Picking the best condenser mic under $200 to record your guitar can be hard. There are several condenser mics in the $200 price range, but not all of them have the same tone or features.
A few things that you need to think about when picking a condenser microphone for your studio is the build quality, polar patterns, and sensitivity/frequency response. Obviously, you want something that will hold up over time and won’t break if you drop it, so the build is super important. You also need to think about what you are recording and where. The polar pattern and response might be different depending on your needs.
Don’t worry. We’ll help you figure out which one to get. Let’s review some of the most popular $200 condenser mics on the market and compare their features to see which one you should get.
Compare the Top Condenser Microphones Below $200 in 2020
Contents
Here’s a list of the best condenser microphones under $200 to add to your recording studio and make your guitar and vocals sound amazing.
- AKG Pro Audio Perception 420
- Audio-Technica AT2035
- Blue Spark Blackout SLR Condenser Mic
- AKG Perception 220
- Shure SM86-LC
- AKG C1000 S
- Audio-Technica PRO 37
AKG Pro Audio Perception 420
Specs, features, and benefits
The AKG Pro Audio P420 is a large dual-diaphragm condenser microphone with multiple polar patterns. It has a one-inch diaphragm.
The front of the microphone, besides having AKG P420 print, it has a three-way switch, that lets you choose between cardioid, Omni-directional, or eight-figure polar pattern. On the back, you will find a hi-pass filter switch and a -20db pad switch.
The P420 by AKG has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, and a max SPL of 135db (135dB with pad engaged). It has an Output Impedance of 200 ohms, and a self-noise of 15dB (A-weighted). It requires a +48V phantom power. With it, you’ll get a shock mount and a metal case.
Pros and Highlights
- Wallet-friendly – You can get this microphone for two hundred dollars!
- Multiple polar patterns – This is great. You can use this microphone for many different recording situations. Great for home studios!
- Sturdy – The microphone feels solid, and it has a decent weight to it. Also, a nice thing is that it comes with a carrying case, so you don’t have to worry about breaking it when you travel to a recording session.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Not good for doing a podcast – If you are a podcaster, it is not recommended to use this microphone for recording – it has a lot of self-noise. However, for music recording, it is a beast. Usually, the self-noise will be covered by the instrumentation.
Bottom line
The AKG Perception 420 is a great microphone – it allows you to record many different sources the right way due to the multiple polar patterns that it has. Of course, there are a lot of better microphones, but for the price, the AKG P420 is a very good one. It sounds great with acoustic guitars!
Audio-Technica AT2035
Specs, features, and benefits
The Audio-Technica AT2035 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern.
On the microphone, you can find a -10dB pad switch and a low-cut switch. The AT2035 has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, a Max SPL of 148dB (when the pad switch is on, the max SPL will be 148dB)
It has an Output Impedance of 120 ohms. It has a self-noise of 12dB. Of course, being a condenser microphone, it requires 48V phantom power. It usually comes with a shock mount, a microphone stand adapter for the shock mount, a pop-filter, a cable, and a soft protective pouch.
Pros and Highlights
- Great sound – The Audio-Technica AT2035 will capture a quality recording on many different sound sources – instruments, vocals, podcasts, etc. It has a nice frequency response, low noise. It sounds crisp and will capture high-detailed audio.
- Affordable – This microphone will set you back $150!
- Versatile – Due to the pad switch, and the hi-pass switch, this microphone can be used in a wide palette of different recording situations.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons! – Of course, there are better condenser microphones than this one, but for the price, 2035 is awesome.
Bottom line
If you want to improve your home studio, but you are on a tight budget, you should check out the Audio Technica 2035 microphone. It is a low-noise, large-diaphragm condenser microphone that will sound great in many different recording situations. It is good for podcasting, but for musical instruments and vocals also.
Blue Spark Blackout SLR Condenser Mic
Specs, features, and benefits
The Blue Spark SL Blackout microphone is a Condenser, Pressure Gradient Microphone with a large diaphragm, and cardioid polar pattern.
On the microphone, you will find a hi-pass filter switch and a -20dB pad switch. It has a Frequency Response of 20Hz to 20kHz, an Output Impedance of 50 ohms, self-noise of 16.4dB (A-weighted), and Max SPL of 136dB. Due to the hand-tuned diaphragm, and the nice proprietary preamp, with the Blue Spark SL
Blackout microphone you will get detailed audio with close to zero distortion across all of the frequency spectrum. It comes with a shock mount, and a wooden box included in the price.
Pros and Highlights
- Professional sound – If you are ready to move on closer to the professional side of recording, you might want to check out the Blue Spark SL Blackout microphone.
- Hi-pass filter, -20dB pad switch – You can use these two for getting the perfect sound before the sound enters the audio interface. The quality of the recording always depends on how you have recorded it.
- It won’t break the bank – It comes for $160, and it can probably stand up to much pricier microphones!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
The Blue Spark SL Blackout microphone is an awesome sounding condenser microphone. It is best when used for podcasts, voice-overs, and vocals. If you are ready to improve your sound quality, and your bored with the sound of your USB microphone, or you want to start your home studio, and you are looking for a good microphone for recording podcasts, try out the Blue Spark SL Blackout microphone.
It is affordable, and it captures high-quality and detailed audio.
AKG Perception 220
Specs, features, and benefits
The AKG Perception 220 is a sturdily built Cardioid Large-Diaphragm condenser microphone with all-metal construction that comes for an affordable price. The AKG Perception 220 has two switches on its body, a Bass-cut filter switch, and a -20dB pad switch.
The microphone has a Max SPL of 155dB, a Frequency Response of 20Hz to 20kHz. Of course, it needs a 48V phantom power in order to work. It has a Noise Floor of 16dB (A-weighted). It has an impedance of 200 Ohms. It comes with a nice shock mount, and a metal carrying case.
Pros and Highlights
- Sturdy – The Perception 220 AKG is built in a sturdy, metal chassis. Also, it comes with a carrying case, which allows you to travel to a session without worrying about your microphone.
- Won’t hurt your pockets – It comes for less than $150! Imagine that!
- Flexible – The two switches on the microphone allow you to use it on many different sound sources, and in many different sound situations. Also, you can experiment with microphone placement, and get a lot of different recordings with this microphone. It sounds awesome when placed on the right spot.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
If you are up for making your first home recording studio, you will need a condenser microphone – check out the AKG Perception 220.
The AKG Perception 220 is a great microphone for the price, it is sturdy, and it sounds great. It is also a very flexible microphone, which you can use in many different recording situations. Oh yeah, it is also very affordable.
Shure SM86-LC
Specs, features, and benefits
If You are playing and touring with a big band, and you record your gigs, if you are using a dynamic microphone for your singing and you hold the microphone in your hands, you might experience bleeding from the other instruments in your vocals track. Shure has the perfect solution for that problem – Shure SM86-LC.
The Shure SM86-LC is a cardioid condenser microphone which has a built-in three-point shock mount for attenuating the noise that can come from moving your hand, and a two-stage filter for attenuating breathing sounds.
It has a Max SPL of 147dB, Self Noise of 23dB (A-weighted), and Frequency Response of 50 to 18,000Hz. The Shure SM86-LC is great for vocals, but it can be also used on guitars, bass guitars, and a ton of other instruments.
Pros and Highlights
- Great for touring – The Shure SM86-LC is built so it can handle tours without a single teardrop – it is sturdy, it has a built-in shock mount, and it has a built-in two-stage filter to minimize pops and breathing sounds.
- It will sound great in the studio too! – It is a condenser microphone. Condensers are capable of producing much more clear sound than dynamic microphones.
- Low-cost – Won’t break the bank, and won’t hurt your wallet either.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons! – It is a great microphone for the money. Just be sure to do your research before buying a certain microphone, you might be out looking for something else. Do your research!
Bottom line
The standard microphones for performing are great (Shure Beta 58, Shure SM57), but this one seems to be much better. You might ask yourself “why?” – well, it is because it is a condenser microphone, specially made for performing. It is sturdy, it sounds great, and it is affordable. If you want to improve to a better microphone for performing, you should check out this one. Good luck!
AKG C1000 S
Specs, features, and benefits
The AKG C1000 S is a condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, built in a rugged metal chassis, perfect for in-the-studio us as well as for mobile recording. The AKG C1000 S can be powered by a 9V battery if phantom power isn’t available at the spot. The microphone has an on/off switch, and under it, you will find a battery-check led light, that lights red when the battery is running out.
Another great feature that the AKG C1000 S users can take advantage of, is the PPC 1000 (Polar Pattern Converter) that will transform the polar pattern of the microphone, from cardioid to hypercardioid. The PPC1000 comes included in the price. Also, you will get the PB 1000 (Presence Boost Adaptor) included in the price with the microphone, which adds 3 to 5 dB of high-end boost between 5kHz and 9kHz – the PB 1000 can improve the clarity a lot. It also comes with a W1000 foam screen, SA43 stand adapter, and a soft pouch included in the price.
It also has a built-in shock-mount for minimizing handling noise. The AKG C 1000 S has a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz, and a max SPL of 137dB. The AKG C1000 S is best for use with vocals, brass, woodwinds, snares, hi-hats, cymbals, toms, string instruments, etc.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatile – The adapters that come with it, are making this microphone usable for many different situations. It is a work-horse that every studio should have.
- Great sound! – You will be amazed by the quality of the recorded audio you can achieve with this microphone.
- It is cheap! – Yeah, you won’t have to rob a bank to get one of these.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- There are none!
Bottom line
If you are in a need of an affordable microphone that you can use in many different situations, check out the AKG C 1000 S. It is a sturdy microphone, great for studio recording and field recording, a microphone that sounds great, and can be used for a wide palette of different instruments. Also, it won’t hurt your wallet.
Audio-Technica PRO 37
Specs, features, and benefits
The Audio Technica Pro 37 is a small-capsule condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, ideal for miking up guitar cabs, acoustic guitars, pianos, solo, and backing vocals, and drums.
The Audio Technica Pro 37 has a Frequency Response of 30Hz to 15kHz, a max SPL of 141dB, and a Dynamic Range of 112dB.
Of course, being a condenser microphone, the Pro 37 by Audio Technica requires a phantom power in order to work.
It comes with a stand adapter, a thread adapter, a foam windscreen, and a soft pouch, included in the price. The Audio Technica Pro 37 is great for recording many acoustic instruments, but pairing two Audio Technica Pro 37 microphones in an X-Y configuration will allow you to record many more things than with just one microphone.
Pros and Highlights
- Great price – This microphone will set you back only $169!
- Extreme flexibility – With the Audio-Technica Pro 37 is good for recording many different instruments – acoustic guitar, piano, hi-hats, snares, toms, cymbals, string instruments, etc. Also, it is a nice microphone to use for vocals, depending on the situation.
- Awesome sound – due to the wide frequency response, high max SPL, and great dynamic range the Audio Technica Pro 37 sounds fantastic. You will be amazed by how this microphone can sound when placed at the right spot.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons! – It is a great microphone for the price! Flexible, sturdy, and great-sounding one.
Bottom line
If you start to assemble a professional recording studio you will need many different microphones – dynamic microphones, large capsule cardioid condenser microphones, hyper-cardioid microphones, figure 8 microphones, Omni-directional microphones, etc.
Of course, you’ll need a small diaphragm condenser microphone too. And when you are ready to go for one, check out the Audio Technica Pro 37 microphone. It is a great one.
What We Recommend and Why
We recommend the Audio-Technica AT2035! It is a great microphone for the money, it has low self noise, it has a wide frequency response, great dynamic range, and it can be used for many different recording situations. A great work horse for budding recording engineers.