Sontronics | microphone | $119
Dynamic XLR microphone built for close-up spoken-word recording in untreated rooms.
Frequency Response: 50Hz-15kHz
Wider frequency response captures more of the audible spectrum, from deep bass to airy highs.
Polar Pattern: Supercardioid
Polar pattern determines where the mic picks up sound from. Cardioid rejects background noise; omnidirectional captures the full room.
This XLR microphone needs an audio interface or mixer with XLR input.
The cheapest working combination in our catalog, using the least expensive item that satisfies each requirement above. Swap any line for a pricier option and the total moves with it.
At $119, Sontronics Podcast Pro is the 2nd cheapest of the 33 microphones we list, which puts it in the lower third of the category by price. In the rest of the category the cheapest is Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone at $44.99 and the most expensive is Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone at $399; the median microphone price is $149. That is $280 below the most expensive option and $74.01 above the cheapest in this category.