From karaoke to the big stage: TOP 5 microphones for vocals

A workhorse from eminent Germans Beyerdynamic — the TG V35d s microphone will cost a novice vocalist only 50 USD. But will work them out with a vengeance.

The body and mesh of the model are made of brushed metal. The handle is pleasant to the touch, comfortable to grip. The length of the design (182 mm) and the weight without cable of only 305 g allow you to comfortably and fatigue-free hold the microphone for a long time. At the same time, a pleasant heaviness is felt, but the impression of a toy does not arise.

Includes mic stand holder, 4.5m XLR cable and soft zippered protective pouch. To complete the set, you can buy a stand separately, but you will have to fork out another 50 USD, or even more.

The chip of the model is a "silent" on / off button. That is, you will not hear any clicks when pressing it. Special resonator holes behind the membrane protect against the occurrence of the feedback effect. The supercardioid pickup pattern cuts off unnecessary noise and from a distance of 1 cm provides voice recording in the range of 30 – 18000 Hz. Such a high upper limit is achieved due to the built-in high-frequency resonator.

The microphone shows a fairly flat frequency response over the entire operating range and is great for dubbing both main and backing vocals, as well as colloquial speech.

The TG V35d s is an inexpensive, practical solution for rehearsals for up-and-coming singers or small private events. Real German quality at an affordable price.

The Japanese brand Audio-Technica produces high quality products, and sends to retailers only those products that have passed numerous tests for performance and durability. The PRO31 is an entry-level vocal microphone with many of the features of a professional model.

The design is standard, in black, no frills. The 185mm long case and the 53mm mesh are made of brushed metal, nice to look at and feel, and quite robust in terms of resistance to drops and bumps. An aluminium embossed hoop wraps around the grid in the centre. The manufacturer's logo and model name are emblazoned on the case below. Everything is elegant and pretty, and the weight, although small, 312 g, gives a pleasant heaviness, which, on the one hand, does not tyre during prolonged use, and on the other hand, creates a feeling of solidity of the product.

The microphone does not have a very wide frequency range of 60 – 13000 Hz. This means that the voice will sound with a pronounced middle, which is especially suitable for recording voices with a high timbre, giving it softness. To achieve a clearer sound, you will have to work with the mixer or look at the Audio-Technica PRO61 with extended upper range.

The cardioid pickup pattern is enhanced by a two-stage ball-shaped capsule guard that reduces feedback, and a built-in pop filter that protects against harsh hissing sounds, breath during singing and gusts of wind. The system uses a HI-ENERGY neodymium magnet to achieve a powerful output that also helps vocals sound clearer.

The microphone is equipped with a silent MagnaLock switch and a gold-plated XLR connector that is resistant to corrosion. Comes with a 4.5m long cable, stand holder and zippered pouch.

For the entire Audio-Technica PRO31 set, you will have to pay not so much — 80 USD, and in this price category this is one of the best offers for scoring voices with a high timbre, in particular, women's or children's.

D5 S is a popular microphone for recording vocals from one of the giants in the production of high-quality musical equipment — the Austrian company AKG. Everything is thought out in it to the smallest detail, and the ratio of characteristics and price of 110 USD can be called optimal.

Externally, the D5 is different from most classically designed vocal microphones. It has a trapezoidal capsule protection instead of a ball-shaped one, and the handle has a special Dark stage blue matte coating that protects it from slipping out of your hands. In all other respects, the microphone material (metal), its length (185 mm), mesh diameter (51 mm), and weight of 320 g are close to standard and provide high ergonomics.

Perhaps the main technical feature of the D5 is the Laminate-Varimotion diaphragm technology, which provides improved transmission of the frequency range within 70 – 20,000 Hz, consistency of sound characteristics over time, as well as resistance to high SPL(156 dB). Simply put, to overload this microphone, you need the volume of the sound of a jet plane taking off. In addition, the dual-layer Laminate-Varimotion diaphragm has a supercardioid directivity and a flatter frequency response than a conventional diaphragm, so it is less susceptible to feedback. More precisely, here it is almost absent. And the built-in pop filter provides reliable protection against wind, breath and sound interference that occurs when singing, so you can perform outdoors without any problems.

The microphone handles well with the expressive delivery of vocals, it sounds loud and clear, but at the same time warm and bright. In addition to vocals and speech, D5, according to the manufacturer, can also be used to sound instruments : strings, keyboards and even wind instruments. We checked and sounded the acoustic guitar. It turned out no worse than with the voice.

With all the pluses of the model, the cable is clearly not included with it. It will have to be purchased separately, but the manufacturer has taken care of the cover and holder for the stand.

The AKG D5 S is a worthy choice for amateur and semi-professional live performances. For larger events, it is better to consider the AKG C5 Price from 6 508 up to 14 322 ₴.

The Sennheiser E 835-S microphone, like most of the company's products, is made in Germany, which in itself is a clear advantage. The semi-professional model perfectly solves the problems of recording speech, solo and backing vocals in live performances and in the home studio.

The compact design dimensions of 180x48 mm and light weight of 330 g allow you to comfortably hold the microphone in your hand for a long time. But the case, although cast metal, is poorly protected from bumps and falls, so it’s better to be careful — unlike the same indestructible Shure, Sennheiser does not tolerate rough mechanical impact.

The microphone has a cardioid pickup and writes sound in the range of 40 – 16000 Hz, moreover, it does it quite juicy, clean and transparent, withstanding powerful vocal attacks and expression. If we compare the E 835-S with its closest competitor Shure PGA58 Price from 3 730 up to 6 699 ₴, then "Sinh" makes "American" in the middle and low range, adding warmth and velvety to the voice, so it is more suitable for ringing "cold" vocals, as it will soften his.

The elastic capsule suspension that protects against the appearance of mechanical noise and the electromagnetic interference suppression coil allow the vocalist to move dynamically around the stage without fear of vocal distortion.

Feedback suppression also works well.

Separately, we note a silent switch on the case, which, if desired, can be fixed from accidental pressing with a small screw. However that one is plastic and rather flimsy.

The microphone comes with a holder for a stand and a case, but the cable is missing, but it would not be superfluous.

The E 835-S is a microphone specifically designed to work in difficult stage conditions, and, as practice shows, with careful handling, it will serve without problems for 5-7 years. For its price of 120 USD, it is quite a successful investment.

The American manufacturer Shure has been operating in the musical equipment market for over a hundred years, and is translated from English as "confidence". Having bought the SM58SE vocal microphone, you can be completely sure that you made the right choice with your choice. This is the most popular microphone in its price segment (~170 USD), which has established itself as the standard for live vocals.

The SM58SE has a classic design, compact (162x51mm) and lightweight (300g) construction, yet incredibly durable and reliable enough that you can literally hammer nails with a microphone. The model is simply indestructible. The protective mesh can be easily unscrewed and changed, and the metal case can even withstand being run over by a car.

The model has existed since 1966 and since then the legendary Mick Jagger and hundreds of other world-class musicians have sung in it, considering the use of the Shure SM58 a matter of prestige.

The microphone works great right out of the box, demonstrating a lively, clear and bright sound in the range of 50 – 15000 Hz, therefore it is suitable for both female and male vocals, as well as dubbing woodwinds and brass instruments. The microphone transmits the sound of the voice almost perfectly paired with any speaker system. The built-in pop filter protects against wind, artifacts that occur during singing, breathing, and the cardioid polar pattern provides reliable protection against feedback, and the anti-shock capsule suspension system protects against mechanical noise.

The S in the model name means that it is equipped with a power button, and it comes with a swivel stand holder and a zippered case. There is also SM58 with index CN with an 8-metre cable included and Shure SM58LCE Price from 4 900 up to 14 532 ₴, without cable and with a different type of holder.

Given the mega popularity of the microphone and the brand itself, there are many Shure fakes on the market. Therefore, in choosing a seller, you should be extremely selective and trust stores only with a proven reputation.

Do you want to listen to vocals as they are, without embellishment and distortion? Then you need the Shure SM58SE, the benchmark vocal microphone that is a pleasure to work with.