ShureSM7B
microphone
New retail price (MSRP)
$399
Used market: $300
Specifications
4 of 9 values have a recorded sourceExpert Audio Engineering Commentary
Tonal profile
Cardioid dynamic with a flat, wide-range response and heavy internal shielding. Its -59 dBV/Pa sensitivity is the reason it asks for so much clean gain: it is a quiet microphone by design, not by fault.
Gain staging
Budget 60 dB of gain for speech at a hand's distance. Interfaces that stop at 50-56 dB will hiss before they get loud enough; an inline preamp or a 69 dB preamp solves it.
Setups using this gear
How to Connect Shure SM7B to MacBook via Focusrite Scarlett SoloShure SM7B on a Scarlett Solo 4th Gen: is a Cloudlifter still needed?Shure SM7B with a Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen and a Cloudlifter CL-1Shure SM7B on a Universal Audio Volt 276: is 55 dB of gain enough?Shure SM7B and a MOTU M2: how much gain does the M2 actually have?SM7B through a dbx 286s into a Scarlett Solo: which input does the 286s go to?Can a Shure SM7B plug straight into a PC?SM7B with Elgato Wave XLR MK.2: what do the 80 dB of gain actually buy?Shure SM7B with SSL 2 MkII: are 64 dB of gain enough?Audient iD4 MkII with a Shure SM7B: two decibels shortCloudlifter or FetHead for an SM7B: what do the 2 dB change?SM7B with a Klark Teknik CT 1 on an Audient EVO 4: does the cheap booster do the job?Shure SM7B + Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: is 69 dB of gain enough?SM7B + Cloudlifter + Scarlett 2i2: 30 dB of gain you will never useShure SM7B on a PreSonus AudioBox USB 96: is the built-in preamp enough?
Verified secondary market price recorded in 2026.