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BEST OVERALL
K&M 210/9 Boom Stand
$10 on Reverb
BEST FLOOR STAND
Atlas Sound DS7E
$10 on Reverb
BEST VALUE
On-Stage MS7701B
$10 on Reverb
BEST BROADCAST ARM
Manhasset M48
$10 on Reverb

A microphone stand holds your microphone in position during recording — it seems simple, but stand choice affects recording quality, ease of use, and professional appearance. Boom stands are best for desktop recording and podcasting. Floor stands are best for vocals, instruments, and live performance.

Professional studios use heavy-duty stands (Atlas Sound, Gravity) for stability and durability. Home studios use desktop boom stands (K&M 210/9) for convenience and compact size. The right stand choice depends on your recording application and studio setup.

The 7 Best Microphone Stand

#1

K&M 210/9 Boom Stand

Microphone boom stand (desktop) · Fully counterbalanced boom arm, ball joint for tilt/pan, compact desktop size, supports mics up to 2kg, anti-slip rubber feet$60–$90 used

Best for: Podcast, streaming, desktop recording, most versatile microphone stand for home studios

The K&M 210/9 is the most widely used desktop boom stand in podcasting and home recording — the fully counterbalanced boom arm allows precise microphone positioning without external support. The ball joint allows unlimited tilt and pan angles. It is compact, portable, and considered the professional home studio standard.

Available now

#2

Atlas Sound DS7E

Straight microphone stand (floor) · Heavy-duty floor stand, tripod base, adjustable height up to 6 feet 6 inches, durable steel construction, 5/8 inch adapter thread$80–$110 used

Best for: Vocals, instruments, live performance, floor-based studio recording, most durable floor stand

The Atlas Sound DS7E is a heavy-duty floor-based microphone stand — the tripod base provides stability for applications where a boom stand is not appropriate (live performance, chorus vocal recording, drum overheads). Atlas Sound is the professional audio standard for stage and studio floor stands.

Available now

#3

On-Stage MS7701B

Straight microphone stand (floor) · Compact floor stand, tripod base, adjustable height 3.5 to 5.8 feet, lightweight aluminum construction, 5/8 inch adapter thread$40–$60 used

Best for: Budget floor stand, home studio vocals, compact alternative to heavier stands

The On-Stage MS7701B is an affordable, lightweight floor stand — suitable for home studios where portability and budget are priorities. It is less durable than the Atlas Sound DS7E but adequate for vocal recording and light use.

Available now

#4

Manhasset M48

Music stand (not a microphone stand) · Music stand for holding sheet music, not recommended for microphone use$80–$110 used

Best for: Sheet music only — NOT a microphone stand

The Manhasset M48 is a music stand designed for holding sheet music during performance or practice. It is not designed to support a microphone and should not be used for microphone mounting.

Available now

#5

Latch Lake micKing 2200

Boom arm with desk mount · Fully counterbalanced boom arm, desk clamp mount, ball joint for tilt/pan, premium build quality, supports mics up to 3kg$80–$120 used

Best for: Premium desktop boom stand, podcast/streaming, professional desk recording setup

The Latch Lake micKing 2200 is a premium desktop boom stand — it is heavier and more durable than the K&M 210/9, with superior counterbalancing and cable management. For professional streaming or podcasting setups, it is the best option.

Available now

#6

Gravity MS 4322 B

Straight microphone stand (floor) · Heavy-duty floor stand, tripod base, height up to 6 feet 2 inches, steel construction, leveling feet, 5/8 inch adapter$80–$110 used

Best for: Professional studio vocals, instruments, durable alternative to Atlas Sound

The Gravity MS 4322 B is a heavy-duty floor stand — similar in design to the Atlas Sound DS7E but with slightly different engineering. Professional studios use both interchangeably for vocal recording and instrument tracking.

Available now

#7

Heil Sound PL-2T Broadcast Arm

Broadcast boom arm (desk mount) · Fully counterbalanced broadcast arm, desk clamp mount, ball joint, designed for broadcast microphones (Shure SM7B, Electro-Voice RE20)$100–$160 used

Best for: Broadcast setup, podcast with heavy microphones (SM7B), professional desk mounting

The Heil Sound PL-2T is a professional broadcast boom arm designed for heavy broadcast microphones like the Shure SM7B (approximately 1kg). It provides superior counterbalancing and cable management compared to home-studio boom stands.

Available now

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a boom stand and a straight floor stand?

Boom stands (K&M 210/9, Latch Lake micKing) are desktop-mounted with a counterbalanced horizontal arm — they allow precise microphone positioning over a desk or console. Straight floor stands (Atlas Sound, On-Stage) are tripod-based vertical stands — they are used for vocals, instruments, or live performance where the microphone is positioned above and away from the performer. Boom stands are compact and adjustable. Floor stands are stable and portable.

Should I buy a desktop boom stand or a floor stand for home recording?

Desktop boom stand (K&M 210/9): ideal for podcasts, desktop streaming, or recording at a desk/console. Floor stand (Atlas Sound DS7E): ideal for vocal recording, guitar, or any source where the microphone is positioned in front of the performer. For most home studios, a boom stand is adequate. For vocal recording or live performance, a floor stand is preferable.

What is counterbalancing and why is it important?

Counterbalancing is a spring or weight mechanism that opposes the weight of the microphone, allowing effortless positioning without the boom arm dropping. A properly counterbalanced boom stand requires minimal effort to position the microphone. Budget stands without counterbalancing require manual support (awkward). Professional boom stands (K&M, Latch Lake) have precision counterbalancing.

Can I use a stand designed for a music stand to hold a microphone?

No. Music stands (Manhasset M48) are designed to hold lightweight sheet music. They are not rated for the dynamic forces of microphone use (impact, vibration, boom arm movement) and may fail or become unstable. Always use a dedicated microphone stand.

What microphone weight can a stand support?

Desktop boom stands typically support 1–3kg of microphone weight. Floor stands support 1–5kg. Before purchasing, verify the weight rating matches your microphone — large-diaphragm condensers (Neumann U87, approximately 1kg) work on most stands. Heavy vintage microphones may require a dedicated stand with higher weight rating.

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