Guides
Practical microphone selection guides based on transducer specs and application matching, not brand recommendations.
GuideThe room beats the micWhen home recordings sound amateur, people buy a better microphone. The microphone is rarely the problem. The room it's in almost always is — and that's wher…
Microphone buyer guide
Studio microphone buyer guide: Shure SM57 vs SM7B, Neumann U87 vs U47, AKG C414, Telefunken vintage — large-diaphragm and condenser explained
SM57 vs SM7B application differences, U87 vs U47 capsule types, C414 polar pattern selection, and what "large diaphragm condenser" actually means for self-noise and frequency response.
Why this page exists
Microphone content online leans heavily on "best of" lists that conflate price with quality and substitute brand prestige for application specificity. A $4,000 Neumann U47 is the wrong microphone for kick drum regardless of its reputation.
The question is always: what are you recording, in what acoustic environment, into what preamp, for what purpose? This page explains the spec relationships that answer those questions.
Plain note about money. Links below go to eBay searches with an affiliate tag. If you buy through one, a small commission comes to this site. Your price is identical either way. The searches are ones we'd actually run — not sponsored placements.
Studio microphones worth searching on eBay
Professional dynamic and condenser microphones with strong used markets. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales; your price is unchanged. Full disclosure.
Shure SM7B
Dynamic cardioid, flat frequency response with switchable presence boost and bass rolloff. Excellent off-axis rejection, suited for vocal broadcast and spoken word. Requires significant preamp gain (typically 60+ dB from a quiet preamp). Used market is stable — same capsule as the SM7 and SM7A, different mounting and EQ switch implementation.
Neumann U87
Large-diaphragm condenser with three polar patterns (cardioid, omni, figure-8). Self-noise: typically 15 dBA. The U87Ai (current production) differs from the original U87 in capsule and amplifier circuit — not the same microphone cosmetically or sonically. Verify which version when buying used; original U87s predate the Ai designation introduced in 1986.
AKG C414 XLS
Nine selectable polar patterns, three high-pass filter settings, three pad settings. The XLS has a flat frequency response; the XLII has a presence boost. Used for instrument miking, drum overheads, room mics, and vocal tracking. The C414 B-ULS (older variant) is preferred by some engineers for its more linear midrange.
Sennheiser MD421
Dynamic cardioid with 5-position bass rolloff switch. Standard for tom miking and guitar cab applications. The current MD421 II is nearly identical in circuit to the original MD421 N/U variants; differences are mainly in clip design. Original clips are often damaged — verify clip condition on used purchases.
Telefunken U47 vintage
The Telefunken-branded Neumann U47 is among the most sought large-diaphragm condenser microphones in the vintage market. Uses the M7 or K47 capsule depending on production year, with the VF14 tube. VF14 availability is the primary serviceability concern — replacements exist but vary in quality. Verify with a known technician before purchase.