4 Shure SM7B Alternatives That Don’t Suck

The Shure SM7B is one of the most celebrated microphones ever made. But it came out decades ago — long before everyone could build a recording studio in their bedroom.

Things have changed, and people want a professional-sounding mic that can plug into their audio interface without investing in extra gear. Mics like the Shure MV7 and Logitech Blue Sona fill that role perfectly, as do a few other microphones.

We’ve picked out SM7B alternatives that are ready to use right out of the box. If you have a decent audio interface with a good preamp, you’re good to go. No boosters required!

Quick Look: The Best SM7B Alternatives

1. Shure MV7 — Best for Beginners

• Design modeled after the Shure SM7B
• Delivers warm, broadcast-quality vocals
• Tight cardioid pattern resists room & background noise
• Multiple EQ settings for sound clarity
• USB and XLR connectivity for use with any setup

The Shure MV7 is everything you’d ever want in an SM7B alternative. It’s beginner-friendly, has a similar look and sound, and comes at almost half the cost!

Plus, it’s designed by Shure themselves as an affordable substitute.

The MV7 is especially great for beginners. You can use it straightaway as a USB microphone with no added investment:

• No need for audio interfaces or mixers.
• No need for preamps or signal boosters.

That said, it also has an XLR port. This means the MV7 is future-proof should you ever upgrade your studio.

In other words, you don’t have to throw it out or replace it when you upgrade your setup. You can keep using it with new audio interfaces, mixers, and other analog gear.

The MV7 sports the same overall design as the SM7B, but in a slightly smaller package. So it’ll give your voice that professional “broadcast sound” the 7B is known for.

As a dynamic mic, it rejects background noise really well. It also has a tight cardioid pickup pattern, meaning it’ll only pick up sound directly from the front.

On top of that, the MV7 offers multiple EQ settings for voice clarity and rejecting proximity effect.

2. Logitech Blue Sona — Premium Option

• Supercardioid pattern for improved sound rejection
• Built-in gain booster eliminates the need for external preamps
• Narrower frequency range for cleaner audio (40Hz-18kHz)
• Sleek design improves on the SM7B’s overall design

The Logitech Blue Sona just released in 2022. But despite how new it is, we already consider it one of the best SM7B alternatives available today.

Logitech calls the Sona an “active dynamic” microphone, meaning it doesn’t require an external booster.

That’s thanks to the new Clear Amp technology, which automatically gives it a +25dB gain boost. So you won’t have to deal with clunky and messy setups. Just plug the mic into your audio interface, and you’re ready to go.

The Sona also has a supercardioid pickup pattern. That makes it more narrow than the SM7B’s cardioid pattern, which is better for rejecting off-axis sound.

• For a more detailed explanation, check out our article explaining microphone polar patterns.

But most importantly, the Blue Sona offers incredible sound quality while improving the SM7B’s overall design. Your voice will sound clean and sexy, and the mic will look good on camera.

3. Rode PodMic — Budget Pick

• Cardioid polar pattern
• Tight frequency response for vocals (20Hz-20kHz)
• Internal pop filter for reducing plosives
• Chunky metal construction for superb durability

If you need to elevate your audio presentation while maintaining a budget, the Rode PodMic will do the trick.

It’s small, chunky, and highly durable thanks to its metal body. So it’ll easily withstand drops and dings without taking any damage.

But more importantly, the microphone offers excellent sound quality for any voice thanks to its narrower frequency range and built-in pop filter. 

This mic is great for any podcaster, streamer, or YouTuber. Get one for yourself, or just pack your studio with a bunch of these mics so everyone can sound great.

• See Also: 3 Vocal Microphones Under $200 for Any Occasion

4. Rode Procaster — Best Value

• Cardioid polar pattern with comparable sound rejection
• Frequency response tailored for lower frequencies (75Hz-18kHz)
• Internal pop filter to reduce plosives
• Rugged stainless steel body

If there was a broadcast mic that struck the perfect balance between affordability and performance, the Rode Procaster would be it. 

For less than half the price of the SM7B, you can get a professional broadcast-ready sound with the Procaster. And like other Rode mics, it has a built-in pop filter to help reduce plosives.

On top of all that, the Procaster has a frequency response tailored for lower voices. So if you have a husky man voice, this mic will bring it out without any distortion.

As for design, it looks like a professional broadcasting microphone. Plus, its stainless steel body is super durable and can take some abuse while protecting the internals.

Why Some People Might Be Disappointed By the SM7B

The Shure SM7B is a powerhouse microphone with an incredible legacy. But it was originally designed in the ‘70s for professional studios. That makes for a few problems within today’s audio landscape.

For one, it’s a notoriously quiet mic that needs a lot of gain. To use it properly, you need a signal booster or a preamp that can add extra gain without hissing at you.

Those costs add up. So what was once an already-expensive mic now becomes a whole new setup that costs hundreds more.

Naturally, that can frustrate someone who’s new to audio production for two reasons:

1. The mic doesn’t sound that great by itself, leading to disappointment.
2. Getting the extra booster and cables adds more upfront cost.

The average person starting a podcast or streaming on Twitch doesn’t want to deal with that. They just want a good microphone they can plug into their existing setup.

Why We Chose These SM7B Alternatives

We wanted dynamic microphones that addressed the above issues. All three mics mentioned here sound great when plugged into mixers and interfaces with decent preamps.

In other words, you’ll be fine if you have a Focusrite Scarlett or something of similar quality.

The Shure MV7 works as a USB mic without an interface. And it’ll work just fine with almost any XLR interface.

The Logitech Blue Sona has a built-in booster, so no additional preamps are required.

And while the Rode PodMic and Procaster would certainly benefit from something like a Cloudlifter, they’ll work fine without it.

Which Mic Is Right For You?

Choosing a new vocal mic will largely depend on what you value. Here are some general thoughts to help guide your decision:

• Shure MV7 — This is the best option for someone’s first “real” microphone. It’s great as a USB mic, useful for users with XLR setups, and sounds really close to the SM7B.
• Logitech Blue Sona — If you want the best of the best, get the Blue Sona. It sounds incredible, and it’s the closest SM7B alternative in terms of price.
• Rode PodMic — Get the PodMic if you want a good-quality broadcast microphone but don’t want to spend too much money.
• Rode Procaster — This mic strikes a perfect balance between price and performance. It’s one of the best values in broadcast microphones today.

Keep in mind that the average listener won’t notice any difference between these three microphones. As long as your audio is clean and doesn’t have any distracting background noise, they won’t care.

Our Top Pick: Logitech Blue Sona

If we had to pick the absolute best SM7B alternative, the Logitech Blue Sona would be it.

Here’s why we love it:

• The sound quality is comparable to the SM7B’s. 
• It has a built-in booster, so no other preamps are necessary.
• The built-in booster also reduces clutter from your setup
• The supercardioid pickup pattern offers even greater sound isolation

It’s also an aesthetically pleasing microphone that looks good in any studio.

So if you’re looking for a true one-to-one alternative, the Blue Sona is it.

Need a USB Microphone Instead?

These mics aren’t for everybody, especially if you’re completely new to podcasting, YouTubing, or streaming.

For some folks, the best SM7B alternatives might actually be USB microphones.

We already mentioned Shure’s own MV7 USB microphone, which is modeled after the SM7B. You can also take a look at these other USB microphones for vocals.