Shure SM7B Microphone Review In 2024

The Shure SM7B is a high-end professional microphone loved by podcasters and musicians worldwide. This microphone will cost you $399, and you are mainly paying for its premium construction and professional sound quality. Shure SM7B is almost universally rated as being the best at what it does in the audio industry. Shure designed this mic almost entirely by keeping in mind that they are making the best dynamic XLR connection mic for recording speech and vocal performances. This could be used to record podcasts, voice-overs, broadcasts, or even streaming on different social media platforms. You will often see on youtube that the top content publishers use Shure SM7b microphone for their content. It includes an in-built pop shield and shock mount, meaning that you don’t need to buy an extra piece other than a stand or boom arm. The SHURE SM7B is a general-purpose microphone; you won’t get the same level of top nuanced detail recording in any other microphone.

For the simple act of recording vocals, you will find a few alternatives that can match the SM7B’s level of simplicity, high levels of quality, and consistency. I have seen countless YouTube videos of people using them and holding this awesome mic and commented on the feeling of using this quality device for podcasting and vocal recordings.

Check out my latest post on different types of Microphones:

• Best Vocal Mics In 2024
• Best Podcasting Microphones In 2024
• Best USB Microphones In 2024
• Best XLR Microphones In 2024
• Best USB audio interfaces In 2024
• Best Dynamic Microphones In 2024
• Best Condenser Microphones In 2024

Shure SM7B Review In 2024

In this Shure SM7B Review, I will break down why Shure SM7B is the best professional microphone for podcasters and why it’s worth the cost.

Shure SM7B Build Quality and Design

The Shure SM7B microphone reflects Shure’s attention to detail and premium construction to make excellent quality dynamic microphones. While removing the microphone from its packaging, You will see a mutable frequency response illustration on the back of the Shure SM7B microphone. The mic includes two toggles on the back that allow you to select one of three responses available, and the response depends upon the situation it calls for. The SM7B includes a yoke mounting mechanism that allows you to attach/detach the mic from your favorite mic stand.

The pre-installed pop filter of Shure SM7B eliminates plosives, meaning you can speak to the mic recording capsule without monitoring the distance. While testing this mic, I felt using an external pop filter was redundant. Shure also provides an A7WS detachable windscreen with the SM7B to further reduce the plosives when speaking to the microphone. To install the windshield properly, please go through the user manual guide.

Shure SM7B Polar Pattern

Like Shure SM58, the Shure SM7B is a dynamic mic with a cardioid capsule polar pattern. If you are unaware of audio hardware jargon, this means that this microphone is sturdy and less sensitive to loud noises than other condenser microphones. In other words, the Shure SM7B microphone is equipped to minimize external audio noise and signal distortion from noisy sound outputs. This microphone has just one pickup pattern: cardioid, making it a top-notch mic choice for podcasters, vocalist announcers, and singers. It will only register sounds directly in front of the microphone, while off-axis noise is totally ignored. If you use this great Shure SM7B mic, then you don’t need to be precise about the placement of this mic, so you can focus more on your podcast recording performance other than logistics.

Shure SM7B Requirements

• Whether you record your podcast in a professional studio or in a blanket fort, you will need a mic stand to put the mic in the place you want. But most Professional Podcasters or streamers use a mounted microphone boom arm instead.
• No matter where you travel, If you want to work this mic properly, you always need to carry an XLR cable to plug into an audio interface or mixing controls with the Shure SM7B. Otherwise, It won’t work.
• Most people will tell you that the Shure SM7B does not require phantom power. But It would be best to use it with a CL-1 Cloudlifter as this mic requires lots of power to give you the best audio possible.

Shure SM7B Key Mic Features

If you’re buying a dynamic microphone for podcasting or streaming and you have the budget to afford the Shure SM7B, you should definitely get it without any second thought. But this mic is not for everyone as it has some serious drawbacks also as you need to buy extra accessories to get the most out of it.The Shure SM7B dynamic microphone is all about accuracy, which delivers excellent sound. The frequency response this mic captures is from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz, which makes it a good all-around choice for vocal and podcast recording. The sm7b has two rear EQ switches that shape the microphone’s sound. However, you need a Cloudlifter CL-1 to get the perfect match for the best sound out of the SM7B.

Shure SM7B Sound Quality

The Shure SM7B Microphone uses a cardioid polar pattern to pick up sound from the front of this mic, and you will instantly feel the build quality of this premium construction dynamic microphone. It feels really rugged with its metal construction.

The adjustment level of this mic makes it possible to fine-tune the perfect placement of this microphone so that you can move it according to your preferred mic placement choice.

Shure SM7B Frequency Response

This microphone has a frequency response of 150-175Hz, tailored for a recording podcast and vocals. The frequency response range of SM7B responds to low roll-off and a presence boost in the high mid frequencies.

Mid-Range Emphasis

The mid-range emphasis presence boost gives you a better way to bring out the most important frequencies of your vocals.

Plosives (P-Pops)

Most of the time, plosive sounds, like P’s, B’s, and T’s, will create a burst of air and hit the microphone capsule that in pop sounds. In order to avoid these kinds of plosive sound, the SM7B uses a pre-installed pop filter that effectively eliminates plosives.

Handling Noise

When you are recording podcasts or streaming on social media platforms, it is very common for you to move around and change positions.

Because of that, the SM7B microphone adjusts to the vocals without causing a bunch of noise. You have to use this mic with microphone boom arms to record using desktop computers. Otherwise, you could easily use a regular microphone stand with this mic.

Proximity Effect

When using any directional microphone, you’ll get a bass boost when you move closer to the microphone capsule. It can be good when you are broadcasting on the radio station, but if you don’t want these sounds, you can always distance between the microphone capsule and you or use the low roll-off switch on the back.

Shure SM7B vs. Rode NT-1

Let’s compare the Shure SM7B and Rode NT1 microphone and which one is the best choice for recording podcasts and vocals. These two microphones are known names in the industry. The Shure SM7B is a dynamic microphone that uses a cardioid polar pattern to pick sound from the direction of the sound, while the NT1 is a condenser microphone that uses a Unidirectional polar pattern to pick up the sound. The Rode NT1 requires phantom power to work the mic properly, the meaning seems cheaper at face value, but actually, it is not. However, both mics are sturdy, but dynamic microphones like SM7B hold a simpler build mechanism, making them more resilient than other condenser microphones. This isn’t a huge deal for people who work in a professional studio, but if you are someone who moves your gear around a lot, or maybe you are thinking of using it as an on-stage option, the Shure SM7B may, again, be the way to go.

There are some benefits to using a condenser microphone as well. Most condenser microphones default higher sensitivity and reproduce a more natural sound at higher frequencies. If you want to record string instruments like guitar, then the Rode NT1 will serve you better than the SM7B.

Shure SM7B vs. Shure 55SH Series II

The Shure 55SH Series II is an elegant microphone that excels at vocal reproduction, and the Shure SM7B mic excels in podcast production. However, the cylindrical SM7B mic is more versatile than the 55SH Series II because of its integrated frequency response settings. Both mics are dynamic and use a cardioid capsule polar pattern, resulting in a similar sound. Neither of these mics requires external phantom power to operate, and off-axis rejection is effective.

Shure SM7B vs. Shure SM58

As of now, Shure offers two legendary microphones called SM7B and the SM58.Both of these mics provide great sound quality for decades. You may have noticed that there are significant price differences between these two microphones. The Shure SM7B is a dynamic cardioid capsule microphone widely used in video podcasting. It costs $399, which is around four times the price of Shure SM58. The Shure SM58 is also a dynamic microphone similar to the Shure SM7B and uses a cardioid polar pattern to pick sound. It became the industry-standard microphone for the stage performance stage . The SM58 is a professional quality mic that costs only $100 and is widely used for live performance.

If you are looking for a microphone for live performance, then Shure SM58 is the better pick. Both mics feature durable construction, a replaceable grill, and an excellent vocal reproduction mic for the price. Because these two models make it unfair to compare them legitimately, you don’t need to worry about tossing this mic into the studio setup. Both mics are dynamic cardioid microphones, and The SM58 is clearly a vocal-oriented mic. However, In a professional podcast recording studio, the Shure SM7B wins hands-down.

Shure SM7B vs. Blue Yeti Pro

There is only a $20 price difference between these two microphones. The Blue Yeti Pro is one of the most popular entry-level podcast and live-streaming microphones on the market. The retail price of the Blue Yeti Pro microphone is around three hundred and eighty dollars. This microphone supports both USB and XLR connections, meaning you can use this mic as a plug-and-play system and connect it to audio interfaces. The Blue Yeti Pro has four polar patterns: cardioid, omnidirectional, bi-directional, and stereo mode.

Shure SM7B is also one of the top-notch podcast microphones in the market. Shure is a popular brand in the market, and almost every microphone from Shure is very popular. This microphone retails for around four hundred dollars and has a higher price range. This microphone connects through the XLR, and the sound output by XLR will definitely be better than that of USB output.

Final Thoughts

You should get the Shure SM7B microphone without any second thought. Shure has already built a legacy in audio by producing reliable, durable, high-quality audio products over a long period. This mic has been used by presidents, pop icons, newscasters, and podcasters. Podcasters like Gary Vaynerchuk use this microphone to podcast and interview different people. Whether you want to record a solo vocalist or start a podcast project, The Shure SM7B will serve your needs well.