Representative photography — not the exact unit shipped.
Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)
In stock
Dynamic studio microphone. Polar pattern: Cardioid.
Direct answer: is the Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B) right for you?
The reason this microphone frustrates first-time buyers is a single number: -59 dBV/Pa output, which is extraordinarily low and means it needs roughly 60 dB of clean gain that most affordable interfaces cannot deliver.
Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)
Editorial verdict
Grounded in published specifications
Summary verdict: The reason this microphone frustrates first-time buyers is a single number: -59 dBV/Pa output, which is extraordinarily low and means it needs roughly 60 dB of clean gain that most affordable interfaces cannot deliver. Budget for an inline preamp on top of the microphone and the interface, or it will sound thin and hissy through no fault of its own. Given proper gain it is the standard for a reason.
Who should buy this
Anyone with an interface that can supply about 60 dB of clean gain, or willing to add an inline preamp.
Who should avoid this
Anyone wanting a plug-and-play USB microphone -- this needs XLR, an interface, and probably a preamp.
Key strengths
- Cardioid pattern and internal shielding reject room noise and monitor hum well
- Extremely forgiving of untreated rooms compared with a condenser
- Effectively indestructible, with decades of service life
Limitations
- -59 dBV/Pa output needs about 60 dB of clean gain, usually meaning an extra preamp
- XLR only -- an audio interface is mandatory
- 765 g needs a genuinely sturdy boom arm
Technical specifications
- Type
- Dynamic studio microphone
- Brand
- Shure
- Weight
- 765 g
- Included
- Windscreen and yoke mount
- Warranty
- 1 Year Official Brand Warranty
- Model SKU
- SM7B
- Shielding
- Internal, against electromagnetic hum from monitors
- Connectivity
- XLR only -- not USB, so an audio interface is mandatory
- Output level
- -59 dBV/Pa -- very low, and the single most important fact about this microphone
- Phantom power
- Not required by the microphone itself
- Polar pattern
- Cardioid
- Gain requirement
- Roughly 60 dB of clean gain. Most affordable interfaces do not have it, so a Cloudlifter or FetHead is usually needed
- Frequency response
- 50 Hz to 20 kHz
Product overview
The reason this microphone frustrates first-time buyers is a single number: -59 dBV/Pa output, which is extraordinarily low and means it needs roughly 60 dB of clean gain that most affordable interfaces cannot deliver. Budget for an inline preamp on top of the microphone and the interface, or it will sound thin and hissy through no fault of its own. Given proper gain it is the standard for a reason.
Key capabilities
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Frequency response: 50 Hz to 20 kHz
- Output level: -59 dBV/Pa -- very low, and the single most important fact about this microphone
- Gain requirement: Roughly 60 dB of clean gain
Frequently asked questions
Is the Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B) worth buying?
The reason this microphone frustrates first-time buyers is a single number: -59 dBV/Pa output, which is extraordinarily low and means it needs roughly 60 dB of clean gain that most affordable interfaces cannot deliver.
What is the warranty and return policy for the Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)?
1 Year Official Brand Warranty. Returns: 7 Days Replacement Guarantee.
Who is the Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B) best suited for?
Anyone with an interface that can supply about 60 dB of clean gain, or willing to add an inline preamp.
Who should avoid the Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)?
Anyone wanting a plug-and-play USB microphone -- this needs XLR, an interface, and probably a preamp.
Sample reviews
4 reviewsThese are illustrative, not customer reviews.
DealSurge has not sold this product, so nobody has reviewed it. Each entry below is written from the strengths and drawbacks recorded on this page, to show how reviews would appear — none of it is a real buyer’s experience, and none of it is counted in search results or given to the shopping assistant.
Mean of 4 samples
- 5 ★1
- 4 ★2
- 3 ★0
- 2 ★1
- 1 ★0
- 5 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)
No notes
Cardioid pattern and internal shielding reject room noise and monitor hum well. That was the whole reason I picked this over the cheaper options, and it is exactly as described. Also worth mentioning: Extremely forgiving of untreated rooms compared with a condenser. No regrets after a full season.
Amrita I.Sample1 found this helpful - 4 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)
Happy with it, but go in informed
Cardioid pattern and internal shielding reject room noise and monitor hum well. The one thing to know before ordering: -59 dBV/Pa output needs about 60 dB of clean gain, usually meaning an extra preamp. To be fair that is written on the product page. I skimmed past it and had to rearrange things afterwards.
Kavya Y.Sample3 found this helpful - 4 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)
After a few months
Had this about a month now, so this is not an unboxing opinion. Extremely forgiving of untreated rooms compared with a condenser. Still mildly irritated by one thing: -59 dBV/Pa output needs about 60 dB of clean gain, usually meaning an extra preamp. Known trade-off rather than a fault, though, and I would buy it again.
Ajay T.Sample - 2 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Studio Microphone (SM7B)
Wrong product for my situation
Genuinely my own fault. Posting so somebody else does not repeat it. The listing says who should avoid this: Anyone wanting a plug-and-play USB microphone — this needs XLR, an interface, and probably a preamp. That was my situation and I ordered anyway. It does what it says on the page — it just was not the thing I needed.
Harish P.Sample38 found this helpful