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From their early days in Buchanan, Michigan, right up to the present, Electro-Voice has earned a reputation for building microphones that prioritize clarity, intelligibility and reliability. I’ve been using EV mics for nearly half a century, and my current ham-shack microphone is an EV 630 omnidirectional dynamic. It may not be the newest mic in the shack, but it still does exactly what it was designed to do: make sure every word gets through.
Fortunately, Electro-Voice has never been a company to rest on its laurels (which, by the way, sounds seriously uncomfortable—those leaves are pointy). Over the years, the company has continued to refine and expand its microphone lineup to meet the needs of broadcasters, musicians, recording engineers and live sound professionals alike.
In this article, we’ll take a look at five Electro-Voice microphones that deserve a place in your mic locker, whether you’re tracking in a home studio, mixing a live band or looking for a microphone that can pull double duty in multiple applications.
Pictured: Electro-Voice ND76 Vocal Microphone Capsule
How We Picked These Mics
We chose these five Electro-Voice microphones because they strike a balance between performance, versatility and real-world popularity. Not only are they proven workhorses in studios, on stages and in broadcast environments; they’re also among the EV microphones Guitar Center customers ask about most often—and ultimately take home.
So yes, in a way, this is a popularity contest. But when thousands of musicians, engineers, podcasters and content creators consistently gravitate toward the same tools, that’s worth paying attention to. The microphones on this list have earned their place through years of dependable performance in the applications they were designed to handle.
Pictured: Electro-Voice RE20 Miking Guitar Amplifier
Comparing Electro-Voice Microphones
|
Model |
Type |
Pattern |
Best For |
Price |
|
Dynamic |
Cardioid |
Broadcast, Podcasting, Kick Drum, Bass Cabinet, Upright Bass |
$449 |
|
|
Dynamic |
Cardioid |
Kick Drum, Bass Cabinet, Voiceover, Podcasting, Instruments |
$315 |
|
|
Condenser |
Supercardioid |
Lead Vocals, Worship, Corporate AV, Singer-Songwriters |
$369 |
|
|
Dynamic |
Cardioid |
General-Purpose Live Vocals, Rehearsal, Clubs, Houses of Worship |
$135 |
|
|
Dynamic |
Supercardioid |
Rock Vocals, Metal Vocals, Loud Stages, High-SPL Sources |
$209 |
Pricing as of June 2026*
At a Glance: If you need one microphone to do a little bit of everything, start with the RE20. If your focus is drums and instruments, look at the RE320. For premium live vocals, the RE520 delivers condenser detail, while the ND76 and ND96 cover everything from coffeehouses to high-volume rock stages.
Electro-Voice RE20
Why It's Cool: One of the most versatile dynamic microphones ever made, the RE20 is equally at home in a broadcast studio, on a kick drum or in front of a bass cabinet.
Key Features:
- Variable-D technology minimizes proximity effect for more consistent tone at different working distances
- Large-diaphragm dynamic design handles high-SPL sources with ease
- Smooth, balanced frequency response works on everything from vocals to instruments
Shop Now: Electro-Voice RE20 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone
For decades, the Electro-Voice RE20 has been a studio and broadcast staple, and for good reason. While podcasters and radio announcers helped make it famous, recording engineers know it’s much more than a voice mic. Whether you’re tracking kick drum, bass cabinet, brass or spoken word, the RE20 delivers a natural, controlled sound that often requires less EQ than you’d expect. If you’re looking for one microphone that can cover an impressive range of duties, this is it.
Electro-Voice RE320
Why It's Cool: This versatile Variable-D dynamic microphone has voicings tailored for both voice and instrument applications.
Key Features:
- Variable-D design reduces proximity effect for more consistent sound
- Dual-voice switch optimizes performance for vocals or kick drum
- Handles high-SPL sources without strain
Shop Now: Electro-Voice RE320 Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast and Instrument Microphone
The Electro-Voice RE320 takes much of what engineers love about the RE20 and packages it into a more affordable, highly adaptable microphone. It’s particularly popular on kick drum, bass cabinet and broadcast-style vocals, but its dual-voice design makes it useful in a wide range of recording situations. If your projects regularly move between spoken word and instrument recording, the RE320 can earn its keep quickly.
Electro-Voice RE520
Why It's Cool: Get studio-style detail without sacrificing stage-ready reliability with this live-performance condenser.
Key Features:
- Condenser capsule captures vocal nuance and transient detail
- Supercardioid pattern helps reduce stage bleed and feedback
- Designed specifically for professional live vocal applications
Shop Now: Electro-Voice RE520 Condenser Supercardioid Vocal Microphone
For singers who want more detail and articulation than a typical stage dynamic can provide, the Electro-Voice RE520 is worth a serious look. Its condenser design brings out subtle vocal textures while the supercardioid pattern helps keep unwanted stage noise under control. Whether you’re performing in a club, house of worship or corporate setting, the RE520 offers an excellent balance of clarity and practicality.
Electro-Voice ND76
Why It's Cool: Night after night, this rugged stage vocal microphone delivers clear, natural vocals.
Key Features:
- Cardioid pattern helps isolate vocals from surrounding stage noise
- Shock-mounted capsule reduces handling noise
- Durable construction designed for live performance environments
Shop Now: Electro-Voice ND76 Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone
The Electro-Voice ND76 is the kind of microphone that simply gets the job done. It offers a balanced vocal sound, solid feedback rejection and the durability needed for life on the road. Whether you’re playing clubs, rehearsing with the band or handling weekly services, it’s a dependable choice that works well across a wide variety of vocal styles.
Electro-Voice ND96
Why It's Cool: This handheld condenser is purpose-built for loud stages and powerful singers.
Key Features:
- Supercardioid pattern provides excellent off-axis rejection
- High-output design helps vocals remain present in loud environments
- Handles extremely high sound-pressure levels with ease
Shop Now: Electro-Voice ND96 Dynamic Supercardioid Vocal Microphone
When the stage volume starts climbing, the Electro-Voice ND96 comes into its own. Its focused supercardioid pattern and aggressive voicing help vocals maintain clarity and presence even when surrounded by loud guitars, drums and monitors. Rock, metal and other high-energy performers will appreciate its ability to stay articulate without sounding harsh.
The Technology Behind the Mics
While the five microphones on this list serve very different roles, they all reflect Electro-Voice’s long-standing focus on solving real-world audio challenges. Whether the goal is reducing proximity effect, increasing gain before feedback or capturing more vocal detail, EV has spent decades refining technologies that help engineers, performers and broadcasters get better results.
Pictured: Electro-Voice RE20 Bass Tilt-Down Switch
Variable-D: A Different Approach to Dynamic Microphones
One of Electro-Voice’s best-known innovations is Variable-D technology, found in microphones like the RE20 and RE320. Most directional microphones exhibit proximity effect—a boost in low frequencies as the sound source gets closer to the microphone. While that can sometimes be desirable, it can also make voices and instruments sound muddy or overly bass heavy.
Variable-D uses a series of carefully tuned rear acoustic ports to minimize that effect, helping maintain a more consistent tonal balance even as the distance between the source and microphone changes. It’s one of the reasons the RE20 became a broadcast standard and remains equally at home on everything from kick drums and bass cabinets to podcast vocals.
Built for the Stage
For live performers, controlling feedback and rejecting unwanted stage noise can be just as important as sound quality. Microphones like the ND76 and ND96 are designed with tightly controlled pickup patterns that help isolate the intended source while reducing bleed from monitors, drums and other stage sounds.
The ND96 takes that approach even further with a supercardioid pattern and voicing tailored for loud stages, making it a popular choice for rock and metal vocalists who need to cut through a dense mix.
Pictured: Electro-Voice ND96 Vocal Microphone
Condenser Detail When It Matters
While dynamic microphones dominate many live applications, condenser microphones remain prized for their ability to capture subtle nuances and fast transients. The RE520 brings that condenser precision to the stage with a supercardioid pickup pattern and a design optimized for live performance, delivering the kind of detail and articulation that can help a vocal shine in the mix.
Different tools for different jobs—but all built around the same goal: delivering clear, intelligible audio when it matters most.
The Value of Tradition
Between their mics, their speakers and their live sound gear, Electro-Voice has been a staple of the music and broadcast industries since their founding in 1927. Over the century of their existence, they have always been a company committed to quality and innovation, as well as one that designs all their components in-house.
Pictured: Electro-Voice RE20, ND76 and ND96 Microphones
We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of Electro-Voice microphones, as well as some clues as to where to start building out your personal mic collection. If you need any help making those decisions, feel free to reach out to your personal Guitar Center Gear Adviser or drop by your local Guitar Center and check out the mics in person.