Shure Sm7B vs Presonus PD-70 (Studio/Booth/Untreated Comparison Test)

[@NobodysFaultPodcast]

Really nice review thank you! I was driving back from picking up a used PD-70 and the comfort level I gained from my purchase because of your review is really reassuring.

[@RebelTech1990]

Thanks for checking out the video! Let me know how the mic is working for you!

[@NobodysFaultPodcast]

It's working great. I have it going through a Behringer Ultravoice. Seem like a very well made piece if gear. Very satisfied and I think it looks better than the SM7b

[@KidCortez]

So I ended up buying the PD-70 a while back just beacuse a lot of people compared it to the Sm7B and to be honest I really love it. I know a lot of people like a flat mic when it comes to a dynamic mic but i rather like that high end on the PD70 sound more clear to me at least I'm yet to own a Sm7B but if for 400 I'm getting extra base i rather have the PD70 anyways you can always mix it to sound the same or better to your liking.

[@RebelTech1990]

I totally agree with you on the flexibility of the PD-70. It’s an easy mic to play with and make it something unique to the user. With the SM7B, it’s a “Professional” microphone. Much higher quality than these $100-150 options. That being said, when streaming, the Shure SM7B is a waste. 1) You don’t need it, it’s overkill. 2) The loss of quality, while streaming. 3) The quality of the “budget”options. We are in a great time with so many options for good sounding, affordable microphones. Thanks for checking out the video! It’s nice to hear more perspectives/stories. I feel that it helps me give a better insight for future videos and comments.

[@KidCortez]

@@RebelTech1990 ay no problem and keep making these video's they're really interesting, and for real you don't need a shure for everything mostly if your just like on online chats and playing games along with streaming, and when it comes to the average ear of the people some really can't tell the difference of a 100 to like a 500 mic when they are hearing the audio on their phone's or gaming headset lol some budget mic just sound super good nowadays

[@vespa731]

Great comparison video. I refrain from looking at any mic as a potential SM7B or RE20 'killer' :-P I own both the PD-70 and SM7B. I really can't complain because at the end of the day, my content's sound or how I sound when I work via Zoom or Webex isn't highly noticeable whenever I use the PD-70 or the SM7B. Most of my clients are not saying "whoa! that's the legendary SM7B!" - 9 times out of 10, I'll sound better than the average person using a laptop mic or headset during my work calls. Anyways, at $129, I think the PD-70 is a bargain. It should be at the $99 price point so it could challenge the PodMic instead though

[@RebelTech1990]

I’m with you on the “killer” title. These budget options aren’t close to the quality of the Shure SM7B. That’s why I stay away from that title for my videos. I might use it here and there but very rarely. The point of these types of videos , meaning the “quality mic vs budget mic”, is to give perspective. Understand what you are missing and if you can live without some things. As I said in the end, the Shure sm7B isn’t for streamers. It’s way too much for what you need. As far as the price, I mentioned this in another comparison, i feel that it’s right on point because of the plosives rejection. Comparatively speaking. I feel its much better at that and you will need something extra with a PodMic. I’m currently editing a ZDM-1 vs PD-70 video. That will be a good video for streamers. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Nice comparison. I’d love to see/hear your other mics in comparison together (aka PodMic + SM7B + the other one) 👍

[@RebelTech1990]

Thanks bud. I released the SM7B vs the PodMic and now the PD-70. I’m editing some Zoom ZDM-1 comparisons including the SM7B vs the ZDM-1. I’ll eventually do a video with all my Dynamic Mics but that’s down the road. Hopefully in August.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@RebelTech1990 Yea, I am specifically excited to hear them all in comparison to each other. What's your verdict so far? Will the SM7B hold up as the winner?

[@RebelTech1990]

Without weighing them on a curve, (Meaning, weighing in the price) the Shure SM7B is definitely better. It will be the winner until I put it up against some of my more "professional" mics. I don't know where it will stand then but I know it's gonna be a tough one to take down.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@RebelTech1990 And if you take the price into consideration? Which would be your top choice then?

[@RebelTech1990]

It really depends on what I’m doing. If we are just saying all around versatility then if probably stick with the SM7B. If I was just making KZbin videos and streaming then the PD70 would be my choice.

[@Klarenz]

would PreSonus PD-70 be any upgrade compared to Rode Podmic?

[@RebelTech1990]

I would consider the PD-70 on a even playing field as the Rode PodMic. It’s a matter of preference in the tone. I will say the PD-70 is easier to EQ, in my opinion. If you have a Rode PodMic, I would probably stick with it. Because the differences aren’t big enough to drop more cash on a similar microphone. If you don’t have either, then check out some videos comparing the two and see what you like. I have a couple of videos with both of them in it. Hope this helps. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@andno7850]

At 300 to 400 dollars the Shure is still a budget microphone... When you consider big studios use mics that can cost more than 10k. :(

[@RebelTech1990]

Most people don't live in the world of "high end" audio equipment. Most content creators nowadays can only afford the "budget" options. Meaning anything sub $200. So, "What I told you was true, from a certain point of view" - Obi-Wan Kenobi I am just being cheeky, of course. But you are right from a studio/music producer side of things. That being said, High end albums and recordings have been made with the "Budget" Shure SM7B. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@trevorwoodley3897]

@@RebelTech1990 facts! Michael Jackson tracked all of his vocals for Thriller album on the SM-7B. But I'm still getting about 2 or 3 PD-70s for my studio. They're not that far off sonically; nothing that judicious EQ won't fix.

[@nikolakatanic]

Thank you for the review. I’m thinking to buy a PD-70. Do you advise to get a fethead or cloudlifter for it or no need? I have the Motu M2 audio interface.

[@trevorwoodley3897]

I hope he answers this, but elsewhere I've seen it isn't needed.We need a definitive answer on that question.

[@nikolakatanic]

@@trevorwoodley3897 I bought a mic and it works fine though I believe fethead would help a bit. My gain is on 3/4 so it’s on the edge..

[@trevorwoodley3897]

@@nikolakatanic Ok, good to know.I was considering Cloudlifters but I'll look for comparison reviews of both and decide which boost box to get. I guess it's better to buy some boost boxes than not, given I'm saving money NOT buying the SM-7B.

[@nikolakatanic]

@@trevorwoodley3897 SM7B isn’t this category though this one is totally nice for the price.

[@trevorwoodley3897]

@@nikolakatanic Of course! I'm a trained engineer but my philosophy is that a decently spec'd inexpensive piece of gear relative to it's more expensive "betters" can be made to produce similar sonic results in the hand of a knowledgeable user/engineer. The military talks about the "kill chain" ; engineers have a signal chain that includes EQ, mic pres, and other sonic conditioners. The Presonus mic isn't as expensive but it'll do in the right hands.