Microphone Battle: The Real Shure SM7B vs its Fake!

[@JuanTalkPH]

To be fair, I like the sound of that fake 1, that is the sound i was expecting when I bought SM7B

[@bambymedia]

There are a lot of similarities between the two. They did make quite a convincing fake!

[@FriendlyAudio]

@@bambymedia I'd love you to send me the audio clips! I could compare them and make some csv data from the curve and send back an impulse response to eq match the fake one to the real sm7b

[@JTroskaTV]

Amazon had a fake Sennheiser e945 listed, too. It was selling for much less than any other e945. And customer reviews were complaining about feedback issues. Those were red flags because super cardioid mics shouldn’t feed back too quickly. Scrolling through the reviews, I eventually got to one where the customer took it apart and took photos to show how the inner guts differed from a real e945. It seems Amazon has since removed the listing.

[@bambymedia]

Oh that's awesome that there were enough reviews (and a detailed pull apart) to give you all the red flags. I wish I'd had the same experience with my fake. They're everywhere it seems!

[@selfconfessedcynic]

Great video - some of the sellers around (especially on Ebay) are super suspicious, so I suspected fakes were making the rounds. Thanks for pointing it out and indicating that there's videos which tell you what to look for. Thankfully the one I ordered for my birthday is from the official Shure store on amazon - but I'll probably still check it, haha.

[@bambymedia]

I thought I was buying from the official Shure store on Amazon! Yes, definitely check it out when you get the mic. Even looking at these two in the video side by side you can see the difference hey! I didn't realise because I didn't have the real one to benchmark it against! They're a sneaky bunch aren't they.

[@DexBuildGames]

to be honest, most of the difference i hear is around the pops which could be attributed to you having the stronger windscreen on the real one. interesting the fakes can be that good- but the negatives are of course that you would get no support from Shure when something breaks, and that something is likely to break much sooner than with the real one.

[@bambymedia]

Yeah it's a shame the studio didn't have the same pop filter on hand for the closest possible comparison. The difference isn't huge is it! Completely agree though. Fakes are likely to break, there is no support. I could definitely hear a difference in the overall frequency response, but you could mitigate those issues with some clever EQing. I still won't be buying anymore fakes. Makes for a good comparison though doesn't it.

[@Triple_Draco]

very well produced piece-- writing, graphics, comparison, etc. I'm like: this isn't her first time (or a producer's first) around video storytelling.

[@bambymedia]

Hehe. That makes me happy to read. Thanks!

[@BK-201]

Thank you very much for the video. I was very scared when I was waiting for my SM7B, but by all indications it is the original. By the way, have you tried to register a fake microphone by serial number on the Shure website?

[@bambymedia]

Oh thank goodness you have a real one! I'm very happy to hear that for you. Yes - after I realised it might be a fake, I did try and register it on the Shure website to see what happened, and it mentioned there that it couldn't find the serial number, so that was a clear indication at that stage that it was a fake!

[@BK-201]

​@@bambymedia thank you once again for the answer. mine got registrated without any problems, but i hear that fake makers can also (idk how) make a fake serial number and it will show on shure website that this is real microphone. that's why i asked :) by the way, you still don't like your voice in this microphone? even if you use an eq/compressor?

[@TeaBagginsMcGee]

The pop filter is different on each mic which will give different sounds too

[@bambymedia]

Yep! Slightly different sounds with each pop filter but it was negligible. I switched them around to test that theory when I was recording the video, and it was such a small difference I didn't even bother mentioning it. Also - love that your KZbin user name is TeaBagginsMcGee. Made me giggle.

[@frankparisi2433]

There isn't a night and day difference. Both sounded very close. Did you try turning the bass roll-off" switch on the back of the mic to off? Did you try using the equalizer to add bass. I would think you could get the smoother sound with the fake with a little tweaking. But I wouldn't support fake stuff.

[@bambymedia]

Slow reply from here as I've been on holidays! Thanks for the comment though and yep you can absolutely get the fake to sound pretty damn good if you use EQ adjustments. I didn't want to showcase this in the video though as like you, I don't want to support fake gear. But yep! You could get it sounding pretty close to the real thing!

[@Greet_Grenades]

she plugged them into two different interfaces meaning she could have mic enhancing on the real and stock on the fake

[@bambymedia]

Hey! I plugged them both into the same interface (mentioned in the video) with exactly the same settings. Completely flat - no eq on either microphone in post production. I wanted to make sure I had the best chance at producing a fair comparison. Only difference is the pop filter because unfortunately we couldn't locate the same one for both at time of recording.

[@whate1se]

u say it doesnt sound good but sounds nearly the same. hilarious and give props to the clone already

[@bambymedia]

It's a really convincing fake isn't it! I can hear the differences with a trained ear and a great studio setup, but to a lot of folks, the differences seem pretty negligible. I don't like the "tinny" sound to the fake and it lacks depth - but it's super convincing! Probably why I didn't notice it was a fake when I initially started using it.

[@dave_d_i_a_l]

@@bambymediaI put a cloudlifter in front of my fake, and it sounds incredible 🤷‍♂️

[@jamesrusselross5451]

To be honest, I don't hear the difference. Any good recommendation for voice-over mics? Thank you

[@bambymedia]

Ooo voiceover work can be dependent on the location that you're recording in. If you give me a little bit of info as to the type of room you're going to record in, and whether you have any acoustic treating/panels or soft furnishings, I can help you out with a good answer to this question.

[@MikeDillon]

there's a load of solid advice videos on yt for voiceover-focused microphones, and depending on your budget, plenty of options that are better than the SM7B for voice work

[@PodtasticAudio]

Fantastic! Beware of fake products

[@singerofthenight6736]

there is another video where the person says that the fake could even sound actually better ! the downfall is the shcock mounth and the pop and if you know actually litle bite of audio production its easy to fix it on your DAW ! so i dont really hear a big diference

[@bambymedia]

Yeah you can definitely play with the post-production on the fake to get it sounding even closer to the real one. When we do our mic battles we make sure not to do anything in post though so that you can hear exactly what it sounds like. You're right - not a huge different straight out of the box though!

[@singerofthenight6736]

@@bambymedia sure makes sense

[@Bujianews]

different pop up filters, not fair test for plodes. The big one avoid any plode , but the small one, you need to know how to talk to the mic to avoid them

[@bambymedia]

yeh, you're exactly right. We didn't have identical pop filters so the plosives test isn't exactly a true comparison. But the main difference was that detectable hint of that digital sound in the fake and its loss of some warmth. All in all, a pretty good fake though right?

[@mattshapiro4449]

Both mics sound fine. The problem is it's trying to deceive with the stolen name / branding. If it didn't say Shure, I wouldn't have a problem recommending it. Especially considering they can be had for just $70 on AliExpress. I'd just be sure to mark it in such a way as not to mislead any future owners.

[@bambymedia]

Yeah I agree. The microphone doesn't sound bad on the whole, it's just that they're blatantly deceiving people. I felt like such a fool!

[@slyderace]

The fake sounds decent but it doesn't sound as bassy as the real one. It does sound bland, as you said. With an Equalizer in Go XLR, it might sound better.

[@bambymedia]

Yeah you could absolutely fiddle with the EQ on the fake to give it more of that sparkle and a bit more of the bottom end. I'd feel weird doing it though hehe. It feels like cheating.

[@dave_d_i_a_l]

@@bambymediaI put a cloudlifter in front of my fake and it sounds wonderful 🤷‍♂️. Maybe you can do a compression with the cloudlifter on them. I don’t think any reviews have done that yet. It may get you a lot of views…

[@switchbladefriends2637]

Nice voice. Not a valid comparison here since the foam hoods differ with the best one on the favored mic? An important reveal that fakes can be bought off Amazon. I'll subscribe.

[@bambymedia]

yeh the plosives test isn't a true comparison due to the difference in the windshields. But super interesting to hear that digital sound in the fake and that loss of warmth.

[@deleted01]

Did you report the online seller to Amazon or the police? Don't let them dupe other people!

[@deleted01]

Also, I can't tell the difference between the real and the fake. Not that I'd buy a Shure SM7B, but if I did, I'd be among those getting tricked and never finding out

[@bambymedia]

I absolutely did report them to Amazon! The seller had vanished by then unfortunately, but I still reported it. Yeah the sound is close to each other isn't it! With an untrained ear, it sounds very similar. I feel bad for all those people who have and continue to be duped. Me being one of them!

[@djtoman6875]

There are also lots of fake SM57 and SM58 mics all over eBay.

[@bambymedia]

Oh they're two of my absolute "go-to" microphones in so many situations. That makes me so sad to hear there are fakes everywhere.

[@viatorbusiness]

I am listening through audio engine HD4 but I cannot figure it out which one is fake....

[@bambymedia]

That's interesting isn't it! It's definitely easier to hear if you've got headphones on, as the sound doesn't have to travel as far but the differences aren't huge are they! To me it just sounds "flatter". Not as much warmth, the frequency response isn't as vast. I can see how it's easy to be duped on this isn't it!

[@Lettemhearpodcast]

The fake one gives a bit more richer highs on it. But a lot of that can be post edited but I guess it all boils down to is quality build and will it last as long as the real one. Most likely not but time will tell I guess lol but sound on it is not bad at all considering

[@bambymedia]

Completely agree. I'm holding onto the fake to see how it fairs over a longer period of time to test that exact theory!

[@jediknightdiscomike22]

The real one sounds deeper and quieter. The fake one sounded a bit more noisey, less deep, but I thought her voice sounds better on the fake. Maybe the real shure is made for he's and the fake mic is for she's. The fake is a she mic. 😁😁😁

[@bambymedia]

Hahaha the fake is a "she" mic. Maybe that's how they should market the fake one? I think the SM7B isn't the right mic for me. It's too muddy and doesn't give me the nice sparkly "top end" tones that make my voice shine. The sE Dynacaster DCM8 is definitely a better choice for me (and I'd argue most people with higher tones). Check out this battle so you can see what I mean! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3SQoWyffKume5Ysi=Mn4lpIZmBcwDdArH

[@EthanPlayzTY]

i thank some fakes are good why some others are bad but not all people can pay SM7B

[@bambymedia]

exactly - as far as fakes go, this is a pretty damn good one. And if you want the SM7B bragging rights without the price tag, you aren't really sacrificing much audio quality by buying the fake. Or you could avoid them altogether and head over to SE for a better mic :)

[@thanhnguyen-xi8fq]

My real sm7b bought from shure dealer has a gray colour, not black.

[@bambymedia]

Ooo that's interesting. Maybe they've started shipping with a grey colour also. The one I was using is definitely older, so they may have updated. That makes it even harder to tell the difference between the real and the fake! If you bought from a dealer though, surely you're safe.

[@thanhnguyen-xi8fq]

@bambymedia and most of the famous postcaster i saw on youtube also have the gray ones.

[@robertocalderonabogado1427]

The fake one sounds better to me. Voice sounds clear, while the original sounds kind of muffled with a pillow on top of it.

[@bambymedia]

It definitely has more crispness doesn't it. I find the Shure SM7B too muffled for my voice generally. Good pick up!

[@willandiah2193]

On my laptop speakers they sound identical😅

[@bambymedia]

Ahhh does it! Bahaha. Yep that makes sense. With tiny speakers you'd barely notice the difference.

[@selw0nk]

The fake sounds just as good as the real one to me.

[@bambymedia]

It's not crazy different is it! Quite convincing.

[@Frajokz]

Evolution of the SM7 Microphone The original SM7 was introduced in 1973. The SM7A revision improved the humbucking coil and the design of the yoke mount. This revision was introduced in 1999. The SM7B incorporated an additional larger windscreen. It was introduced in 2001. basically it's the same microphone for 50+ years, and they are manufactured not only in mexico, but also in china, reverse engineering shouldn't be that difficult with easy access to components as absolutely everything is manufactured in China nowdays.

[@TomCee53]

@@FrajokzI wouldn’t be surprised to find that many of the components are made in the same factories. The ‘fakes’ also might be using parts rejected during testing. To my 70-year-old ears, the differences are very subtle, and unless you are using headphones or studio-class speakers it would be very unlikely that anyone could pick which was being used.

[@dave_d_i_a_l]

@@Frajokzwell put, it would be cool to see a frequency chart of the sm7, sm7a, sm7b, and the fake. It would be hilarious if the fake matched up to any of the “real” ones. If it did, I bet Shure would have that video taken down quick 😆

[@dwihartanto5202]

Are there any fake DCM8 on the market? I am considering buying a DCM8 after watching your video.

[@bambymedia]

I'm so in love with the DCM8! Highly recommend. I haven't seen any fakes of that one. It's available on Amazon at the moment on sale, so it could be a good time to grab one: amzn.to/47pDc3Y

[@LunaFrog-]

they sound different but goddam for 1/3 of the price

[@bambymedia]

Yeah it's not a huggeeee difference is it. For that price reduction...they've done quite well.

[@aphrodence02]

In my own opinion, the fake one could sound as the original with the right setting.

[@bambymedia]

You're right. A bit of EQ'ing and you could get it sounding pretty close.

[@aphrodence02]

@@bambymedia that is if you have something to compare with.. 😁 to make it sound originally.

[@xALK1984x]

Its the same 😂

[@bambymedia]

Very similar sound isn't it! I can hear the differences, but I have a trained ear - so most people probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference! I'd love to know the longevity of the fake too. How long before it starts to die? That'd be a good test to do.

[@Frajokz]

Evolution of the SM7 Microphone The original SM7 was introduced in 1973. The SM7A revision improved the humbucking coil and the design of the yoke mount. This revision was introduced in 1999. The SM7B incorporated an additional larger windscreen. It was introduced in 2001. basically it's the same microphone for 50+ years, and they are manufactured not only in mexico, but also in china, reverse engineering shouldn't be that difficult with easy access to components as absolutely everything is manufactured in China nowdays.

[@bambymedia]

A great snapshot into the SM7 - I too found it fascinating that the microphone really hasn't changed much since first being introduced. I personally think that at this price point (and lower) there are many other microphones that I'd rather use.

[@sarcstreetrecords]

Yeah I got duped!

[@bambymedia]

I feel your pain!

[@djtoman6875]

In the same price range I much prefer the Earthworks Ethos. It’s a condenser, so not exactly apples to apples. But it sounds superior to my ears. I’ve realised I just don’t adore the sound of dynamics and just use my SM57 with Shure windscreen when I want to use a dynamic mic.

[@bambymedia]

Condenser microphones are my favourite too. Better suited to an acoustically treated/low noise space, but gosh do I love them. They tend to have a lot more "sparkle" to them than the dynamic microphones. SM57 is tried and true. I've been using them for almost 2 decades and there is a very good reason why they continue to sell. I haven't tried the Ethos yet. It's on my list!

[@DKast84]

@@bambymedia I recently sold my Ethos, but it's absolutely amazing for voiceover work. It also has a pre-amp built in. I just have too many mics and one of them had to go, lol. Also, could you check your fake mic? I noticed that the fakes do not have the UK/CA logo on them.

[@bambymedia]

Oh it's so hard parting with good microphones isn't it! I fear I will be lost underneath a pile of microphones at some point. Hehe. I can't see any UK/CA logo on the fake. It's hard for me to even open the box. Makes me so sad.

[@GodfatherCZ1]

How can i 100% verify legit version ? :D i bought it from big german music shop 3 yrs ago , for full price .. but i am not 100% sure now . I am paranoid , what if i bought just well done fake one :D .. the box seems to be legit , with smaller ,,SHURE'' text , there is ,,Imported from UK'' sticker , also with some chinese letters - that could be only different market box , .. the capsule itself seems to be legit , one grommet popped out slightly , but it could be assembly mistake . I dont know :D How is this even possible ? SHURE company needs to do something against it .. add some unique verification codes , to check authenticity online or something. Like vehicle VIN number 🙏 Because they're getting better and better - the fake ones .. but , i paid for original product , i want original product right ? :D . If someone wants fake for 100 USD , okay .. i understand that , but let's have this official right - SM7B FAKE on it :D on the box itself .

[@bambymedia]

I completely agree with you! I would hope that if you've purchased this from a legit German music shop, it should not be a fake. It should be the real thing! There are a few distinct differences in the size and placement of the actual microphone within the capsule of the fake. I'd suggest watching a video that showcases the differences to make sure completely, but I would hope you got the real thing!

[@lieslikelove]

Well you got ripped of on price as well haha if you know where to buy the fakes they are about 80 bucks

[@bambymedia]

80 bucks!! My goodness.

[@dave_d_i_a_l]

lol I can’t hear any difference 😂 😂😂😂

[@bambymedia]

Bahaha - they're not crazy different are they! I guess that's why I was fooled to begin with.

[@dave_d_i_a_l]

@@bambymediayou should get your hands on a Cloudlifter, they really add some airy beautiful clarity to the Sm7b. It might be what your missing in what your wanting to hear from your voice. When I added that to my vocal chain it sounded like a completely different mic. Give it a try. I bought mine used on Reverb for only 80$ and it was a game changer for all my low gain mics…

[@andreichecko]

Honestly, not much difference

[@bambymedia]

I was expecting a bigger difference too!