The Best Cheap Mic Stand - Boom

Here we have the highest rated boom stand with a street price of $50 or less - these can be used for playing live or recording. If your budget can stretch a bit further then I strongly recommend you take a look at the higher quality but more expensive boom stands in the other section below.

The Best Boom Mic Stand

These high-quality microphone stands with booms can be used for both live performances and recordings. Here we present the highest rated options available. For more affordable options see our recommendations for cheap boom stands above.

The Best Straight Mic Stands

These are high-quality, straight stands used for vocals in both live and studio settings. Please note that straight mics stands are generally only suited to vocalists who will not be playing an instrument as they can only be adjusted vertically.

Things To Consider When Buying Microphone Stands

What is the Best Type of Mic Stand For Performing Live?

When it comes to live performance you're usually going to be setting up and tearing down your stands much more frequently than you would in a studio setting so getting robust solid stands is very important. Another important, yet sometimes overlooked factor, is how much space they take up when packed away. Having a stand that can fold small is a great plus, especially if you're carrying multiple to a venue setup.

Boom vs Straight

Boom designs offer more versatility with mic positioning and adjustment at the expense of portability and stability. They can be used for most situations except for vocalists that prefer to hold on to the microphone while performing. For singers, straight stands are generally preferable unless they also play an instrument at the same time. Straight stands are the most common type, they handle the weight of the microphone better, but has limited positioning.

Tripod vs Solid Base

Tripod stands are versatile and can fold up to take much less space than solid base or round base stands. Oftentimes the only time you would use solid base stands live is where a boom isn't necessary such as with singers who don't play an instrument. For musicians that sing while playing an instrument a tripod stand with a boom is almost always necessary so that the stand can be placed in such a way that it won't get in the way of playing the instrument.

What Makes the Best Studio Mic Stand?

You can effectively use just about any type of microphone stand for recording so long as it allows you to position the microphone exactly where you need it to best capture the source you are recording. Some stands help facilitate this by providing booms with a counterweight allowing the mic to be positioned a long way from the base - this can be particularly helpful positioning overhead mics and with miking drum kits. Some contain shock absorbers to minimize floor vibrations that might reach the microphone. Some studio mic stands also come with casters/wheels so you can move them around the studio easily - this can be helpful when you have a heavy microphone attached and you don't want to disturb the stand setup. There are also specialized microphone stands dedicated to particular sound sources like short ones for kick drums.

Clutch & Clamp Strength

The clutch is the mechanism that keeps the mic stand's vertical adjustment in place. For boom mics, adjustments are locked using a screw clamp. When you put a microphone into a position, it needs to be fastened securely. Some of the cheaper stands may cause the mic to sag or drop in position which can ruin a great take when recording or require someone to run up on stage and make adjustments during a performance. This doesn't usually happen when they're brand new but it may occur after extended use. You can avoid this problem by purchasing high-quality stands.

Balance & Weight

The overall weight of the stand, especially around the base, determines how stable it is. Higher stability then is a tradeoff with portability since heavier stands are more tedious to travel with. When using boom stands with heavy condenser mics and other attachments you'll find basic boom stands are fine so long as you don't extend the boom too far beyond the feet otherwise the center of gravity will be outside the base and it will tip over. If you want more control over the placement and extension of the boom then you'll need one that provides a counterweight - an adjustable counterweight can be particularly useful when miking large drum/percussion setups. You will find these in the Studio Mic Stand section above. Another important factor in having good balance is the use of rubber feet.