Best Microphone For Live Stage Performance : 5 To Choose From.
Image courtesy of The Charles Gallery
A stage microphone for vocals not only needs to sound good, it needs to be portable and tough. So, getting the best sound is nearly always a compromise between what you can afford and what is practical. Here are 5 great mics which do the job - each is a top seller in it's price range.
- 1. Best Buy around $600 - Neumann KMS 104 & 105 condenser.
- 2. 2nd Best Buy around $400 - Sennheiser E965 condenser.
- 3. Best Budget Stage Condenser around $300 - Shure Beta 87.
- 4. Best Buy Dynamic around $200 - Sennheiser E935 & E945. 5. Budget Best Buy for less than $100 - AKG D5 Dynamic
A studio condenser or large dynamic mic will sound better. But in a live environment, their bulk is in impractical because it disconnects you from the audience and stops you moving around.
The mics I've chosen are all wired and hand held. Some may have wireless versions but those are not featured in this article. Some of these mics are condensers so they need phantom power. All sound engineers in any venue will be able to accommodate stage condenser mics. But if you go round to you buddies' or are busking - Always check the mixer has phantom power.
If your band is very, very loud and you use very loud monitors, then a dynamic mic may be your only option because of feedback issues. But for most people, a top of the range condenser is the only choice, they are made for the job, I've used them, they're outstanding.
Which is The Best Stage Microphone for Live Performance ?
Top Pick - Neumann KMS 104 & 105 condenser. Costs around $600 - but worth every penny.
Built for the job and the sound is as good as you'll get. Smooth as buttermilk and clear as crystal, very forgiving with excellent feedback rejection. The best mic for live stage work as it mixes really well - especially in a band.
Both 104 & 105 have a cardioid pattern. The 104 is optimized for female voice and the 105 for male. These mics are superb. If you like the sound of your own voice, this is the mic for you.
Which is The Best Stage Microphone for Live Performance Around $400 ?
Sennheiser E965 condenser.
Although it costs less, the E965 easily compares with the Neumann. A superb quality mic in every regard. Comes with switches for polar pattern and bass attenuation. You may need these as some say it is slightly more prone to feedback than the Neumann.
The sound is super smooth and elegant with slightly more bass than the Neumann which can make the detail at the top end sound little slower without the bass cut switch. But this is serious hair splitting. This is astonishing good value for a full sized, hand held condenser mic.
Which is The Best Stage Microphone for Live Performance Around $300 ?
Shure Beta 87 Condenser.
This is a serious step up from any dynamic mic. The sound is much bigger, brighter and you don't have to glue your lips to it be heard. This is an important consideration if you're playing an instrument whilst singing.
This mic is made for the stage. The build quality is superb, there is very little handling noise and feedback rejection is excellent. The sound is a little on the bright side but that's good for being heard in a noisy stage environment. Also, the self noise is higher than the other condensers I've chosen, that's because it costs less to buy. And on a stage - that won't make a jot of difference.
I chose the Shure over the Rode S1, which is similar, because the Shure is more widely available and at the time of writing cost about $50 less.
Available as either cardioid (87C) or supercardioid (87A).
Which is The Best Stage Microphone for Live Performance Around $200 ?
Sennheiser E935 & E945 Dynamic
Effectively the same microphone, the only difference being the polar pattern. 935 is Cardioid and 945 is Super-cardioid. So in a rock band or loud stage the 945 may be the better choice. Either way an outstanding mic for the money. Resistant to feedback so great for loud stages.
I chose the E935/E945 over the Shure Beta 58 because for two reasons. Firstly, it just sounds better. The frequency response is broader, the detail is clearer, requires no EQ and the Shure has a tendency to sound 'honky.' Secondly, E935/E945 are heavier, they feel nicer in the hand and give you confidence that they're built to last.
Which is The Best Stage Microphone for Live Performance for Under $100 ?
AKG D5 Dynamic
Absolutely rock solid mic with a nice clear sound through the vocal spectrum. This is what I use for busking or environments where I don't want to risk taking expensive gear. If you can't get a D5, then there are two Sennheisers at exactly this price point - the E835 cardioid and E845 Supercardioid. To be fair, all these microphones sound better than a Shure sm58.
Sure SM58 : why it didn't make the list.
This mic is popular because it was one of the first to do the job. The problem is, , compared to other mics, the SM58 top end is dull, splashy and fizzy. Secondly, the volume drops away very sharply as you move away from it. Thirdly, there are so many convincing illegal copies around, there's a real danger of accidently buying one.
The one good thing about the SM58 is that if you want to bawl your head off with your teeth against the grill, it will still work afterwards. And like I mentioned earlier, microphones are always a bit of compromise.
We did a side by side test, Shure SM58 against the AKG D5 and the AKG D5 is a much better sounding microphone. The top end is miles clearer and better defined, you can step away from it and still be heard and the build quality is, if anything, better.
Summary.
Mics are always a compromise. It's easy to end up buying one which you really don't like.
The two most expensive condensers on this list will also work great in a studio. They are that good. The others I'd say are most definitely stage mics. Buy the best you can afford and you won't be disappointed. In my experience - you tend to get what you pay for with microphones.
