How to spot a fake Shure SM7b microphone

The Shure SM7b has become a mainstay microphone for YouTubers, studios and podcasters over the past couple of years. So the rise of fakes is no surprise. In this video I will show you some of the differences I noticed between the fake SM7b and the real SM7b.

Intro - 0:00
Differences - 0:41
Audio differences - 4:05
Final Thoughts - 4:48

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[crazyhoarse]

Thanks for the video! Very helpful.
I bought a fake for 165 dollars after taxes off ebay. I assumed it would be fake. With compression, noise gate, and EQ, it is very useable. However the buzzing and noise floor problems are a dealbreaker for me to make it not worth the trouble as I don't like to have the mic right in my face. If I use the mic with my mouth very close to the mic it is useable and I can keep that buzz and noise down to a minimum, but these fakes definitely pick up more room noise.

If you want the look of an sm7b for visual purposes it could possibly be worth it, but my old sm57 sounds much better than my fake sm7b in terms of room noise and general clarity. All of them can be made to sound decent with EQ but noise floor and buzz is the biggest factor for me as to what to choose. The real ones don't have these problems.

That backplate seems the easiest way to identify if it's fake or not though ya, with the counter sunk holes.

[thatzedpodcast]

imitators watching this video like, "Thanks for the corrections Tim."

[carriersignal]

What's interesting is that I have two of these microphones, one from Sweetwater and one from Guitar Center that I bought in the store. I can find things on them that are different from each other and also from the one that you claim is real. This could "possibly" be explained by being made in different manufacturing plants at different times by different machines and or subtle changes to the design. Hard to know really what any of us have.

[putzarinoputz]

This is nearly useless for someone that doesn't have an authentic one to compare

[zetamale]

I've got nothing against fake mics... My only problem is if someone is trying to sell it as an original. I'm thinking of buying one (legit) and the 2nd market either has used ones at near original price or suspiciously cheap ones. Either way I'll just buy one from a major retailer if I do make the purchase, to save the risk.

[bazjaddley]

Also beware major otherwise reputable dealers can sell these as the boxes and everything looks so good. My first mic over 20 years ago was a 58 and I loved it, I still have it and didn't realise it was fake until about 5 years later when I bought another 2, heard about the fakes and checked it out. It's only obvious now as the 2 sections of the body have aged differently and the untrained ear would be oblivious especially without direct comparison but it's definitely a fake, a good one but bought from sound control in Manchester in a proper sealed box with the bag etc. It's been big business for decades.

[cjhatesu]

Great breakdown. The comparison of windscreen, wire grommets and thumb screws give good visual clues when searching the second hand market.

[rollzroyce]

Great comparison! Earned a new subscriber!

[mcrekkr]

I'm getting a second hand SM7B so I'm definitely going to check to make sure it's real. I'm seeing that a lot of fake ones seem to be going round

[fellzer]

Thanks man with blue and purple back lighting.

[joe]

Hi Tim, thank you for this video, I bought my sm7b in 2021, but it sat away until late 2023 when I got to a stage in my music making journey where I wanted to record my own vocals, I noticed off rip my mic didn't sound too great, and that it was kinda muffled in the mid highs, buzzy at the highs, and not really any warmth to it, I didn't think anything of it cuz I would've never thought there would be fake sm7b's just cuz there's so many mics why would people buy a fake sm7b, I'm going to check mine now as recently I suspected it was maybe faulty and I've really been doubling down on it, and why it doesn't sound right, I assumed maybe it's just cuz I use a relatively beginner home setup, sm7b to cloudlifter to scarlett solo 3rd gen Audio Interface, I'll write below if I find mine to be fake

[JoseNevertell]

Hello, could you indicate the measurements (length) of the real sm7b. Thank you

[mastiha]

I think I’ve fallen for the same mistake on Amazon in Australia. It hasn’t arrived yet but it was around $500.

Have you reported it to Amazon or asked for a return?

[BradMillsXRP]

I’ve got one real SM7B and I’ve got five fakes and the fakes sound just as good as the real one in all circumstances. Maybe I just got lucky with one particular manufacture. Now that’s not the case with the other clones the cone beta 87a sounds terrible Especially on a PA system

[officialdiomer]

I was nervous because my new one had most of the legit features, but not with the back of the sticker! just called Shure and they confirmed with my serial number that it's real! they told me when it was sold to Amazon, so now I can breathe lol

[aryfi]

Bought my son one this past summer, and it failed within a few months. When I sent it back to Shure Incorporated, they sent me back the repair receipt letting me know it was a counterfeit. The eBay seller is gone as well. Be careful out there!

[MooseMaster-ljxx]

I have just done the same thing, since this video they have updated their sticker on the fakes, the cables are in a little better condition (still not as good as original) and the mic stand screw has more play in mine too.

Mine still has the over spray on the spare backplate, the different cut windsock and is a bit longer than the original.

Somethings else to add is the diaphragm grill on the fake has three weld marks between each screw where the grill connects to the body. Real 7B’s do not have these weld marks.

I hope you were able to report the sale and get some money back my dude!

[johnfarnhamexperience]

Great vid Tim... the only thing I would be querying is though, have you contacted Shure to find out if they have changed their manufacturers where they make their hardware now... because maybe it is still Shure, and they have just changed their manufacturer... which would be a shame, because you are 100% correct, Shure are brilliant and in my 30 years of being a pro muso, I'm a Shure man through and through... their stuff lasts for donkeys years, and the sound is spot on for my voice... but in this day and age, alot of well respected brands are changing their manufacturers to save dollars, because unfortunately the music game isn't on the dollar making thing like it used to be... quality music gear and companies are competeing against the scabby public that want everything for nothing now and don't really care about quality... hence mp3 versus wav file... mp3 is the standard now, and excepted in the market today, whereas a wav file at the end of the day is the real quality, but generally most people don't care about that... so I use that as a small example as to how the public are today and what the quality companies are competing with... in the past I would never have been able to afford a Allen and Heath sound desk... but I have one now, because the price differance is like chalk and cheese... I asked my trusty tech mate that fixes all these sorts of things for a living and has done for the last 50 years, and he tells me that Allen and Heath have changed their manufacturing company and inside the unit they use cheaper hardware... he showed me the differance between one of their desks fron 20 years ago to now... and he is correct... even the soldering is different... so like the old saying goes "they just don't make em like they used too"... so maybe that Shure mic is really sure, but they have just changed manufacturers and are using cheaper materials... tough issue, but I am certainly in agreeance with you mate... either way, whether it's legit or a fake, the end product is undeniably dissapointing and frustrating...

[Matice.mp]

I also have found that the fake sm7b's have a little R next to the names on the backplate whereas the real ones dont have it

[nicholasaggarwal]

what I have found so far is that some sellers don't even realize that they have fakes when they sell them, I only just happened across these videos after paying about 300 usd for one and then did a comparison between the vidoes online and my mic and it i was extremely sad and disappointed