Best Large Diaphragm Microphones Under $800 2026
Affordable large diaphragm microphones under $800 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Vocals
For Studio Recording
For Voice Over
For Acoustic Instruments
For Broadcast
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Warm Audio WA-87 R2
by
Warm Audio
Vocals
Studio Recording
Voice Over
Key Feature:
• Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✗ CONS
- • Sensitive to vibration and handling
- • May emphasize proximity effect
Warm Audio WA-87 R2Large-Diaphragm Condenser MicrophoneDirectional characteristic:...
⭐
4.6/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 503457
$672
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
United Studio Technologies UT Twin87
Acoustic Instruments
Studio Recording
Broadcast
Key Feature:
• Great for vocal recording
✓ PROS
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than small diaphragm
- • Sensitive to vibration and handling
United Studio Technologies UT Twin87Large Diaphragm Condenser MicrophoneTwo legendary circuits in one...
⭐
4.5/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 542864
$604
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Neumann TLM 102 BK
by
Neumann
Vocals
Voice Over
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
- • Great for vocal recording
✗ CONS
- • May emphasize proximity effect
- • Sensitive to vibration and handling
Neumann TLM 102 BKLarge diaphragm condenser microphonePressure gradient transducerDirectional characteristic:...
⭐
4.6/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 237769
$659
#4
⭐
4.7/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Lauten Audio LS-208
by
Lauten Audio
Studio Recording
Voice Over
Vocals
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than small diaphragm
- • Can pick up room noise
Lauten Audio LS-208Large-Diaphragm Condenser MicrophoneDesigned for broadcastingstudiostage and for the...
⭐
4.7/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 455098
$747
#5
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Slate Digital ML-1A
Acoustic Instruments
Voice Over
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
✗ CONS
- • Requires phantom power
- • Can pick up room noise
Slate Digital ML-1ALarge Diaphragm Condenser MicrophonePolar pattern: CardioidFrequency range: 20 Hz - 20000...
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 617602
$593
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Neumann TLM 102 Studio Set Black
by
Neumann
Broadcast
Voice Over
Vocals
Key Feature:
• Low self-noise for quiet sources
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
✗ CONS
- • May emphasize proximity effect
- • Requires phantom power
Neumann TLM 102 Studio Set BlackLarge Diaphragm Condenser MicrophoneAcoustical operating principle: Pressure gradient...
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 257210
$758
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Telefunken M82
by
Telefunken
Studio Recording
Broadcast
Vocals
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Wide frequency response
✗ CONS
- • May emphasize proximity effect
- • Requires phantom power
Telefunken M82Dynamic large-diaphragm microphonePolar pattern: CardioidFour different filter curves with KICK EQ and...
⭐
4.5/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 408134
$549
#8
⭐
4.4/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Rode NTK
by
Rode
Vocals
Broadcast
Voice Over
Key Feature:
• Wide frequency response
✓ PROS
- • Great for vocal recording
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
✗ CONS
- • Requires phantom power
- • May emphasize proximity effect
Rode NTK incl. Shock MountValve Condenser Studio MicrophoneGold plated large diaphragmVery low noise levelWide...
⭐
4.4/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 158994
$659
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sontronics Orpheus
by
Sontronics
Broadcast
Studio Recording
Voice Over
Key Feature:
• Low self-noise for quiet sources
✓ PROS
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
✗ CONS
- • Requires phantom power
- • Sensitive to vibration and handling
Sontronics OrpheusCondenser MicrophoneHighly sensitive 1.07 "dual-diaphragm capsuleTransmission range: 20 Hz - 20...
⭐
4.7/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 235218
$752
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Avantone CV-12 BLA
by
Avantone
Studio Recording
Acoustic Instruments
Broadcast
Key Feature:
• Low self-noise for quiet sources
✓ PROS
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✗ CONS
- • May emphasize proximity effect
- • Requires phantom power
Avantone CV-12 BLATubular large diaphragm condenser microphone34 mm Capsule9 Directional characteristics selectable (on...
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 474935
$659
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
SE Electronics T2
Vocals
Broadcast
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Low self-noise for quiet sources
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Wide frequency response
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up room noise
- • More expensive than small diaphragm
SE Electronics T2Large Diaphragm Condenser MicrophoneWith special titanium diaphragmPolar pattern:...
⭐
4.8/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 562657
$560
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Avantone CV-12
by
Avantone
Broadcast
Voice Over
Acoustic Instruments
Key Feature:
• Great for vocal recording
✓ PROS
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
- • Professional studio standard
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than small diaphragm
- • Requires phantom power
Avantone CV-12Large Diaphragm Tube Condenser MicrophoneHand-Selected Russian 6072A tubes9 Directional characteristics...
⭐
4.8/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 248722
$527
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
EV RE20 RE-Series
by
EV
Voice Over
Studio Recording
Broadcast
Key Feature:
• Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Wide frequency response
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up room noise
- • Sensitive to vibration and handling
EV RE20 RE-SeriesLarge-Diaphragm Dynamic MicrophoneDirectional characteristic: CardioidSwitchable High-PassVariable-D...
⭐
4.6/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 128926
$691
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Universal Audio SC-1
Acoustic Instruments
Vocals
Voice Over
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Great for vocal recording
✗ CONS
- • May emphasize proximity effect
- • More expensive than small diaphragm
Universal Audio SC-1Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone with Hemisphere Microphone Modelling SystemReproduction of the...
⭐
4.5/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 577420
$570
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Warm Audio WA-47F
by
Warm Audio
Voice Over
Acoustic Instruments
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✓ PROS
- • Low self-noise for quiet sources
- • Exceptional sensitivity and detail
✗ CONS
- • Can pick up room noise
- • More expensive than small diaphragm
Warm Audio WA-47FLarge-Diaphragm FET Condenser MicrophoneGold-coated large-diaphragm capsule in K47 designTAB spark...
⭐
4.8/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 544976
$780
How to Choose the Best Large Diaphragm Microphones
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced large diaphragm microphones typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
