A microphone boom arm doesn’t make your microphone sound better. At least, not directly. It doesn’t contain a preamp. It doesn’t remove background noise. And it certainly won’t turn a cheap microphone into a studio microphone.
But after using a good boom arm, going back to a little desktop stand can be surprisingly annoying.
A boom arm lets you bring your microphone close when you’re recording and push it away when you’re finished. It frees up desk space, makes microphone positioning easier, and can help keep bumps and vibrations from becoming such a problem.
For podcasters and streamers, it also makes the entire setup feel much more comfortable. The problem is that there are hundreds of microphone arms available. Some are excellent. Others slowly drop toward your desk the moment you attach a heavy microphone.
What is the Best Mic Boom Arms?
So which one should you buy? Here are some of the best mic boom arms worth considering.
1. RØDE PSA1+ – Best Overall Mic Boom Arm
If I wanted one microphone arm that could work with almost any normal podcast or streaming setup, I’d start with the RØDE PSA1+.
It’s the updated version of RØDE’s popular PSA1 studio arm and is designed specifically for podcasting, streaming, broadcasting, and recording. One of its biggest advantages is microphone compatibility.
The PSA1+ supports microphones weighing from around 94 grams to 1.2 kilograms. That’s a huge range.
It means you can use it with relatively lightweight microphones as well as much heavier broadcast microphones.
The arm provides around 940 mm of horizontal reach and 860 mm of vertical reach. You also get full 360-degree rotation.
That makes positioning easy whether your microphone needs to come from the side, above your monitor, or somewhere between the two.
Another feature I like is the integrated cable management. Instead of having an XLR or USB cable loosely wrapped around the outside of your microphone arm, you can keep the setup much cleaner.
The PSA1+ also includes both a desk clamp and threaded desk insert. The downside?
It’s not the cheapest boom arm.
But if you’re building a permanent podcast or streaming setup and want something you can keep for years, the PSA1+ is my favorite overall choice.
Best for: Podcasters, streamers, YouTubers, and serious home studios.
2. Elgato Wave Mic Arm – Best for Streamers
The Elgato Wave Mic Arm is another excellent premium option. And no, you don’t need an Elgato microphone to use it. The arm works with standard 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, and 5/8-inch microphone mounting systems.
That gives you plenty of flexibility. The Wave Mic Arm supports microphones weighing between approximately 250 grams and 1 kilogram. It also provides around 780 mm of horizontal reach and 750 mm of vertical reach.
Need more height?
Elgato includes a removable riser that adds another 150 mm. That’s particularly useful if you have a large computer monitor.
Instead of having the microphone arm fighting for space beside your screen, you can raise the arm and position it above your setup.
The arm also rotates 360 degrees and includes a ball head for fine microphone positioning. Cable management is built into the arm. The result is a clean-looking setup that works particularly well on camera.
If you’re a streamer or YouTuber who cares about how your desk looks, the Elgato is one of my favorite choices.
Best for: Streaming desks, gaming setups, and multi-monitor workstations.
3. RØDE PSA1 – Best Alternative to the PSA1+
Before the PSA1+, there was the PSA1. And it’s still worth considering. The original RØDE PSA1 became extremely popular with podcasters, broadcasters, and streamers because it combined a sturdy design with easy microphone positioning.
It has a traditional scissor-arm design and can rotate around your desk. The biggest reason to consider the original PSA1 today is price.
If you find it considerably cheaper than the PSA1+, it can still be a very good buy. However, microphone weight matters.
The PSA1+ has a much broader supported weight range, making the newer version easier to recommend if you’re not sure which microphones you’ll use in the future.
The PSA1+ also improves cable management and has a more refined overall design. If the prices are close, I’d buy the PSA1+.
If you find the original PSA1 at a good discount and your microphone is compatible, there’s nothing wrong with choosing the older model.
Best for: Podcasters who want a proven RØDE arm without necessarily paying for the newer PSA1+.
4. Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP – Best Low-Profile Boom Arm
Traditional microphone arms rise upward from the desk and then extend toward you. That’s fine for most setups. But sometimes you don’t want a big microphone arm appearing beside your face on camera. That’s where a low-profile arm becomes useful.
The Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP is designed to stay relatively close to your desk. Instead of towering over your monitor, the arm can extend underneath it and bring the microphone toward you from below.
This creates a very different look. For streaming, it can be excellent. Your face stays more visible. Your monitors aren’t blocked. And the setup can look much cleaner on camera.
Low-profile arms are particularly useful with large desks where you have enough horizontal room to position everything comfortably.
They’re not automatically better than traditional arms. It’s really a question of how you want your microphone to approach your mouth.
If you want the microphone coming from underneath your monitor, I’d seriously consider the Wave Mic Arm LP.
Best for: Streamers and video podcasters who want a cleaner camera frame.
5. Heil PL-2T – Best for Broadcast-Style Podcast Studios
If your podcast setup looks more like a traditional radio studio, the Heil PL-2T deserves a look. Heil has been making broadcast and audio equipment for years, and the PL-2T is designed around that kind of environment. It’s particularly interesting if you’re using larger broadcast-style microphones.
Think about microphones such as the Heil PR 40. A serious microphone deserves an arm that can hold it confidently.
The PL-2T has an internally balanced design, which also helps avoid the exposed springs you see on cheaper scissor arms. That’s good for appearance. It’s also helpful when you’re recording video.
A podcast studio with three or four microphones can quickly look messy when every microphone has cables and springs hanging everywhere.
The Heil design helps create a cleaner broadcast-style appearance. If you’re already using a Heil microphone, this is an obvious arm to consider. But it can work with plenty of other compatible microphones too.
Best for: Broadcast microphones and permanent podcast studios.
6. InnoGear Microphone Arm – Best Budget Option
Not everyone needs to spend $100 or more on a microphone arm. If you’re recording your first podcast with an inexpensive microphone, buying a premium boom arm that costs more than the microphone itself might not make much sense.
That’s where budget brands such as InnoGear become interesting. InnoGear makes several microphone arm designs at much lower prices than premium options.
They’re popular with beginners because they provide the basic thing you’re looking for: Get the microphone off the desk. Bring it closer to your mouth. Move it away when you’re finished. The tradeoff is usually build quality and refinement.
Budget arms may not move as smoothly. The clamps can be less substantial. Cable management may be basic. And some cheaper arms can struggle with particularly heavy microphones.
Still, if you’re using a lightweight USB microphone and simply want better positioning, you don’t necessarily need a professional broadcast arm.
Best for: Beginners and inexpensive podcast setups.
Why Use a Microphone Boom Arm?
The biggest reason is microphone positioning. For podcasting, you generally want your microphone relatively close to your mouth.
That’s especially true with dynamic microphones. Put your microphone two feet away and you’ll probably compensate by increasing gain.
Now you’re potentially capturing more room noise. Bring the microphone closer and you can get a much stronger voice signal.
A boom arm makes that easy. You can position the microphone exactly where you want it instead of leaning forward toward a stand sitting in the middle of your desk.
When you’re finished recording, push it away.
Simple.
Boom Arm vs Desktop Stand
A desktop microphone stand is cheaper and simpler. For some people, that’s enough. If you only record occasionally, you may not need anything else.
But desktop stands have a few disadvantages. They use valuable desk space. They can make microphone positioning awkward.
And vibrations from typing, touching the desk, or moving objects can travel through the desk and into the microphone.
A boom arm isn’t automatically immune to vibrations because it’s still connected to your desk. However, combining a good boom arm with a shock mount can help isolate the microphone.
More importantly, you can position the microphone much more comfortably. For someone recording every week, that’s worth paying for.
What About Cable Management?
Cable management sounds boring until you see a beautiful podcast studio with a USB cable hanging awkwardly from the microphone. Premium arms usually handle this better.
The RØDE PSA1+ includes integrated cable management for USB and XLR cables. Elgato’s Wave Mic Arm has built-in cable channels. That keeps everything looking cleaner.
It’s particularly important if you record video podcasts or stream on camera. For an audio-only podcast, appearance matters less. You can always use reusable cable ties on a cheaper arm.
Do You Need a Shock Mount?
A boom arm and shock mount do different jobs. The boom arm holds and positions your microphone. The shock mount helps isolate the microphone from mechanical vibrations. You don’t always need one.
Some microphones already include internal shock isolation. Others benefit noticeably from an external shock mount.
If you frequently bump the desk or type while recording, adding a compatible shock mount may help.
Just remember that the shock mount adds weight. Include that weight when checking your boom arm’s capacity.
Which Boom Arm Is Best for the Shure SM7B?
The Shure SM7B is a fairly heavy broadcast microphone. For that reason, I’d avoid extremely cheap microphone arms.
The RØDE PSA1+ is an excellent pairing because its supported weight range comfortably covers microphones up to 1.2 kilograms.
The Elgato Wave Mic Arm can also handle microphones up to approximately 1 kilogram. Either can make a good SM7B setup.
For a permanent broadcast-style studio, the Heil PL-2T is another option worth considering.
Which Boom Arm Is Best for the Blue Yeti?
The Blue Yeti is another microphone that can cause trouble for cheap arms because it’s relatively heavy. Again, a stronger arm is a better investment.
The RØDE PSA1+ is my first choice. The Elgato Wave Mic Arm is another strong option.
Whichever arm you choose, make sure you have the correct mounting hardware for your Yeti model.
Don’t assume every USB microphone uses exactly the same mounting system.
Final Thoughts
For most podcasters, my overall choice is the RØDE PSA1+. It supports a wide range of microphone weights, offers plenty of reach, rotates 360 degrees, includes cable management, and gives you both clamp and desk-insert mounting options.
For streamers, the Elgato Wave Mic Arm is another excellent choice, particularly if you have large monitors and want a clean desk setup.
If you want the microphone coming from below rather than above, look at the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP.
For a traditional broadcast-style setup, consider the Heil PL-2T.
And if you’re just starting and don’t want to spend much, an inexpensive InnoGear arm can be enough for a lightweight microphone.