Shure and Sennheiser are the two biggest microphone brands at Thomann, and they get there in different ways. Sennheiser has far more models; Shure has fewer, and more of them sit at the top of our rankings.
The two brands in numbers
| Shure | Sennheiser | |
|---|---|---|
| Listings | 452 | 559 |
| Models (finishes and bands grouped) | 114 | 331 |
| Median price | $413 (€369) | $526 (€469) |
| Median AudioFu Index | 52 | 37 |
| Top-10 spots | 79 | 83 |
| #1 spots | 13 | 8 |
Much of Sennheiser's lead in models comes from wireless: its systems are sold in several frequency-band versions, and the range runs from camera mics to conference sets. Shure's catalog is tighter: at least one top-10 spot goes to 63 of its 114 models, against 57 of Sennheiser's 331.
Where Shure wins
Shure SM57 Amp Profi Bundle, $222
The SM57 with a stand and cable, first among microphone bundles. The SM58 set is third. #1 of 74 microphone bundles.
Shure MV88+ Stereo USB Mic, $256
The highest-ranked stereo microphone we track. #1 of 17 stereo microphones.
Where Sennheiser wins
Sennheiser e 604 3-pack, $340
Three clip-on drum mics, first among snare drum microphones. #1 of 14 microphones for snare drum.
The rest of the field
| Brand | Models | Median price | Top-10 spots | #1 spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rode | 52 | $205 | 24 | 5 |
| Audio-Technica | 57 | $234 | 25 | 4 |
| AKG | 62 | $201 | 26 | 0 |
| Neumann | 34 | $1,406 | 12 | 1 |
Rode wins camera and podcast mics with the VideoMic NTG and the PodMic USB, both #1 in their charts. Neumann is the most expensive brand of the six by a wide margin, and its KM184 stereo set is the top piano microphone.
Questions
Is Shure or Sennheiser better for vocals?
Both make standards: the Shure SM58 and the Sennheiser e 935 are both in the top three of our microphone bundles. Pick by voice and budget, not by logo.
Why does Sennheiser rank lower on average?
Because it has many more niche models, such as conference and installation mics, that few musicians buy. Its stage mics, like the e 935 and the e 604, rank near the top.
How we measured. All microphones Thomann listed as in stock on October 23, 2026: 3,057 listings in 54 categories. Variants of the same model are grouped. A "top-10 spot" is a place in the top 10 of one of our rankings by the AudioFu Index; one model can hold spots in several rankings. Prices are in euros, converted at the European Central Bank rate.
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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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