Verdict
The Shure SM7B is an iconic dynamic microphone that lives up to its report with wonderfully sporting , copious and detailed output . It ’s also punch - and - fiddle as long as you ’ve acquire an XLR interface , but work beautifully , especially with its immaculate noise rejection .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Shure SM7B is one of those mike that has clear iconic status with quite the report as one of the best all - round microphones money can buy .
Everyone from Michael Jackson to , well , me has used them , as it ’s the selection for a deal of professional studio for music vocals , voiceovers and content Creator on the interwebs . It does n’t come cheap though , carrying a £ 379 / $ 399 terms rag , making it a average bit more expensive than some competent USB choices we ’ve examine such as theLogitech G Yeti GXandSteelSeries Alias .
I ’ve been test the SM7B for the last couple of weeks to see if it ’s deserving the in high spirits asking price . Let ’s find out .
Design
The SM7B has an instantly placeable bod to it , with a cylindric main body dissever down the middle by both its wind shield and metal saddle horse . The tonic filter and shock mount are internalised , so there ’s no unsightly obtrusions to get in the way of its style
At 765 g , the SM7B is also specially muscular for what is ‘ just ’ a mike and no climb hardware , reward its position as a calibre product . This is also a simple mike elsewhere too , with no onboard ascendancy or even a headphone jack for onboard monitoring . Being an XLR choice , most of those tasks are down to the interface or mixer you ’ve got the SM7B plugged into .
As mentioned previously , there is n’t a outdoor stage or anything else included , just the SM7B itself . This means you do have to furnish your own base and interface to get it act , but let ’s face it – if you ’re calculate at one of these , you already knew that . The SM7B withal chouse into a tie-up with the mount that comes off the mike ’s body and metal mount , while there is also an XLR connector for plugging the mic into an user interface or mixer .
It ’s equally happy on a desktop stand or a windfall arm , as I had mine on , although with the SM7B ’s heavier weight , you ’ll have to make certain your branch is up to the task for confirm it .
Performance
As alluded to earlier , I ’m someone who has had experience with the SM7B before , having used one on student radio for the best part of three class , so being able to revisit it 18 months after leaving university was a pleasure . It offer rich and elaborated pickup truck with passel of body and depth that make it idealistic for vocals , be them for euphony or voiceover work , and that ’s in an untreated elbow room with no soundproofing . In a studio apartment surroundings , it ’s even better .
The SM7B offers a odd cardioid cartridge pattern that ’s well - suited for vocals , while its noise - rejection is impeccable . It pull off to lug out the dissonance of my mechanical keyboard well , as well as the slimly noisier fans on my PC , and even when I had music play from my Sonos Beam that was set up up to my PC . When being around six inches from the head of the SM7B , it blocked out the music especially well , with only my vocalism audible in testing .
Setup was simple enough too , with the mic working chaw and toy with my Elgato Wave XLR interface along with an XLR cable from the SM7B to the interface and USB - C to USB - A cable from the interface to my PC . It was picked up on both Windows and macOS through Audacity without a hitch .
Features
The SM7B , as a straightforward microphone , is lacking in the features section , particularly with no onboard controls , RGB or any software integrating . Its chore is simply for you to bellow into .
As much as it may seem contradictory to its Leontyne Price tatter , I do n’t listen that the SM7B is bereft of feature , largely because of its destine usance . While it has become a favorite of banner in late year , this is a microphone squarely direct at professional economic consumption where things such as RGB lighting or software integration are n’t the be all and end all .
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Should you buy it?
The SM7B excels with its fantastic execution with full - embodied pickup that ’s ideal for vocals and voiceover work , while its impeccable randomness rejection ascertain it ’s only you that ’s heard .
Where the SM7B has always had an issue is with its high toll tag end , which mean it ’s only for those who ’ve dumbfound the immediate payment to pick one up . Otherwise , there are other choices at less than half its cost that tender solid cartridge and a rich feature set .
Final Thoughts
The Shure SM7B is an iconic dynamical mike that live up to its repute with toppingly clean , rich and elaborated output .
It ’s also stop up and spiel as long as you ’ve get an XLR interface , but works beautifully , especially with its faultless noise rejection . A more ‘ low-cost ’ pick is here is theLogitech Blue Sona , which we ’ve also rated extremely and offers more in the way of on - display board controls . Even at its high price peak though , the Shure SM7B is still the one to beat .
Trusted Score
How we test
During each microphone recap , we conduct a serial publication of recording trial run that include sampling sound during idealistic configurations , with background racket employ and in an outside setting ( where potential ) , to give you the best melodic theme of how each equipment performs in real - world use .
FAQs
Yes , the Shure SM7B requires an port to ferment as it ’s an XLR mike .
Yes , the Shure SM7B works on a roar weapon or desktop tie-up .
