Shure SM7B vs Electro-Voice RE20 - Battle of the Endgame Microphones! (Best Podcasting Mic Review)

because air goes through side grills)

I recently splashed out on an RE20 for our cartoon voice acting. We usually use condensor mics, but occasionally turn to dynamics if the neighbours are rowdy etc. I have to say, the RE20 is way better than I thought it would be. Our previous best dynamic was a Sennheiser e935 (which I still have a soft spot for), but my new infactuation is definitely the RE20!

buy a $99 SM58 and roll off the treble. Done, and you don't need any high gain preamp or cloudlifter nonsense. You just saved $600. YOu're welcome.

En la comparación de canto el Shure fue más musical y se mezcló mejor con la canción, el RE20 fue más claro. Pienso que el SM7B es mejor para cantar y el RE para locución.

Great Video!

Nowadays they also sell a black version of the RE20 (not to be confused with the cheap little brother, the RE320). I think the black RE20 looks better in videos.

I work as a professional live audio engineer. Fun fact: if you have a sax player and you present them a RE20, they will almost instantly be happy. Even though it might not be the mic producing their desired sax sound. Also works with the RE320 which usually needs to be tamed a lot in the high frequencies in order to achieve a soft sax sound (without EQing it makes a very breathy sax sound which some people also might like). Still, sax players probably see this type of mic so often in front of other famous sax players, that they seem to believe that it is the very best thing they could use. And with some heavy EQing from the sound guy their opinion gets confirmed many times. :-D

Exactly what i wanted to see.... or hear 😏

I have no idea how I manage to do more plosives on the sm7b than the re20. And I prefer the aesthetic of the RE20.

Been binging a lot of these RE20 comparison videos today and am starting to discern the differences. In the singing test I can totally hear it even on a cellphone speaker. The sm7b sounds like speaking even when someone is singing, if that makes sense. The darker tone just pulls it all down. The RE20 had a livelier shimmer. I can see how the sm7b could be great for voiceover. But RE20 seems better for singing.

The bottom of the RE20 fell out on the vocalist IMO.

RE20 has the richest sound. The Logitech Blue Sona is a great option too

Love your Videos! ♥ I want both mics. It's bad for my wallet. The RE 20 is 609 Euro in Germany. 😭

Thanks a lot for the video! I'll say overall I do prefer the RE-20 as well. Although I did prefer the SM7B on the distorted guitar. Funny enough, even though you do like the RE-20 more I do think that the SM7B suits your voice more.

I have both mics but the RE20 is better for spoken words.

Ev Re20 is my favorite dynamic mic for singing and spoken words!

RE20 all the way. There’s just something about the tone of it, and it’s the only mic that makes the SM7B sound nasal!

Re20 just sounds more like rich 70's vinyl. Sm7b sounds more football game broadcasty.

In my opinion, the RE20 looks much better when used with the EV shock mount. I prefer the look over the SM7b.

Where can i listen to more of this soothing guitar playing stuff that you just did🔥👍

Wtf you are talented asf with the guitar man 🔥🔥🔥

I have the SM7b and the RE320. Now i tried both of them and the SM7b suits my voice better than the RE320. I think that the RE20 is doing exact the same so for my voice i don't think it will sound good. Now for blind listening of the 2, i listen through the laptop speakers and funny enough, you can hear the difference much better. The SM7b sounds well, almost normal through the thinny speakers. The RE20 sounded more even, a little more of the high end was noticeable. The best advice i can give is don't buy just because of the looks. It's radio or podcast, nobody sees the microphone. Listen to any microphone how it suits your voice. In some cases, the SM57 sounds better for some people. Try a microphone in store or a booth and see if it fits your voice.

Hi there! I've been trying to find a video comparing the original EVRE20 vs it's black colored version. I've heard the black one is a bit darker in sound, but I dunno if that's true, cause if it is, I rather go to the original one. 🥲
Help!

I thought the SM7B sounded a lot better.
The way it deals with sibilance and pop is just unmatched.
Of course, a persons voice and intonation have to be taken into consideration.

The RE20 is by far the best sounding of the 2. Not sure why the shure is so widely used

The mids felt muddier with the SM7B during the vocal test

I was abolut to say exactly this. I find that everyone goes for the Shure because it's so popular. Not actually knowing if it's well suited for their voice. I've had mine for going on 12 years (originally bought it for vocals) and now I'm realizing maybe the RE20 is really what I've been looking for all this time.

too much bulshit before actual review...so i wont subscribe... make on to the point next time

I bought both of them

RE20 is just a million times smoother in the high end.

SM7B looks... neutral. It doesnt looks good and doesnt look bad.

Superlux did exactly the same mic as SM7B for much less. :d

I just purchased the SM7B a week ago for voiceover and had to do spend a significant amount of time EQ tweaking to get it sounding balanced. Before I even watched this vid I had already made up my mind to return the sure and purchase the RE20.

Wait, can't you just overlay the two mics' frequency spectra, note the small delta (difference) between them across the spectra, and then use that to simply adjust EQ to make one sound like the other?

Thanks, now I know

RE20, so good for trombone recording !!! Here SM7B seems so agressive in the low end, not good for quiet people like me...

I have more than 40 years in both music production and broadcasting/voiceover (production and announcing).... I've used both of these microphones extensively, along with a number of other dynamic and condenser mics (right up to vintage U87s). As I am sure you know, the choice between these two mics (as with ANY mic) will depend on the source you're recording. In my years producing voiceover artists/announcers, there were some voices which sounded better with the Shure, some with the E/V, and some with neither. I've always thought MY voice was better in an RE20 for both voiceover and singing. I actually use an RE320 for my own live vocals now, as (because it uses the RE27's N/D capsule) I find it cuts through a live band mix better.

I find the RE20 sounded horrible on the guitar but it really does sound great on vocals. I own both and use the 7b for many vocals and other sources but the re20 gets used often.

thanks so much for your help.. ended up going with the re 20

Thanks for the great review. Just bought the RE20 for my video essays.

Re20 make your voice better if u do radio but sm7b is better for recording because it sit in the mix

What is an Endgame microphone? I’ve never heard that term before

I own an SM7, but I agree, I like the RE20 better. My clients seem to have a basis for the SM7, they expect me to have one. They tend to look at me funny if I suggest the RE20, like I just pulled out a mic from the stone age.

Great comparison to my ears though I still prefer the SM7B, in every comparison I've heard the high mid/high end of the RE20 sounds cheap and like talking into a tin can I just don't like the sound of it at all.

Shure sm7b is way smoother and warmer in my opinion

Mic 2 has more noise.

Mic 2 on vocals better, mic 1 better on the guitar.

RE20 is better