Best Mics For Guitar Amps (2024 Update)

This microphone is one of the best suited for handling guitar amps and other louder close mic applications, especially where a low profile is advantageous, such as on stage or in a cramped studio setting. The mike can be hung/slung over a speaker cabinet or mounted on small footprint stand and placed directly in front of speaker cone/grill. The flat design allows for setup in extremely tight spaces. The frequency response of 40-18k works well on most amplified instruments. It is designed optimally to handle high sound pressure levels (loud) without pads. Response is fairly flat and even across the entire range. It is also super-cardroid pattern meaning crosstalk can be kept to a minimum, important when mic'ing multiple cabs. I found these to be superior to the standard sm-57 type mics for guitar cabinet pickup, more bottom end, crisper high end and very low profile. They are also fairly durable. I've been using mine for a long time and they have held up well.Steviebone

Works great as a guitar-amp mic. You can hang it over the top of the amp, or use something like the K&M 25950 (or 25900) stands. I'm not enamored with Sennheiser's mic clips, but they function; I'd be concerned about repeatedly attaching/removing mics from those clips. That could be unwarranted, but time will tell. Otherwise the mic sounds perfect for my needs (micing guitar amps)Dan

This microphone is one of the best suited for handling guitar amps and other louder close mic applications, especially where a low profile is advantageous, such as on stage or in a cramped studio setting. The mike can be hung/slung over a speaker cabinet or mounted on small footprint stand and placed directly in front of speaker cone/grill. The flat design allows for setup in extremely tight spaces. The frequency response of 40-18k works well on most amplified instruments. It is designed optimally to handle high sound pressure levels (loud) without pads. Response is fairly flat and even across the entire range. It is also super-cardroid pattern meaning crosstalk can be kept to a minimum, important when mic'ing multiple cabs. I found these to be superior to the standard sm-57 type mics for guitar cabinet pickup, more bottom end, crisper high end and very low profile. They are also fairly durable. I've been using mine for a long time and they have held up well.Steviebone

Works great as a guitar-amp mic. You can hang it over the top of the amp, or use something like the K&M 25950 (or 25900) stands. I'm not enamored with Sennheiser's mic clips, but they function; I'd be concerned about repeatedly attaching/removing mics from those clips. That could be unwarranted, but time will tell. Otherwise the mic sounds perfect for my needs (micing guitar amps)Dan

This microphone is one of the best suited for handling guitar amps and other louder close mic applications, especially where a low profile is advantageous, such as on stage or in a cramped studio setting. The mike can be hung/slung over a speaker cabinet or mounted on small footprint stand and placed directly in front of speaker cone/grill. The flat design allows for setup in extremely tight spaces. The frequency response of 40-18k works well on most amplified instruments. It is designed optimally to handle high sound pressure levels (loud) without pads. Response is fairly flat and even across the entire range. It is also super-cardroid pattern meaning crosstalk can be kept to a minimum, important when mic'ing multiple cabs. I found these to be superior to the standard sm-57 type mics for guitar cabinet pickup, more bottom end, crisper high end and very low profile. They are also fairly durable. I've been using mine for a long time and they have held up well.Steviebone

Works great as a guitar-amp mic. You can hang it over the top of the amp, or use something like the K&M 25950 (or 25900) stands. I'm not enamored with Sennheiser's mic clips, but they function; I'd be concerned about repeatedly attaching/removing mics from those clips. That could be unwarranted, but time will tell. Otherwise the mic sounds perfect for my needs (micing guitar amps)Dan

Following extensive research on the Net, I purchased this microphone for general male and female live vocals home use, to replace an old AIWA vintage dynamic microphone. I particularly wanted a brighter, crisper vocals cadence. I am not at all qualified in sound engineering, therefore my opinion is based solely on personal taste. I am delighted with its sensitivity and clarity, appearance and robust construction, as well as the zipped bag, microphone clip and non-kinking microphone cable supplied with it. To me, this microphone appears to have a pleasing, slightly reduced proximity effect, in that vocals bass tone is not unduly exaggerated or muddy when singing very close to the microphone (e.g. approximately 50 mm from the mesh). Based on the research I did, for my personal taste, this appears to be an improvement on a Shure SM58 microphone. The manual states that this Sennheiser E835 requires phantom power. In view of its excellent performance, this is not an issue and I am using it with a TC Helicon VoicelivePlay which from memory provides 48v phantom power. This microphone doesn't have a switch, which for my limited budget kept the price down. At the price of AU$99.00 I paid, including delivery, I would definitely purchase another.2008_prado

Overall: For an extra $10 you also get a cable and boom stand?!? It would be foolish to pass on this mic if you are currently in the market for one!! I didn't purchase mine through zZounds, so I did not get the extras, which is a Great offer!! I will review it here anyway, since I Love this company and want people to know about this microphone. This mic is AMAZING!! Yes, it is wonderful on guitar cabs, but it sounds just Insanely GREAT on Any and All Acoustic instruments. Besides being a musician, I am also a serious, professionally-trained audio engineer…so, I am not a novice with no perspective. I mostly record (and play) Rock, Metal, Punk, Acoustic, etc etc types of music. However, I recently recorded a group I usually do not record…which was a Bluegrass group who also played a little bit of Country and Gospel. In fact, I had never recorded or played this type of music before this. They played Mostly Very Traditional songs (some very old) and wanted a VERY Natural sound and the way they put it was that they Only used instruments that would have existed and been available to mountain musicians back in the 1800s. Sadly (for me), this meant there were no drums. Regardless of the genre, I Always try to get the sound the client truly wants. I already knew the e906 sounds Great on guitar amps/cabs, whether distorted or not. But I decided to try it on some of the acoustic instruments in this situation. Among other mics used, I recorded some Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, and Mandolin using the e906. And……WOW did these instruments come out sounding nothing less than Spectacular!!! I did not try it on Bass or Vocals so I cannot comment on the e906's performance with them. But I have NEVER been disappointed with this mic on Anything…EVER!! If you are thinking of getting an e609 (a Great mic) and have the extra money….upgrade and get THIS MIC!!! Especially with the current offer of an extra $10 for a cable and boom standDavid

Overall: Finally bought a couple of these for use primarily on drums, guitar cabs, & horns. I'm a former music performance major and audio engineering school grad, & have been building my studio for over 15 years. Got the 421's in the mail and immediately used them on a drum session with rack & floor tom, running through API preamps. The sound was excellent! I was very impressed with the tonal quality, the ambient pickup (or lack thereof), and will probably order at least two more. Different people have different opinions of this mic, but it's a workhorse for a reason. Every mic has its own 'thing', and this mic does what it does amazingly well. Dynamic mics are not condenser mics, and they have a different sound / vibe. The roll-off switch will come in handy for mic'ing guitar cabs, bass cabs, low toms & kick drum, and anything in close proximity. These mics handle louder sources very well. Of course, the only downside to this mic is the notoriously bad clip. It's okay if you don't have to move it, such as placing on drums or guitar cabs in a session. Obviously not meant to be moved once set in place. However, a very, very good dynamic mic that will get used a ton in my studio.Chuck

For podcasters wanting to upgrade their mic, you may have lost a deal of the century. This proven microphone was nearly half off earlier this year. It sold out, but BH honored the sale price when it was back ordered a month (other places didn't). All Sennheiser dynamic mics are time-tested over the years, and you'll see this model in use decades ago on live television. It is no frills, but great for voice. Almost nobody likes the mount, but it hasn't been an issue for me as I leave it in place all of the time. It is a good mic for the price it usually commands, but was an insane price earlier this year. And it wasn't a typo!Jeffery

My first Tom mics Where the Sennheiser 604’s they last over 10 years 1 died and I slowly lost the rest. So I picked 6 more mics but I stepped up to the Sennheiser 904s. These are an improvement and I still use them but I felt compelled to give the Sennheiser 421 a shot ,so I up six of those. And wow such a massive improvement. . They are so rich and full , capturing the true tone of my drums. Where they really shine is in the lower notes I really wish I would’ve bought 10 of these instead of 6 I want to try one out tonight on my snare drum and see how I like that as well. This is one of my best purchases if you can afford it I suggest you go for it and get you a set of these as well. Good luck and happy recording.Death Metal Jim

I bought to of these to run as a stereo pair for guitar amplifiers in a live environment. They are terrific! They handle whatever two 100 watt amps can throw at them and do not color the sound in any sort of negative manner. They definitely let the amps tone shine right through. I went from two classic Sm57s to these and I just notice more clarity and detail than I did with the 57s. Mic placement is a breeze. I spent all of 5 minutes with a pre-recorded loop figuring out the most natural sound and its very easy to find the large sweetspot with these mics. Again, the 57 does not have a huge sweet spot.Blakemore

These mics came highly recommended by another sound engineer I know and, having owned the lesser e609 mics, I decided to take the plunge when I found these at a fantastic price. Pros: Excellent sound quality. Have used it in front of a few different types of bands guitar amps and found it did a fine job whether they played the blues or rock. The filter suggestions in the manual worked and I look forward to trying it with a heavier band to see how it does. Cons: None so far, but if the quality of the 609's that I own, one for over 20 years, is any indication, then this mic will provide years of quality sound reproduction. Brand new, these come with a soft cloth mic bag, mic clip, mic stand euro-adapter and manual.yankeemuso

I have a Demeter Silent Speaker Iso Box that I have been using a 57 and a 58 in with semi-satisfying results. I built a second box to put the Demeter in to even further cut down on the sound levels in my studio. I have taken the door off of the Demeter to let it breath and it takes away all the boxiness of the sound. The only thing missing was this mic! It sounds so much better I can't even believe it! It's so much more balanced and it has smoothed out the mids that have a tendency to build up in a small space like this. Blending the 58 in brings back a little of the "mid scoop" present in the 906. The super cardioid polar pattern of this mic is perfect for this application. From clean to crunch to distortion, my iso rig now sounds like a mic'd up cab in a dead room. All of my stomp boxes and guitars are now in play as they sound like real guitars and not mid range and nasally toys. I am blown away! Buy this mic and follow this recipe if you want an iso box to sound like an isolation room. I'm sure it sounds great in a room as well but the iso box is a more critical situation that only this mic works in. Buy it!radguitars

"Arturo Sandoval's Mic of choice! The Mic used most for High Quality Trumpet Recording! With a Life-Like realism to the sound as if you were hearing it played live. A warm outstanding Ribbon Professional Microphone.thevintagehorn

This R-121 is incredibly versatile for a ribbon microphone – I never fear putting it in front of guitar cabs, raucous horn players, even drums. The sound is incredibly clear and true to what my ears are hearing (a little less abrasive top end). Without a doubt worth having in my microphone closet… or out of it which usually the case. A great microphone investment!Excellent microphone – I will be purchasing more. Worth every penny I paid for this – it is a go to microphone in most every session I do these days… which is to say it is paying for itself. My clients dig the sounds = my gear pays for itself.Fester Spunk

Great mic. works magic on guitars. however you do need a good mic and pre and a decent compressor to place in front of mic! If you can get this mic for a good price (less than $1300) I would buy it! make sure you read the manual before use! If you don't you can damage the ribbon and make the mic sound bad!!!surfgreen101

"Arturo Sandoval's Mic of choice! The Mic used most for High Quality Trumpet Recording! With a Life-Like realism to the sound as if you were hearing it played live. A warm outstanding Ribbon Professional Microphone.thevintagehorn

This R-121 is incredibly versatile for a ribbon microphone – I never fear putting it in front of guitar cabs, raucous horn players, even drums. The sound is incredibly clear and true to what my ears are hearing (a little less abrasive top end). Without a doubt worth having in my microphone closet… or out of it which usually the case. A great microphone investment!Excellent microphone – I will be purchasing more. Worth every penny I paid for this – it is a go to microphone in most every session I do these days… which is to say it is paying for itself. My clients dig the sounds = my gear pays for itself.Fester Spunk

Great mic. works magic on guitars. however you do need a good mic and pre and a decent compressor to place in front of mic! If you can get this mic for a good price (less than $1300) I would buy it! make sure you read the manual before use! If you don't you can damage the ribbon and make the mic sound bad!!!surfgreen101

Following extensive research on the Net, I purchased this microphone for general male and female live vocals home use, to replace an old AIWA vintage dynamic microphone. I particularly wanted a brighter, crisper vocals cadence. I am not at all qualified in sound engineering, therefore my opinion is based solely on personal taste. I am delighted with its sensitivity and clarity, appearance and robust construction, as well as the zipped bag, microphone clip and non-kinking microphone cable supplied with it. To me, this microphone appears to have a pleasing, slightly reduced proximity effect, in that vocals bass tone is not unduly exaggerated or muddy when singing very close to the microphone (e.g. approximately 50 mm from the mesh). Based on the research I did, for my personal taste, this appears to be an improvement on a Shure SM58 microphone. The manual states that this Sennheiser E835 requires phantom power. In view of its excellent performance, this is not an issue and I am using it with a TC Helicon VoicelivePlay which from memory provides 48v phantom power. This microphone doesn't have a switch, which for my limited budget kept the price down. At the price of AU$99.00 I paid, including delivery, I would definitely purchase another.2008_prado

Overall: For an extra $10 you also get a cable and boom stand?!? It would be foolish to pass on this mic if you are currently in the market for one!! I didn't purchase mine through zZounds, so I did not get the extras, which is a Great offer!! I will review it here anyway, since I Love this company and want people to know about this microphone. This mic is AMAZING!! Yes, it is wonderful on guitar cabs, but it sounds just Insanely GREAT on Any and All Acoustic instruments. Besides being a musician, I am also a serious, professionally-trained audio engineer…so, I am not a novice with no perspective. I mostly record (and play) Rock, Metal, Punk, Acoustic, etc etc types of music. However, I recently recorded a group I usually do not record…which was a Bluegrass group who also played a little bit of Country and Gospel. In fact, I had never recorded or played this type of music before this. They played Mostly Very Traditional songs (some very old) and wanted a VERY Natural sound and the way they put it was that they Only used instruments that would have existed and been available to mountain musicians back in the 1800s. Sadly (for me), this meant there were no drums. Regardless of the genre, I Always try to get the sound the client truly wants. I already knew the e906 sounds Great on guitar amps/cabs, whether distorted or not. But I decided to try it on some of the acoustic instruments in this situation. Among other mics used, I recorded some Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, and Mandolin using the e906. And……WOW did these instruments come out sounding nothing less than Spectacular!!! I did not try it on Bass or Vocals so I cannot comment on the e906's performance with them. But I have NEVER been disappointed with this mic on Anything…EVER!! If you are thinking of getting an e609 (a Great mic) and have the extra money….upgrade and get THIS MIC!!! Especially with the current offer of an extra $10 for a cable and boom standDavid

Well, I was very impressed with the sound quality of my voice using the Shure Beta 57a. Even though many recording engineers use this mic as an instrument (guitar) mic I think it is also a great vocal mic as well. Now, I just recently used it for my Zoom meetings. People were amazed by the sound quality of my voice. I am constantly getting compliments using the Shure Beta 57a. Great mic at a great mic. You can't go wrong with Shure's quality. Ron Ajemian – Audio Technology EducatorRonald

I have always used the standard SM58 for my vocals and have also strongly suggested that others in bands that I've been in use it also. In terms of sound, having that quality, consistent sound was important to me. It made doing sound from the stage a lot easier. A friend of mine who is a sound engineer suggested that I try using a Beta 57 for my vocals in particular because he was having a tough time getting my vocals to come through the mix as much as he wanted. I hesitated but figured that since it was so similar to the SM58 that I could probably 'bend' the rules a bit and buy a Beta 57 to throw into the mix. I think he was right and here's why: because everything about the Beta 57 sounds as good as the 58 – *BUT* I think it is just a little "hotter" and as a result my vocals have been a bit more present in the mix. I suspect that is a combination of my mouth being slightly closer to the mic capsule (as the wind screen is flatter and closer) and maybe since it is a "Beta" model unit – the mic capsule itself might be a bit hotter. Regardless – it is a quality mic – just as you would expect if you are used to the legendary SM58. One last note: I actually removed the little blue ring around the windscreen because I wanted to keep the mics on stage looking as similar as possible. (silly I know) I'm from Minnesota – and we have a reputation as being "plain folks" up here. Having that showy "tell tale" blue ring around the windscreen just screams "ostentatious show-off!" (it is just rubber and can be put back on very easily.) Great mic!Scooter

I've been a professional musician for over 40 years. At one point in time, a band I played in owned a Shure Vocal Master PA…..yes indeed! I have purchased the Beta 57 twice. Why? Because the first one was stolen. I rely on the specs of this mic because I'm a drummer who sings lead and BV's. I need a powerful, durable microphone with a tight pattern as to battle against bleed from instruments. This product does EXACTLY that. Never a problem. Always solid right out of the box and consistent performance after performance. For the price point, it is the best option. I had purchased the Beta 87 after seeing KD Lang & Elton John using one. It just wasn't right for my needs. The 57A is perfect! Thanks for listening! Larry Grano……#sweepstakesLarry G.

As extra-freq microphone, this is awesome. Near noise floor, a tiny wide-band buzz. similar to a Shure sm57 I tried. Have tried filtering many things…seems to be magnetic thing. Fine for stage or podcast, not sure on voiceover. I EQ-d a Senn E835 to flatten it..that will do for now. Maybe some mu-metal shielding, guys? Other mics are OK,James

It's an amazing microphone. The build is very durable, the body is solid and the grill doesn't give or dent when a decent amount of force is put on it. The sound as well is fantastic; it doesn't need a lot of EQ and can be used for recording as well for live performance. A pop filter or a foam windscreen is needed though as the built-in foam doesn't work the best. I can't recommend it enough especially for the price.Stephen

When it was time to refresh our hire stock of SM57's I thought I would give the V7x a try. On electric guitar (1970s AC30 wound right up with a Les Paul Custom driving it) the V7 X instantly put a bigger smile on the guitarist. He described it as "more real, way bigger and much more playable than the 57". I would say the V7X goes lower, is far more even through the midrange and has a more natural high frequency response. On snare drum it provided more immediacy (transient response) with more fatness (low end) and presence (high frequencies). The off axis bleed was less and again, more even in tonality. The V7x was also better on saxophone where it provided better low end, less 500Hz honk than a beta57 and less 5KHz rattle than a 421 or 57 and went louder in the wedges. It also made it's way onto backing vocals (roll a little more low end out to even it up); it's far more flexible than a 57.. I think these microphones are excellent, so I bought 4 more and I'll buy even more when I need them for the hire stock. (Other mics I use daily: 906 / 421 / SM7B / Md441 / 414 / U87 / KM184 / Elam251 / Royer / Fet47 / Aston Spirit / 945 / 58 / 58a) Mic pre was Audient ASP console or Midas M32 Monitoring is Munro / M&K / KRKsteveoc

I own one of these already, and wanted to add more reinforcement of these microphones to my collection. Using the microphone I already own as a Internet Radio DJ microphone, adding on a desktop boom stand, and a professional dual-mesh pop filter. I purchased two additional AT2035 microphones to allow guests on the radio programme. The unit comes with a compact, well designed shock mount, and a convenient carry pouch. The shock mount attaches easily with some force, but the pouch is useless if you want to keep the shock mount attached to the microphone and travel with it. The pouch would better be useful if it were a protective satchel or bag. It feels like the included protective pouch was designed to just protect the microphone, before the inclusion of the shock mount. In either case, the microphone and shock mount are a good combination, and has nice warm sound. Using it mostly for vocal speech DJ hosting work, can't say much for the singing. My original AT2035 microphone has been in service, doing weekly radio programmes for more than a couple of years now, without fail. So the unit is well designed, robust, and even though I marked "Heavy/Bulky" under "Cons", it is ACTUALLY a PRO. This microphone is not intended to be hand-held, and should always be mounted on a boom, or microphone stand, along with some form of shock mount, and therefor, the heaviness and bulkiness of the unit is a POSITIVE thing. This quality not only adds to the sturdiness of the unit, but its stability in its use. Metal construction on the outside, and thick metal wire mesh to protect the internal cardioid capsule, the microphone can not be picked up without feeling that the unit is built with some degree of durability. This quality comes across as a sense of ruggedness for the touring or concert performance arena.LadyCuddles

This microphone brings out all the subtle details of an acoustic instrument or voice. Although it has a cardioid pickup pattern, it picks up two voices very nicely on a video call, better than with a typical dynamic mic. If you want to be kind to your audience don't rely on the microphones built into laptops or video cameras. My Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 provides phantom power, monitoring and a digital interface with my laptop. I prefer a single audio interface with quality preamps over a mic with USB interface. The shock mount works beautifully. A pop filter is a useful accessory but not always necessary.Peter

It's basically an upgraded at2020, and very much worth the money for the mic. It sounds just as good if not better then more expensive options, within reasonable expectations. It's not going to compete with an vintage mic, nor is it going to compete with a much more expensive mic with a specific sound signature. But for a flat, basic microphone, it is one of the best within it's price range. It picks up vocals where it is supposed to and drastically reduces sound from things like speakers positioned behind it. It is probably the best microphone you can get for video calls, streaming, and other activities where sound cancelation is important. Paired with a basic XLR interface with phantom power and it is the most clear you can get for your coworkers or friends for a very reasonable price. As someone that does work remote and as someone that hangs out with friends having a good mic is very important. My at2020 usb started having issues so it was only a natural progression to get the next tier up and an inherently better usb interface for it. I love this mic and your coworkers will thank you, if they are anything like me.Jonathan

I bought to of these to run as a stereo pair for guitar amplifiers in a live environment. They are terrific! They handle whatever two 100 watt amps can throw at them and do not color the sound in any sort of negative manner. They definitely let the amps tone shine right through. I went from two classic Sm57s to these and I just notice more clarity and detail than I did with the 57s. Mic placement is a breeze. I spent all of 5 minutes with a pre-recorded loop figuring out the most natural sound and its very easy to find the large sweetspot with these mics. Again, the 57 does not have a huge sweet spot.Blakemore

These mics came highly recommended by another sound engineer I know and, having owned the lesser e609 mics, I decided to take the plunge when I found these at a fantastic price. Pros: Excellent sound quality. Have used it in front of a few different types of bands guitar amps and found it did a fine job whether they played the blues or rock. The filter suggestions in the manual worked and I look forward to trying it with a heavier band to see how it does. Cons: None so far, but if the quality of the 609's that I own, one for over 20 years, is any indication, then this mic will provide years of quality sound reproduction. Brand new, these come with a soft cloth mic bag, mic clip, mic stand euro-adapter and manual.yankeemuso

I have a Demeter Silent Speaker Iso Box that I have been using a 57 and a 58 in with semi-satisfying results. I built a second box to put the Demeter in to even further cut down on the sound levels in my studio. I have taken the door off of the Demeter to let it breath and it takes away all the boxiness of the sound. The only thing missing was this mic! It sounds so much better I can't even believe it! It's so much more balanced and it has smoothed out the mids that have a tendency to build up in a small space like this. Blending the 58 in brings back a little of the "mid scoop" present in the 906. The super cardioid polar pattern of this mic is perfect for this application. From clean to crunch to distortion, my iso rig now sounds like a mic'd up cab in a dead room. All of my stomp boxes and guitars are now in play as they sound like real guitars and not mid range and nasally toys. I am blown away! Buy this mic and follow this recipe if you want an iso box to sound like an isolation room. I'm sure it sounds great in a room as well but the iso box is a more critical situation that only this mic works in. Buy it!radguitars

Well, I was very impressed with the sound quality of my voice using the Shure Beta 57a. Even though many recording engineers use this mic as an instrument (guitar) mic I think it is also a great vocal mic as well. Now, I just recently used it for my Zoom meetings. People were amazed by the sound quality of my voice. I am constantly getting compliments using the Shure Beta 57a. Great mic at a great mic. You can't go wrong with Shure's quality. Ron Ajemian – Audio Technology EducatorRonald

I have always used the standard SM58 for my vocals and have also strongly suggested that others in bands that I've been in use it also. In terms of sound, having that quality, consistent sound was important to me. It made doing sound from the stage a lot easier. A friend of mine who is a sound engineer suggested that I try using a Beta 57 for my vocals in particular because he was having a tough time getting my vocals to come through the mix as much as he wanted. I hesitated but figured that since it was so similar to the SM58 that I could probably 'bend' the rules a bit and buy a Beta 57 to throw into the mix. I think he was right and here's why: because everything about the Beta 57 sounds as good as the 58 – *BUT* I think it is just a little "hotter" and as a result my vocals have been a bit more present in the mix. I suspect that is a combination of my mouth being slightly closer to the mic capsule (as the wind screen is flatter and closer) and maybe since it is a "Beta" model unit – the mic capsule itself might be a bit hotter. Regardless – it is a quality mic – just as you would expect if you are used to the legendary SM58. One last note: I actually removed the little blue ring around the windscreen because I wanted to keep the mics on stage looking as similar as possible. (silly I know) I'm from Minnesota – and we have a reputation as being "plain folks" up here. Having that showy "tell tale" blue ring around the windscreen just screams "ostentatious show-off!" (it is just rubber and can be put back on very easily.) Great mic!Scooter

I've been a professional musician for over 40 years. At one point in time, a band I played in owned a Shure Vocal Master PA…..yes indeed! I have purchased the Beta 57 twice. Why? Because the first one was stolen. I rely on the specs of this mic because I'm a drummer who sings lead and BV's. I need a powerful, durable microphone with a tight pattern as to battle against bleed from instruments. This product does EXACTLY that. Never a problem. Always solid right out of the box and consistent performance after performance. For the price point, it is the best option. I had purchased the Beta 87 after seeing KD Lang & Elton John using one. It just wasn't right for my needs. The 57A is perfect! Thanks for listening! Larry Grano……#sweepstakesLarry G.

Bought the Audix D4s and Sennheiser E604s to get a better sound than my SM57's on toms. The E604 did sound quite better, fatter and punchier than the 57, then the D4 sounded even more so than the 604 !!! Both mics are awesome in size and placement. Completely out of the way for studio and live use. The 604 is plastic but the D4 is metal and built like a tank ! Looks beautiful as well. I then put a D4 on the snare and OMG !!! Blew away my 57 or 58 which were great to begin with..D4 gave the same result,.fatter and punchier !!! So I now have D4's on snare and all my toms tops and I put the 604's on the bottom tom heads, The D4 is a little more costly than a 57 or 604, but well worth the difference in cost,,,It's performance far outweighs the difference in cost, it was a no brainer for me.Mt Helix Recording Studios

Outstanding product! I'm using It on a 16 in floor tom and it makes the drum come alive in live performances and recordings. Audix is top notch and a must have when micing the toms on my kit. Highly recommended!dwdrummer1

Great mix for floor toms. Requires a hefty scoop out of the low-mids to sound natural for my taste, however. I'd prefer a mic with less mids and more attack. With proper EQ, it sounds full and natural. Great companion to the Audix D2 on rack toms. Easy to place on the drum due to small size and weight. I use Audic rim clamps and they work fine and fit in the mic pouches with the mics.deals_emerge

I took a chance on this mic. I didnt want to spend a lot of money for a spare mic. This mic has the feel, weight, and quality of more expensive mics I have. It has good sound. While Ill continue to use my more expensive mics because of their more nuanced sound, this mic will do the job and get you through the gig.blustrt

Used them live at an outdoor gig the week after I purchased them, sounded fine ( drums) and the cases are nice also. Good price.haarb-gar

Our church has a few aging SM58 mics. Some time ago I purchased an XM8500 and just recently added three more to our closet. Buying the Behringers was cheaper than upgrading the SM58 mics. The Behringers actually seem more brilliant than the Shures, but admittedly I am comparing them to the aging SM58s. Regardless, the sound is excellent. A big thumbs down for the mic clips, which were totally useless. I couldn't even slip a mic into them. I ended up forcing them onto an old mic and then I hit them with my heat gun to relax the plastic. That seems to have worked OK. At least I can get a mic into them now.rer-tar

To my ears, the XM8500 sounds just as good as any other XLR microphone. Its body is fully metal, and feels strong enough that I could throw it at a wall without so much as scratching it. It even comes in a hard plastic carrying case, which is much higher quality than the price would suggest. The included clip isn't amazing, you need to permanently stretch it to even be able to put the XM8500 in it, but it's still much better than nothing. If you're going to be close to the XM8500, I recommend getting some kind of foam windscreen, which DJ City doesn't sell for any kind of reasonable price. All in all, I highly recommend the XM8500 if you're after a high quality mic at a fair price.Charles M.

I heard a ham radio operator using one of these and his audio was simply GREAT! Based on this, I decided to invest $20 for one. It came promptly as scheduled. I connected it to my Elecraft K3S {an absolutely awesome radio} in place of either my Heil PR-781 or Shure SM-58. I immediately got GREATsounding audio reports. In comparing the specs and frequency response of the Shure SM58 {basically a $100 mike} and the Behringer XM8500, the 8500 has a wee bit more high end. Otherwise they are identical I've listened to my station and my voice in a critical listening environment, and I agree, it is a good sounding mike. Correctly interfaced to the radio and with the radio properly adjusted, it should produce great sounding audio on yours as well. Of note – I find with many mikes, and this one is no exception, the correct mike technique is the single most important factor to getting great audio reports. You can equalize and compress and process until you run out of knobs to turn and settings to adjust. If you don't use the correct mike-to-mouth distance and correct mike position, you'll never get great audio!k4tax

Overall: I ended up using this as the vocal mic on a project. The singer was more comfortable with the sound and response of this one versus some other options. This performed great and is clearly tuned for vocal use, tidying up some common shortcomings that can come across on some microphones. You wouldn't believe the vocals were recorded with this and an SM57 a few feet away. It sounded great and proved that this mic can compete with more pro choices in certain circumstances. I've used it for demos and field recordings and it did the trick there too. It's no replacement for "real" studio mics but it's great to have on hand for those moments where you need an extra, and it really does sound good. It honestly has no business sounding as good as it does. If you're considering this mic (it's ideal for a lot of nonstandard applications) it's worth getting.Russell

I have the 990/991 set, and the 990. Both came with stand mounts. Whether your giging, or just knocking out tracks in a buddies studio, you'll want these rigs. The 991 on a fixed stand in front of your accoustic, and the 990 dangling in your face comes out pure heaven on tracks. Crisp, clean, and as good as any $500+ I've been in front of. The cases protect them well. If you set in with your buddies band occasionally, bring these, your instrument, plus your mic stand, and everybody will be using your rig over the 54, 57s, or 58s up there. No kidding. They sound THAT much better. Use the shock mount and a pop screen for best results. One night I had to use electrical tape, and my cord box foam for a pop screen, and it worked great. I've had my stand kicked over, dented the screen a tiny bit, but it kept running like champ. How tough is it? 2 years of S. TX bars tough. So tough that after the first one took a HARD hit and kept running, that I bought another. Money well spent. Get one if you can. Needs phantom power, but if your boards, amps don't have it, you can get the mini amps, compressors that provide it. You won't regret getting one. I put a 54, 58, my 990, and a Peavey into our mixer/power amp, same settings, and this had the best clarity and volume. I'm going to buy a couple more before they go extinct at these prices.guitarasaweapon

Iv'e been recording professionally for over 30 years. I have worked with artist like Prince, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, Luther Vandross, DJ Quik, TLC, Tyrese, and the list goes on and on and on. Initially I purchased 8 of these mics to use to record a choir. I had a high end board so I figured I couldnt go wrong with them. BTW .. Marshall produces some pretty amazing high quality microphones. Do not be fooled by the price. An experienced engineer can get the best out of any equipment. But Marshall really does produce good microphones for an unbelievable low price. I was amazed at the performance of these little mics. Since then I have used them on everything from vocals, acoustic guitars, guitar amps, overheads for drums. One day a friend came in with his that he did a 3 dollar modification on. He simply changed out 3 capacitors and opened the head basket. We recorded his vocals and I was floored. We did a A/B with my Nuemann 103 running into a pair of Avalon M5s and again I was floored. I modded 4 of the 8 and they have been my go mics for several years now; and we have a mic locker most would kill over. Even with out the Mod you cant go wrong with these. Get a GOOD pre-amp and I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed. Am I saying that these mics are going to compete with a C12, Telefunken, Neumann that cost anywhere from 1500 – 13,000 …. Yes …… and NO! Just depends on the platform. If using a kick drum or overheads ..NO! Vocals …. yes/no (a tube mic will sound different). But then you have to ask yourself if the difference is worth 10,000 …. If I had one complaint about them is that the mids can be a little harsh with a lower end pre-amp. But even a 10k mic wont sound its best through a terrible pre-amps.Boogie Wonderland

The RODE NT1 has long been a mainstay for any recording studio. This was my chance to get one and I have to say it's reputation has not been overstated. I have and have worked with many microphones in the last 50 years and the RODE NT1 has just become my all around "go to" mic. From it's almost noiseless "floor" (4.5) to it's crystal clear warm overtones, this microphone is pure joy to work with and at an affordable price. Top that off with RODE's 10 year manufacturer's warranty and you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. I couldn't. Thank you Sam Ash for being close by and having my order in record time. KUDOS, Navy House Studio, Richmond, VA.Budmoe

Note the pop filter is no longer the same steel one pictured in the product photos, RODE uses a more standard circular mesh filter compared to the steel mesh. Nonetheless, still works amazingly and for the price/bundle + quality for a starting XLR set, it’s fantastic. Sounds clear, professional, there’s a reason the NT1 has been popular for so long now. Only gripe I have is the USB power – using my M1 iMac (which has only USB-C), even using a dongle in the thunderbolt port didn’t seem to power the mic enough which resulted in a LOT of crackling. Had to buy a USB-C cable capable of 100W and plugged in directly to my iMac, solved the issue. If you’re a Mac user, I recommend swapping the cable unless you have a USB type-A port capable of properly powering this mic. However, that’s just my experience, your experience may differ especially if you’re using PC, which I can’t vouch for. Overall though, highly satisfied.WhoelsebutCoop

If you are considering the purchase of your first condenser microphone, then I highly recommend the Rode NT1 Kit. – High build Quality – Everything you need comes in the kit – Strong signal – Low noise – Perfect on vocals and acoustic guitar When broadcasting on JamKazam and micing my acoustic with the NT1: someone that I play with frequently on JamKazam asked me; "What guitar are you using?", before answering I asked why do you ask? They said it sounds amazing. Then I told them its my Ovation elite that I always play, it is just that I am micing it with my new Rode NT1. To which they replied…Wow it sounded like you had a different guitar…it sounds so full and rich. I have had this microphone for a couple of weeks now and it has met and surpassed my expectations. Before buying I did my research into all condenser mics in the $300 range; compared specs, product reviews like this one. If you are on the fence about which condenser mic to buy to get started with, get off the fence and get yourself the Rode NT1 Kit. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.David

I bought this mic because I wanted to get my feet wet with ribbon mics. I own another MXL mic and while it has iit's uses, they are not a brand I would recomend. But this one immediately impressed me. My Behringer UCM1820 had no issues providing enough gain to get a nice crisp, warm sound. It definitely adds some color too. A little dark, but a good dark. I first tried it on some rock vocals. I re-recorded the vocal on a completed project and without tweaking any eq, just some slight compression it sat perfectly within the exsiting mix. Next I recorded my Egnater Tweaker 15 with it and an sm57 at the same time on seperate tracks and after working out placement, the results were excellent and it recorded less dark than the sm57 which was a shock to me. I cN see me using this more often, I really like the crisp dark sounds it's producing compared to my GAP FC1 mkII. I definitely would recommend this MXL product to anyone wanting to try a ribbon mic and not break the bank. It really changed my opinion on their products..I might have to give their tube mic offerings a shot..another high cost type of mic I really want to get for ky mic lockerJeff

This is a nice, good-sounding mic; I have used it primarily for bass and tenor vocals so far. It has a very strong Figure-8 polar pattern, and the blue color is a bit more purple-grey than most pictures suggest. The included shock mount works well, and includes extra elastic and an additional screw thread adapter. My only (and minor) quibble is that the case has no easy place to stow the user manual; this is hardly a problem.Erik