When it comes to picking the best condenser microphone under 200, there are a dozen or so good options. Of course, if you want excellent quality of sound and a sensitive microphone that captures tiny details, the list shrinks. That’s why we did our research, so you don’t have to.
Microphones that have a built-in condenser offer better sound quality than the dynamic ones because of their extremely slim diaphragm and lightweight design. So, if you have high standards set when it comes to a microphone’s sound quality and want to find out more about the best condenser microphones under $200, you are welcome to read this review. If you’re looking for a more high-end solution, check out what we have to say about condenser mics under $500.
1. AKG P420
- The recorded material on this microphone sounds natural and clear
- Offers great flexibility when it comes to its polaroid pickup pattern due to its dual diphragm
- A design appealing to the eye
- Great frequency response range
- A filter for bass reduction
- The microphone is a little bit less sensitive when using the bi-directional or omnidirectional pickup patterns
The AKG P420 wins the title “best condenser microphone under 200” on our list. It also wins the hearts of many people for its sonic flexibility and adjustability. But before it does that, the microphone surely does win our sympathies because of its pretty looks.
AKG P420 comes packed in a beautiful, black, metal chassis with its name written on the front side. The chassis, even though matte, gives away but a sprinkle of glare.
Design and additional features
Sitting at the top of the chassis is the discretely golden grille. What’s behind this grill is the microphone’s dual diaphragm for enhanced sensitivity and sound richness. This dual diaphragm system works well with the AKG P420 large frequency response range that goes from 20Hz to 20kHz. Furthermore, the received sound can be adjusted with the use of the attenuation pad switch and the bass-cut filter. The pad switch can weaken the signal to -20 dB and is useful when you are, for example, recording the sounds of instruments.
The already mentioned features are suitable with the three Polaroid pickup patterns that the AKG P420 has to offer. The microphone’s dual diaphragm system allows for the usage of the cardioid, omnidirectional, and bi-directional pickup pattern. Obviously, AKG P420 is very generous with giving you the option to choose the pickup pattern you prefer. You can do this while the microphone picks the sounds coming from its sides and to its top for it is a combination of a side-address and top-address microphone.
With features like these ones, the AKG P420 undoubtedly provides a great sound quality with warmness and clearness of the reproduction. Its diverse pickup pattern and address options make it a great choice for singers, instrumentalists, podcasters etc.
AKG P420 comes with a strong, metal carry case for a hand-free usage.
2. Rode NT-USB
- Great build quality
- Great shockmount and pop filter
- Offers USB connectivity
- Great frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz
- Even though the available polar pickup pattern functions great, it is the only one offered by this microphone
Rode NT-USB is high-quality studio condenser microphone primarily designed to record vocals. Singers and podcasters will really like this microphone because of the interesting features it has to offer.
First of all, Rode NT-USB is a microphone with a great build quality since its meant to be your fellow companion and come with you to wherever you want to record. Its build quality is also ‘engraved’ in the condenser’s interesting design that makes it look very professional and high-tech.
More about the Rode NT-USB mic
This side-address microphone will pick up the sounds of your voice with its cardioid polar pickup pattern in the frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz. This being said, you will always have the advantage of the mix between the vocals presented to the microphone and the reproduced sound be directly controlled.
Furthermore, the Rode NT-USB will be able to perfectly reduce the effect of plosives on your recorded material. The condenser will do this with its great-quality pop filter located on the microphone’s base. The filter was strategically positioned by the manufacturers behind the Rode NT-USB so that it will be away from the microphone’s capsule at just the right distance. This, of course, helps the filter to catch those plosives before they rich the capsule and transmit to your recording.
Besides from offering great built-in sound control features, the Rode NT-USB also offers you the option to personally monitor its operation. You can do this by plugging your headphones into the 3.5 mm headphone jack. The microphone also offers you the option to connect it to a USB connectable device and let them help you to get the best out of your recording.
Rode NT-USB comes with a tripod desk stand, pouch for storage, and a nice rode mount.
3. Audio Technica AT2035
- The microphone is sensitive to low sounds that go down to -33 dB
- Copes well with high SNL and will work well with SNL of up to 158 dB
- A large diaphragm for better noise-reduction and improved sensitivity sound details
- Equipped with a high pass filter and a 10 dB p
- Even though the avA bit insensitive to sounds in the higher frequency end
Audio Technica AT2035 has its place very well deserved on this list of best condenser microphones under $200. The aesthetic approach that’s immanent to this condenser’s design is expressed through its simple black matte chassis that encapsulates the microphone’s black grill.
AT2035’s design offers a ‘robust’ experience with the microphone due to its durability properties. This being said, both the internal and external components of the AT2035 are of fine quality, and there’s also the custom shock mount to isolate and protect the microphone from unwanted outside factors.
Audio Technica AT2035 has a great frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz. The microphone is primarily made to assist you in recording vocals or instruments that fall in the range between the lower and mid-range frequencies. The sounds that you’ll get by using it will be warm, clear, and accurate to the natural sound of your vocals or instruments.
Say goodbye to background noise
Background noise won’t be a problem for the Audio Technica AT2035 since the condenser uses a cardioid polar pickup pattern. This pattern enables the mike to catch the sounds that go in the direction of its front side while it isolates all the noises and sounds coming from in any other direction at the same time. This works great with the purpose of the Audio Technica AT2035 which is recording of separate vocals or instruments.
Background and unwanted noise is furthermore reduced with the help of AT2035’s high pass filter and 10 dB pad. The high pass filter will reduce any unwanted bass and hum that could pass through the capsule, while the 10 dB pad will make the signal weaker. These two features provide the Audio Technica AT2035 with the ability to accurately record many sonic happenings making it one of the best budget microphones available on the market.
4. Marantz Professional MPM-1000
- Studio quality sound capturing
- A frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz
- Great background noise reduction for enhancement of the primary sound source
- Equipped with great extra features
- A bit of a weaker build quality
Marantz Professional MPM-1000 offers a great product experience for everyone that’s interested to record some vocals, instrument sounds, or podcasts. It’s the fourth best condenser microphone under 200 on our list.
The microphone looks sleek with a mixture of black and silver on its outer components. Of course, inside the beautifully-designed chassis and grill is where the magic happens.
First of all, you get to record vocals, melodic instruments, drums, and other percussion instruments at the frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz. The microphone is exceptionally good in capturing the sounds that have a mid-range frequency, even though it can go as low as -38 dB. Having a signal-to-noise ratio of 77 dB, Marantz Professional MPM-1000 has the capacity to deliver a clear, authentic audio to your ears.
Features and design
Marantz Professional MPM-1000’s manufacturers went all in when designing it with a large diaphragm. This way the made sure that the condenser will work smoothly and be sensitive to all the details that come from the audio source.
The microphone is also designed to have a cardioid polar pickup pattern for all of you who want to get a primary sound source enhanced recording material. Just get your microphone close to your mouth or instrument and leave the rest to its high quality capsule. With the MPM-1000, you can even have a gig and get those top-quality sounding notes come out of it.
It is fairly easy to setup the microphone and its extra features. You can just put the microphone inside its tripod stand if you want it standing that way, or you can to mount it to a more traditional mic-stand, in which case you will also get a shockmount to eliminate any unwanted noises that are related to motion. Besides from this, the Marantz Professional MPM-1000 comes equipped with a windscreen and an XLR cable.
5. Shure PGA27-LC
- Able to sound strongly and clearly in both the higher and the lower frequencies
- High-pass filter
- SPL flexibility with the -15 dB attenuator that can be switched
- A beautiful, unique design and high build quality
- You will have to put the microphone really close to your mouth or instrument in order for it to sound high-quality
Last, but not least on the best condenser microphone under 200 list is the amazing Shure PGA27-LC. This condenser microphone looks way too amazing for you not to take a glance at it and buy it. Its unique design features a beautiful black chassis that gradually tightens as it goes down from the black grill to the cable jack. The area around the cable jack is also a bit darker than the rest of the body giving the microphone a nice finish line.
Sound and build Quality
The microphone also has a great build quality in case you have to use it in a more rigorous environment, and even if you don’t, you wouldn’t want like picking up microphone pieces while singing, playing an instrument, or doing podcasts.
Speaking of picking up, Shure PGA27-LC uses a cardioid Polaroid pickup pattern to capture only your voice or the sound of your instrument without the interference of some unwanted sounds and noises.
Furthermore, Shure PGA27-LC can capture sounds in the range of what us humans can hear which is frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz. This is amazing on its own, but what’s even more amazing about this microphone is that it’s designed to be sensitive to both the higher and the lower frequencies in its frequency sensitivity range. PGA27-LC’s -15 dB switchable attenuator for SLP flexibility and high-pass filter certainly do help a lot when it comes to this.
This an amazing feature to have for a microphone at this price range since it makes the microphone more versatile when it comes to the sounds it can recognize. That also means that you will be able to use your microphone with many different instruments and record vocals that have elements in both the higher and lower frequency spectrum.
Shure PGA27-LC comes with a shockmount and a padded zipper case.
What to look for in a condenser microphone under 200
There are a few things that microphones under $200 offer in general. These microphones will have, for example, a nice built-in pop filters for reduction of plosives. Many of them will also have a switchable attenuator for the SLP adjustment and a high-pass for minimizing the lower frequencies. Furthermore, they’ll also offer you a USB connectivity and some other extra features like a shockmount or a more traditional stand. Make sure to mind the quality of these features to make a better decision on which condenser microphone to buy for yourself.
Best Condenser Microphone Under 200 Conclusion
Now that you know more about the best condenser microphones under 200, you are but a step away from getting the perfect microphone for you. The next thing you’ll need to do is figure out what your preferences are in relation to these microphones, do some more research, and then make up your mind. I wish you a good luck in that and I hope that you’ve found this review to be helpful.
