A good microphone costs $100 to $200 for most uses. The classics that appear on stages and in studios everywhere, the Shure SM58 for vocals, the SM57 for instruments and the Audio-Technica AT2020 condenser, cost $100 to $130 at Thomann. Professional studio condensers start around $1,000, and the gains above that are real but small.
On October 19, 2026, Thomann had 3,034 microphones in stock, half under $422. That median is pulled up by wireless systems, which are a different kind of purchase.
Microphone prices by type
| Type | Models | Median price | What it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB/podcast | 30 | $122 | Plug into a computer |
| Broadcast | 26 | $179 | Voice, radio, podcasts |
| Vocal (stage) | 168 | $190 | Singing live |
| Instrument | 282 | $223 | Drums, amps, horns |
| Large-diaphragm condenser | 330 | $739 | Studio vocals |
| Small-diaphragm condenser | 241 | $820 | Acoustic guitar, overheads |
| Ribbon | 60 | $1,412 | Warm studio sound |
| Wireless systems | 1,298 | $505 | Freedom on stage |
How much should you spend?
- Singing live: about $100 to $200. The SM58 is the reference.
- Podcast or streaming: $100 to $250 for a USB or dynamic broadcast mic.
- Home studio vocals: $100 to $300 for a first condenser, about $1,200 for a pro one.
- Recording instruments: $100 to $150 for an SM57-type dynamic.
The benchmarks
Shure SM58, $128
The dynamic vocal mic with a built-in pop filter and a famously tough build. One of the highest-ranked dynamic mics we track: #2 of 73 dynamic microphones.
Audio-Technica AT2020, $103
A cardioid condenser for home studio vocals and acoustic instruments at an entry price. #3 of 217 large diaphragm microphones.
Shure SM 7 dB, $591
The broadcast and vocal dynamic with a built-in preamp, so it works with modest interfaces. #1 of 14 microphones for saxophone.
Neumann TLM 103, $1,194
A large-diaphragm condenser with a capsule based on the U 87. #3 of 217 large diaphragm microphones.
Neumann U 87 Ai, $3,406
The studio classic, at almost three times the TLM 103. #13 of 217 large diaphragm microphones.
Questions
Is a $100 microphone good enough?
Yes, for most people. The SM58 and SM57 are standard on professional stages, and the AT2020 is a common first studio mic; the room you record in matters more.
Why do some microphones cost thousands?
Hand-built capsules, transformers and switchable patterns, with tighter quality control. The difference is real, but small next to the room and the performance.
How we measured. Every microphone Thomann listed as in stock on October 19, 2026 (3,034), by Thomann's categories, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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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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