Singers carry the smallest kit in any band, which makes them easy to shop for. The gift almost every singer appreciates is their own microphone: it sounds the same at every gig and nobody else has sung into it. After that come in-ear monitors, a vocal effects pedal, and gear for recording at home. Every pick comes from our rankings, with tonight's Thomann price.
Their own microphone
Shure SM58 LC, $129
The most common vocal mic on stages worldwide, almost indestructible. A safe first microphone for any singer. #2 of 73 dynamic microphones.
Sennheiser E835-S-PTT, $134
A cardioid dynamic vocal mic with a push-to-talk switch, a slightly brighter alternative to the SM58. #3 of 73 dynamic microphones.
Shure Beta 58 A, $208
The step up from the SM58: a supercardioid pattern that rejects more stage noise and feedback, with a brighter, more detailed sound. #4 of 73 dynamic microphones.
SE Electronics V7 PTT, $167
A supercardioid dynamic with an internal pop filter and a sturdy spring-steel head, and the highest-ranked vocal mic in its price range when we checked: #1 of 73 dynamic microphones.
Vocal effects pedals
TC-Helicon Critical Mass, $104
A floor pedal that turns one voice into a group sound, with a low-noise mic preamp and XLR in and out. Simple to use on stage. #2 of 11 voice processor.
TC-Helicon VoiceTone H1, $125
Adds one or two harmony voices that follow the chords of a connected guitar. For singer-songwriters who play alone. #3 of 11 voice processor.
TC-Helicon VoiceLive Play, $218
A complete vocal processor with tone, harmonies, pitch correction, reverb and doubling, plus USB. #3 of 23 vocalists.
For their ears and their home studio
Shure SE215 Pro K, $134
Sound-isolating in-ear monitors that block most stage noise, so singers can hear themselves without the wedge at full volume. #4 of 89 in-ear headphones.
Focusrite Vocaster One, $51
A one-microphone interface with auto gain and voice presets, for recording demos or covers at home. #25 of 206 USB audio interfaces.
SE Electronics RF-X Reflexion Filter, $103
A shield behind the microphone that cuts room echo from home vocal recordings. #1 of 135 miscellaneous acoustic treatment.
Questions
What is a good gift for a singer?
Their own vocal microphone, like the Shure SM58 ($129) or the Beta 58 A ($208) for a more detailed sound.
What do you get a singer who has everything?
A vocal effects pedal like the TC-Helicon VoiceLive Play, or in-ear monitors like the Shure SE215.
What is a good gift for a beginner singer?
A microphone and a simple home recording interface, so they can hear themselves back and improve.
How we picked. Every product comes from an AudioFu ranking, scored on demand, price, specs and brand. Prices are Thomann's, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate and updated every night, as are the ranks.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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