SM7B Alternatives: The Best Broadcast Dynamic Mics
Is the Shure SM7B the only option for content creation and home recording?
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The Shure SM7B is THE mic for podcasters, content creators, and vocalists. And just received an update with the SM7dB. But either one might be out of your budget. Or don’t like its Sound. Or you want a headset solution. We’ve collected the best SM7B alternatives for any situation.
In this Article
What’s the deal with the SM7B?
If you’re on stage, it’s the SM58. If you’re in the studio recording vocals or a podcast, or you’re doing content creation, it’s the Shure SM7B. No other mic is as widespread as this dynamic microphone in these situations.
With the first iteration, the SM7 being released in 1973, then the first update, SM7A coming out in 1999, and the SM7B in 2001, this range of microphones has been a studio go-to for fifty years!
The SM7B is to the SM7A what the SM58 is to the SM57, by the way. You just get a protection shield (foam in the case of the SM7B), but the inside is the same. And when 2008/9 came around and podcasting exploded, the Shure SM7B was the choice of most podcasters.
What should SM7B alternatives offer?
Replacing a microphone with such an iconic sound (and look) is no easy feat. But there are quite a few equally good-sounding choices. You might be looking for a cheaper solution. Or one that does not need an audio interface. Or you’re finding the SM7b just too bulky for a recording or live-streaming setup.
One thing, many first-time users stumble over with the SM7B is the amount of gain you need to amplify its signal. That’s one of the reasons portable preamps like Cloudlifters have become so popular. And that’s also why Shure just released the Sm7dB with a built-in preamp.
But while you’re at it, do take a look at the OG. Add a preamp like the Cloudlifter CL-1, so enough gain is added that you don’t have to scream at the top of your lungs. And its more recently released sibling SM7dB is available as well.
Rode Podmic, PreSonus PD 70, or The T.Bone BC 500 – the budget SM7B Alternatives
In this price range, features, durability, and sound quality are often very similar. With the Rode Podmic, you’ll get a much more compact microphone than the clunky SM7B. An integrated pop filter and its protection grill protect your recordings from plosives.
The PD-70 from PreSonus is specifically aimed at recording spoken word in quiet environments – and if you’re looking for an SM7B lookalike, this one comes pretty close! With the t.bone BC 500 being a strong contender for most SM7B lookalike, and a similar sound
SM7B Alternatives: sE Electronics DynaCaster DCM
The sE Electronics DynaCaster DCM series has three different options for different budgets. Starting at the bottom, the DCM3 is a basic moving-coil dynamic mic with a built-in pop filter that is ideal for podcasting or streaming. With its high impedance rating (600 Ohms), the DCM3 will require a decent preamp to optimize the signal level.
If you don’t have a preamp, the DCM6 is a better option, with the same compact design as the DCM3 but featuring an integrated Dynamite preamp, which boosts the gain by 30 dB. At the top of the range, you’ll find the DCM8, which is a little pricier but a far more formidable alternative to the SM7B.
The larger DCM8 has a three-layer pop filter, integrated shockmount, and the Dynamite preamp, which runs on 48v phantom power. Also, there are two EQ switches that let you customize your low-end and highs to get the cleanest signal for any application. This is great for reducing the proximity effect and increasing the high-frequency detail. Get it at Thomann.*
SM7B Alternatives: Aston Microphones Stealth
The Aston Microphones Stealth is one of the most complete alternatives to the SM7B available, covering almost every aspect of its feature scope. Like the SM7B, the Stealth is a large-diaphragm moving coil dynamic mic with a cardioid pickup pattern and great off-axis rejection, suitable for a wide range of recording applications.
If you already have a decent preamp, the Stealth can operate in passive mode, or you can simply activate phantom power to use the built-in preamp if you need to boost the gain. To capture different sources, the Stealth has four different voicing settings. These include settings optimized for male and female vocals, a setting for acoustic guitar and guitar amps, and a dark mode, which gives you a classic ribbon mic sound.
Overall, the Stealth is an impressive competitor with solid construction quality and a Sorbothane internal shock mount with a Stainless Steel Faraday cage, as well as a built-in 6mm acoustic foam pop filter. Meanwhile, the Stealth Broadcast edition includes the Stealth Side Mount. Get it at Thomann.*
Shure MV7 – USB mic and most practical mic of our SM7B Alternatives
A Shure alternative to a Shure microphone? While not matching the legendary, pristine quality of the SM7B, Shure MV-7 offers similar sound characteristics. It sports a similar look, and is about half as big (useful for cramped home-recording bedroom situations), and the MV7 Plus and MV7i don’t even require an audio interface!
Universal Audio SD-1: A Modelling Mic
The SD-1 or Standard Dynamic Microphone Model 1 looks very similar to the SM7B and produces similar results in its most basic configuration. However, the SD-1 is designed to be used with the accompanying Hemisphere Modeling system, which allows you to mimic the sound of classic dynamic and ribbon mics from Sennheiser, RCA, and beyerdynamic.
In addition, the Apollo Unison preamps let you match these legendary mic profiles with a collection of famous preamps and channel strips. This makes the SD-1 a versatile addition to your home studio, with so many situations where it will come in handy.
EV RE 20 – the classic
No other mic is recommended as often as the RE 20 from EV. How so? It looks different, it’s even more expensive, the sound character is quite different, and it’s a physically larger mic. However, the RE20 has been around even longer than Shure’s SM7 range, being introduced in 1968!
Like the Origin earlier, it’s a definite eye-catcher in your livestream. And while the SM7b offers a legendary sound, that sound can be a bit too natural or flat to some ears. In comes the Electrovoice RE 20 with its emphasized lows and highs. This is the sound of broadcast radio! If it’s good enough for Dr Frasier Crane…
SM7B Alternatives: Sennheiser MD 421
You’ve probably seen it used many times to mic up toms for drum recordings in studios. However, the MD 421 is actually a top-quality broadcast microphone that can yield great results on speech, vocals, guitar amps, drums and percussion, as well as brass and woodwind instruments.
The MD 421 was introduced in 1960, so we can safely say that the design has stood the test of time. With the MD 421 II, you can prepare it for podcasting by adding the MZW421 windshield, and there are five different EQ settings. The filter modes are shown with an “M” (for musical instruments) or an “S” (for speech), with 3 intermediary settings in between these two modes.
While it’s rather pricey, the 421 is worth the investment because of how versatile it is, and this makes it a must-have mic to have in your locker. Meanwhile, there is also a more affordable option in the form of the MD 421 Kompakt, which delivers very similar results but without the five-position filter switch. Get it at Thomann.*
SM7B Alternatives: Neumann BCM 705
The 705 is the dynamic moving coil mic in Neumann’s BCM range of broadcast microphones, designed to give you that classic FM radio announcer voice. With its hypercardioid pickup pattern, the BCM 705 has been designed to get up close and personal, and its internal shock mount and integrated pop shield reduce plosives and any handling noise from repositioning the mic during takes.
The frequency response is best suited for the human voice range, with a subtle boost just above 2 kHz to enhance the clarity of speech. In addition, there is a gradual low-end roll-off that counteracts the proximity effect. This means you can get as close to the mic as you like, and there’s the optional WS47 windshield for added protection.
While the BCM 705 doesn’t require phantom power, it’s a low-output mic like the SM7B, so you will need a gain boosting device like a Cloudlifter or similar to optimize the signal. The BCM 705 is also equally versatile, so you can use it on loud vocalists, guitar amps, or brass instruments. The only drawback is that you pay dearly for it, being the Neumann option. Get it at Thomann.*
Conclusion
Was the mic you were looking for on our list? What would you have suggested? With the market of vocal mics growing at such a pace, it’s impossible for such a list of SM7B Alternatives to include them all. But you might have an idea or two where to start.
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