly notable for its built-in pop filter, which reduces plosive sounds (like 'p' and 'b') and minimizes wind noise, making it versatile for both studio recordings and live performances. On the downside, the SM58 may not be the most sensitive microphone available, which means it might not pick up very quiet sounds as well as some other more sensitive microphones. However, for most vocal applications, its sensitivity is sufficient. Another potential drawback is its impedance, which is designed for professional audio equipment, so it might require additional gear to interface with consumer-grade devices. The Shure SM58 Pro XLR Dynamic Microphone is highly durable, clear-sounding, and effective at rejecting background noise, making it a reliable choice for vocalists and podcasters in various environments.