Handheld Microphones

Portable Microphones

There are a lot of different types and brands of microphones available, but which ones are the best for all-around use? If you’re looking for the best units for speaking, singing, and instruments that are also durable enough to endure the wear-and-tear of live events year after year, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the best portable microphones on the market from top brands like Shure, Behringer, Rode, Audio Technica and more.

Which mic types are the best for portability?

All mics capture physical sound waves and convert them to electrical signals. These signals get processed and amplified, until thumping speakers convert them back into physical sound waves that we can hear. Without getting too much into the tech, there are three ways to do this: with condensers, ribbons, or dynamic diaphragms. 

Condenser mics and ribbon mics are great for use at home or in studios, capturing subtle vocals or spoken-word podcasts. But they’re also fragile, vulnerable to changes in temperature and humidity, and so sensitive that in a live performance they can pick up too much noise. 

For portable, versatile, and durable mics, dynamic units that use durable mylar diaphragms to capture soundwaves are the way to go. Even better, they’re usually the most affordable options.

Be “Shure” about the portable microphone you buy

Shure is one of the most venerable makers of portable microphones. Their twin SM57 and SM58 models are the Romulus and Remus of the mic world—iconic, time-tested, and with slightly different roles. Both are “cardioid” microphones, meaning that they pick up sound only from the direction they’re being pointed. This is perfect for handheld, live vocal events.

The major difference between the two models is in their front grills (the part you sing into). The SM58 features a mesh “ball grill,” which shields interference from wind, breath, and the popping “slosives” that can come from live vocals. The SM57 is designed mainly to mic amplifiers or drums, so it lacks the ball grill. That being said, many singers love the SM57 for vocals, and you can easily purchase a foam pop filter cover for its grill.

Both of these Shure models are reasonably priced, but if you’re willing to sacrifice some sound quality for the quantity needed for large events, Behringer’s dynamic mics are great, too.

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