How to check for a fake Shure SM7B? My step-by-step buying guide for a used Shure SM7B microphone...
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- If you're in the market for a used Shure SM7B, you need to be careful with all the fake microphones in the market.
I've checked a few different videos on UA-cam and wanted to make my own video which combines all the various nuggets of information I have picked up through my research.
I have a shure sm7b that im debating on buying on ebay. This video is super helpful definitely going to be going through this checklist if I end up buying it.
Glad to hear it… If you do buy from eBay, I would make note of the listing images to check if they differ to what you received and likewise, I would record my unboxing incase you ever need to provide evidence to eBay… I have viewed ones from fb marketplace in person where they differed from photo to real life, so I would be very cautious of eBay listings…
Good luck with your search and let me know if you’re successful!
@@leo_hoang Hey, I was wondering if reverse image searching is a good way to check if an item is fake, because I reverse image searched the one I bought on ebay and it was the only one on google, cause usually scammers use the same photo over and over.
Some other things to look out for:
The yokes thumbscrews have brass bushings inside protecting the threading.
The xlr port if you look inside the plug actually says shure inside. As well as the top of the xlr port being rounded with no abrubt changes in angle. Also with the xlr port if it's difficult to plug in and unplug the xlr cable its probably fake.
Thanks for the additional checks! I forgot to mention XLR Port stiffness… I didn’t know about the Shure inside the port being something to look out for… I will take note of that one for next time… 👍
for some reason mine is pretty hard to plug in, but the serial number is legit and a lot of other stuff checks out.
i just bought a cheap one... comes tomorrow... thx for vid.. i can return it thankfully if its bunk..
Hopefully it works out… where did you purchase from?
Great video, thank you for the insights!
Good luck on finding a genuine SM7B!
Great video! But i want to point out. i got mine second hand for about 80 bucks. which instantly indicates its a fake for the price but i can garante you i've looked at every single video and i haven't found a single indicator which could lead that it is indeed a fake. I contacted Shure about verifiying and they bassicly told me they were not able to tell by the pictures. My point is either i really got lucky and the sellers was just geniune and wanted to get rid of it fast or was not aware of the prices. OR the fakes are identical these days
Sounds like you got a great deal! The important part really is how does it sound? If you’re happy with the sound and only paid $80 then you got yourself a bargain. Most people, including myself, buy the mic for the social media status it carries, and if it sounds decent, enjoy! I have since used other microphones and confirmed genuine Shure mic’s, I can honestly tell you sound is very subjective and there are multiple factors to consider when having perfect audio… so if you paid $80 and it sounds good enough, enjoy it… and have it as a bonus that you most likely have a genuine one! Thanks for watching my vid… if you have time, check out some of my other videos where I try different mics. If you check my latest post and hear the audio, I’d be interested in knowing your thoughts on which mic is best…
I bought one on AliExpress and don't have those differences or issues. I had mine modded with the Trace Audio Anser mod that adds 48v of phantom power. Basically turns into a SM7DB.
I’ve never bought anything from Ali Express but if I’m not mistaken you can have different sellers on that platform similar to Amazon? But I also suspect Grey Market mics are also something to consider… so you may have a genuine mic, but produced with the intention to be sold in another country so no warranty cover etc… that may not affect or bother you though, especially for the cost savings I’m sure you had…
How much did your mod cost?
@@leo_hoang $129
Do you mind if you can send the link to the one you bought on AliExpress?
Some say label going all the way around is a sign its fake but I'm wondering if that's the Mexican factory ones,, is yours genuine China factory with label going all the way around?
I can’t recall if it loops round and am away for work for a week… but I believe there are markings which circle the mic, you should be able to see within my videos though
Are you sure that the trademark logo is a marker of a counterfeit across all generations? I suspect the counterfeiters based this against an older design or different market, hence why it exists. The reason I ask is that I have a SM7b that I am unsure about. It passes every checkbox apart from the trademark symbol and the serial code, presenting as a Chinese greymarket unit. I haven't been able to test it as the preamp that came with it is a knock off and introduces a lot of noise. However, the wires, the backing plate, the counter-sunk screws, the length and flex of the cable, the grommets, the dome of the XLR plug, the height of the capsule, the bushings and the positioning nuts ability to hold tension all seem to check out. It also lacks the German misspelling too.
Thanks for making a comprehensive video, this is one of the better ones out there. I think an impedance test of the capsule using a LCR meter might be the next step.
Thank you - the trademark logo is present on older mics which is a detail I forgot to mention. A lot of the newer mics have flooded the market though, and most people would want a newer mic anyway.
I’m still a novice with mics and audio, but I will have to note down what an impedance test and LCR meter is to learn how to run those tests.
Thanks for the pointer! If you have any resources on how I could run that test, let me know
great video ~~
Thank you - I hope it helped
Do the fake sound as good ??
I have only had my hands on a fake MV7 and there is a sound difference, but truthfully if you only hear one without nothing to compare to, most people will be perfectly fine with the quality I experienced with my fake MV7… I have another channel where I talk about my dogs IVDD journey on a channel called Sausage Blog, if you wanted to hear the story and get audio samples…
@@leo_hoang thank you.. I owned a real shure SM7B, so i will know the difference... thank you..
Thanks man
If you found my video because you’re on the hunt for one yourself… good luck!
people never do mic checks because they know that the outside it looks different but the mic sound is little to no difference.. clones will be clones but ill happily get a clone just for my voice to be compressed on discord
Tbf, when I discovered my MV7 was fake, I was even open to a fake Shure SM7B for the look also… but learned how to check for fakes and when you know how to find the genuine ones, you can find some good deals…
Thomann is the way to go
I have ordered a special edition black sm58 from them…
Bought one on ebay, grommets fell out before I opened the box, the instructions had typos and spaces, eg t alk show. alluminium base not brass and plastic thumb turns, wire was too long and the switches didn't make a difference. The seller was adament it's real, I thought I was buying a used one for £100 but a new unopened box arrived, i've used the mic long enough to know it feels wrong. The one I got was a great knockoff but becuase i've used the mic for years I knew just by holding it. Also my wiring was all wrong and it uses a thicker gauge cable and was clipping while recording in 32bit float while talking with a slightly loud voice, not even shouting. The foam was not the right shape and was much thinner than the original.
Sorry to hear you got burned with a fake… I see a lot of them on Facebook marketplace still, it’s crazy how many fakes there are floating about…
@@leo_hoang I had no idea there were fakes. I’m not bothered as I’ve got eBay to protect me. I see you in London. Maybe we can collab on some vids
Sounds good mate… if you have any ideas give me a shout