Finding the best condenser mic under $300 that will record your guitar and voice with incredible tone isn’t easy. There are plenty of good condenser microphones in the $300 price range, but not all of them have the same features.
A few things to keep in mind when picking out a condenser mic is the build quality, recording sensitivity, and the power requirements. Depending on what you are using your mic for, you may need it to be more durable. If you are taking it on the road, you don’t want it to break if you drop it. If the mic is in the studio full-time, that might not be a big deal. Also, keep in mind that some condenser mics need phantom power to operate.
With that being said, let’s check out some of the most popular $300 condenser mics on the market and see which one is right for you.
Compare the Top Condenser Microphones Below $300 in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Condenser Microphones Below $300 in 2020
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best condenser microphones under $300 that you should add to your recording studio setup for guitar and vocals.
- Aston Origin Large Diaphragm Mic
- Sennheiser MK4 Cardioid Studio Condenser Mic
- Shure SM27-SC
- Audio-Technica AT4040
- Audio-Technica AT2050
- Rode NT1KIT
- Shure BETA 87A
Aston Origin Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Mic
Specs, features, and benefits
The Aston Microphones company was launched in late 2015, and their Aston Origin microphone is their first design. However, they claim that they made it so well, that it can compete with the best microphones in the world.
The Origin is a large-diaphragm pressure-gradient condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern. Its rugged design ensures that the insides of the microphone won’t get damaged and it will serve you for years, and the stainless-steel cage won’t let any scratch to be made on the microphone’s body. The head of the microphone is a very interesting one – the Origin has a “mesh head” and it has a built-in pop filter. The mesh head also ensures that no-unwanted ambient noises will slip into the recording.
The Origin has a one-inch gold-evaporated capsule, and transformer-less balanced circuitry with high-end components, ensuring awesome sound on your recordings.
On the microphone, you will find a hi-pass filter switch and a -10dB pad switch.
On the bottom of the microphone’s body, you will find the XLR jack, and a stand thread adapter, which allows you to put the microphone directly on a stand without a shock mount. The design of the Origin ensures great stability, and due to that you can use the microphone without a shock mount and get great results.
The Origin has a Frequency Response of 20hZ to 20kHz, a max SPL of 127dB, and a Signal to Noise Ratio of 76dB (A-weighted).
Of course, it needs a 48V phantom power.
Pros and Highlights
- Awesome sound! – The microphone has a very low self-noise, it has a wide frequency response and warm and crisp sound. It is great for recording all sorts of sources – vocals, acoustic guitars, guitar amps, percussion, etc.
- Sturdy! – Not only the cage is made out of stainless steel and will not take any kind of scratches, but the wave-form grill will also distort if it was hardly kicked, and then can it be easily returned into its previous form without any kind of damage.
- Affordable – For the price, this is an amazing microphone. It can stand up to many microphones that are pricier than this one!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
If you are looking for an absolute work-horse for your studio, that will not break the bank and will sound awesome on vocals and instruments, try out the Aston Origin microphone.
The Aston Origin is an awesome microphone that comes for a fairly cheap price, but can be compared with much pricier microphones.
Sennheiser MK4 Cardioid Studio Condenser Mic
Specs, features, and benefits
The Sennheiser MK4 is a condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, with a large, 1-inch diaphragm capsule. It is built into a full metal chassis, it has a decent weight to it, and it feels very sturdy. The one-inch diaphragm is spattered with 24-carat gold.
It has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, a max SPL of 140dB, self-noise of 10dB (A-weighted), and Output Impedance of 50 ohms.
The Sennheiser MK4 is great for recording guitar amps, acoustic guitars, vocals, podcasts, drums, and whatnot. Of course, being a condenser microphone, it needs a +48V phantom power. It comes with a soft pouch and a stand mount.
Pros and Highlights
- Great build-quality – The Sennheiser is sturdy as a rock! It is built like a tank!
- Awesome sound – With the MK4 your recordings will sound professional!
- A studio-workhorse – Great for many different recording applications, awesome on many sources!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons! – Although some of the owners don’t like how this microphone looks – this is not a beauty contest. The microphone does its job flawlessly. Great job, Sennheiser!
Bottom line
If you are looking for a great microphone for recording vocals, there are, of course, a lot of great choices. However, many of the best microphones for tracking vocals are pricy. If you are on a budget, you should try out the Sennheiser MK4 microphone. It sounds awesome, and all of the specifications meet the professional studio’s demands.
Shure SM27-SC
Specs, features, and benefits
We all love Shure microphones – they are great! The Shure SM27-SC is a condenser microphone with a large diaphragm and cardioid polar pattern. The diaphragm on the SM27-SC is 1-inch wide. Its rugged design makes it great not only for studio use, but it is also great for stage use.
On the body of the microphone, you can find a -15dB pad switch, and a three-way switch with two hi-pass filters – 80Hz and 115Hz. The Shure SM27-SC has a Frequency Response of 20Hz to 20kHz, max SPL of 144dB, a self-noise of 9.5dB (A-weighted), and Output Impedance of 150 ohms.
It comes with a stand mount, and a protective pouch for the microphone, included in the price.
Pros and Highlights
- Flexible – Due to the two switches on the body, you can set this microphone for recording different sources in seconds. The pad switch and the low-cut switch are a great addition!
- Great sound – The Shure SM27-SC sounds amazing!
- Sturdy – If you don’t kick this microphone on purpose, and use it with care, it can last you for decades.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
The Shure SM27-SC is a great bang for the buck-microphone. It is an absolute workhorse in the microphone world – it is great for both studio and live applications. It sounds great, it is flexible and sturdy. Great as always, Shure.
Audio-Technica AT4040
Specs, features, and benefits
The Audio-Technica AT4040 is a popular choice in the community of budding record producers. Why? Because it is a great one. Let’s dive in deeper.
The AT4040 by Audio-Technica is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern. On the body of the microphone, you will find two switches, a -10dB pad switch, and a low-cut filter (80Hz). It has a Frequency Response of 20Hz to 20kHz, a max SPL 145dB, self-noise of 12dB, and Output Impedance of 100 ohms.
The Audio-Technica AT4040 is great for recording a lot of stuff – from vocals and acoustic guitars to drums and percussion instruments, you will be amazed by the sound that this fella can provide. It is also built very well – if you don’t kick it around on purpose, it will last you for decades! It also comes with a shock mount, a dust cover, and a carrying case.
Pros and Highlights
- Clear and warm sounding – The AT4040 is awesome for tracking vocals!
- Great for instruments too – You will be amazed by how this microphone sounds with acoustic guitars, and guitar cabinets as well! It is also great for percussion, drums, woodwinds, and what not!
- Affordable – This microphone can stand right next to microphones that cost twice its price! And it is just $300!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
The AT4040 by Audio-Technica is an awesome microphone for recording a lot of different applications. It sounds warm, clear, and crisp – it has very low distortion, wide frequency response, good dynamic range, high SPL, etc. All of this makes this microphone great not only for vocals but for all kinds of instruments too. And having in mind the quality you’ll get, it is cheap!
Audio-Technica AT2050 Multi Pattern Condenser Mic
Specs, features, and benefits
The Audio-Technica AT2050 is an affordable, sturdy-built condenser microphone with three switchable polar patterns. On the body of the AT2050 you will find a low-cut switch (80Hz hi-pass), -10dB pad switch, and a three-way switch that lets you set the polar pattern of the microphone – you can choose between cardioid, Omni-directional, and 8-figure polar pattern.
This microphone has a Frequency Response of 20Hz-20kHz, Output Impedance of 120 ohms, Self-noise of 17dB, and a max SPL of 149dB.
The AT2050 can be the absolute workhorse in your studio, it is sturdy, it sounds great, and it is a very flexible microphone. Also, due to its affordable price, many newcomers in the recording world can have an awesome sound in their home-studio. It comes with a shock mount, and pouch for the microphone, both included in the price.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatile – The AT2050 has three polar patterns – this makes the microphone usable in many different recording situations.
- Affordable! – The AT2050 will set you back only $229!
- Sturdy! – It is built into a metal housing, it has a good weight, and it feels solid!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Do your research! – Although we can all agree that the AT2050 by Audio-Technica is a great microphone, we can also agree that we all have a different taste. While some owners love how this microphone sounds, some producers claim that it lacks a bit of warmness or low-end. So yeah, it depends on your taste, and what do you need it for.
Bottom line
If you are looking for a flexible microphone, which you can use in many different situations, and you are on a tight budget, we recommend checking out the Audio-Technica AT2050.
And while there are better microphones than this one, the AT2050 puts smiles on many budding producers and musicians. Of course, not everybody will like the same thing, so it is recommended to do in-depth research, before purchasing any kind of gear. Also, trying before buying helps a lot.
Rode NT1KIT
Specs, features, and benefits
For a price of $269, you can get the Rode NT1-Kit, which includes one Rode NT1 microphone, a shock mount, a pop filter, and a microphone pouch.
The Rode NT1 microphone is a condenser microphone with a large 1-inch diaphragm. It has a cardioid polar pattern. The NT1 has a Frequency Response of 20Hz to 20kHz, a max SPL of 132dB, and a self-noise of 4.5dB (A-weighted).
The body of the Rode NT1 is made out of aluminum, which makes the microphone sturdy, yet lightweight. On top of the body, the NT1 is finished in the laser-etched electrostatic coating, which will keep the microphone looking like new even after years of usage.
Pros and Highlights
- Wallet-friendly – Now, we live in a time when professional audio equipment doesn’t cost a big fortune. A pure example of that is the Rode NT1-Kit.
- Great sound – Many owners absolutely love their Rode NT-1 microphone. The reason? – it is a sturdy condenser microphone with great sound and low self-noise. On top of that, it is wallet-friendly!
- You get everything included in the price – a shock mount, a pop-filter, and a pouch!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- It is a great bang for the buck! – However, be sure that you buy this microphone from an authorized seller. It seems like there are sellers on the internet that sell defective, or used Rode NT1 microphones. It is best to buy from Rode’s Amazon shop!
Bottom line
The Rode NT-1 Kit is awesome – not only you’ll get a shock mount, a pouch, and a pop-filter included in the price – the NT-1 microphone is a great sounding one! It has very low self-noise, it sounds warm, it is sturdy, and it is affordable. Great microphone for beginners in the recording world, and for musicians that want to track a song here and there! Great job, Rode!
Shure BETA 87A
Specs, features, and benefits
The Shure BETA 87A is a Handheld Electret Condenser microphone with a super cardioid polar pattern, perfect for live situations. It has an all-metal body, and metal grill – which is, of course, super-important when it comes to microphones for live singing.
Also, when using condenser microphones when playing live, you can experience a lot of bleeding from the other instruments, amps, etc. However, the BETA 87A by Shure won’t give you those kinds of headaches due to its supercardioid polar pattern – it will pick-up only the frequencies that you want to be picked up.
The Shure BETA 87A has a Frequency Response of 50Hz to 20kHz, a max SPL of 140.5dB, self-noise of 24dB (A-weighted), and Output Impedance of 150 Ohms. This microphone has a built-in pop filter that reduces breathing noises. Of course, being a condenser, it needs a 48V phantom power.
Pros and Highlights
- Great price! – This microphone will set you back $250, new! And for what it can do for your live performance, it is a cheap one!
- Sturdy! – Just like all Shure products, the Beta 87A is sturdy as a rock and can take the beatings without a single teardrop. It has a full metal body and a metal grill. Solid!
- Great performance! – The Shure BETA 87A is great at reducing handling noise, rejecting background noise, and on top of that – it sounds great!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- It is not for studio use and instrument micing – The Shure BETA 87A is an awesome microphone for live singing! However, for studio use, it has too much self-noise and low output. Well, of course – it is built for the stage.
Bottom line
If you are looking for an affordable, yet great sounding microphone for live singing, try out the Shure BETA 87A microphone. It is an awesome, crisp-sounding microphone, that will reduce unwanted breathing noises, it will reject bleeding from other sources on the stage, and it will pop out in the mix well. Awesome, live-singing microphone. Great job once again, Shure!
What We Recommend and Why
We recommend the Audio-Technica AT4040 microphone! It sounds awesome, it is flexible, it is rugged, and it performs like a much pricier microphone. It can be your absolute workhorse in the studio, and on the stage too. It has a wide Frequency Response, great dynamic range, and low-self noise.
Awesome job, Audio-Technica!