Buyer's Guides

Best Dynamic Microphones For Touring, Loud Recording, & Podcasting

If you like to live life loud, then it’s one of the best dynamic microphones you’ll be wanting for recording and performing. In other words, if you’re recording drums, giving it some welly with your vocals, or cranking your guitar amp up to 11, then dynamic is the way to go. And unlike other microphone types, such as the relatively delicate condenser mics, dynamic mics are tougher and can handle the bumpy touring life.

Versatile little numbers, the best dynamic microphones are used across studios, stages and by many a podcaster also. And best of all, while some ribbon and condenser microphones can get quite pricey, their dynamic siblings are generally more affordable in comparison. With this in mind, the mics below are ordered from lowest to highest price — there really is a microphone in there for everyone! So, to ensure you don’t live your life with the music stuck inside you, let’s look at the very best dynamic microphones on the market.

Audix i5

Our first contender for the best dynamic microphone is superb value — the i5 from top mic brand Audix will only cost you around £/$80. In a studio setting, the i5 is a workhorse that works with almost any instrument that typically calls for a dynamic mic. On stage, it’s fantastic for both vocals and instruments. Its sound quality far outweighs its modest pricing, and outside of the studio, it also sounds brilliant on vocals and other instruments. For the budget conscious, this dynamic mic is a brilliant option.

Audio-Technica ATM230

Not only are the ATM230 mics from Audio-Technica a very worthy opener on our best dynamic microphones list, they are particularly fabulous on drums. Individually, they are also only just north of £/$100. Professional studios often use lots and lots of mics on a kit, which can be time-consuming, costly and challenging. These drum mics offer a practical solution by providing a consistent set of purpose-built mics for reliable, great-sounding results — they have a unique frequency response with a midrange lift, high-frequency boost, and a sharp drop-off above 10kHz. They also deliver a big, substantial sound with a balanced bottom end. Going for dedicated drum-mic kits rather than a hotch-potch assortment of studio mics can really level-up your drum recording experience.

Røde PodMic USB

Travelling down another road now, here is a great consideration for podcasters looking for the best dynamic microphone. The PodMic from Røde is a fantastic choice. The name makes it abundantly clear this is aimed at those who want to record their conversations and stick them on Spotify etc afterwards, and at below £/$200, for those of us who don't have Joe Rogan’s net worth. This microphone has again and again proven to be one of the best models for voice recording. The included pop filter expertly deflects those pesky ‘puh’ and ‘tuh’ sounds when you say a plosive word, while the cardioid polar pattern stops any need to worry about your room’s background noise and reverb (within reason). Amazing sounding podcasts are in your grasp if you opt for this one.

Shure SM57

If you’ve ever read or had a discussion about the best dynamic microphones in your lifetime, there’s a strong likelihood Shure’s SM57 came up. That’s because it’s fairly legendary at this point, with almost every engineer in the land owning one at some point, whether they work in studio or live environments. It’s affordable, pretty invincible, and sounds fantastic. It’s often touted as being particularly snare drum and guitar amp friendly, but this mic has probably collaborated with most instruments on the planet at this stage. You can purchase a pair of these fantastic dynamic mics for less than one condenser microphone — hard to argue with that.

Shure SM58

We’re sticking with Shure and their SM series, as the SM58 is also not only one of the best dynamic microphones out there, but one of the most widely used. Like its sibling above, the SM58 can be spotted in countless live performances and one of the most go-to stage mics one can find. Its noise-rejection is fantastic, and the built-in pop filter reduces pops and plosives. And, once again, the affordable price makes it stunning value for money. There’s an internal shock mount for all those singers who like to run around manically on stage. There’s a key difference between the 57 and 58 — this one has been created for vocals, and there are few dynamic mics that can challenge it in this regard.

Universal Audio SD-7

UAD’s SD-7 was designed toy capture tom drums, guitar cabs, horns, and more with ease and a natural open tone. It’s a classic dynamic microphone with solid SPL handling, a hypercardioid polar pattern, and its very exciting feature is the Hemisphere mic modelling — meaning you can expect exceptional sound, wherever you use it. The Hemisphere Mic Collection software puts the sound of dynamic microphones from Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic at your disposal. Its included app makes it easy to quickly find the sound you’re looking for, whether you’re reaching for a particular guitar amp sound, or need horns to pop through the mix.

AKG D112 MKII

It’s time for a contemporary reimagining of a classic dynamic microphone: The AKG D12 VR is a lovely update on the 1950s D12 dynamic mic, originally hitting popularity for its kick-drum sound. It captures audio in excellent detail with its responsive diaphragm and handles low frequencies thanks to a brilliant bass chamber. Phantom power ensures you have a powerful mic at your disposal, and you can add a bass boost for a wider, saturated sound. The sound is high-end and bringing big presence and a live room feel. The D12 VR handles passive mode very well, but its filters can really enhance your kick drum sound.

Audix OM5

At the time of writing, there are six Audix OM5 mics on tour with trip-hop legends Massive Attack — can you get a more ringing endorsement as one of the best dynamic microphones than that? Born and made in the US of A, the OM5 vocal dynamic microphone is made with a tight and ultra-controlled hypercardioid polar pattern. This isolates the vocals from other instruments in the recording or stage scenario. And whichever of the two scenarios, it has a well-deserved reputation for clarity, plus fantastic resistance to feedback.

Telefunken M80

The Berlin-born Telefunken, once a radio and television company, now delivers one of the best dynamic microphones in the M80. The German capital is notorious for its all-black outfit-wearing residents, however, this mic is available in orange, gold, and even fluro pink in the 15 colour choices. Fear not if you are the Berghain-attending type, you can match your outfit with black. It doesn’t sound garish either — the sound is robust, with a delightfully wide frequency response. Expect the kind of open sound you want and need from a dynamic microphone. It's perfect for vocals and drum kits. And like the city it hails from, it is durable and rugged in its build quality.

Sennheiser MD 421-II

Whether it comes to excellent headphones, speakers, and other studio or personal gear, Sennheiser are one of the leading names in audio for good reason. And it’s their contribution to the best dynamic microphones that we’re interested in here. The MD 421-II, once a broadcast microphone, is now a dynamic mic seen on stages and studios the world over. It’s also a firm favourite among podcasters, and used in conjunction with guitar amps. The build is as solid as you could hope, while feedback is rejected with ease by a tight cardioid pattern. The five-position bass roll-off switch is brilliant for those who like to fiddle towards their dream sound.

BEACN Mic

A beacon of hope in this best dynamic microphone list is the BEACN Mic — definitely one made for the podcasters out there. This dynamic broadcast microphone might not hold the fame that a Shure or Røde has, but is quickly bolstering its name thanks to its top quality. It connects via USB, and it's the dedicated app which powers the mic — you’ll need to download the app to use the BEACN. The immense processing power will ensure your podcasts sound stunning, which you can also edit on the go with EQ and compression controls. Self-described as the dynamic microphone for content creators, you will see the BEACN mic proudly on display in many Twitch streams, YouTube videos and podcasts.

Shure SM7B

No, Shure hasn't sponsored this article — they quite simply own a significant share of the best dynamic microphone conversation. And if you have a bit more budget to play with than the pricing of the SM57 and SM58, then you could do drastically worse than with the globally renowned SM7B. Brilliant build quality, a built in pop filter, and sound quality that is among the very best on this list, and you’ve got a certified winner. As its appearance suggests, this is the Shure mic created with studios, broadcasting and podcasting in mind, and they have achieved that goal with aplomb.

Neumann BCM 705

Neumann is undoubtedly very famous in the microphone game, but more so on the condenser mic side of things. However, it’s their BCM 705 that slides them into the best dynamic microphone conversation — this high end broadcast mic is an excellent choice for vocals, podcasting and streaming. Neumann constructed this bit of kit to “convey emotion with technical perfection”, and we daresay you’ll have an emotional experience yourself using it. The capsule delivers a clear sound, and the pop filter and internal shock mount will deflect unwanted noise very nicely.

AKG D12 VR

The AKG D12 VR is a modern reimagining of one of their best loved mics, the D12 dynamic microphone from the 1950s. Originally created to be a general-purpose mic that became renowned for its high-quality kick-drum sound. When used in conjunction with an interface or mixing desk, it works like a top-quality dynamic drum mic, with a responsive diaphragm capturing the detail of the sound. Supplying it with phantom power is where the fun begins, though: It activates the three active filters that enhance the sound big time. The middle filter scoops out mid-range frequencies to create space for other instruments, giving you a tighter, less 'thumpy' kick. The left filter boosts the bass to the mid-range scoop for a bigger and more saturated kick sound. The right filter lends a high-end boost, adding presence and depth. In other words, if you want your drums to sound magnificent, this could be the one for you.

Sennheiser MD 441-U Dynamic Supercardioid Microphone

Sennhesier, we meet again. The MD 441-U being at the tail-end of our best dynamic microphone list also means it’s the most expensive; that said, there’s far worse ways to spend £/$800, as this mic is not only super in name. Sennheiser claims this dynamic mic offers the sound quality of a condenser microphone, and it’s hard to argue with them on this one. The sound is so accurate and distortion-free, even if you’re really pushing your sound. There are plenty of features besides its super-cardiod pattern, including a two-position high frequency switch, a five-position low frequency contour switch and great shock suspension.

Should I get a dynamic or condenser microphone?

Generally speaking, a condenser microphone is the one to go for when recording vocalists, as it picks up more of the nuances of the singing voice. One of the primary motives for using a dynamic microphone is typically found in live music settings, particularly as they are built more ruggedly for touring life. However, if you’re working with a singer who wants to bounce around the studio, and maybe getting more shouty like a metal vocalist might, then a dynamic mic will handle this much better than a condenser microphone. Hence why drums, guitar amps, and other big noise generators have been mentioned a few times above and are more suited to dynamic mics.

Further Reading:

Dynamic vs Condenser Microphone

Best podcasting microphones

Share Article

Words By
Adam Protz