@@Methy_Watchesi bought one as a Christmas present for myself, to record audiobooks. The preamp hiss is really a problem. Great mic for music or commercial voice overs w/ music and sfx, but dry voice - not so much unless you're going to use a noise suppressor. For ACX audiobooks, they require at LEAST a -60 db noise floor so gates and suppressor's present an issue.
I love how this solidifies that Shure hasn't changed anything between the dB and the B variants besides adding a preamp circuit. I was hoping there wouldn't be any change, not that I'd buy the dB unless it was like 10x better in other areas. Has a good use case I'm sure, but I'll stick to my normal SM7B :) Shoulda Post-faced this earlier, I'm listening to this on my ATH-M70X headphones. I still REALLY like the SM7dB on your voice, but the U87 Ai always takes the cake ;)
Yeah there's really no change to the sound and that was the right move in my book. There will be people who disagree though. The thing is Shure has plenty of other mics that aren't the SM7b that don't sound like the SM7b to choose from.
Only thing diff is the price point in my opinion. The SM7B and the SM7db in the right hands is going to sound great no matter. I am sure most of your recording studios will use where they can afford them, or or if they have need.
That's very kind of you to say. There are a lot of other fantastic channels as well and I always recommend getting multiple opinions, but thank you very much.
Correction: The DynaCaster retails for $290, not "around $350". Awesome comparison, thanks for level matching them! The kind of video I wish existed back when I first started sound engineering!
Hi Bandrew, thank you very much for this perfectly produced review of the new kid on the block. We are both aware that you love the sound of the SM7(d)B while it's not my first choice. It's a good industry standard, though. In the comparison section, I prefered the RE20 over the SM7dB. By the way, I love your constant control microphone - Hello Neumann ❤ I listened to this video with my Neumann NDH 30 studio headphones.
Thank you again. I understand the RE20 is something that many people prefer, and I get it because it's a great sounding mic. I think it was my RE20 review where I mentioned that it was the only other dynamic I've used that made me consider switching off of the SM7b. How do you like the NDH30? I bought a pair of the NDH20 a few years back but never ended up switching over.
@@PodcastageYes, I think you did mention it in your RE20 review. I really like the open back NDH 30. They're neutral but fun nevertheless. I found the closed NDH 20 a decent pair of headphones but for closed back I prefer the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro or for pure music listening the Beyerdynamic T5 3rd gen and Focal Celestee.
Yeah, I was gonna say but Podcastage already alluded to it: It's not really a competition, they are both extremely good. I have an RE20 (2 in fact) and love it on my voice. But I honestly feel that a voice like Andrew's gains a lot from using a SM7b. It's really about usage case. Both mics are fantastic and, imo, are the top of the line broadcast dynamic mics.
I cant help thinking you'd be better off with the Audient Evo4 for the same money. Smartgain and an extra channel would be worth it on their own, without the instrument pre and loopback etc etc
Very smart move by Shure. Boosters are suspect to me due to the two added connections. A preamp belongs in the microphone where gain is done in the most well-protected, shielded environment and with no additional exposure to interconnect problems. Every condenser mic ever made uses a preamp for the purpose of changing impedance. While they’re at it, voltage gain is employed to present every preamp with a workable signal level. Even ribbons use preamps now to make them more usable. Shure is some crazy conservative company to wait this long, but it is welcome.
Great point about the potential for interference. I am sure they didn't wait just for the sake of waiting, I'm guessing it had something to do with a patent or negotiations to license the tech from Cloud or something. I don't know the inner workings of Shure though so that is all just speculation.
A lot of interfaces can drive the 7b. I'm sure plenty of people will still pick this up because they want that peace of mind, or they're going to be running noisier preamps.
My mixer can power the mic, but I still run the preamp because it's sounds cleaner when I run at 28db then powering from the board... Maybe I'm hearing things ? I'm no professional but that's my take
FANTASTIC COMPARISON. Concise, comprehensive and clear. What I learned: (1) I prefer the Shure sound over the other microphones you tested. (2). I have a slight preference for SM7B over the SM7dB +18/+28. The latter sound just a tad less rich. (3). My 3rd favorite was the MV7x. (4). To MY ear, none of the other microphones were competitive with the Shures ... but I love a rich, warm, radio sound. I learned so much in this video. Thank you!
Thank you for the thorough set of comparisons. The list of pros and cons was very valuable to hear. I really like how you explained that the Neumann u87 is a point of reference. I'd employ them differently based on the music or broadcast application.
Technology evolves quickly. If they could have/should have, they would have. In 2 years there will be an entirely new concept that some will wish "They had back then". But the end result big picture is, they've been making incredible quality audio recordings, better than you will ever make, for about 75 years using technology that you would surely consider old and outdated. Yet still, there's plenty of SM57s and 58s in recording studios, running through tube circuitry and discrete transistor devices without USB. English grammar hasn't changed appreciably in that same 75 year time period..🙂
I don’t know if this is a game changer. Don’t know if I can fully appreciate what happened before but I just received my new SM 7 DB and I think it’s freaking awesome. To everyone who bought the SM 7 and the cloud lifter, good for you for making an excellent choice at the time, but for anyone making that choice now get the SM 7 DB and step into the future!
Thank you so much Rainer! Your support means the world to me and helps me continue to produce these videos. You're an absolute legend and I truly appreciate you.
I feel like if you already have a nice preamp your preamp is likely to be better than what’s built into this version of the microphone. So, the OG version with nice or pro preamp would be best.
Again, an amazing well detailed video! I still think the RE 20 sounds a little bit better and I’m gonna stick with my mic. Thanks for comparing that with the new Mic
Glad you have the mic that works best for you and I'm glad to hear you're still happy with it. That's the place to be. Enjoy it and make some great recordings.
It’s easy to see why you love the SM7B on your voice, but the real winner is the M201 tg. It is the perfect complement to you specifically. Also, it’s tremendous and I wonder how much the recent price increase is due to how much love it has gotten on this channel over the years 😅
I agree the 201tg is a special one too. Beyers 201 and 160 are some of the greatest of all time. I don't think the love led to it increasing in price, I'm guessing inflation led to the employees in Germany having pay raises and that leads to higher cost to manufacture the whole mic.
@@Podcastage The Beyerdynamic did really stand out. But I have recently purchased the Lauten Audio LS-208 and can't see any scenario where I would choose my 7B over the 208.
Funny they didn't send you the standard neon green shure sticker... I too feel that this mic came out a little too late. I can appreciate that they didn't change the mic, but maybe it was time for a REAL upgrade to the original. Would have given a reason to get one if you already owned a stock 7b. (something more than making the switches more tactile). Also wish they'd stop calling the second switch a Hi freq boost. Thats the standard mic sound, the "flat" is a high cut. I like the 58 sound better. Doesn't sound like its got a blanket over it. Actually... i think i like every other comparison over the sm7db except the DCM6. Love the music test. The conclusion was no cop out at all. You call a spade a spade. Great review as always and thanks for the doobaleedoo, my day is not ruined and i am not disappointed.
Yeah. I think we did see their modern take on a broadcast mic with the MV7 a few years ago, but that is more of a prosumer take. It would be cool to see their no holds barred epic modern broadcast dynamic mic take.
Really glad that you found the mic that fits your needs and preferences and it's still working for you, that's what it's all about. Happy recording Paya.
Great review! I agree that it sounds it’s best with the flat settings. It’s a classic, very easy to listen to and it comes alive when adding a bit of eq and compression.
@@Podcastage thanks for all you do for our audio community. I just bought it yesterday to do a review as well and couldn’t agree more about the EQ and compression! It really helps it come alive without any harshness.
@@Podcastage Would you consider doing a video sharing your EQ settings for the 7B to make it sound the way you like it for voice? Also, it seems like a missed opportunity to add USB to the classic. That might have spurred more upgrades from people who are interested in the mic.
I’m just bummed that Shure won’t try to redesign the capsule to have more output (before any preamp). I know that’s extremely difficult to retain a similar sound AND have more output, but that would solve the issue at the source.
I would be interested to see what they put out if they created a modern no holds barred broadcast dynamic, but I don't see this is a bummer. People buy the SM7b and a cloud lifter so they put the two together.
@ZachariahConnor Redesigning the capsule won't get more output. The reason the SM7b is lower output isn't the capsule but it's lack of output transformer. If Shure added a transformer then the SM7b would basically be a large SM57 with presence and low cut switches on it. Not that the 57 is a bad mic but what differentiates it from the SM7b is that the SM7b has a bit more clarity in having just a humbucking coil rather than an output transformer. Shure could possibly remake the SM7b with neodymium magnet which would maybe give a couple of more decibels of output but this would not be even as much as adding an output transformer and in doing so would probably change the sound of the mic a bit as well. Reality is that the SM7b in stock form works just fine and has enough output to get the job done as long as one is right up on the mic and speaks in a somewhat decently strong voice. The only reason for this new SM7db is for people who insist on using the mic from two feet away and those who have lousy whisper level voices and won't either spend for a micpreamp with 80db of gain or get a Cloudlifter.
Love this. Been binge watching all your reviews for the past week haha. Would you recommend the sm7db for a plug and play setup using the mvx2u, allowing me to just directly connect it to my MacBook Pro? I've wanted the sound of the sm7b but in a usb form.
Thanks Bandrew! I'm a bit bummed that there wasn't an AEA KU5A comparison in that lineup. Active SM7 vs Active supercardioid ribbon...that would be a tasty meatball.
@@vokost Is this to get around -18 to -12db of signal though? Unless your soft spoken and need the signal close to clipping, it surprises me that it'd need that much gain...
You should be more than fine with the SSL 2 and the SM7b. Of course that assumes you're rapping at a reasonable level and you're not whispering at 1 foot away from the mic.
Bro plz answer, i watched ur videos 2 years ago with review of sm7b and ur mic sounds different, is it because u made acoustic treatment room? sm7db review is amazing, ur sounds is better in 2x!
I was mentally checked out yesterday so didn't really go into Critical Listening^TM mode then, but going back over it now this actually does just sound like an SM7b, excellent! There could be a bit of a slightly leaner tone to the active preamp modes, something mainly audible with open vowel "ahh" sounds, but I doubt I'd be able to pick that out blind. Given how much of a difference the regular CL-1 makes for mics, I'm pretty impressed at how they managed to integrate an active circuit without bollixing the voicing. sE could stand to learn from that, hah.
I had MVX2u, it's a very noisy interface. I tested it with dummy XLR plug 150ohm and got EIN 122-123dBu. It's way too noisy for SM7B. Unfortunately, 60dB of gain is not an only one important parameter in this case.
Thanks for your awesome videos and reviews! Is there a chance you´re making a review of the Roswell Colares microphone?! Would love to see what your impressions and thoughts are on that mic, too...
I'm incredibly mixed on this mic it feels like this mic came out 3 years too late this would have been perfect to have before companies started to up the gain in their interfaces, I'm also mixed on the look the proportions of the mic looks off and while I don't mind the branding because as someone who didn't know what the sm7b was 3 years ago finding out not only what it was called and which company made it was hell to do during quarrantine
@lilonfire The people you reference as the target audience of the mic gain nothing from using this mic. At best they will benefit from a dynamic mic for durability reasons that are much more blurred on newer condensers. How anyone can convince themselves that a built in amplification circuit benefits someone who will be screaming into the mic is beyond all reason.
@lilonfire How many different personalities do you have? You write 3 paragraphs that contradict the last whenever your logic is questioned. You are the one promoting the SM7B. Everyone using the SM7B wasted money regardless of their use case. It just so happens that inline preamp users wasted more. Cable quality is a myth perpetrated by audiophiles that can't pass a single ABX. If you have a faulty cable you will have issues. The bar for it not to be faulty is very low. Additional shielding only helps in egregious circumstances where interference can actually affect your audio signal due to the high level of it in close proximity. UM22 doesn't even exist, No one brought up the UM2 either. Comparing luxury cars is also a big red flag. Electronic circuits involved in the creation of a microphone are much more similar and are much more difficult to deviate in a meaningful way past a functional baseline. You get different tone (strictly out of the box) and that's the extent in the vast majority of cases. Spending extra money because you can is foolish. Most of the devices in the entry price point accomplish what the expensive gear does.
@lilonfire A "professional" that doesn't understand physics taught in primary school and can't even remember the correct model number of the equipment you criticize. How about you come back when you can speak coherently.
I am curious what you and others think about the boost making the SM7B better for more ambient recording like overheads and maybe a pair for a large percussion set up. In a history of this mic starting from the SM5, it was noted that Shure missed the overhead boom mic business in TV and other places because of the low gain. So for a few years now, I've been wondering if having as much as 28db of gain makes it easier to do other things besides close micing and screamers. The 4 foot test with this and other Podcastage videos seems to indicate the SM7B sounds pretty good at distance. What do any of you think? Experiences?
Podcastage, you are ALWAYS honest when it comes to your personal thoughts on the dooblie-doo (also wondering if you are into the doobie brothers but thats for another time of course... "ain't nobody got time fo dat!") ... so thank you for the honesty and leaving the hype in the trash can (be it virtual ... like on the one on your computer or something, or an actual trash can like old skool and stuff). Thanks! - Mr. Coffee dude.
Hey! I love your videos and came across this mic through you and love it! The only problem I can't really get solved are the noises that come when I touch it which can go up to -12DB. Shure themselves say this is completely normal and recommend a 120hz high pass but then my voice sounds very phone like and has hardly any bass and is just empty. How can this be solved? In Audacity I was able to solve it quickly with bass and in Premiere Pro too, unfortunately not in OBS where the voice and these noises when I move and touch it cause me such problems that I have to set the EQ to 120 hz but then my voice is very, very empty.
This is something that will occur on most mics unless you have a dedicated shock mount that’s very effective. When moving mics around while recording you need to develop a light touch, so you’ll just need to grab it lightly with a few fingers to move it as opposed to manhandling it. Are you using the mic close to your mouth? If not, you can always bring the mic closer to your mouth and then decrease the gain. That will increase the signal to background noise ratio and that noise would include handling noise.
Hey, sorry for asking this HERE, where it's not the topic, but I have a question. I've seen you using the audient ID4 interface in your older videos. I have the apollo twin usb paired up with the neumann tlm 103 and a well-treated room. The audio is fine, but yours sound superior somehow. Could it be the matter of converters? I've heard some nice things about audient interfaces, some people even say that their preamps are superior to apollo's (usb). Should I switch to ID4? I don't care about DSP no more (I've got a better pc in now), it's just, idk, apollo sounds kind of sterile, too 'digital', kinda harsh? I'd appreciate opinions from comments as well!!
If Shure had released this at $400 as a replacement to the original SM7b (and why not? They sound the same!) then I think this would have been a huge hit. But as it stands now most people that want the SM7b sound, well, they have it. And for the people that want something else? The sE Dynacaster and RE20 are really the top choices in this category. Even an RE320 is a great alternative if you want something just a bit brighter. I'm not really sure what the SM7dB adds to the table. I guess it captures the new streamer/podcaster market where they're buying their first interface and would rather skip a separate booster, but how big is that market now post quarantine? It feels like people are offloading their gear now.
"If Shure had released this at $400 as a replacement to the original SM7b (and why not? They sound the same!)" It has a built in preamp. They are not the same.
@@fluph1 They are exactly the same. One just has a built in decibel boost, which can be bypassed. There's no reason to keep the original model in production other than to justify the price. Adding the preamp is a negligible cost; 15 dollars at best, as Klark Teknik has proved.
@@purrpocalypse But they didn't just slap a crappy preamp in it like the KT - they licensed the Cloudlifter circuit. And since the Cloudlifter and SM7B were the most popular combo, this makes total sense.
Awesome. Whenever the day comes, I’ll get this one instead of the previous model. Bandrew, don’t know if you’re on a diet but you’re looking great /nohomo.
Thank you for the review. As always, I love that Rode Procaster, and for me I never need a cloudlifter or a fethead with them. I'll pass on the Shure this time.
I have a SM7B and a simple Scarlett 2i2, and I need to crank it to max to have a good level, but man the noise from the preamps!!! I wonder if buy using the preamp in the sm7db help us lower the gain knob, by doing this, the noise will be quieter. I have an old Focusrite VoiceMaster to help me with the SM7b :)
I did a comparison of the SM7b directly into a Scarlett interface compared to the SM7dB into a Scarlett to demo if the noise is better: ruclips.net/video/_DIzq4U2CD0/видео.htmlsi=-LTV5huUux71dxrc&t=302
Well, given that (almost) all the microphones he tested it against were already available 5 years ago, and the SM7b has been around for EXACTLY 50 YEARS... ... no. It wouldn't have been a game changer 5 years ago. The game was exactly the same 5 years ago. The SM7b was already there 5 years ago. 10 years ago too. 20 years ago too. What has changed? Rogan made you buy the SM7b and you had to buy a Cloudlifter. Cloudlifter was released in 2009 and still provided a cleaner gain. So no. Not a game changer. Before 2009, before the cloudlifter, I'd concede it to you. :)
Awesome already have the Rode Procaster needing an upgrade will go for SM7B much fuller & any recommendations for the Audio Interface Upgrade from an Audient Evo 8 to SSL 2+ is it good ?
Quick question: I'm using a Shure SM7dB with a Canon Mark IV 5D, and I'm getting quite a lot of hissing, i.e., a 'ssshhhh' sound in the background. Cable is Tisino XLR to 3.5mm Mini Jack Microphone Cable. Do you know what might be causing it?
What are the chances of the built-in preamp failing? Should an external pre-amp paired with an SM7B fail, replacing the preamp seems a lot less stressful than repairing/replacing the whole mic itself. Thoughts?
I haven't encounter an inline mic pre failing before, but I suppose it's possible. It's the same as condenser mics which have amplification in them which could fail too, or the electronics in any mic could fail. But yes, an additional component means there's one more thing that has the possibility of failing.
Bahahaha... when you used the Neumann (never heard of that mic before) I was like, "wow, that sounds way better than the SM7DB... then you said it was $3700, and I yelled "damn it!!" I thought I had the one I wanted to buy.
Would it perform better (noise) than preamps in Zoom Podtrak P4. It has just enough power for SM7b but would SM7db be cleaner? For podcast use. I need the get one more mic and always wanted SM7b. Currently using Procaster and MV7x. Thanks
I don't think the $100 over the older SM7b. To my ears the SE Electronics DCM6 DynaCaster Broadcast Dynamic Microphone sounded much clear and is way worth the $150 in my opinion and makes the SM7db a little muffled.
If you prefer the DCM6 to the 7b, then that's the route you should be going. You save a bunch of money and get the sound you want at the same time with a hotter mic output. That's why I include the samples so you can identify which ones you like and which ones you dislike. Glad you made that determination.
I have the Elgato Wave DX and Wave XLR but I’m not 100% happy with it anymore what would you recommend for me I’m considering getting a Shure SM7B or SM7dB and Bridge Cast X XLR interface
Good evening, I just saw this microphone that came out recently I own the Shure SM7B, this new Shure SM7dB do I still need to use a cloudlifter for this new microphone?
How do you think it compares to Aston Stealth Mic? I have the Aston mic but i hate how it never balances well on a mic stand because it's too forward heavy. I would been keen to hear how it compares to Shure with sound?
I like them both and I go back and forth on them. The v7 is more versatile and I think generally better sounding. But the SM58 is kind of like a sweatshirt for me and it's something I'm familiar with so I still like using it sometimes.
Wow, they actually made an SM7b that no one will need a cloud lifter or Fethead for. Well played.
That was the current one. I use a 4 year old MOTU M2 interface with more than enough gain to clip my SM7B
Well played? it's not rocket science to increase the gain. They should have done this in 2001 when it came out in the first place.
They made an sm7b with a preamp that costs as much as an sm7b with a preamp. I guess it saves you a cable sometimes.
@@black_mage Both add extra noise. The inline preamp were never needed.
Yeah. If someone was recording in a situation where they needed an activator this would resolve that for sure.
This video had me chuckling quite a lot with your quips. Love your enthusiasm and thorough methodology.
Thank you so much for watching and listening. I appreciate the kind words too.
Thanks! I just bought this mic for my channel, been using a blue yeti for a while and wanted to try an upgrade.
how is it?? any issues
@@Methy_Watchesi bought one as a Christmas present for myself, to record audiobooks. The preamp hiss is really a problem. Great mic for music or commercial voice overs w/ music and sfx, but dry voice - not so much unless you're going to use a noise suppressor. For ACX audiobooks, they require at LEAST a -60 db noise floor so gates and suppressor's present an issue.
I was going to ask about the cloudlifter but waited for the video to end, and sure enough, you covered it, since you're amazingly thorough.
Thank you very much for watching and thank you for the kind words.
It's a loaner from Shure and you still threw the box. Respect.
I love how this solidifies that Shure hasn't changed anything between the dB and the B variants besides adding a preamp circuit. I was hoping there wouldn't be any change, not that I'd buy the dB unless it was like 10x better in other areas. Has a good use case I'm sure, but I'll stick to my normal SM7B :) Shoulda Post-faced this earlier, I'm listening to this on my ATH-M70X headphones. I still REALLY like the SM7dB on your voice, but the U87 Ai always takes the cake ;)
Yeah there's really no change to the sound and that was the right move in my book. There will be people who disagree though. The thing is Shure has plenty of other mics that aren't the SM7b that don't sound like the SM7b to choose from.
@@Podcastage agree with that. Winning formula. Don’t change it.
Only thing diff is the price point in my opinion. The SM7B and the SM7db in the right hands is going to sound great no matter. I am sure most of your recording studios will use where they can afford them, or or if they have need.
Excellent quality video. Best recording equipment review channel on RUclips.
That's very kind of you to say. There are a lot of other fantastic channels as well and I always recommend getting multiple opinions, but thank you very much.
Correction: The DynaCaster retails for $290, not "around $350".
Awesome comparison, thanks for level matching them! The kind of video I wish existed back when I first started sound engineering!
Thanks for the correction. Don't know how I screwed that up. My notes even said it was $290.
@@Podcastage you're welcome!
Great review, I just got this mic as a replacement for a stolen Heil PR40 and love the way this sounds.
Let's go! Was waiting for this to drop! 🔥
Thanks for watching Lalo.
Hi Bandrew, thank you very much for this perfectly produced review of the new kid on the block. We are both aware that you love the sound of the SM7(d)B while it's not my first choice. It's a good industry standard, though. In the comparison section, I prefered the RE20 over the SM7dB. By the way, I love your constant control microphone - Hello Neumann ❤ I listened to this video with my Neumann NDH 30 studio headphones.
Thank you again. I understand the RE20 is something that many people prefer, and I get it because it's a great sounding mic. I think it was my RE20 review where I mentioned that it was the only other dynamic I've used that made me consider switching off of the SM7b. How do you like the NDH30? I bought a pair of the NDH20 a few years back but never ended up switching over.
RE20 is a fantastic mic!
@@PodcastageYes, I think you did mention it in your RE20 review.
I really like the open back NDH 30. They're neutral but fun nevertheless. I found the closed NDH 20 a decent pair of headphones but for closed back I prefer the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro or for pure music listening the Beyerdynamic T5 3rd gen and Focal Celestee.
Yeah, I was gonna say but Podcastage already alluded to it: It's not really a competition, they are both extremely good. I have an RE20 (2 in fact) and love it on my voice. But I honestly feel that a voice like Andrew's gains a lot from using a SM7b. It's really about usage case. Both mics are fantastic and, imo, are the top of the line broadcast dynamic mics.
SM7dB and the Shure mini interface is the perfect high budget travel podcast combo funnly enough
You're totally right that'd work well.
I cant help thinking you'd be better off with the Audient Evo4 for the same money. Smartgain and an extra channel would be worth it on their own, without the instrument pre and loopback etc etc
Finally the best review ever!
That's too kind. Thank you.
Well done. Really effective to continually go back to the dB for comparison. I appreciate your work on this.
Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words.
"This microphone is on loan"
You didn't hear what the box said to me.
Love your content and delivery man! Thank you for the help!!
Very smart move by Shure. Boosters are suspect to me due to the two added connections. A preamp belongs in the microphone where gain is done in the most well-protected, shielded environment and with no additional exposure to interconnect problems. Every condenser mic ever made uses a preamp for the purpose of changing impedance. While they’re at it, voltage gain is employed to present every preamp with a workable signal level. Even ribbons use preamps now to make them more usable. Shure is some crazy conservative company to wait this long, but it is welcome.
I happen to love XLR plugs all over the place, so this mic does nothing for me. I love my cloudlifter.
Great point about the potential for interference. I am sure they didn't wait just for the sake of waiting, I'm guessing it had something to do with a patent or negotiations to license the tech from Cloud or something. I don't know the inner workings of Shure though so that is all just speculation.
@@Podcastage hey uh i found out that the PreSonus M7 is the same mic as the neewer nw-3 with a different color on them
Great video but I just feel like it sounds so similar to the 58 but a bit more round on the bottom. I think I will stick with my current mics.
Yeah, if you're happy with the mics you have, no need to upgrade.
This microphone is 5 years too late. Lots of interfaces now can power the SM7B without a need for an inline preamp.
A lot of interfaces can drive the 7b. I'm sure plenty of people will still pick this up because they want that peace of mind, or they're going to be running noisier preamps.
Hi guys, do you happen to know if I need this or 7B for use with audient id14?
Oh, I found out I have 129dB EIN, so I should just get the regular SM7B
@@forgettdget the sm7db. The ID14 only has 58db of gain. Not enough to power a regular sm7b.
My mixer can power the mic, but I still run the preamp because it's sounds cleaner when I run at 28db then powering from the board... Maybe I'm hearing things ? I'm no professional but that's my take
Great review, thank you! Ordered one this week, can't wait to dig in
FANTASTIC COMPARISON. Concise, comprehensive and clear. What I learned: (1) I prefer the Shure sound over the other microphones you tested. (2). I have a slight preference for SM7B over the SM7dB +18/+28. The latter sound just a tad less rich. (3). My 3rd favorite was the MV7x. (4). To MY ear, none of the other microphones were competitive with the Shures ... but I love a rich, warm, radio sound. I learned so much in this video. Thank you!
Thank you for the thorough set of comparisons. The list of pros and cons was very valuable to hear. I really like how you explained that the Neumann u87 is a point of reference. I'd employ them differently based on the music or broadcast application.
As soon as this mic came out, I was like "Can't wait for Bandrew's inevitable review next week."
Ask and ye shall receive. Thanks for watching!
Good review, with all the high gain interfaces these days this is nice bit they should jave made it a few years ago
Technology evolves quickly. If they could have/should have, they would have. In 2 years there will be an entirely new concept that some will wish "They had back then".
But the end result big picture is, they've been making incredible quality audio recordings, better than you will ever make, for about 75 years using technology that you would surely consider old and outdated. Yet still, there's plenty of SM57s and 58s in recording studios, running through tube circuitry and discrete transistor devices without USB.
English grammar hasn't changed appreciably in that same 75 year time period..🙂
Thanks for the unbiased review! :D
My pleasure Aleks.Thnks for watching.
You do great at these Reviews, Bandrew. Thank you.
That's very kind of you Mark, thank you very much for the kind words.
Ah. The review I've been waiting for.
Thank you so much Kempura.
@@Podcastage No problem my dude.
What a great video! Possibly the best on RUclips, really appreciate your wonderful work. Just subscribed :)
Thank you for your work. I still love Shure SM7dB/B.
Happy with my SM7B. Thanks for checking. ✌🏼
I'm happy with my SM7b as well I feel no need to change.
So much animosity in that 'Hello Neumann' almost sput my cofee hahahaaaa. And absolutely love the new music tests. For real. Killer. Killer indeed.
I like the song you did in this one
Thank you very much!
Hot damn, the RE20 sounds so good to me. Relaxed mid-range but so flattering.
I don’t know if this is a game changer. Don’t know if I can fully appreciate what happened before but I just received my new SM 7 DB and I think it’s freaking awesome. To everyone who bought the SM 7 and the cloud lifter, good for you for making an excellent choice at the time, but for anyone making that choice now get the SM 7 DB and step into the future!
Can't wait 'til the 100 year anniversary for the SM7USB.
A USB version would be interesting, but I don't know about that.
This is the only channeli trust with equipment reviews, i really commend your throughness and the way you make it all entertaining!
Wouldn't it be wise to get opinions from several sources?
Danke!
Thank you so much Rainer! Your support means the world to me and helps me continue to produce these videos. You're an absolute legend and I truly appreciate you.
I feel like if you already have a nice preamp your preamp is likely to be better than what’s built into this version of the microphone. So, the OG version with nice or pro preamp would be best.
Again, an amazing well detailed video! I still think the RE 20 sounds a little bit better and I’m gonna stick with my mic. Thanks for comparing that with the new Mic
Glad you have the mic that works best for you and I'm glad to hear you're still happy with it. That's the place to be. Enjoy it and make some great recordings.
I prefer the classic RE20 sound too, but theyre both amazing mics
Im here kinda early for the man himself! Love your videos man, much love to you!
Thanks for watching Eddie.
It’s easy to see why you love the SM7B on your voice, but the real winner is the M201 tg. It is the perfect complement to you specifically. Also, it’s tremendous and I wonder how much the recent price increase is due to how much love it has gotten on this channel over the years 😅
I agree the 201tg is a special one too. Beyers 201 and 160 are some of the greatest of all time. I don't think the love led to it increasing in price, I'm guessing inflation led to the employees in Germany having pay raises and that leads to higher cost to manufacture the whole mic.
@@Podcastage The Beyerdynamic did really stand out. But I have recently purchased the Lauten Audio LS-208 and can't see any scenario where I would choose my 7B over the 208.
Funny they didn't send you the standard neon green shure sticker... I too feel that this mic came out a little too late. I can appreciate that they didn't change the mic, but maybe it was time for a REAL upgrade to the original. Would have given a reason to get one if you already owned a stock 7b. (something more than making the switches more tactile). Also wish they'd stop calling the second switch a Hi freq boost. Thats the standard mic sound, the "flat" is a high cut. I like the 58 sound better. Doesn't sound like its got a blanket over it. Actually... i think i like every other comparison over the sm7db except the DCM6. Love the music test. The conclusion was no cop out at all. You call a spade a spade. Great review as always and thanks for the doobaleedoo, my day is not ruined and i am not disappointed.
Yeah. I think we did see their modern take on a broadcast mic with the MV7 a few years ago, but that is more of a prosumer take. It would be cool to see their no holds barred epic modern broadcast dynamic mic take.
I really enjoyed this reminder of why and how I decided on an RE20 after finding this channel so many years ago. 🙃
Really glad that you found the mic that fits your needs and preferences and it's still working for you, that's what it's all about. Happy recording Paya.
Lots of love from India...Awesome video, in detailed. thank you very much sir...
Love your videos! 😁👍
Thank you very much for the kind words, that means a lot.
Great review! I agree that it sounds it’s best with the flat settings. It’s a classic, very easy to listen to and it comes alive when adding a bit of eq and compression.
Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts. With a bit of compressing and a few dB high shelf, I love it.
@@Podcastage thanks for all you do for our audio community. I just bought it yesterday to do a review as well and couldn’t agree more about the EQ and compression! It really helps it come alive without any harshness.
@@Podcastage Would you consider doing a video sharing your EQ settings for the 7B to make it sound the way you like it for voice? Also, it seems like a missed opportunity to add USB to the classic. That might have spurred more upgrades from people who are interested in the mic.
I’m just bummed that Shure won’t try to redesign the capsule to have more output (before any preamp). I know that’s extremely difficult to retain a similar sound AND have more output, but that would solve the issue at the source.
Yeah, and 50 years should be enough to do it :) But new switchers, in-build booster and huuuge shiny logo are much simpler to achieve ;)
I would be interested to see what they put out if they created a modern no holds barred broadcast dynamic, but I don't see this is a bummer. People buy the SM7b and a cloud lifter so they put the two together.
@ZachariahConnor Redesigning the capsule won't get more output. The reason the SM7b is lower output isn't the capsule but it's lack of output transformer. If Shure added a transformer then the SM7b would basically be a large SM57 with presence and low cut switches on it. Not that the 57 is a bad mic but what differentiates it from the SM7b is that the SM7b has a bit more clarity in having just a humbucking coil rather than an output transformer. Shure could possibly remake the SM7b with neodymium magnet which would maybe give a couple of more decibels of output but this would not be even as much as adding an output transformer and in doing so would probably change the sound of the mic a bit as well. Reality is that the SM7b in stock form works just fine and has enough output to get the job done as long as one is right up on the mic and speaks in a somewhat decently strong voice. The only reason for this new SM7db is for people who insist on using the mic from two feet away and those who have lousy whisper level voices and won't either spend for a micpreamp with 80db of gain or get a Cloudlifter.
dont fix what is not broken. they create other mics for that reason.
there is a reason why its been used for so long.
Love this. Been binge watching all your reviews for the past week haha. Would you recommend the sm7db for a plug and play setup using the mvx2u, allowing me to just directly connect it to my MacBook Pro? I've wanted the sound of the sm7b but in a usb form.
Good info! Love your humour.
Thanks Bandrew! I'm a bit bummed that there wasn't an AEA KU5A comparison in that lineup. Active SM7 vs Active supercardioid ribbon...that would be a tasty meatball.
Great, helpful review.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching.
Great review, sir! I have an SSL 2 which has plenty of gain and great EIN, so I assume the regular SM7B would suffice?
@lilonfire Thanks for the info! I'd need it for rap vocals so I think its gonna be a great fit :)
I record with an SM7B, Cloudlifter and SSL 2+ and even with the Cloudlifter the gain on the SSL2+ is maxed out, but it isn't on other mixers.
@@vokost Is this to get around -18 to -12db of signal though? Unless your soft spoken and need the signal close to clipping, it surprises me that it'd need that much gain...
You should be more than fine with the SSL 2 and the SM7b. Of course that assumes you're rapping at a reasonable level and you're not whispering at 1 foot away from the mic.
@@Podcastage haha yeah of course 😅 tnx
Bro plz answer, i watched ur videos 2 years ago with review of sm7b and ur mic sounds different, is it because u made acoustic treatment room? sm7db review is amazing, ur sounds is better in 2x!
I was mentally checked out yesterday so didn't really go into Critical Listening^TM mode then, but going back over it now this actually does just sound like an SM7b, excellent! There could be a bit of a slightly leaner tone to the active preamp modes, something mainly audible with open vowel "ahh" sounds, but I doubt I'd be able to pick that out blind. Given how much of a difference the regular CL-1 makes for mics, I'm pretty impressed at how they managed to integrate an active circuit without bollixing the voicing. sE could stand to learn from that, hah.
I see that Shure are selling a SM7dB and MVX2U bundle deal, is this a recommended combo or is there something else you would recommend?
I had MVX2u, it's a very noisy interface. I tested it with dummy XLR plug 150ohm and got EIN 122-123dBu. It's way too noisy for SM7B. Unfortunately, 60dB of gain is not an only one important parameter in this case.
@@GadesChannel I must be the only person who owns the MVX2U who doesn't find it noisy at all.
Thanks for the ride 🤙🏼
You're very welcome. Thank you for watching.
Great review as always. Can you make a review of the Vanguard v13 condenser mic? 🙏🏼I’m really curious to hear what you have to say about it
Thanks for the suggestion, it's a bit out of my price range at this time though.
Q. how does the built in preamp compare to a fett head, cloud lifter or dynamite for noise floor?
Based on this review, they are the same...
I"d say they're about 1-2dB difference in terms of noise performance. iirc, the fathead giving me 1-2dB improvement on the noise floor on the 18i20.
The built in preamp is a licensed Cloudlifter circuit from Cloud.
Thanks for your awesome videos and reviews! Is there a chance you´re making a review of the Roswell Colares microphone?! Would love to see what your impressions and thoughts are on that mic, too...
I'm incredibly mixed on this mic it feels like this mic came out 3 years too late this would have been perfect to have before companies started to up the gain in their interfaces, I'm also mixed on the look the proportions of the mic looks off and while I don't mind the branding because as someone who didn't know what the sm7b was 3 years ago finding out not only what it was called and which company made it was hell to do during quarrantine
The UMC series had enough gain and they are at least 9 years running now.
@lilonfire The people you reference as the target audience of the mic gain nothing from using this mic.
At best they will benefit from a dynamic mic for durability reasons that are much more blurred on newer condensers.
How anyone can convince themselves that a built in amplification circuit benefits someone who will be screaming into the mic is beyond all reason.
@lilonfire How many different personalities do you have? You write 3 paragraphs that contradict the last whenever your logic is questioned. You are the one promoting the SM7B. Everyone using the SM7B wasted money regardless of their use case. It just so happens that inline preamp users wasted more.
Cable quality is a myth perpetrated by audiophiles that can't pass a single ABX.
If you have a faulty cable you will have issues. The bar for it not to be faulty is very low. Additional shielding only helps in egregious circumstances where interference can actually affect your audio signal due to the high level of it in close proximity. UM22 doesn't even exist, No one brought up the UM2 either.
Comparing luxury cars is also a big red flag.
Electronic circuits involved in the creation of a microphone are much more similar and are much more difficult to deviate in a meaningful way past a functional baseline.
You get different tone (strictly out of the box) and that's the extent in the vast majority of cases. Spending extra money because you can is foolish. Most of the devices in the entry price point accomplish what the expensive gear does.
@lilonfire A "professional" that doesn't understand physics taught in primary school and can't even remember the correct model number of the equipment you criticize. How about you come back when you can speak coherently.
@@skorpersi use the minifuse 1and that interface also has enough gain to run the sm7b
Great informative video!
When shure introduced this thing
I knew i was going to wait for only one video
You never disappoint buddy❤
I am curious what you and others think about the boost making the SM7B better for more ambient recording like overheads and maybe a pair for a large percussion set up. In a history of this mic starting from the SM5, it was noted that Shure missed the overhead boom mic business in TV and other places because of the low gain. So for a few years now, I've been wondering if having as much as 28db of gain makes it easier to do other things besides close micing and screamers. The 4 foot test with this and other Podcastage videos seems to indicate the SM7B sounds pretty good at distance. What do any of you think? Experiences?
Podcastage, you are ALWAYS honest when it comes to your personal thoughts on the dooblie-doo (also wondering if you are into the doobie brothers but thats for another time of course... "ain't nobody got time fo dat!") ... so thank you for the honesty and leaving the hype in the trash can (be it virtual ... like on the one on your computer or something, or an actual trash can like old skool and stuff). Thanks! - Mr. Coffee dude.
Thanks for the kind words coffee dude. I hope your coffee is always fresh and delicious.
lol yep but only if someone else makes it ;) @@Podcastage
Hey!
I love your videos and came across this mic through you and love it!
The only problem I can't really get solved are the noises that come when I touch it which can go up to -12DB. Shure themselves say this is completely normal and recommend a 120hz high pass but then my voice sounds very phone like and has hardly any bass and is just empty.
How can this be solved? In Audacity I was able to solve it quickly with bass and in Premiere Pro too, unfortunately not in OBS where the voice and these noises when I move and touch it cause me such problems that I have to set the EQ to 120 hz but then my voice is very, very empty.
This is something that will occur on most mics unless you have a dedicated shock mount that’s very effective. When moving mics around while recording you need to develop a light touch, so you’ll just need to grab it lightly with a few fingers to move it as opposed to manhandling it. Are you using the mic close to your mouth? If not, you can always bring the mic closer to your mouth and then decrease the gain. That will increase the signal to background noise ratio and that noise would include handling noise.
Hey, sorry for asking this HERE, where it's not the topic, but I have a question. I've seen you using the audient ID4 interface in your older videos. I have the apollo twin usb paired up with the neumann tlm 103 and a well-treated room. The audio is fine, but yours sound superior somehow. Could it be the matter of converters? I've heard some nice things about audient interfaces, some people even say that their preamps are superior to apollo's (usb). Should I switch to ID4? I don't care about DSP no more (I've got a better pc in now), it's just, idk, apollo sounds kind of sterile, too 'digital', kinda harsh? I'd appreciate opinions from comments as well!!
If Shure had released this at $400 as a replacement to the original SM7b (and why not? They sound the same!) then I think this would have been a huge hit. But as it stands now most people that want the SM7b sound, well, they have it. And for the people that want something else? The sE Dynacaster and RE20 are really the top choices in this category. Even an RE320 is a great alternative if you want something just a bit brighter. I'm not really sure what the SM7dB adds to the table. I guess it captures the new streamer/podcaster market where they're buying their first interface and would rather skip a separate booster, but how big is that market now post quarantine? It feels like people are offloading their gear now.
"If Shure had released this at $400 as a replacement to the original SM7b (and why not? They sound the same!)"
It has a built in preamp. They are not the same.
@@fluph1 They are exactly the same. One just has a built in decibel boost, which can be bypassed. There's no reason to keep the original model in production other than to justify the price. Adding the preamp is a negligible cost; 15 dollars at best, as Klark Teknik has proved.
@@purrpocalypse But they didn't just slap a crappy preamp in it like the KT - they licensed the Cloudlifter circuit. And since the Cloudlifter and SM7B were the most popular combo, this makes total sense.
@@bmcconnon KT has the same circuit. You're paying for a brand name.
@@purrpocalypse Not the same circuit. Cloud lists their patents right on their website. You're paying for quality.
Awesome. Whenever the day comes, I’ll get this one instead of the previous model. Bandrew, don’t know if you’re on a diet but you’re looking great /nohomo.
Just wait for it , a new bb in my collection 🥰
I hope it provides you years of fantastic recordings.
Thank you for the review. As always, I love that Rode Procaster, and for me I never need a cloudlifter or a fethead with them. I'll pass on the Shure this time.
If you have a mic that's working for you, there's no need to upgrade. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@Podcastage wow, a microphone celebrity commented on my comment. Thank you and enjoy your day. I'm a long time channel viewer.
Great video as always.
But i just wanted to ask, what is the syrangest mic you're revieved?
Thanks for watching. The weirdest is probably the Carbon mic: ruclips.net/video/YgFMwJqwanU/видео.html
I have a SM7B and a simple Scarlett 2i2, and I need to crank it to max to have a good level, but man the noise from the preamps!!! I wonder if buy using the preamp in the sm7db help us lower the gain knob, by doing this, the noise will be quieter. I have an old Focusrite VoiceMaster to help me with the SM7b :)
I did a comparison of the SM7b directly into a Scarlett interface compared to the SM7dB into a Scarlett to demo if the noise is better: ruclips.net/video/_DIzq4U2CD0/видео.htmlsi=-LTV5huUux71dxrc&t=302
Ah, finally, the REAL review of this mic
You're too kind. Thanks for watching.
Looking for a super 55 vs sm7b comparison do you have one somewhere?
Alsp love the hellooooo neuman!
This would've been a game changer five years ago. Now? Not so much.
Well, given that (almost) all the microphones he tested it against were already available 5 years ago, and the SM7b has been around for EXACTLY 50 YEARS...
... no. It wouldn't have been a game changer 5 years ago. The game was exactly the same 5 years ago. The SM7b was already there 5 years ago. 10 years ago too. 20 years ago too.
What has changed? Rogan made you buy the SM7b and you had to buy a Cloudlifter. Cloudlifter was released in 2009 and still provided a cleaner gain.
So no. Not a game changer. Before 2009, before the cloudlifter, I'd concede it to you. :)
@@nicojarI guess @General_Puffball meant that you nowadays with most interfaces there is now need for a gain booster.
@@techmed-rainer Bingo!
Why 5? We still had plenty of gain on our interfaces at least 10 years ago.
In the professional sphere, sure. But I was thinking more in terms of entry-level, consumer-grade interfaces.@@skorpers
Awesome already have the Rode Procaster needing an upgrade will go for SM7B much fuller & any recommendations for the Audio Interface Upgrade from an Audient Evo 8 to SSL 2+ is it good ?
Quick question: I'm using a Shure SM7dB with a Canon Mark IV 5D, and I'm getting quite a lot of hissing, i.e., a 'ssshhhh' sound in the background. Cable is Tisino XLR to 3.5mm Mini Jack Microphone Cable.
Do you know what might be causing it?
I dunno know if i just didn‘t hear that, but did u used a cloudlifter on the SM7B to get it to the gain of the SM7dB?
u lost a ton of weight... proud of u
Thanks man, Appreciate that very much.
would love to get ur oppnion on the rode procaster 2 vs maki creator with this mic!
Do you produce music?? I'm *NOT* sure but that's all I'm getting from your setup
What are the chances of the built-in preamp failing? Should an external pre-amp paired with an SM7B fail, replacing the preamp seems a lot less stressful than repairing/replacing the whole mic itself. Thoughts?
I haven't encounter an inline mic pre failing before, but I suppose it's possible. It's the same as condenser mics which have amplification in them which could fail too, or the electronics in any mic could fail. But yes, an additional component means there's one more thing that has the possibility of failing.
The "gosh I love how this things sounds when I close-mic it ..... Hello Neumann" is almost lovingly aggressive sounding. You rock, Bandrew! 😃
Thanks so much for the kind word.
There're tons of entry-level audio interfaces that can drive SM7B cleanly. No need to "upgrade".
Entry-level audio interfaces have gotten very good the last few years.
Bahahaha... when you used the Neumann (never heard of that mic before) I was like, "wow, that sounds way better than the SM7DB... then you said it was $3700, and I yelled "damn it!!" I thought I had the one I wanted to buy.
Would it perform better (noise) than preamps in Zoom Podtrak P4. It has just enough power for SM7b but would SM7db be cleaner? For podcast use. I need the get one more mic and always wanted SM7b. Currently using Procaster and MV7x. Thanks
I don't think the $100 over the older SM7b. To my ears the SE Electronics DCM6 DynaCaster Broadcast Dynamic Microphone sounded much clear and is way worth the $150 in my opinion and makes the SM7db a little muffled.
If you prefer the DCM6 to the 7b, then that's the route you should be going. You save a bunch of money and get the sound you want at the same time with a hotter mic output. That's why I include the samples so you can identify which ones you like and which ones you dislike. Glad you made that determination.
I don’t have either. I just want to know which one I should get. Im a podcast host
The switchs are a nice improvement for studio use.
If you're changing constantly, then absolutely it's an upgrade that you'll enjoy. Thanks for watching.
What a song !! 👏
Thank you very much!
music test is on a different level
You forgot to do the SM7dB with 28db of preamp vs SM7B with Cloudlifter tonal difference
I'll have to do that comparison.
The preamp is licensed from Cloud and tuned for the mic.
How does the noise level compare to using an SM7B with a Cloudlifter?
I have the Elgato Wave DX and Wave XLR but I’m not 100% happy with it anymore what would you recommend for me I’m considering getting a Shure SM7B or SM7dB and Bridge Cast X XLR interface
Good evening, I just saw this microphone that came out recently I own the Shure SM7B, this new Shure SM7dB do I still need to use a cloudlifter for this new microphone?
No you don't need a cloud lifter with the SM7dB, it has that circuitry built in.
Hi thank you for the vid. I don't have a mic so which one should I buy and what interface should buy with them ??
How do you think it compares to Aston Stealth Mic? I have the Aston mic but i hate how it never balances well on a mic stand because it's too forward heavy. I would been keen to hear how it compares to Shure with sound?
I did a comparison in the Aston Stealth video and that should probably help: ruclips.net/video/0J3wfPFTB98/видео.htmlsi=keVwvWY3OQOB0VT8&t=347
I wind forward for the music. 👏🏽
Thank you so much Peter!
here it is folks! sending love and peace to everyone...
And to you as well Michael.
Ciao Bandrew do you prefer for a live SE Electronics V7 or Shure SM 58 ? greetings from Italy ciao
I like them both and I go back and forth on them. The v7 is more versatile and I think generally better sounding. But the SM58 is kind of like a sweatshirt for me and it's something I'm familiar with so I still like using it sometimes.