Are all boom arms and stands created equal? We’re comparing 5 of the most popular mic stands and boom arms to see which works best for the Shure SM7B microphone in a podcast, voiceover, or home studio desk environment.
In this article we will compare:
- Table Top Mic Stand: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
- Rode PSA1 Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/boom_arm
- Gator Frameworks 3000: https://currentprice.io/gator_boom
- Blue Compass Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/blue_compass
- Neewer Professional Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/neewer_boom
Quick Answer: A table top mic stand is a great, budget-friendly option if you’re just getting started and have plenty of desk space. If you need to keep your desk clear, the Rode PSA1 is the fastest, simplest, most effective solution. It will hold your SM7B wherever you position it. And if looks matter, check out the Frameworks 3000.
Does The Shure SM7B Come With A Boom Arm?
Unfortunately, the Shure SM7B does not come with a boom arm or mic stand.
The Shure SM7B only comes with the following:
- 1 – Shure SM7B
- 1 – RK345 Detachable Windscreen
- 1 – A7WS Detachable Windscreen
- 1 – RPM602 Switch Cover Plate
The Shure SM7B does not come with a microphone stand or boom arm. In this article, we show you our favorite options for holding your Shure SM7B
Table Top Mic Stand
A table top mic stand is the simplest, most basic way to get a microphone on your desk. Its low profile makes it an excellent option for talking to camera. Cable management is good with a small clip to keep the cable tidy. Set correctly, the cable is entirely hidden from the camera.
Table top mic stands come in many shapes and sizes and are generally height adjustable. We don’t recommend buying the deluxe versions as they tend to have larger bases that take up more space and chunkier handles that can interfere with the SM7B’s XLR mount.
Pros:
- Clear line of sight to the camera.
- Minimal obstruction – Great for hand talkers!
- Great cable management.
- Not distracting for viewers.
- Budget-friendly.
Cons:
- Not practical for use with a computer, keyboard, or mouse.
Table Top Mic Stand Pricing: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
Rode PSA1 Boom Arm
The Rode PSA1 boom arm is our favorite mic boom solution. Yes, there are some things we’d change to make it perfect, but we can’t find another boom that does as good a job of reliably holding the SM7B exactly where you want.
The boom’s tightening screws come into contact with the SM7B’s XLR mount when the mic is in certain positions. Use the Shure 3” extension tube to fix this if it’s a problem for you.
Rode’s desk mount isn’t perfect as there is no option to tighten it, allowing the boom to swing on uneven desks. One other niggle is that the clamp doesn’t close all the way, so you can’t mount to a thin bracket without a shim.
None of these small things take away from the fact the Rode PSA1 does a great job of reliably keeping the SM7B in one spot. It’s our number one boom arm.
Pros:
- It holds its position well.
- Folds up to a compact size when not in use.
- Good length and range of movement.
Cons:
- Potential to pinch fingers in the frame when moving.
- Dated design.
- Weak cable management.
- Tightening screws can interfere with XLR mount.
- Partially unprotected desk mount.
- Mount allows boom to swing on uneven surfaces.
Rode PSA1 Boom Arm Pricing: https://currentprice.io/boom_arm
Gator Frameworks 3000 Series Boom Arm
The Gator Frameworks 3000 Series Boom arm is our second favorite mic boom. It’s more modern looking than the PSA1, feels heavy duty, has a well-managed internal cable, and comes with mounting options that are well thought out.
If it does all of those things better than the PSA1, why is it not our favorite? To keep the SM7B in one place, we find joints on the Frameworks boom need to be really tight. Otherwise, the arm tends to float up. This makes it hard to adjust on the fly without having to release and tighten adjusters.
Nice features aside, the Frameworks 3000 boom simply doesn’t keep the SM7B in one spot as well as the Rode PSA1.
Pros:
- Good reach and range of movement.
- Heavy-duty, robust build.
- Modern appearance.
- Long stem avoids conflict with XLR mount.
- Internal XLR cable (Supplied).
- Versatile, sturdy desk mounts.
Cons:
- Doesn’t move as freely as the PSA1.
- The arm floats up if the middle joint isn’t super tight.
Gator Frameworks 3000 Pricing: https://currentprice.io/gator_boom
Blue Compass Boom Arm
The Blue Compass boom arm looks great and has the best cable management solution we’ve seen out of the booms in this review, but when it comes to performing its main function, some issues let it down.
The boom really struggles to hold low positions and will float up at angles under 90°. Even when we tried to tighten the joints, we found that the arm floated or sagged, making it hard to position the SM7B exactly where we wanted.
You will need to buy the Shure 3” extender to use your SM7B with this boom, as the short stem makes it impossible to attach the XLR cable while the mic is mounted. There is no flange mount included with the Blue Compass, and the clamp mount that is supplied offers very minimal protection.
For us, the Blue Compass boom arm doesn’t perform its core function well enough to knock the PSA1 or Frameworks 3000 from the top spots on our list.
Pros:
- Modern, heavy-duty appearance.
- Best cable management of the booms on review.
Cons:
- Arm floats up in low positions (< 90°).
- The design prevents fitting XLR cable while mic mounted.
- No permanent flange mount included.
- Poorly protected desk mount.
Blue Compass Boom Arm Pricing: https://currentprice.io/blue_compass
Neewer Professional Boom Arm
The Neewer Professional boom arm is simply not suitable for use with the Shure SM7B microphone. Even when we really tightened the joint, the boom just couldn’t support the weight of the SM7B.
If you have invested in the SM7B, you need to follow it up by investing in a more appropriate mic stand. The Neewer boom has been built to a budget price point, and that is visible in every aspect of its construction.
We’re not going to include pros and cons for this boom arm as you really should not be considering it!
Neewer Professional Boom Arm Pricing: https://currentprice.io/neewer_boom
Best Mic Stand & Boom Arm For Shure SM7B Specs
Table Top Mic Stand | Rode PSA1 Boom Arm | Frameworks 3000 Series | Blue Compass Boom Arm | Neewer Professional Boom Arm | |
Total Reach | 13” | 33” | 32.3” | 32” | 31.5” |
Load Capacity | Not stated | 2.4 lbs | 4.4 lbs | 2.4 lbs | 2.2 lbs |
Cable Management | Clip | Cable Wraps | Fixed Internal | Hidden Channel | None |
Clamp Mount | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Flange Mount | n/a | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Best Mic Stand & Boom Arm For Shure SM7B Prices
- Shure SM7B Dynamic Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm7b
- Table Top Mic Stand: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
- Rode PSA1 Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/boom_arm
- Gator Frameworks 3000 Series Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/gator_boom
- Blue Compass Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/blue_compass
- Neewer Professional Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/neewer_boom
- Shure 3in Extension Tube: https://currentprice.io/shure_3in
- Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Headphones: https://currentprice.io/beyer_dt_990
- XLR Cable: https://currentprice.io/xlr_cable
- Mic Stand: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
