Dynamic Microphone Comparison (Shure SM7B, RODE Procaster & PodMic, Deity VO-7U, Maono PD400X, BOYA)

In this video I review and compare six different dynamic, broadcast-style microphones from heavy hitters like Shure and RODE, plus lesser known brands like Deity, BOYA, and Maono.

First I cover the reasons why you might choose a dynamic microphone instead of a condenser or shotgun, and talk about why they're a great fit for podcasters, streamers, and voice over artists.

I'll also share the pros and cons of each microphone that stand out to me the most, as well as special features and functionality.

After that, you'll get to hear a blind audio comparison with both male and female vocals to help you decide which mic sounds the best to you.

Lastly, I'll share my thoughts on each mic after having used and tested them over the past month.

Every microphone in this comparison has potential, so hopefully this unbiased comparison helps you decide the best match for your needs.

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== LINKS ==
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Nobody knows audio better than Sweetwater, so if you click through the links below, I recommend them for everything audio related.

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== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==
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0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Why Dynamic Microphones?
2:37 - Shure SM7B
4:20 - RODE Procaster
4:50 - RODE PodMic
5:27 - BOYA BY-DM500
6:07 - Deity VO-7U
7:28 - Maono PD400X
8:26 - Blind Audio Comparison
10:24 - Personal Thoughts

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== CONNECT ==
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[NewLayer]

After playing with these for a couple months, I don't think I can go back to a shotgun microphone again 😅 Which one do you think sounds the best?

[vince.g]

I've never heard of the Maono PD400X and was extremely surprised to hear how amazing it sounds on both male and female vocals. It was my favorite sounding microphone of all the ones you tested. I love the style of it as well and the versatility of being able to use it with an XLR and USB-C. Very awesome, thank you for this!

[ToddDolce]

THIS IS how a mic showdown and test is done! WELL done sir!!!! Thanks for your time to do this in such a professional way.

[lwinaus]

Thanks… nice comparison. I have the Procaster and love it. Was great to hear the subtleties between the others.

[jeffg]

Hey JT, Wonderfully done video. Researching mics for a friend and found this incredibly useful/helpful. Especially like the dual female/male voice and making it a blind hearing test! duh! what a great idea. keep up the good work

[mfluder]

The Boya was a surprise. It was much better than I thought it would be. There are no bad choices in this test.

[krasen.dimkow]

best info I have found in over 50 videos I have watched. Thank you.

[AaronOverEverything]

WOW!! this is an absolute sell.. I picked F.. and the Maono is literally the mic that I have been swaying towards... great review/comparison.

[tellulaire]

ok i fr thought that mic F bas the Shure, did not expect to be the Maono, sounds so good...
im definitely getting it sometime soon :D

[Jonifico]

The Maono has it on sale right now for just US$102. At that price, it's incredible value.

[jackspring]

Ah! I picked 'B' - and when you revealed which one that was, it was the one I had already bought. I'm glad I bought well :)

[Spartan_Jackal]

I have a Deity Vo-7u, and honestly, with a few eq tweaks, it sounds just as good as an SM7B imo. Plus I didn't have to buy any XLR equipment

[anix]

Been looking into dynamic mic's recently for recording vocals and was planing to buy the Podmic, however hearing these back to back it didn't hold up as well as I thought. The Podmic sounded too thin, and overall not as good as the others.

I was super surprised with the Procaster and the Maono PD400X, they sound amazing!
The Procaster sounded rich, detailed and super clean, while Maono's had some weird static/electric noise to it? Also some resonances sounded a bit weird, but that's being VERY picky.

It's going to be hard to choose between those two... Maono got the best price + Usb & XLR compatible, which is super handy. While the Procaster has a better/cleaner sound, which might make the extra price worth it.
I'll have to listen to them both more closely before I decide. I don't want to make the same mistake of rushing it, 'cause that's how I ended up with the Fifine K688... Which I don't recommend btw.

Great video!

[andrewstambaugh]

I'm surprised how much I disliked the rode podmic. It made your wife's beautiful narration voice sound shrill.
E&F followed closely by A were my favorites.

This was the clearest back to back test I've heard so far. Thanks.

[enchanfinty]

I immediately could tell D and F sounded horrible (very muddy), but im so surprised my top Pic was B, which is not Shure sm7b! It sounded the cleanest out of all of them.
My ranking was B, A, E, C, D, F, and the podmic only ranked higher cause it was still clean audio despite being very flat.

[dsky]

I clearly picked B first, and D second. I was 1000% sure that B was the Procaster. I love that mic. The Boya is a nice surprise, too :)

[DigIntoGaming]

The podmic and boya sounded nearly identical. I prefer the cleaner sound from the podmic/boya personally. I have the rode podmic and it really needs a lot of gain and a treated space. The same features that make it clearer/cleaner sounding also makes it pick up echo and background noise a lot more. But also keep in mind for youtube getting a mic at -14 LUFS is pretty difficult without a cloud lifter and a very well treated room. Currently the room I record in is very open with lots of hard surfaces. Im going to be making a blanketed recording studio soon. The biggest thing that makes a mic sound better is EQ and room treatment.

[lakhibholani]

I just bump into this video! Amazing! Just wanted to ask if you used a cloudlifter on the pd400x for the 2i2?

[Bolsonaro_em_Haia]

The Procaster sounds slightly clearer to me. The others are all very hard to tell apart, except _perhaps_, but a very tiny margin, the VO-7U, which is slightly less sharp.

[itscarlosreally]

I got the Podmic in 2021 for content creation. It was pretty good for what it was, but I was always intrigued by the way cheaper Zoom ZDM-1.

Got the ZDM-1 last year just because my curiosity wouldn't leave me alone. It's safe to say I could use it even for low-budget voiceovers. It's that much better on my voice, and requires less gain.