Regardless of how good your mics are or your microphone technique, plosive sounds can ruin a good recording session. This is why getting the best pop filter is important: you don’t have to fix plosives in post-production.
Universal Pop Filters | Universal Pop Filters Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 91 | 10775+ | |||
 | 92 | 1100+ | |||
 | 92 | 475+ | |||
 | 92 | 350+ |
Special Option for Large-diaphragm Rode Condensers | Special Option for Large-diaphragm Rode Condensers Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 93 | 1025+ |
*Gearank = Rating score out of 100.
**Sources = Number of gear owner and user opinions analyzed for these product Gearank Ratings.
Research Process: How Gearank Works
Plosives (also called stop consonants) force air to move faster, which hits the mic’s diaphragm hard enough to cause unwanted signal clipping. There’s no way to avoid using plosives because they are a natural part of speech.
Pop filters are designed to dissipate this forced air, reducing its velocity, allowing for clean vocal recording even when using words that start with consonants like “P” and “B”.
Pop filters are positioned between the singer and the microphone to prevent fast-moving air from hitting the mic capsule. In addition to managing plosives, a good pop filter also keeps Harsh Sibilance in check.
Hygiene is also very important, especially in recording studios. A pop filter prevents stray droplets of saliva from hitting your mic. Pop filters can be cleaned regularly.
Thanks to the efficiency and practicality of their mechanical filtration, we still haven’t found modern alternatives to pop filters.
Featured in this guide are market favorites that are tried and tested pop to help clean up your vocal recordings.
Best Pop Filter
Aokeo Mask Shield Pop Filter
Affordably priced, this prevents plosives sound quite effectively and is a great option for beginners and professionals. It’s compatible and attaches securely to standard mic stands.
Pros:
- Super light, fits standard mic stand, pro appearance, and value for money
- It does help the reduction of the P’s and B’s in the mix
- Firmly fastened and never comes loose
- Gooseneck is a bit stiff
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It’s easy for one recording session to be compromised by sudden plosive sounds. Of course, the goal is to also record the t’s and s’s but without the sudden air bursts that could clip the sound. Aokeo’s pop filter is designed to catch some of those excesses while maintaining the natural sound of harsh consonants.
This best budget pop filter features a dual-layered mesh. It does a great job of dispersing the air, resulting in a clean capture of audio. Capturing plosive sounds without the clicks and pops.
The screw-on mount is compatible with any mic stand, provided that you screw it in tightly. The 360° gooseneck is fairly secure, but it’s a bit tedious to bend. I find that it does drift a bit right after bending it. However, with a few tries, it will stay in place.
It is affordably priced and is aimed at podcasters, singers, and professional studios. If you’re a beginner and want an option that just does the job in a straightforward fashion, we highly recommend this one.
- Diameter: 6.2″
- Gooseneck: Flexible 360°
- Dual-layered wind pop-screen
ARISEN Dual Layered Microphone Pop Filter
Arisen’s 6.2″ dual-layer pop filter blends a durable metal center with nylon sides. The clarity is great, and it does well with attenuating plosive sounds. Though slightly heavier than typical filters, it has good adjustability and a professional design.
Pros:
- Durable
- Center is made of metal mesh
- Easy maintenance
- A bit heavy (12.8 oz.)
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Arisen might not be the most popular brand. With just a click on the reviews page, however, you’ll see why it’s a reliable pop filter.
The 6.2″ pop filter size is more than enough to cover any plosives. The gooseneck is bendable at all angles, providing you with that preferred adjustment without the hassle of suddenly becoming loose.
It’s dual-layered but with one twist–it’s made of metal in the center. The sides are made of nylon mesh pop filters. Most pop filters would get the job done with a mesh.
However, since the center is metal, it provides extra openness or clarity to the voice. It sounds like a regular singing or VO without the plosive sounds.
Not only that, but most nylon pop filters are delicate. For this, you could make the adjustments by holding the center, and it won’t break.
The only downside to this is that it’s a bit heavier than most pop filters. If you screw it over to a mic stand, it may pull the weight down.
Aside from the clarity it brings, who wouldn’t want a pop filter that has a professional look as well? I’d say it has a great design that doesn’t impede sound.
- Diameter: 6.2″
- Gooseneck: 14″
- Center: Dual metal screen Side: Nylon mesh
Stedman Proscreen PS101
Among the best mic filters, its 4.6″ metal mesh has a good airflow design for transparency and durability, reducing plosives while preserving clarity. Some wiping after use might be required to prevent moisture build-up.
Pros:
- Very transparent-sounding pop filter
- Easy to clean
- Metal pop filters last longer
- It may be too small for some mics
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The Stedman Proscreen PS101 is the standard-size metal pop screen from Stedman.
It features a 4.6″ metal screen filter with an air gap design that directs air downwards, away from the mic pickup point, while keeping the sound as transparent as possible.
The 13″ gooseneck makes positioning easy, and the clamp size easily accommodates various mic stand shaft diameters.
One of the biggest pros of the Stedman Proscreen PS101 is its transparency. The airflow directing design also kept sibilant sounds from being selectively filtered (a usual occurrence with fabric-based filters), making them easier to spot and de-ess in the post should there be the need to do so.
Having a metal filter also makes the PS101 very durable compared to fabric filters. Unlike fabric filters, some saliva might still pass through the filter and onto your mic.
While the filter itself is washable, your mic isn’t. So, have this in mind when using the filter with more aggressive-sounding singers.
The Stedman Proscreen PS101 is a unique and minimal pop filter that does the job differently from most. The result is a transparent sounding upper range capture for your mics while effectively reducing lower plosives.
Get it if absolute transparency is desired. If you need a larger filter, the XL version is also featured below.
- Diameter: 4.6″
- Gooseneck: 13″
- Metal screen
Rating Source Highlight
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | Tech Raven | 100/100 |
Stedman Proscreen XL
The Stedman Proscreen XL features a 6″ patented metal-like filter for uncolored sound, a flexible gooseneck, and scratch-free mounting, offering durability and premium performance for professional recording setups.
Pros:
- Large filter area
- Easy to maintain
- Transparent sound ideal for recording vocals
- Premium price range may put it out of reach of budget-restricted audio engineers.
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The Stedman Proscreen XL Pop Filter features a 6″ diameter filter that’s made using a material that they designed and patented.
While they did not give the exact details, I would describe the filter material to be more like metal, which stops louder plosives from reaching your microphone while keeping the sound uncolored. The material is easy to clean and reliable.
Other features include a 13″ flexible gooseneck mount and a nylon-tipped clamp that is meant to avoid scratches on your mic stand.
The Stedman Proscreen XL Pro Filter commands a premium price relative to many others, but the long term durability, filter size, and mounting ease make it more than ideal for any recording situation.
If budget is not an issue and you’re looking for a reliable non-fabric mesh pop shield, then this American-made high-quality pop filter is highly recommended.
The Nady MPF 6 is a good cheap pop filter alternative too look into if budget is limited.
- Diameter: 6″
- Gooseneck: 13″
- Nylon-tip clamp
- Angled filter openings that force the plosive energy downwards away from the mic
- Washable filter
Special Option for Large-diaphragm Rode Condensers
Rode SM6
The Rode SM6 has a sturdy shock mount and 5.5″ dual-layer pop filter, ideal for Rode condenser mics. The weight may challenge lighter mic stands, but its durability is excellent.
Pros:
- Combination of pop filter and Shock Mount is great value
- Dual layer mesh doesn’t affect sound
- Solidly built
- Elastic bands made to last
- Only for Rode condenser mics
- Is too heavy for some Mic Stands
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The SM6 shock mount and pop filter are commonly included with the Rode NT1 kit. It’s a robust, metal pop filter with heavy-duty woven elastic bands holding the cradle in place.
Most shock mounts have a basic rubber band system that is prone to breakage.
What’s unique about it is that the dual-layer pop filter is included in the assembly.
The pop filter itself is 5.5″ in diameter and is affixed to the front of the shockmount.
Pictured is the Rode NT1 with the SM6 Shockmount and Pop Filter.
The main con to the unit is the weight. While solidly built, it might be too heavy for some mic stands. To alleviate this, mounting it on a vertical mic stand or a boom arm with a counterweight is the best option. I’m using a straight stand in these photos, and it stays firmly in place.
The Rode SM6 is the best microphone pop filter for Rode condenser owners.
- Double Screen Mesh
- 5.5″ Diameter filter Screen
- Designed for Rode condenser microphones
Things to Consider When Buying a Pop Filter
Types of Pop Filters – Material
Most manufacturers offer nylon pop filters that use nylon mesh and other fabric materials, usually because they are cheaper and, more importantly, they get the job done. Others utilize woven or perforated metal, some of which claim to provide improved clarity and transparency, specifically in the upper frequencies due to the slightly wider holes.
There is no definite answer as to which is better. Many experienced users still prefer nylon mesh material, while more premium builders prefer metal.
Filter Diameter
The standard filter diameter that many pop filters follow is 6″, but there are smaller ones, with 4″ being the most common among them. The bigger the pop filter diameter is, the more room for movement the vocalist has.
This allows for natural body movements while recording instead of being strictly in one position, which can sometimes kill inspiration and vibe. Smaller pop filters are ideal for small mics and small recording spaces. They are also lighter, which reduces the stress on the gooseneck, resulting in increased stability.
Gooseneck Quality
The length, flexibility, and stability of the filter’s gooseneck play a very important role in positioning the filter.
No one wants a filter that droops and requires constant adjustments, and you also don’t want a neck that requires too much effort to bend into position. The best pop filter will have good quality goosenecks with a good balance of stability and flexibility.
Mounting and Compatibility
The most common type of pop filters come with clamping and mounting mechanisms that allow for secure attachment to mic stands, and they should be fine if you use stand-mounted mics.
However, if you’re using a desktop-mounted mic, especially for home recording, you’ll want a pop filter that can clip on the desk or on the mic itself.
Some USB mics might not have the mass to counterbalance the weight of the pop filter. In this case, choose a smaller pop filter with an adjustable clamp.
Depending on the positioning of the mic, a pop filter can also help alleviate proximity effect issues.
Another Way to Use a Pop Filter
I sometimes use pop filters when miking bass amps for slap bass players. This playing style usually has really fast speaker movements, and I usually use dynamic mics, but when using a condenser, I like using a pop filter to smooth out the sudden rush of air (transients) from the speaker.
Aside from singing vocals, microphone pop filters are also useful for voice actors and human speech. The Nady MPF 6 is quite good at getting these types of jobs done.
Do pop filters affect sound quality?
The main effect of pop filters on sound is removing unwanted plosives. Plosives are one of the hardest vocal Background Noise to edit out.
On the negative side, some pop filters can have the unwanted effect of subtly lowering volume and impacting sound quality. Still, when properly implemented, the benefits easily outweigh the minimal impact it has on the overall sound. For better results, use audio processing plugins like a Deesser.
Best Pop Filter Selection Methodology
The first edition was published in 2016.
First, we looked for pop filters that are readily available from US retailers. We then made a shortlist of 16 of the best pop filters and compiled related data about them, including user ratings, reviews, forum discussions, and expert opinions. The data we gathered for this edition tallied to over 54,000 sources. This large number of sources was then processed by the Gearank Algorithm to produce our rating scores out of 100. We selected the highest rated from the list to recommend above. For more information about our methods, see How Gearank Works.
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide’s production – click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Contributors
Allen Articulo: Co-writer
Jerry Borillio: Product Research
Alden Acosta: Product research.
Jason Horton: Editing and illustrating.
Media / Image Credit
Main/Top Image: By Gearank.com using photographs of the Stedman Proscreen XL and Shure PS-6.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials, or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers, except for the NT1 + SM6 Shockmount and Pop Filter, which was photographed by the Author.
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Comments:
5 responses
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The following pop filters came off the recommended list when we published our August 2022 Edition:
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Publication of our August 2021 Edition resulted in the following pop filter being removed from the recommended list above: Neewer NW(B-3).
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Our August 2020 update resulted in the following pop filters coming off the recommended list above:
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The following pop filters came off our recommended list above due to our recent update, but you can still read about them:
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As a result of the recent update to this guide, there were 3 pop filters that were removed from the recommended list above, however you can still read about them here:
Microphone Guides
Disclosure
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Raphael Pulgar
I've been an audio engineer for 20 years specializing in rock and metal recordings. I also play guitar and produce original music for my band and other content creators.
I have several microphones that I swap around depending on the singer and genre. Having a good pop filter that's easy to maintain and mount is definitely important especially when the mics are sensitive to moisture and plosives.
Contributors
Alden Acosta: Product research.
Jason Horton: Editing and illustrating.
Media
Main/Top Image: By Gearank.com using photographs of the Dragonpad USA, Stedman Proscreen XL and Shure PS-6.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers except for the NT1 + SM6 Shockmount and Pop Filter which was photographed by the Author.
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