The Best XLR Microphones

With growing platforms to showcase your knowledge through podcasts or your skills via musical instruments and voice, the demand for high-end microphones has risen. If you start your stream online, you will need the best XLR microphone for accurate sound and clean audio. Some of the best ones in the business rely on an XLR interface for connecting. They have robustness regarding connectivity and comprehensive options for adjusting tones with gain. Producers mostly prefer the microphone, which are XLR-based mics that connect to an amplifier or phantom power to make them sound louder and cleaner. Due to their ability to have many custom adjustments before turning into a digital file for PC, musicians appreciate the maneuverability. Comparatively to USB-only microphones that only have a limited gain and are limited to condenser-based microphones, XLR offers many more options for producers that suit their palette.

While streaming on a platform, you will need to have multiple options for your microphones. Users should set the pattern to focus on you rather than on the back of the mic. Therefore, a cardioid pattern-based product that focuses 180 degrees towards the front will be the microphone for streaming. We will include a product that provides both options to connect via USB and XLR, as the USB microphone should have both options for maximum diversity. It was hard picking out microphones that suit a regular person’s wallet since the budget option should contain the basic ON/OFF feature and a solid build for long-lasting performance. When it comes to tones, everybody finds different frequency patterns to be as per their liking. So it’s entirely up to the user to decide what suits them. We recommend going through the listed items for a pitch-perfect sound.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

Our reviews will cover the frequency-based response in detail for maximum assistance in product purchase. First, let’s get into some essential quick shopping tips:

Frequency Response: It is the product’s ability to receive specific sound signatures and suppress some frequencies. Suppose a mic has a higher amplitude for lower frequencies than it is suitable for drums and kicks. A high amplitude for higher frequencies is ideal for snare and guitar. A balance between low, mid, and highs is best for vocals and string instruments.

Sensitivity: It represents how the mic can pick up tiny details in the sound. It is measured in dBV, and the lower the sensitivity, the more gain it requires to make it start sounding. A lower sensitivity device might have a high SPL suitable for drums and large pressure sounds.

Polar Patterns: These represent the product’s ability to pick sounds from respective directions. An omnidirectional tech will pick sound from all directions, making it ideal for nature recordings. Unidirectional will focus in one direction; a cardioid pattern will focus from 0 to 180 degrees. Each has its applications, mainly depending on user preference and usage.

Impedance: It is the measure of the resistance through the mic itself. You can always use amplifiers to boost your signals irrespective of impedance. Lower impedance becomes essential if you want to use them in concerts or where users cannot avoid long cables. A higher impedance receiver will require a shorter cable for more stable sound, making it suitable for studio recordings.

The Best XLR Microphones: First look

The Best XLR Microphones: In-depth Review

Versatility in any technological product is always welcome, and Audio-Technica ATR2100x provides you with precisely that. It is a unidirectional item that picks up sounds from 120° from the front; this assists the user in reducing the background noise. Specifically, while typing on a clicky or tactile keyboard, the sound is reduced significantly, making it the best XLR microphone for chatting or podcasting. The dynamic nature of the microphone makes it ideal for high amplitude sounds like beatboxing or snare drum. It can pick up high sound pressure levels and run without a power source.

Regarding connectivity, the product features both XLR and USB-C connections. Due to the robust connectivity of the USB-C port, it can deliver crystal clear sounds despite being the best budget XLR microphone. It has a headphone jack and volume control for directly listening to your sound before making it public. A tripod and clamp stand is included in the box as a starter pack for any streamer. The mic is prone to picking up static noise caused by the insufficient electrical grounding of the PC. It is an ideal device for online applications with an analog to digital converter that gives 24 Bit /192kHz.

Rode Procaster lies in the high-end product region when it comes to microphones. It’s a microphone for broadcast-level audio quality. The all-metal construction makes it robust in any circumstances, and a 10-year warranty with the microphone’s build quality represents the product’s long-lasting nature. You do not need an external pop filter that covers the microphone and changes its aesthetics; instead, you can show off your metal grill as it is suitable for the podcast. Despite being a dynamic microphone, it has high sensitivity, which is ideal for voice-related applications like streaming, voice-over, podcasts, and radio.

Its frequency response starts from 75Hz and goes to 18,000Hz. The most sensitive frequencies lie around 100Hz and 10000 Hz. It maintains a high, low, and mid balance with small differential amplitudes. Its basis is on a cardioid pattern, which makes it ideal for room settings, especially in front of a PC as an XLR microphone. You will need a tripod or a scissor-based stand for this item, as it does not include one in the box. However, the stand needs to be robust as it is heavy, and proper tightening will be required to hold the device.

AKG has always been a respected brand among musicians, and AKG C214 is their well-respected condenser-based microphone ideal for low background noise. It has an outstanding mechanical noise reduction technique with a one-inch capsule suspension. Solo instruments can be picked up with accuracy with a similar C414 XLII sound signature, making it a professional microphone. It has a built-in 20dB attenuator which makes sure that the mic filters noise without compromising sound quality. The bass cut filter attenuates anything above the 160Hz. It is entirely built with metal and has a scratch-resistant body for frequent travelers.

It comes with a three-year warranty, ideal for musicians who need their equipment to last long. AKG has included a carrying case, windscreen, and spider-type shock mount as a starter pack for any musicians. As per the manufacturer, it is ideal for Vocal, Piano, Strings, Horns, Woodwinds, Drums, and Percussion instruments. Recording studios want their recordings flawless and prefer the XLR MIC for their crisp-sounding projects. Its large dynamic range makes it ideal for ultralow noise and High-output sources with 156 Db Spl and below. AKG also provides a Pro Studio app which is free with the purchase of this item.

If you are looking to start your podcast career on YouTube or you want to slay other gamers on your Fortnite streams like “The Dooo,” then you need Audio-Technica AT2020. It is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s product list and is known as the ideal for project that is just getting started. It is affordable for many users who require a wide range of applicability, from high SPL to low vocal sounds or string instruments. It has a cardioid polar pattern making it ideal for podcasters. They have not included a stand, which is unfair to ask at this price point.

Like any other condenser microphone with an XLR output port, it also requires phantom power of 48V DC, 2 mA typical. It can pick up sounds as low as -37 dB with a frequency response range of 20-20,000 Hz, and with this price point, it is the best budget XLR microphone in the market with high-end sound. It has an excellent price-to-performance ratio microphone with a threaded stand mount required for scissor stands. With just a 20dB SNL noise level, it is the quietest microphone at an unbeatable price. Overall it’s an excellent microphone for entry-level users who want to build their audio project slowly.

All-rounder microphones are hard to get, but Shure SM58S packs all the necessary power to work with instruments or vocals. It can be connected to your computer via USB directly, but it is recommended that you use phantom power to add an extra gain to your recordings. This product is ideal for standup comedians or stage performances and does not require a filter, making it the best with built-in pop filter. The built-in pop filter prevents any plosives from happening, making it easier to handle for newbies. Any hesitant new contestant in a talent show would instantly feel comfortable using the mic.

If we go into the specifics, we would recommend that you use a mic activator. The mic activator will significantly improve the gain on the purchase; then, connecting to a pre-amp can help you get better sound while recording instruments. It has a frequency response palette from 50-15KHz, which is wide enough to include all kinds of instruments for an XLR microphone. It has a cardioid pattern when picking up sound, and if you place a highly clicky Cherry MX Blue switch-based keyboard just behind it, you can barely hear any typing noise. Overall it’s a solid-built microphone ideal for beginners.

Heil PR-40 is designed to have a broader frequency response adding a lot higher frequencies to the sound. Considering the product’s tone, it is focused on the higher frequencies and has higher gains above 2k frequency. The inherent property of the device makes it ideal for studio recording and is an excellent studio item on the market. The frequency response goes down to 28Hz and stays flat throughout the mids, vital to the sound signatures commonly used on YouTube. Its low sensitivity of -53.9 dB at 1 kHz may not require a pre-amp for sound boost.

When recording in a studio, you want a more focused sound from the object instead of the surroundings. So this item has a rear rejection of -40 dB for anything off 180° from the center. It has a maximum SPL of 148dB, which is ideal for capturing loud instruments like drums making it safe to say that it is the best XLR microphone with the dynamic element. It is also built like a tank, thus making it ideal for traveling and rigorous use. It is an end-fire microphone, so the sound it picks up is directly above the microphone.

Premium products tend to have something special that others do not feature. Telefunken M82 is an excellent example of how a company can be ambitious with its product. It has a decent frequency response ranging from 25Hz to 18KHz with a unidirectional polar pattern. The all-metal body with the metal grill does not move slightly under immense hand force, and it is undoubtedly an excellent build-quality MIC. It is capable of handling physical pressure and as well sounds pressure from a drum set. If you place it in the hole of a resonant head, it will give a better attack and shell response.

The feature that makes it unique is the inclusion of two onboard EQ switches. The Kick EQ and High boost switches can be combined or individually used to induce a unique sound pattern from the XLR microphone. If you enable the Kick EQ, it will lower mid-range frequencies reducing the boxy feeling of a drum and giving a solid low end. You can help with the High boost option through the switch, which will boost everything from 2kHz to 10kHz with a 6dB boost. It’s not only meant for instruments; you can adjust the switches to make it ideal for your vocal tone and use for lead vocal recording.

Rode never ceases to amaze their buyers with unique products which provide versatility in an XLR output-based microphone. With the comprehensive 10-year warranty, Rode NT2-A provides 1” capsule shock mounting to avoid internal vibrational noise. It’s incredibly silent with almost no background noise as it is a good multi-pattern MIC. The decent sensitivity -36.0dB re 1 Volt/Pascal makes it ideal for ASMR videos where the background needs to be the least, and high gain can capture each low amplitude sound, whether unboxing or random from objects. It requires phantom power of P24 and P48 for efficient operation. The built quality is excellent with premium aesthetics.

You can switch between three polar patterns with the budget-friendly item. You can select figure 8, which is ideal for an acapella setting in a studio with no background noise, and two people can sing on opposite sides of the microphone at once. The Cardioid is meant for good response at a 180-degree angle in front of the microphone; it’s best for podcasts and streaming. Omnidirectional settings can be selected for receiving sounds from all ends, making it ideal for live concerts and nature recordings. It has a built-in JFET impedance converter with a bipolar output buffer for converting a high impedance signal to a usable low impedance signal.

Final Words

XLR products offer the option of enhancing audio which USB mics don’t. There are several reasons to go for the best option. The XLR connection is robust and provides a solid contact with the cable to ensure no connectivity issues. Regarding the sound, the XLR microphone can be directly connected to the PC using an XLR to USB connection, but we do not recommend it since there will be lower sensitivity. However, it is advantageous if you just want to plug and play. XLR connection requires phantom power, which most mixers have built into them, or you can use a pre-amp to enhance your microphone’s loudness further while avoiding distortion.

We had microphones with such diverse specifications that if you want to use them for musical recording, lead vocals, podcasts, or general-purpose recording, their tone can be adjusted with a simple switch to make it sound better. Our list included microphones meant for studio settings, and there are options for YouTube, Discord, and Twitch streaming, including the best budget XLR microphone. Suppose you regularly pick and drop stuff on your table while streaming. In that case, it’s better to go for a microphone with an internal suspension system, damping any vibrational noise carried from the table to the mic. We aim to provide you with a comprehensive selection so that you can decide on the right product that feels custom-made for you.

Frequently Asked Questions