Names like TheGrefg, Rubius, Ibai or Illojuan have gained special relevance on the national scene for some years now thanks to their live broadcasts and videos on YouTube, and are followed by thousands and thousands of people. And if everyone has chosen the exact same microphone model, it must be for a reason… or not? As data, the Shure SM7B is the one he used michael jackson to record the song Thriller.
What’s so special about the Shure SM7B?
The brand itself defines the SM7B as a “vocal microphone”, or in other words, it is a microphone designed to capture the voice. It is characterized by providing a flat frequency and wide spectrum, which translated into a normal language means that it is capable of pick up the voice very naturally, without deformations or distortions. In addition, it incorporates a controlled bass suspension system and has a dynamic equalization based on the mid frequencies, which audio engineers call “presence boost” that, in short, serves to enhance the voice of the person in front of the microphone. .
According to the manufacturer, this microphone also incorporates an EM filter to prevent electromagnetic noise, and the microphone itself has a suspension enclosure that prevents shock noise. It also has an integrated anti-pop filter, includes foam windscreens and, in general, everything desirable to actively and passively eliminate noise from the environment. By the way, that your pickup pattern is cardioid.
Obviously, this is a professional microphone that uses XLR connector (Canon), and for which we will need an intermediate preamp to be able to integrate it into the streaming setup, so the fact that the microphone already costs €500 on the manufacturer’s website must be added to the cost of the preamp ( As minimum).
Ultimately, and from our point of view, the Shure SM7B is an excellent microphone, perfect for streaming, and we don’t think there was a campaign by the manufacturer for all streamers to use it, but they just realized that it is one of the best options to have the highest possible quality in their broadcasts and they have decided to use it.
Many streamers have spoken precisely about their microphone choice, including some like minus thirteen who made a specific video for it telling us about all the microphones he has used, what he liked about one and the other, and why he has chosen the one that he has (in this case, he does not use a Shure SM7B but rather a combination of a Sennheiser MKH 416 and an Electrovoice RE20).
In any case, our conclusion regarding the Shure SM7B is that it is an excellent professional microphone… but it is not the best on the market, nor is it the one with the best value for money. It’s just kind of become a status symbol, like if you want to be a successful streamer you have to use this mic because all the big streamers use it… no more, no less.
How much is this microphone?
The Shure SM7B is announced at a price of €499 in the manufacturer’s online store, a price that seems to us, honestly, well above what it should be worth considering what it provides. Also, it is not easy to find it in stores like Amazon at cheaper prices (be careful because there is a microphone that is advertised as “SM7B” with a Shure image but it is not the original microphone, it is a counterfeit and they ask for more than €300 for it … we are not going to link it so you don’t fall into the trap).
Yes, you can find the Shure SM7B in other stores like Thomann, one of the most famous for audio products, but we can also find it in PcComponentes, for example, at a price similar to that of the manufacturer’s store.
