Introduction
The Electro-Voice RE20 is a really good microphone that’s well-known for recording high-quality sound used in broadcasts. It’s versatile and popular in professional studios and radio stations.
Design and Build
- Sturdy, durable construction
- Iconic look with a unique design
- Internal shock mount for reduced handling noise
Performance
This microphone is really good at making voices and instruments sound clear. It always keeps the sound consistent and doesn’t let background noise interfere much.
Features
- Variable-D tech keeps the sound consistent,
- Bass switch changes the audio to your liking,
- Pop filter stops harsh sounds.
Pros
- Clear and detailed sound reproduction
- Versatile for various recording environments
- Durable build for long-term use
- Effective noise reduction features
Cons
- Requires an external shock mount for optimal performance
- Slightly heavy and bulky design
Conclusion
The Electro-Voice RE20 is an awesome microphone that gives really good sound. It’s strong, reliable, and liked by pros who want top recordings for broadcasts. Though it has a few small cons, its great performance makes it a favorite among professionals.
t-3-c-q –
… zu Recht.
Nach allem was so an Bewertungen im Internet zu finden ist, möchte ich nicht auch noch zu viel schreiben. Reicht vielleicht zu erwähnen, dass ich länger gezögert hatte wegen des in Deutschland doch recht hohen Preises, immerhin fast 200 Euro über dem üblichen Dollar Preis.
Aber an all diejenigen, denen es ebenso geht und immer wieder hin und her überlegt wird: es war für mich die richtige Entscheidung, lohnt sich alle mal und über die Jahre bzw. Jahrzehnte (!) wird der höhere Preis durch die überragende Tonqualität und Einsatzmöglichkeiten bald in Vergessenheit geraten sein! Perfekt dazu übrigens die Rycote Universal Mikrofonspinne
Andy G. –
Got it for bargain price, and it works very well.
Needed to buy FetHead for my Motu M4 though, as otherwise I needed to pull gain on max and it still was a bit silent
Sy –
I love the sound quality on this microphone. When I bought it back in May of 2020, I was in awe at how professional my recordings sounded. However, as time went on, roll December 2020, I began to experience background noises. The RE20 is supposed to the king at noise isolation, and it was for the months I used it, so I wasn’t sure why this was the case. Tested out different DACS (the USB one I use is a Focusrite Scarlett Solo), tested out many cables, I eventually concluded the microphone needed to be repaired/replaced. I contacted customer service of Electrovoice and they sent me a new one. That one worked like a charm, no background noise, things were great. Then, 3 months later, same exact thing, but this time the background noise was worse. I looked up the problem, turns out this is common with this microphone. I thought maybe this had to do with my recording environment, but no matter where I recorded, I always got the same buzzing. So, I decided to buy a Shure SM7B. So far, haven’t had any issue with that mic.
TLDR: Sound quality is amazing, but noise isolation degrades over time. Buzzing can happen, it’s a problem online that many more people face with this microphone. It’s such a bother to deal with this, especially in between different recording gigs….
Alexandro V –
Don’t bother getting the shure sm7b, you will sound muffled and dark.
Micheal Jackson used a different version of that mic, so people who use that as an excuse to get it are just different.
The RE20 is where it’s at. Clear, crisp, and deep sound. Great for podcasts, voiceovers, streaming, calls, singing, basically anything you can think of. There’s a reason this dynamic mic has not changed the way it’s built because it’s built like a tank.
Would recommend it if you are serious about sound recording. If not, I would suggest the Zoom ZDM1, that dynamic mic is great and budget friendly.
Jason E. Zamora –
I am an independent hip hop producer/ artist. I love this mic because of its versatility. It’s gonna capture those lower freqs on the vocals much better than the staple home studio MXL900 mic. It seems a favorite in the hip hop world…at least for beginners. I added the RE20 into the mix with a AKG Perception 100 (which really does no justice for lows). When used together as an acoustic equalization…very nice sounds. Back to the RE20… If the vocalist has a high voice, its a great mic and if the vocalist has a more bassy voice…its a great mic. You might be using a rolloff a bit though as it seems to capture those freqs well. As it advertises, you can get all up in the mic as most rappers do. I emphasize rappers because the abrasiveness of the style in its attack.
I am currently powered by an M-Audio Ultra Track preamp…which as a 45db gain on it. Many say the RE20 will need a really high boost. I’m not going to agree. With the preamp I’m using, the pot is turned up a little passed the half way mark, leaving plenty of head room. As you can see, its construction is also worthy of the title “workhorse”. I hate the default mic holder, though…so wimpy and non adjustable. While the fancy upgrade does look a lot nicer and is more secure, you CAN find the right angle to place the mic w/o it falling over. This kinda depends on you needs for mic placement. If you need the mic to be parallel to the ground…get the upgrade. If you can work with the mic at a 45 degree angle, pointing upward..the stand holder will work.
As for the price…GREATNESS!…Some of the other sites are asking for $700-$800. Craziness. Thank you AMAZON.com
Guy Shifty
Simon Denny –
For me and my voice, the perfect mic, nice flat sound with loads of bottom end. The EVRE20 will require a lot of gain to bring this into your system, I use the DBX 286s along with the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface with great results, you can just use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface for the RE20 however you’ll have to max out the gain on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface which is no issue and works fine, I just wanted a pre amp in front of the 2i2 and that’s what the DBX 286s is used for along with the other features.
Elemenope –
I love the mic itself. For a bit more than the SM7b I believe the RE20 the better buy. Don’t get me wrong, I love Shure. The sm57 and 58 have served me well for years, for guitar and vocals. But I was ready for a step up. After heavily researching the SM7b and RE20 I concluded that they are both great mics, but the RE20 has more colouration. I personally like that sound, and am VERY happy with my purchase. It works well for speaking and singing. The Sm7b is probably better for instruments,. But I have the 57 58 pair to do that stereo, than the RE20 on vox, sound magnificent. And to anyone who thinks you can just EQ the Sm7b to sound like an RE20, you’re dreaming. Both are a great buy, and worth the money, but I love the RE20, and it met/exceeded my expectations.
Now, why 3 star? It is absolutely criminal to be charging so much for that shock mount. What a gouge. Definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. If I owned the re320 that’s half the price of the mic!! Think about that. What a joke. No way in hell I’m coughing up $150 for a shock mount. You can get closer results with a $20 shock mount. Seriously shady.
Elpiton julio –
Solo duro mucho para llegar
Shopper –
i was able to finally purchase a couple of these last year as they were on my long time wish list being a 26 year radio DJ veteran the station where I do my shows still have the same RE20 mic in the studio they had when I first began in 1996 ( the label lists Electro voice being in Buchanan Michigan while the current label lists Burnsville Minnesota) their Mic still works and sounds great considering its age and for me there is no substitute for Good Quality when you buy an RE 20 keep in mind You’re paying more for Quality And not so much for Advertising and to me its well worth the Investment just make sure you take The Best care of this Microphone and it will always be reliable I love my EV mics so much I replaced all the cheaper copycats with them they work well with voices and instruments hence its versatility I Highly recommend The RE20 it is pricey but worth it and if you can get it on sale ( which happens on occasion) thats the best time to get one or two UPDATE 9-30-2021 after a year I’m still very Happy with my RE20s as a seasoned Radio and Pro audio geek I can say by experience This is the very best mic you can get for the money and in my experience no cheaper copy cat mic can ever come close to the EV RE series ( my favorites being this and The omnidirectional 635 A and it’s longer handle version) ANOTHER UPDATE 7-20-2023 Since my last review I bought a couple more of these I continue to have excellent results with this very fine microphone the RE20 Is permanently my daily driver in my home studio and I expect them to outlive me and I hope to pass them down to my Grandchildren someday as souvenirs of my years of radio and recording hopefully that will be Many Many years away but meanwhile I will continue using this versatile tool very gladly.
Bill P. –
This is an incredibly versatile microphone. It’s great for vocals and I even use it for acoustic guitar. Proximity effect is non-existent. It is gain hungry, you don’t necessarily need a Cloudlifter for it but I do use a FetHead with it just to keep the noise floor low. The only issues you may have with it is that its a very heavy microphone and you’ll probably need to adjust the included clip to be tighter so it doesn’t move once you’ve angled it and you’ll want a quality mic stand that won’t topple over with a heavy mic on it. Otherwise this thing is built to withstand a nuclear blast and is great for just about any situation in an untreated room.
kookooaju –
This mic has been a staple for pro broadcasting since 1968. To this day these mics are still found in radio stations throughout the country and for good reason. The fullness of these mics are fantastic and the clarity is pristine. It has a really nice midrange frequency. I have a youtube channel called “Life Afterlife Paranormal Podcast” and this is my favorite mic now. I was using a vintage Rode NT1 which is a fantastic mic on its own but I prefer this mic over the vintage NT1. I also purchased the shock mount for it which is very large but has a great look and works well. I would definitely recommend this mic for a podcast, voice over work or live broadcasting. Excellent mic and has a great look too!