We’re huge fans of dynamic microphones for podcasting. They allow you to achieve good audio in less than ideal locations and let’s face it, the majority of podcasts are produced from people’s homes in rooms that aren’t acoustically treated. A dynamic mic in this environment is a real advantage due to their low sensitivity meaning that less of the stray, bouncing soundwaves get back to the capsule, and therefore echo and reverberation is reduced.
See our article on the differences between a condenser and a dynamic microphone to learn more. For more information about recording in an untreated room, see our article on the best microphones to use in a room with echo.
One of the most popular dynamic mics for podcasting is the Shure SM7B. With it’s warm, smooth, and clean sound, it produces a very natural tone with lots of presence. The build quality is excellent and it features an air suspension shock-mount system, an in-built pop filter, and shielding from electromagnet hum. The only downside is the price, it’s not really for those looking for a budget dynamic microphone.
What other options are available though, are low-cost alternatives available? Well, yes there is, and we’ve gone ahead and done the research into them for you.
Read on to see our top picks for dynamic microphones under $100 and for those of you in a hurry, let’s start with our overall favorite. We’ll then move onto the runner up and the best of the rest.
Table of Contents
Best Overall
Shure SM57
Although intended as an instrument mic, Shure’s SM57 makes for an excellent low-cost dynamic podcasting microphone. In some circles, it’s even regarded as a viable Shure SM7B alternative.
The SM58 could also be an option as there are few differences between them. They both share the same cartridge design and therefore sound very similar. The mics do look slightly different though and that’s because as mentioned above, the SM57 was originally designed as an instrument mic whereas the SM58 was designed as a vocal mic so features a ball grille with a built-in pop filter.
The SM57 is gain hungry so you’ll need a strong preamp to give it what it needs to perform well. See our article Best Preamps for the Shure SM57 for more information.
The pickup pattern of the SM57 is a uniform cardioid one which makes it extremely effective at cutting out background noise and therefore isolating your voice. The sound it produces is clean, bright, and used with good microphone technique, warm and rich which will make your podcast shine thanks to the contoured frequency response which ranges from 40 to 15,000 Hz.
This mic is extremely rugged as you’d expect from something that was designed to be taken on the road and used live on stage so it should last you a long time. Other design features to note include a pneumatic shock mount system and supplied swivel adapter for mic stand mounting, although we recommend an external shock mount and pop filter system for podcast use.
Here are the key spec details you need to know.
| Frequency response range: | 40 Hz to 15 kHz |
| Sensitivity: | -56.00 dBV/Pa – 1.60 mV/Pa |
| Polar Pattern: | Cardioid |
| Output Impedance: | 320Ω |
| Connectivity: | XLR |
| Weight: | 284g |
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Runner Up
Rode PodMic
The Rode Procaster is probably the more well-known model in Rode’s lineup of dynamic podcasting microphones. However, the budget line PodMic is a brilliant, lower price point alternative that punches well above its weight.
It performs brilliantly and delivers a rich sound that’s both crisp and warm. The frequency response range is impressive as is the build quality – holding it in your hand, you wouldn’t think it was a budget mic.
Other features include an internal pop filter, an in-built shock mount, and a cardioid pickup pattern for voice isolation.
There are no doubts that this microphone is of broadcast quality which is amazing given the price. Like the Shure SM57, it’s gain hungry which is common in dynamic mics so make sure that you give it enough clean gain to perform well. An inline mic activator such as a Cloudlifter or similar would work well here to avoid you having to crank up your preamp which could introduce excessive noise.
Here are the key spec details you need to know.
| Frequency response range: | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Sensitivity: | -57.0dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (1.60mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1kHz |
| Polar Pattern: | Cardioid |
| Output Impedance: | 320Ω |
| Connectivity: | XLR |
| Weight: | 937g |
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best of the Rest
Samson Q2U
Engineered for home and studio use, this microphone also works well when recording on the go or live on stage. Loaded with different connectivity options (including USB and XLR outputs plus a 3.5mm headphone output for monitoring), this is one of the more flexible studio-quality microphones available on the market today.
The dynamic capsule works wonders when capturing vocals as well as instruments and amplifiers. The in-built analog-to-digital converters do a solid job of capturing and reproducing sound, too. The directional cardioid polar pattern eliminates a lot of ambient noise which is a real advantage when you’re recording on location or in a room that isn’t acoustically treated.
Lightweight and portable enough for use on the go (with USB connectivity to hook up to your laptop or tablet), a handful of key accessories are included with every Samson Q2U microphone to make setting up and using this equipment easy.
Combine all of that with high-quality sound capture capabilities equivalent to microphones that often cost much more and it’s not difficult to see why people are so happy with this affordable, entry-level studio microphone.
The build quality is also rock-solid, with clean lines and attractive modern aesthetics that make it one of the better looking affordable microphones on the market, too.
| Frequency response range: | 50 Hz to 15 kHz |
| Sensitivity: | -54dBV/Pa |
| Polar Pattern: | Cardioid (Unidirectional) |
| Output Impedance: | – |
| Connectivity: | USB, XLR + 1/8″ (3.5mm) headphone output |
| Weight: | 317.5g |
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Audio-Technica ATR2100x
Designed specifically with content creators and podcast hosts in mind, this microphone has been engineered from the ground up to capture your voice in rich, crystal-clear audio fidelity.
Not only that, but this microphone is easy to take advantage of and connects directly through USB outputs with the option to connect over XLR, too.
This dynamic microphone offers a smooth frequency range that’s a little more extended than traditional entry-level options which is a real plus.
Featuring a directional cardioid pattern that captures 120° of audio directly in front of the microphone while blocking out ambient noise, podcasters won’t have to worry about background sound elements washing out their voice while they are recording.
The mic also features direct monitoring capabilities, allowing podcasters to listen to their sound capture as it is being recorded – with no delay, no manipulation, and no physical alteration of the sound elements to speak of.
Headphone volume can be adjusted on-the-fly with a simple dial attached to the bottom of the microphone, too. Add in the desk tripod and threaded stand clamp, plus all the necessary cables you need to use your microphone out of the box and this is a great microphone to get started creating content with.
| Frequency response range: | 50 Hz to 15 kHz |
| Sensitivity: | – |
| Polar Pattern: | Cardioid |
| Output Impedance: | – |
| Connectivity: | USB-C & XLR + 1/8″ (3.5mm) headphone output |
| Weight: | 268g |
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Behringer Ultravoice XM8500
Microphone technology tailored to capture your voice as authentically as possible, this mic is ideal for home recording, studio recording, or for use by content creators or podcast hosts.
The unique cardioid pickup pattern of this microphone allows it to capture sound dynamically, all while eliminating almost completely any of the “off-axis” sounds not inside of the cardioid pattern itself.
High-quality construction components are featured throughout that make this a “buy it for life” kind of microphone. A shock mount style system eliminates almost all handling noise issues and a two-stage pop filter helps to eliminate unwanted sounds such as breathing and plosives.
Add in several flexible connectivity options (including USB and XLR) and it’s not difficult to understand why this is such a popular option on the market today. The sound is rich and authentic, the capture capability is very reliable, and a lot of content creators compare this particular microphone very favorably to options on the market at much higher price points.
When compared with our winner in this roundup, the Shure SM57 is has a slightly hotter signal than and more mid-frequencies making the sound is a little thicker. Overall though, there isn’t a huge amount between the two mics and for the price, this represents fantastic value for money.
| Frequency response range: | 50 Hz to 15 kHz |
| Sensitivity: | -70 dB |
| Polar Pattern: | Cardioid |
| Output Impedance: | 150Ω |
| Connectivity: | XLR |
| Weight: | 240g |
Check the latest price on Amazon.
What is a Dynamic Mic?
To understand more about what a dynamic microphone is and how one works, we first need to mention the transducer which is a key component inside a microphone. It is there to detect and convert sound waves into an electrical signal. Two common types of transducer are the condenser and the dynamic transducer, hence the name given to these two popular microphone types.
With a dynamic transducer, there isn’t a backplate and instead, a wire coil that is attached to the back of the diaphragm. Because the coil is fixed to the diaphragm, as sound waves hit the diaphragm they vibrate as one unit. The coil is fitted inside a magnetic field which is created by a magnet that makes up part of the element. It is the action of the coil vibrating inside this magnetic field which generates the electrical signal.
Another main difference between a condenser microphone and a dynamic model is how they are powered. Condenser mics require a power source, be it 48v phantom power or via a battery. The reason for this is that ‘condenser’ means ‘capacitor’, and voltage is needed for a capacitor to work correctly.
In contrast, dynamic microphones are passive which means they contain no active circuitry. It’s the movement of the coil inside the magnetic field that produces the electrical signal and therefore no power source is needed.
Conclusion
So there you have it, five dynamic microphones that will deliver fantastic sound for your podcast without breaking the bank. If you have a $100 budget and need just one microphone, our winner and runner up mics would be recommended.
However, if you need to buy more than one at that budget then one of the lower-cost options would make more sense. With the Behringer for example, you should be able to buy four of them for the cost of one Shure SM57 or Rode PodMic making it a great choice when putting together a budget podcasting studio.
Whichever mic you pick, we hope this guide had helped you along the way.
Related Questions
Are Condenser Mics better than Dynamic?
The answer to this question really depends on what you’re looking for in a microphone. In the context of podcasting, both types of mics, if the correct models are chosen can do a fantastic job at reproducing your voice and delivering a nice sound to your audience.
However, you need to take into account the environment in which you’re recording. If you have or plan to have an acoustically treated room, a condenser mic’s detailed, smooth and natural sound might be the best choice.
If however, you record in a less than ideal room from a sound treatment or echo point of view, a dynamic mic might be a better option.
When Would You Use a Dynamic Microphone?
One example was mentioned in the answer to the previous question – when echo is an issue.
Another time that dynamic mics come into their own is when you’re dealing with background noise. At some point along your podcasting journey, you’re likely to find yourself recording an interview in a noisy bar or café and if you make the mistake of trying to record with a sensitive condenser mic, especially one with an omnidirectional polar pattern which is found on a lot of lavalier mics, you’re asking for trouble.
A good low sensitivity dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern is the one to go for in scenarios like this. This combination will ensure that a lot of the background noise is rejected and relatively speaking, your voice will come across louder. Dynamic headset mics are particularly good where background noise is an issue hence a lot of broadcast sports commentators wear them – to cut out as much crowd noise as possible.
If you are struggling with background noise, see our guide on the best quiet places to record a podcast for some ideas.
Can I use a Dynamic Mic with Phantom Power?
As mentioned earlier, dynamic microphones don’t require phantom power due to the way the circuitry inside them is designed.
A more important question is whether phantom power can cause damage. A balanced, modern dynamic mic shouldn’t be impacted in any way by phantom power as long as you are using them with balanced XLR cables (and not jack cables). When it comes to unbalanced dynamic mics though, it is possible that when power is applied to the coil it could make it overheat and therefore cause damage.
We’d always recommend avoiding using phantom power with a dynamic microphone to eliminate any risk of damage to your equipment.
