With thousands of microphones available across every price range, the brand behind a microphone matters as much as its specs. Brand reputation often reflects the trust, reliability, customer support, and after-sales service you can expect, which is why it is worth knowing the major names in the industry before you buy.
This guide covers 10 well established microphone brands, their history, and some of their most popular microphones.
Why Brand Matters When Buying a Microphone
A microphone is often a long term investment, so the brand behind it plays a role in how confident you can feel about your purchase. Established brands tend to offer more consistent quality, better customer support, and a wider range of products if you want to expand your setup later.
Choosing a well known brand does not mean you have to spend more. Many of the brands below offer options across a wide range of budgets, from entry level to professional grade.
Top 10 Microphone Brands
1. Shure
Shure was founded in 1925 in the United States and is one of the most recognized names in the microphone industry. The brand has built a reputation for durability and consistent audio quality across its product line.
Shure microphones are widely used by professionals across broadcasting, live performance, and recording, and the brand has a significant global presence with operations across multiple countries.
Beyond microphones, Shure also produces wireless systems, in-ear monitoring, mixers, network interfaces, microphone accessories, and related software.
Popular Shure microphones include:
- Shure SM57
- Shure SM58
- Shure SM7B
2. Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica is a Japanese brand founded by Hideo Matsushita in 1962. The company started by producing affordable phonograph cartridges before expanding into microphones and other audio equipment.
Audio-Technica is known for offering a wide variety of microphones at different price points, often introducing new technology across its product range. The brand also produces headphones, turntables, cartridges, wireless systems, and mixers.
Popular Audio-Technica microphones include:
- Audio-Technica AT2020
- Audio-Technica ATR2500
- Audio-Technica ATR2100
3. Blue
Blue is an American audio brand that became especially popular through its association with YouTube creators and podcasters. The company was started by American session musician Skipper Wise and Latvian recording engineer Martins Saulespurens, and Blue is owned by Logitech.
The brand’s first product was the Snowball, a low cost condenser microphone that became popular among aspiring singers, musicians, and hobbyists. Blue has received industry recognition over the years, including awards for hardware design.
If you are starting out as a content creator, the Blue Yeti microphone is one of the most commonly recommended options.
Popular Blue microphones include:
- Blue Yeti
- Blue Snowball iCE
- Blue Spark
4. Sennheiser
Sennheiser is a German brand founded in 1945 by Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, making it one of the oldest microphone brands still active today. The company’s first product was a voltmeter, and its first microphone was the DM 2, which later became known as the MD 2.
Sennheiser has expanded into headphones, telephone accessories, and aviation headsets, and has developed AMBEO technology for applications like live concert broadcasts, sports broadcasting, and 3D audio recording.
The brand and its founder have received numerous industry awards over the decades, reflecting Sennheiser’s long standing reputation for quality audio products.
Popular Sennheiser microphones include:
- Sennheiser MKH 416 (a widely used short shotgun microphone)
- Sennheiser E835
- Sennheiser MD421
5. AKG
AKG stands for Akustische und Kino-Gerate Gesellschaft, the German term for Acoustic and Cinema Equipment. The brand was founded in 1947 by Dr. Rudolf Gorike and Ernst Pless in Vienna, Austria, and has been a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics since 2017.
AKG initially focused on loudspeakers, film projectors, and light meters before expanding into car horns, intercoms, microphones, and headphones. The brand uses moving coil technology in many of its microphones to extend frequency range.
AKG microphones have been used in film production and have received industry recognition, including a Grammy Award in 2010.
Popular AKG microphones include:
- AKG C214
- AKG P220
- AKG P170
6. Rode
Rode is an Australian brand known for both the design and performance of its microphones. The company was founded in 1967 as Freedman Electronics by Henry Freedman and Peter Freedman before later being renamed Rode.
Rode’s first microphone was the Rodent-1, which evolved into the Rode NT1, still a popular recommendation for vocal recording today. The brand produces large diaphragm and small diaphragm condenser microphones, dynamic microphones, shotgun microphones, video mics, and mobile microphones.
Rode has received design awards for its products, including the Australian Design Award in 2007, and was responsible for releasing the first VideoMic in 2004.
Popular Rode microphones include:
- Rode VideoMic
- Rode VideoMic Pro
- Rode NTG1
7. Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice, often shortened to EV, was founded in the United States in 1930. The brand emerged during a difficult economic period when affordable, high quality microphones were hard to find, and Electro-Voice aimed to solve that problem.
After World War II, Electro-Voice produced the T45, a noise cancelling microphone that became widely used at the time, including in sensitive applications.
The brand has received industry recognition, including an Academy Award for its 642 Cardiline shotgun microphone, one of the first times this award was given to an audio product. Electro-Voice also produces live sound systems and portable speakers.
Popular Electro-Voice microphones include:
- Electro-Voice RE2000
- Electro-Voice EV676
- Electro-Voice EV664
8. Neumann
Neumann is a German brand founded in Berlin in 1928 by Georg Neumann. The company initially produced phonograph record cutting machines and rechargeable batteries, and built highly customized sound equipment for radio studios, theatres, and concert halls.
In 1991, Neumann became part of the Sennheiser Group, and the two brands have collaborated since then to produce microphones across a range of price points.
Neumann is particularly known for its vintage and historical microphone collection, alongside modern microphones, preamplifiers, and studio monitors.
Popular Neumann microphones include:
- Neumann U87 Ai
- Neumann TLM 102/103
- Neumann KM184
9. Behringer
Behringer was founded by Swiss engineer Uli Behringer in 1989. The brand started in Germany before shifting manufacturing to China as demand grew.
Uli Behringer built a synthesizer at age 16 and was known for his ability to recognize pitch accurately, which inspired the ear symbol in Behringer’s logo. The company has produced noise reduction systems, compressors, guitar amps, PA amplifiers, mixing boards, microphones, and digital pianos.
Behringer has also invested in community building through initiatives like Behringer University, aimed at teaching career related skills in the music and audio industry. The brand received a Global Audio Industry Leader award in 2016.
Popular Behringer microphones include:
- Behringer ECM8000
- Behringer C-3
- Behringer XM8500
10. sE Electronics
sE Electronics is a newer brand compared to others on this list, founded in 2000 by Siwei Zou in Shanghai. The brand was started after Zou observed talented performers who lacked access to quality recording equipment.
sE Electronics is known for its handmade manufacturing process across its product range, regardless of price point. The brand has also collaborated with Rupert Neve, a well known name in recording equipment history.
Popular sE Electronics microphones include:
- sE Electronics sE1a
- sE Electronics X1 S
- sE Electronics sE3
Conclusion
Choosing a microphone from an established brand can give you more confidence in quality, support, and long term reliability. The brands covered in this guide, from long standing names like Shure and Sennheiser to newer companies like sE Electronics, each bring their own strengths and product ranges.
When comparing specific microphones, our guides on best microphones for vocals, singing or recording and best shotgun microphones cover options from many of these brands in more detail.
