Head-to-head · Best Xlr Microphones

Audio Technica AT2020 vs Shure SM7B

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Shure SM7B comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.2 vs 4.8). The gap is mostly about professional podcasters seeking studio-quality sound — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Xlr Microphones

Audio Technica AT2020

4.2

$119as of Jul 1

The Audio-Technica AT2020 is an affordable cardioid condenser microphone priced at $99, reviewed by SoundGuys as a good starter mic for home recording. Tape Op's Garrett Haines praised its solid metal build, useful accessories, and surprisingly good performance on acoustic guitar and vocals, noting it outperformed other budget mics in blind tests. However, it requires additional equipment for use and isn't recommended for live performance. The microphone is well-suited for project studio use and podcasting, though reviewers noted it's not the best option available despite its value proposition.

Strengths

— Affordable price point of $99
— Durable metal construction with metal swivel-mount
— Good performance on acoustic guitar and vocals

Watch-outs

— Requires additional equipment (audio interface, XLR cable) for use
— Sound quality is described as 'pretty good' but not 'best on the market'
— Not suitable for live performance use

$119 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Xlr Microphones

Shure SM7B

4.8

$439as of Jul 1

The Shure SM7B is a professional dynamic microphone designed for vocals, favored in commercial studios and by podcasters. Home Brew Audio reviewer noted its ease of setup with a pre-attached bracket and superior handling of mechanical noise thanks to air suspension. Shure's official description emphasizes its flat frequency response, electromagnetic shielding, and cardioid polar pattern. However, it requires compatible preamp gain and is heavier than some alternatives, making it less portable.

Strengths

— Flat, wide-range frequency response for clean and natural reproduction of music and speech
— Effective pop filter eliminates need for additional protection against explosive breath sounds
— Air suspension shock isolation virtually eliminates mechanical noise transmission

Watch-outs

— Requires preamps that provide +60dB of gain for optimal performance
— Heavier and more robust construction may be less portable than other mics

$439 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Audio Technica AT2020

The Audio-Technica AT2020 offers a solid balance of affordability and performance, outperforming the RØDE PodMic in terms of build quality and versatility, though it lacks the included accessories of the Maono AU-PM500. Compared to the Shure SM7B, it's less durable and doesn't offer the same level of noise rejection, but it's more budget-friendly and doesn't require phantom power. It's best suited for users who want a reliable starter mic without the complexity of professional-grade equipment.

Shure SM7B

The Shure SM7B stands out among podcasting mics for its professional studio-grade performance and cardioid pattern that minimizes off-axis noise, making it superior to the RØDE PodMic and Maono AU-PM500 in terms of noise rejection. Unlike the AM35U, it doesn't rely on AI noise cancellation but instead uses its robust construction and electromagnetic shielding for clean audio. However, it requires a compatible preamp and is heavier than alternatives like the Logitech Blue Sona, which offers more user-friendly setup.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Audio Technica AT2020	Shure SM7B
Type	Condenser	Dynamic
Polar Pattern	Cardioid	Cardioid
Frequency Response	20-20,000 Hz	50Hz-15kHz
Sensitivity	-37 dB (14.1 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa	negative 59 decibels
Max SPL	144 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.	180db
Connectivity	XLR	XLR
Weight	0.76 lb	1.2 lb

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