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Best Microphones for Recording Vocals

Not just any microphone for recording vocals will do. When searching for the perfect mic, it will take some time for you to figure out not only what your budget is, but preferences are in regards to sound, feel and energy of your vocal recordings. Today we’ve found our 10 favorite recommendations as vocal mics, and although it wasn’t easy, feel confident our selections will give you a decent range not only when it comes to price-points, but overall sound as well. You’ll first have to figure out a few of your needs before we give you our picks, so let’s get into some of the details. These are the most popular types of mics for recording vocals, let alone record anything, really. The reason is due to their internal builds being most optimal for their sensitivity and detail, which is of course useful when we’re recording vocals for song. They are also built very well and have polar patterns that aid in sound isolation for only recording what’s in front of it, as opposed to some other microphones designed for other uses. Still technically a ‘condenser’ microphone, tube mics are sometimes associated with “the old days”. To us, “old” sound even sounds better than digital-based, super-mastered tracks in this day and age (depends on who you ask). In the end, ‘tube’ mics have different internal builds than normal condensers, and if you can guess, they have ‘tubes’ that handle audio as opposed to transistors. The result is a different ‘sound’, albeit very subject and really depending on the listener and recorder. We recommend giving the microphones a listen to see for yourself and determine whether or not you want a tube instead of a regular condenser.

Warm Audio WA-47

Up first, we have a superb tube mic to act as our pick for the best vocal microphone in the market today. Although definitely on the higher-end of the budget-range, if you can afford this one, you’ll have some extremely clear and pleasing vocal tracks in your songs. This brand in particular focuses on ‘vintage’-like compressors, preamps and mics, and this one is no different from their others. The vacuum tube circuitry brings a very natural and unique sound, but one that isn’t over-the-top (used by Sinatra and George Martin frequently — not this particular mic, but a variation and older version of this one).Although not considered a ‘type’ since they’re all technically ‘condensers’ as well, we’d still like to keep this direction separate for a few reasons. For one, they’re a lot easier to use and mostly for beginner vocalists since you merely plug them into your computer and they’re powered up and ready to use that way. They’re also a lot more affordable than some professional condenser microphones out there. However, their quality isn’t nearly as on par as standard condenser mics, and you can’t hook them up to a preamp or audio interface for flexibility in your recording settings. It’s all up to what you want and need at this time of your vocalist career.

Audio-Technica AT2035

It was tough trying to pick just one Audio-Technica mic to recommend in here for vocals, but ultimately this one made sense. The AT2035 is a very popular model for recording vocals and the hundreds of user reviews everywhere helps us with confidence in its reliability and performance. It’s a side-address condenser with a switchable 80 Hz high-pass filter and 10 dB pad for some extra emphasis in capturing the mid and high-ranges of a voice. Also great sound pressure handling alongside its shock mount included gives us a good feel in its ruggedness.Ultimately the key with this microphone for recording vocals pick is its combination of great construction, smooth and natural sound alongside its price — we’d definitely consider this one budget-friendly, at least compared to many others in this guide. All in all, we love including the Audio-Technica AT2035 in here for those just starting out in recording and who don’t have too much cash to drop on a high-end and expensive mic to begin their adventures.

Shure SM7B

Up next, we have a very popular microphone for vocals here with Shure’s SM7B, which is actually a dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. But wait, didn’t you previously say condenser microphones are mostly preferred for vocals? Yes, they are. However, there are quite a few dynamic mics out there that are worth looking at as well, and we wanted to at least include one of our favorites in this guide. Michael Jackson actually used the SM7 throughout his recording days, in particular with “Billie Jean”.This mic has been out for decades (in the 70’s), so its been a proven heavy-hitter in the recording realm since many of us were even born. It’s known for its smooth, wide-range frequency response with a flat recording output, a great setting for music and speech, and we’ve heard of many broadcasters use this microphone as well. There is also a widely praised bass roll off and mid-range presence in it’s mixes, which gives a nice and distinct sound for vocals. There’s also a built-in shock isolation as well as pop filter to protect our tracks from any pesky distractions. The Shure SM7B is simply legendary and by far one of the best microphones for vocals.

Blue Yeti Pro

Let’s get into one of our favorite USB microphones of all time — the Blue Yeti, but we want to recommend their ‘Pro’ version not just because it’s more expensive, but due to the audio quality at least coming close to some traditional condenser microphones out there. This one is actually both USB and XLR, so we’ll have flexibility in choosing how we hook up this mic to our studio setup. We have some top-notch (at least some the highest we’ve seen in the USB game) 24-bit/192kHz digital recordings here.Overall, the Yeti has thousands of user reviews everywhere praising the quality of build and of course, sound. It’s been chosen for all of those “best USB microphone” articles you see flooded around search engines (ours as well), and that is all for a reason. It’s simply the most all-around solid USB mic in the game right now, and although there are some competitors trying their best to come close, we still feel this is worth mentioning first in a vocal recording article if you really want a USB connected microphone. The Blue Yeti Pro is a gem.

Mojave Audio MA-200

Let’s talk more tube mics for vocals, and the MA-200 is one of the best in the game if your budget is in the higher range if we perked up your ears when talking vacuum tube condensers and how they sound. This particular model has been highly reviewed for being a “secret weapon” with its warm low-end and crisp highs. It has a full sound with great detail that’s typically compared to other microphones twice the price. Most widely used for vocals but there are many we’ve read who use this for guitar as well.David Royer did a great job with this microphone and if you aren’t aware of who the guy actually is, may ring a bell when you think of “Royer Labs” and many other legendary microphones he was responsible for building (along with mic preamps and compressors, too). The insides of this is what’s responsible for the sound, and if you’re into details here are the specs — 3 gold-sputtered capsules, military-grade JAN 5840 vacuum tubes, and Jensen audio transformers. It has a very distinct sound which is why we love the Mojave Audio MA-200 as a pick as the best microphone for recording vocals.

Rode NT1-A

Where do we start with one of our favorite microphone packages of all time? At least for those with a relatively low-budget, the NT1-A is simply remarkable and legendary at this point. Coming with a shock mount, pop filter as well as dust cover, we’ll be good to go right out of the box (aside from phantom power, of course). The large 1″ gold-plated diaphragm brings us a very warm and neutral sound to our vocal recordings.Also great for instruments such as bass, piano and guitar, this one is just all-around solid and another viable option for those in the beginning stages of recording vocals or wanting to start building their home recording studio. If you do have more cash we recommend scrolling down further, otherwise the Rode NT1-A of our favorite picks as the best vocal microphones, especially if you want an all-around microphone in the lower price-point of this guide.

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The 7 Best Klipsch Speakers of 2019

Best Floor-Standing: Klipsch R-26F Floorstanding Speaker (Each)Klipsch is America’s pride and joy when it comes to audio. Founded in Hope, Arkansas in 1946, it’s been providing beautifully designed products to audiophiles around the world ever since. The company has become known for its flagship horn-loaded speakers, which deliver efficient and distortion-free sound with dynamic range. So if you’re on the hunt for a speaker to level up your home sound system, be it in your living room or outdoor patio, you can’t go wrong with one of these Klipsch speakers.In contrast to a floor-standing speaker that makes a statement in your space, in-ceiling speakers can be tucked away to deliver an impact with minimal intrusion. And the powerful R-1650-C speaker is especially impactful. With a 6-½-inch polypropylene woofer for crisp mids and bass, plus a coaxially mounted one-inch dome tweeter for silky highs, it makes a reliable addition to your surround sound setup.

Best Sound Quality: Klipsch RS-42 II Reference Series Surround Speaker

Beautiful design is a given when it comes to Klipsch speakers, but the RS-42 II’s sound quality is what really wows us. At 7.1 x 12.5 x 10 inches and just under 12 pounds, it’s quite compact for a living room speaker. Still, it packs a punch, delivering rich and lifelike sound. Its driver has an angled design to ensure an immersive sound experience and it contains Klipsch’s noteworthy horn-loaded tweeter design, which places the tweeter inside a flared opening to disperse the highs evenly across your listening area. The aesthetic is sleek and classy, so you won’t want to hide this away, either.

Best Bookshelf: Klipsch R-15M Bookshelf Speaker (Pair)

The feature-packed R-15M combines the connectivity and stereo separation of a receiver-speaker setup with the simplicity of a soundbar. Toss in stellar sound quality and a bold black-and-copper design and you’ve got the perfect solution for leveling up your audio system. Klipsch's 5.25-inch Spun Copper Cerametallic Cone Woofer and one-inch horn-loaded Tractrix tweeter work together to deliver an impressive high-end response, greater extension and minimal distortion.One of its most notable features is the built-in phono preamp, which lets you hook it up to a turntable to play vinyl. It also comes with a small remote control that’s fairly intuitive to use. Overall, the R-15M is best suited for smaller rooms and although the bass is full, adding a powered subwoofer would truly optimize the heart-thumping impact.

Best Outdoor: Klipsch AWR-650-SM Indoor/Outdoor Speaker - Granite (Each)

Designed to blend in with its surroundings, this speaker is powerful enough to rock out to. With 50 watts of power per unit and a 94 sensitivity rating, its sound can easily fill a large backyard, though if you’re in search of heart-pounding bass, you’ll likely want to add a sub. It has a 6.5-inch dual voice coil polymer woofer and dual ¾-inch polymer dome tweeters, which enable it to play both left and right stereo signals with clarity and precision.The speaker comes in granite and sandstone ​and manages to avoid the cheesy-looking pitfall of most other rock speakers. The main drawback of ground speakers is that you need to run the wire underground, but if you’re prepared to put in the work, we can assure you, you’ll be pleased.

Best Floor-Standing: Klipsch R-26F Floorstanding Speaker (Each)

As it turns out, you can buy happiness, Klipsch claims. Its R-26F floor-standing speaker will cost you a pretty penny, but it will up the game of your home theater system, bringing movies and music to life. With Klipsch’s notorious Tractrix horn-loaded tweeter and two 6-½-inch copper spun woofers, it delivers clear and accurate high frequencies with a solid bass response.Measuring 39 x 7.8 x 13.5 inches and weighing nearly 42 pounds, it certainly demands a presence on the floor, but you’ll hardly complain thanks to its attractive brushed black polymer veneer finish. Owners on Amazon especially praise its solid build quality. “The quality of the speakers is obvious, down to the size and build of the little rubber feet,” one five-star reviewer wrote.

Best for Portability: Klipsch Groove Portable Bluetooth Speaker

With speakers, there’s typically a tradeoff between size and power, but the Klipsch Groove strikes a wonderful balance, being small enough to tote around without sacrificing too much on sound quality. Measuring 5.51 x 2.65 x 4.56 inches and weighing 1.7 pounds, it can easily be tossed in your bag, and with an eight-hour battery life, it’ll last you all day. Once its juice is drained, just charge it up via the microUSB cable. The Groove has a powerful three-inch, full-range high excursion driver partnered with dual side-firing bass radiators, which together yield enough dynamic sound to fill a large room without distortion. And on top of it all, it’s splash resistant, rated at IPX4 to withstand ocean spray and picnic showers.

Best Home Theater System: Klipsch Quintet 5.0 Home Theater Speaker System

Klipsch’s Quintet system elegantly combines premium build quality with top-of-its-class sound, all while keeping things quite compact. Considering the size, it gets surprisingly loud and delivers a warm, well-balanced sound without distortion. This makes it easy to listen to for hours on end. Each satellite features a 0.75-inch aluminum compression driver equipped with a 90 x 90-degree, square-shaped, Tractrix-flared design. Its frequency response ranges from 110 Hz to 23 kHz, so we suggest adding a subwoofer to this system for full-range performance. What makes the build quality so unique, though, is the pressure-molded composite polymer that Klipsch calls AcoustiComp and claims is “naturally dense, rigid and acoustically inert.