The Best Microphone for Vocals (My Mic Shootout + Ratings)
I tested the most popular vocal microphones head-to-head on my own voice. Here are my honest ratings and the two microphones I actually recommend.
Key Takeaways
- Test multiple microphones on your specific voice since different voices sound better with different mics
- The Shure SM7B and WA-87 are top performers for most vocal recording situations
- All mics in the 8+ rating range can produce professional, platinum-quality vocal recordings
- Dynamic mics work better in untreated rooms while condensers excel in controlled studio environments
- Your voice characteristics matter more than price when choosing the right vocal microphone
About a year ago, I set out with a challenge: find the best vocal microphone for my voice.
My plan was simple — grab a few popular mics, compare the results, and pick the best one for me.
I filmed the whole process, and you can watch it here:
The video goes into detail about what I think about most mics — what I like, what I don’t, what I recommend, and what I’d avoid.
But there’s still another piece of the puzzle: how do they actually sound while recording?
I also made a full video on this…
All the ideas in this article come from the video below. If you don't feel like reading, well, I gotchu.
Part of the Recording Vocals series — For the full picture, read my complete guide to recording vocals at home.
The mic shootout
To keep the video short, I didn’t include every vocal recording I did (there were a lot). If you want to compare the mics in more detail, here’s the full playlist of the vocal tests:
During these tests, I sang each song the same distance away from the microphone, in the same room, and tried to replicate my vocal performance as closely as possible.
It would be more accurate if I could record all microphones at once, but that comes with its own problems. These recordings were done one mic at a time, so there may be slight variances in performance.
Next time, I’ll do what I can to eliminate that and get as close of a comparison as possible — but this experiment still gave me a really solid idea of what works on my voice.
My ratings
Here’s how I’d rate each mic from this shootout:
| Microphone | Type | Sound Profile | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shure SM7B | Dynamic | Warm, thick/boomy | Studio vocals, untreated rooms, BG vocals | 9.4/10 |
 WA-87 | Condenser | Midrange focus, vintage vocal sound | Works well with many sources | 9.2/10 |
 AKG C214 | Condenser | Well-balanced, clear | Extra clarity, clean recordings | 9.1/10 |
 Electro-Voice RE20 | Dynamic | Warm, crisper than other dynamics | Studio vocals, warm voices | 9.0/10 |
 Neumann TLM 103 | Condenser | Detailed, airy high-end | Premium high-end shine | 8.9/10 |
 Rode NT1-A | Condenser | Very crisp high-end focus | Singers with deeper voices | 8.6/10 |
 Audio-Technica AT2020 | Condenser | Clean, clear | Beginning studio vocalists | 8.4/10 |
 Shure SM58 | Dynamic | Warm, boomy | Performances, untreated rooms | 7.9/10 |
My recommendations
All of the mics I tested were fantastic. A well-trained engineer in a treated room with a good vocalist could use any one of these mics to get a platinum record.
That said, my personal favorites were the WA‑87 and the Shure SM7B. They’ve been staples in my studio since I got them, and I use them all the time.
But remember: that’s what I prefer on my voice. Your setup and your voice may react differently.
Unfortunately, that’s one of the hard truths about microphones: different voices are different, which means different mics might sound better.
The good news is that any of the mics in this shootout can get the job done — and hopefully this comparison helps you make a smarter decision for your own studio.
Check out the free Vocal Production Checklist to make sure you’re not missing any steps in your vocal workflow.
Want the full walkthrough? My course Pro Vocals in 60 Minutes takes you from raw recording to polished vocal, step by step.
About Mattie
Mattie is a music producer, songwriter, and educator specializing in Logic Pro and vocal production. With over 10 years of experience in the music industry, he's helped thousands of artists transform their home studio recordings into professional-quality tracks.
As the founder of Music By Mattie, he creates tutorials, presets, and courses that simplify complex production techniques. His mission is to make professional music production accessible to everyone, regardless of budget or experience level.