There are many ways to find the best microphone for your needs. I too have already written many posts on some of the best microphone to choose in many categories.
You can check out the features of the microphone and pick the mic based on your conditions and needs.
Brand of the microphone is also one of the core factors that people look for. That is the factor which everyone MUST keep in mind while purchasing the microphone.
There are more than 14,000+ microphones available in the marketplace. You can easily get the microphone of your condition in any pricing as well.
The things that depend on the brand you choose is trust, reliability, customer support, and after-sales service as well.
If you choose the mic from the branded retailers you are going to get the best support even if you face any technical issues while setting up or even if something wrong happens with the mic.
You already know why apple has their brand value when it comes to mobile phones and Royal Enfield has some unique branding value when it comes to motorbikes.
You are not just purchasing the product. You are paying for the customer support, community, trust and ease of use as well.
You are buying products to make your work easy, not just to make it work for specific tasks.
That is why you should be spending your money on the right brands that are worth paying for.
Also check: In-Depth MXL 990 Microphone Review
In this article, I am introducing you to the top 10 best microphones brands in the music industry.
I have given enough details to understand the brand mission.
All the brands that I have listed below are well known. You must have heard of all of them, they are popular and produce high-quality microphones and other audio products.
The brands that I have listed are not limited to microphone only. Most of them make many other products in the audio/music industry as well.
I have considered factors such as brand value and the reputation, trust, quality of the products, customer support, pricing of the products, varieties of the products and the thought of music community around that brand while choosing the brands to put in this list.
After all the research I can say, the options you are getting with the brands is more than enough. The microphone is mostly a one-time investment that you make.
You are getting quality brands in this microphones category, that is the reason why you should not be compromising on the features that you are looking for in microphone,
You have got the options, so try out and find the best for you.
Best Microphone Brands
Shure
Shure is a brand that is founded in the year 1925 in America. It is one of the popular brand names that comes among the top when it comes to microphones.
Shure has made some of the industry-standard microphones that are recommended and used by leaders and artists as well.
The Shure products are well known for the quality and durability of the microphone. They are putting in some extra efforts in each microphone quality which can be seen by the audio quality that you get.
Shure SM58 is the industry standard microphone that has become super popular in all over the world. The top podcaster Joe Rogan also uses the Shure SM7B microphone in every podcast interview.
Shure microphone is also seen used in the White House. Some of the top leaders such as Elvis Presley, Jennifer Lopez, Maren Morries, etc. use the Shure Microphones for their professional work and recording.
Shure microphones can be seen used from GRAMMYs to Olympics as well. They have a wide variety of microphone that you get the option to use it almost anywhere.
Shure does have its headquarters in India, Asia, China, Japan, Korea and Singapore as well. They are widespread throughout the world to reach as many countries as they can.
Shure produces many other music-related products other than microphone as well. Some of the products that they make are Microphones, Wireless Systems, In-Ear Monitoring, DSP, Mixers and Network Interfaces, Softwares, Microphone Accessories, Voice Instruments, Voice Applications, Loudspeakers, etc.
That mean, you can ever cover up another thing in your studio if you need from Shure.
Best Shure Brand Microphones
The top popular microphones made by Shure brands are:
- Shure SM57
- Shure SM58
- Shure SM7B
Audio Technica
Audio Technica is the Japanese brand that is founded by Hideo Matsushita in the year 1962.
Audio Technica was the phonograph cartridges company. Hideo Matsushita created first truly affordable phonograph cartridges which as names as AT-1 from the small flat in Tokyo.
Later on, they started manufacturing microphones in their company. Today Audio Technica produces different products such as Microphones, Headphones, Turntables, Cartridges, Wireless Systems, Mixers, etc.
The founder is the technical and curious guy. He used to experiment a lot. That’s the reason why Audio Technica always comes up with the new technology that is not available in the market. They come up with something new innovative and interesting.
They put new technology to make it work for everyone in all of the Audio Technica products.
The Audio Technica brand is popular for the pricing, product qualities and the varieties of the microphones.
Even I am impressed with the variations that they have. Even if you want the slightest change in the microphone, you will get the microphone specifically for that.
Audio Technica brand is well ahead with the customer support and adding new technology is their products.
Best Audio Technica Brand Microphones
The top microphones by Audio Technica brand are:
- Audio Technica AT 2020
- Audio Technica ATR 2500
- Audio Technica ATR 2100
BLUE
Blue is the microphone brand that is well known and it has almost reached everywhere in the world due to the popularity of YouTube channels and podcasts.
Blue Microphones is the American brand company started by American session musician skipper wise and Latvian recording engineer Martins Saulespurens.
Blue in their brand does not resemble blue colour. Blue stands for Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics, LLC. Blue is the American Audio production company which is owned by Logitech.
The blue company produces products such as Microphones, Headphones, Recording Tools, Signal Processors, and music accessories for audio professionals, musicians and consumers.
The very first product launched by Blue was Snowball Microphone. It was the low-cost condenser microphone. It becomes popular among aspiring singers, pro musicians and dedicated hobbyists.
Blue company has got some awards as well which made them super popular and trusted brand in the market.
They have got the Electronic Musician 2000 “Editor’s Choice Microphone of the Year” in the year 2000. “Best Hardware peripheral” in the year 2009 by RetailVision and “BeatWeek Best in Show“ 2009, 2010 as well.
If you are starting out as the YouTuber or podcaster, the most common suggestions that you will get is the Blue Yeti Microphone. You must have seen Blue Yeti mic with most of the people who are starting out in their career.
Best Blue Brand Microphones
- Blue Yeti
- Blue Snowball iCE
- Blue Blackout Spark
Sennheiser
Sennheiser is one of the oldest microphone brands on our list. In 2020, they just become 75 years old. Sennheiser is the brand from German founded in the year 1945 by Dr Ing Fritz Sennheiser
This brand has a very long history and innovation as well.
The first product made by Sennheiser was the voltmeter. That’s how they begin the journey of Sennheiser company with the producing first voltmeter.
Later on, they made the very first microphone which was DM 2 (Now known as MD 2) and expanded into the other music and audio products.
They started producing very high fidelity products in the music industry such as microphones, headphones, telephone accessories and aviation headsets for personal, professional and business applications.
Currently, they are implementing AMBEO technology in their microphones. This is the technology that is applicable to new-age techniques.
It is used in the tech such as realistic live concert broadcasts, sports broadcasting, 3D recordings, exhibition installations, VR/AR/XR applications and 3D audio for the home.
They are already trying to catch up with the technology with the best audio quality and variations in their products.
The founder Ing Fritz Sennheiser has got many awards while working on Sennheiser company. Some of them are “Audio Engineering Society’s gold medal” in the year 2002, “Diesel Medal of the German Institute for Inventions” in the year 2004, “German Founder’s Prize in the Lifetime Achievement category” in the year 2015 and “Entrepreneur of The Year from Ernst and Young” in the year 2017.
The company has also got the “Primetime Emmy Engineering Award” and “Philo T. Farnsworth Award” in the year 2013.
All because of the quality products and the quality customer service that they provide.
Best Sennheiser Brand Microphones
The top three microphones by brand Sennheiser are:
- Sennheiser MKH 416 Short Shotgun (Hollywood Standard Microphone)
- Sennheiser E835
- Sennheiser MD421
AKG
AKG is a brand that mainly represents Acoustics. AKG stands for Akustische und Kino-Gerate Gesallschaft which is the german version of Acoustic and Cinema Equipment.
AKG is founded in the year 1947 by Dr Rudolf Gorike and Earnest Plass in Vienna, Austria. AKG is also the subsidiary of Samsung Electronics since 2017.
The main business of AKG was manufacturing loudspeakers, film projectors and light meters that is why they are the cinema’s equipment company.
Later on, they added, car horns, door intercoms, carbon mic capsules, headsets, cushion speakers, microphones, wireless audio systems, accessories and headphones as well.
They use the moving coil technology in their microphones which allows them to extend the frequency ranges in the different products.
D12 is the microphone they produce which become super popular to make them enter in the microphone market.
AKG microphones have been used for shooting Hans Hass’s movie Adventures in the Red Sea and were installed on the MIR space station. They are also mentioned by Dan Brown in his novels The Da Vinci Code and Deception Point.
AKG Acoustics has also got the Grammy Award in the year 2010.
Best AKG Brand Microphones
The top three best microphones by AKG Brand are:
- AKG C214
- AKG P220
- AKG P170
Rode
Rode is the Australian based designer and manufacturer of the microphones, related accessories and audio software.
Being the designers, Rode produces some of the best-designed microphones. They have also got the awards for the design of their microphones as well.
Rode is the microphone company founded in the year 1967 as Freedman Electronics by Henry Freedman and Peter Freedman. It was named as Freedman Electronics. Later on, they changed the name Rode, which has a very unique meaning behind the name.
The first microphone manufactured by Rode was Rodent-1 which is now known as Rode NT 1. (It is still one of the best microphone people suggest for vocals)
Rode does have a lot of varieties in their products and even into the types of microphones as well.
Rode produces Large-diaphragm condenser microphones, small diaphragm condenser microphones, dynamic microphones, shotgun microphones, Videomic microphone, mobile mic, smartphone mic, tablet mics, compact wearable mics, microphone accessories and much more.
They always make all of their products with great attractive designs.
They also manufacture custom microphones as well such as podium mic, Barbra Streisand, chrome m1, etc.
The first-ever VideoMic was released by Rode in the year 2004.
Rode has also got the “Australian Design Award” in the year 2007 as well which does tells us how beautiful microphones they make.
Best Rode Brand Microphones
The top three microphones by Rode brand are:
- Rode VideoMic Shotgun R
- Rode VideoMic Pro Compact
- Rode NTG1
Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice is a brand that is also one of the old players in the industry. Electro-Voice does have some unique and inspirational story behind how they got started in the microphone and music industry business.
Electro-Voice is founded in the year 1930 in the United States of America.
Electro-Voice also mostly known as EV produces Audio Equipments, Microphones, Amplifiers, Loudspeakers and many other products as well.
Electro-Voice is the company that has been started after the great depression. The founders went off due to the recessions and they had to do something.
In those tough times, there were problems in microphones. The microphones which used to be available were of poor quality and high pricing.
Electro-Voice came to solve that problem by manufacturing high-quality microphones in very low pricing than the other companies.
After World War II, Electro-Voice produced the noise-cancelling microphone which was T45. It was the best selling at that time and was used in many secret cases as well.
They have also got the “Academy Award” for 642 Cardiline Shotgun Microphone. It was the first time that this award was awarded to any of the Audio Product.
Electro-Voice produces the Microphones, Live Sound Systems, Portable Speakers and much more.
Best Electro-Voice Brand Microphones
The top three microphones by Electro-Voice brand are:
- Electro-Voice RE 2000
- Electro-Voice EV 676
- Electro-Voice EV 664
Neumann
Neumann is the brand from Berlin which was founded in the year 1928 by George Neumann.
Neumann has also done some of the exceptional work in the music and audio industry by producing some great equipment.
They try to focus on creating highly customized products. They first produced phonograph record cutting machines and some of the rechargeable batteries which are sued today as well.
For the first few years, Neumann brand has built some highly customized sound production units for radio studios, theatres and concert halls as well.
In the year 1991, Neumann becomes the part of Sennheiser Group. I have already introduced you to the Sennheiser microphone brand as well.
After that, they are always in the collaboration with each other to produce the best quality microphones with great pricing as well which is affordable for everyone.
Neumann brand now manufactures Microphones, Microphone Accessories, Preamplifiers, Studio Monitors, Studio Monitor Accessories, Headphones, Historical Microphones and Headphones, etc.
Neumann is known for their vintage historical collection which is by far the best old school microphones.
Best Neumann Brand Microphones
The top three microphones by Neumann brand are:
- Neumann U87 Ai
- Neumann TLM 102/103
- Neumann KM184’s
Behringer
Behringer is another brand that lefts some ideal prints with their unique way of manufacturing microphones and quality of the microphones and other audio products.
Behringer is the brand that was founded by the Swiss engineer Uli Behringer in the year 1989.
It is the German brand which used to manufacture all of their products in Germany. Later on, as the demand increased, they shifted it to China for better margins and better manufacturing.
Behringer has a unique story because of its founder. The founder Uli Behringer constructed a synthesizer (UB – 1) at the very young age of 16. He has that passion in the music and audio.
He was known for recognizing the pitch of sound super easily. His teacher nicknamed him “The Ear”. That’s why they do have the ear sign in their logo.
In early days, Behringer used to manufacture Noise Reduction Systems and Compressors, Guitar Amps, PA Amplifiers, Loudspeakers, Mixing Boards, Stompboxes, Recording Interfaces, Microphones, Digital Pianos, Lightning Equipment, etc.
They have been producing all the products which have some good performance and low price.
Behringer started “Behringer City” factory in the year 2002 and they have also started the “Behringer University” which is for the employees to teach them career-related skills in the music and audio industry.
They are working on building the community of the liked minded people who wants to be in the music industry or aspiring to become artists.
Behringer has received the “Global Audio Industry Leader” award in the year 2016. Uli Behringer has also got the “Entrepreneur of The Year” award as well due to its work in Behringer Company.
Behringer is the brand that is trying to cover up everything in the industry as they can. It gives you better options to stick with the specific brand.
The microphone quality of the Behringer microphones is expectations and they have produced some of the industry-standard microphones as well.
Best Behringer Brand Microphones
The top three microphones by Behringer brand are:
- Behringer ECM 8000
- Behringer C-3
- Behringer XM 8500
sE Electronics
sE Electronics is the new brand in the market compared to other companies. It has been founded in the year 2000 by Siwei Zou in Shanghai.
Siwei Zou once went to some even in his city and he saw that there are many artists. They are good at their performance but they are not getting any types of equipment to harness those skills.
That’s the reason Siwier Zou started sE Electronics to make a good quality microphone with very affordable pricing. Which resulted in the fast growth of the company.
The unique thing which separates sE Electronics from the others is their pure hand made manufacturing.
Be it any products from the condenser to ribbon, whether it cost $200 or $200, they make all of their products by hand.
sE has the distinction of being the world’s only microphone manufacturer to collaborate with Mr Rupert Neve – the most famous name in the history of recording equipment.
sE Electronics is the best microphone company which works on the model of the combination of art and engineering.
sE Electronics does have some of the best microphones in the industry that many artists and singers do recommend for everyone from beginners to experts as well.
After all, handmade craft gives us a different touch in the first place as well.
Best sE Electronics Brand Microphones
The three top best microphones by sE Electronics brand are:
- sE Electronics sE1a
- sE Electronics X1 S
- sE Electronics sE3
Conclusion
It is always necessary for everyone to look for the best brand while purchasing anything.
The microphone is one of the important purchase that you make. You should not compromise on taking efforts in knowing more about the brand or any specific microphone.
All the brands I have listed are the industry top microphone brands. If you are picking the microphone amongst the above brand, you won’t need to be worried about the support or the quality of the microphones.
Even when I post the list of best microphones in any categories, most of the time you see the microphones from above-mentioned brands only.
Checkout this as well: Top 10 Best Shotgun Microphones
Hope I have cleared with the best brands to pick from. If you have some good experience with any of the microphone brand, do let me know in the comments.
I am thinking to list out the best microphones from each brand in good details. If you are interested, do let me know. I will prepare the best list of the microphone from each of the respective brands.
Also read: 5 Best Headset Microphones For Singing