A microphone may not be the first piece of equipment you think about when building a DJ setup, but it can quickly become one of the most important. Wedding DJs need microphones for announcements.
Club DJs may use them to introduce performers or interact with the crowd. Mobile DJs need them for parties, corporate events, and ceremonies.
And if you’re also an MC, your microphone may spend almost as much time in your hand as your headphones.
The problem is that DJ environments are loud. A microphone needs to capture your voice clearly without picking up too much sound from speakers, crowds, and other noise around you. It also needs to handle being moved, dropped, packed into bags, and used repeatedly.
For most DJs, a dynamic cardioid microphone is the best place to start.
My favorite overall DJ microphone is the Shure SM58. It’s simple, rugged, designed specifically for vocals and speech, and has been used for live performances for decades. The Sennheiser e 835 is an excellent alternative, while DJs who want more freedom on stage may prefer a wireless microphone system.
What is the Best DJ Microphones?
Here are seven of the best DJ microphones to consider.
1. Shure SM58 – Best DJ Microphone Overall
The Shure SM58 is probably the easiest DJ microphone to recommend. It is a dynamic cardioid vocal microphone designed for live performance, sound reinforcement, and recording. That makes it almost perfectly suited to DJ work.
The cardioid pickup pattern focuses primarily on sound arriving from the front of the microphone while reducing unwanted sound from other directions. This is important when you’re standing close to loud speakers.
Shure gives the SM58 a frequency response of 50 Hz to 15 kHz. The response is tailored specifically for vocals, with a brightened midrange and bass roll-off.
There’s also a built-in spherical wind and pop filter to reduce breath and plosive noise.
Another big advantage is durability. DJ microphones don’t live comfortable lives. They get passed between people, packed into cases, dropped, and used at different venues.
The SM58 has a die-cast metal body and steel mesh grille designed for this type of professional use.
If you want one wired microphone that can handle almost every normal DJ and MC job, the SM58 is my first choice.
2. Sennheiser e 835 – Best Alternative to the SM58
The Sennheiser e 835 is another excellent dynamic cardioid microphone for live vocals and speech.
Sennheiser designed it specifically to work in high-volume stage environments. That’s exactly what DJs need. The e 835 has a frequency response of 40 Hz to 16 kHz and uses a cardioid pickup pattern.
One of its strengths is consistency when you move slightly away from the ideal microphone position. That’s useful for DJs because you’re not necessarily standing perfectly still while speaking.
Sennheiser also highlights the microphone’s feedback rejection, handling-noise isolation, and rugged metal housing. If you don’t want the SM58, the e 835 is one of the first alternatives I’d consider.
3. Shure SM58S – Best DJ Microphone With an On/Off Switch
The regular SM58 doesn’t have an on/off switch. For professional stage performers, that’s often a good thing because there’s no risk of accidentally switching off the microphone.
For DJs, however, a switch can be convenient. That’s where the Shure SM58S comes in. It provides the same basic SM58 design but adds an integrated on/off switch.
Imagine you’re DJing a wedding. You make an announcement. Then you put the microphone beside your controller.
Instead of leaving the microphone permanently active and relying on the mixer every time, you can switch it off directly. This can also be useful when passing the microphone to someone giving a speech.
The disadvantage is that someone can accidentally switch it off and then wonder why nobody can hear them.
Still, for mobile DJs who regularly move between music and announcements, having a physical switch can be useful.
4. Audio-Technica ATM510 – Best Value DJ Microphone
The Audio-Technica ATM510 is another dynamic cardioid microphone designed specifically for close-up professional vocal use. It has a frequency response of 90 Hz to 16 kHz and uses a cardioid polar pattern.
Audio-Technica designed the microphone to reduce pickup from the sides and rear, helping isolate the person speaking while reducing unwanted sounds.
That makes sense in a DJ environment. You don’t want the microphone capturing everything happening in the venue. You want it focused primarily on your voice.
The ATM510 also includes anti-shock engineering to reduce handling noise and a multi-stage windscreen designed to control popping and sibilance. Its all-metal construction is another advantage for mobile use.
For DJs looking for an alternative to the usual Shure and Sennheiser choices, the ATM510 is worth considering.
5. Shure Beta 58A – Best Premium Wired DJ Microphone
If you like the basic idea of the SM58 but want to move up to a more premium stage microphone, consider the Shure Beta 58A.
It is another dynamic vocal microphone, but it uses a supercardioid pickup pattern. A supercardioid pattern provides a tighter area of sensitivity than a normal cardioid pattern.
That can provide additional isolation in loud environments when the microphone and speakers are positioned correctly. For a DJ working around a powerful PA system, that can be useful.
The Beta 58A is particularly attractive for DJs who also perform vocals or spend a lot of time acting as an MC.
For occasional announcements, you probably don’t need to spend extra. The regular SM58 is already more than capable.
But for professional performers who want a more focused stage microphone, the Beta 58A deserves consideration.
6. Sennheiser e 835-S – Best DJ Mic With a Switch
If you want the Sennheiser e 835 but prefer having an on/off switch, choose the e 835-S. The basic concept is similar to the standard e 835. You get a dynamic cardioid microphone designed for speech and vocals.
Sennheiser specifies a 40 Hz to 16 kHz frequency response and highlights high sound-pressure handling, feedback rejection, handling-noise isolation, and a rugged metal body.
The “S” version adds the switch.
For a singer performing on stage, an engineer may prefer to control the microphone from the mixing console.
For a DJ doing announcements throughout a five-hour event, having a switch directly in your hand can be more convenient. It’s a small feature, but sometimes small features make equipment much easier to use.
Which DJ Microphone Should You Buy?
For most DJs, the Shure SM58 is my best overall recommendation. Its dynamic cardioid design is specifically suited to vocals and speech. Shure specifies a frequency response of 50 Hz to 15 kHz, and the microphone includes a built-in spherical wind and pop filter plus a pneumatic shock mount for reducing handling noise.
The Sennheiser e 835 is my favorite alternative. It is also a dynamic cardioid stage microphone and offers a 40 Hz to 16 kHz frequency response, rugged metal construction, handling-noise isolation, and strong feedback rejection.
For another affordable professional option, consider the Audio-Technica ATM510. Its cardioid dynamic design, all-metal construction, anti-shock engineering, and off-axis rejection make it well suited to live vocal use.