Recording vocals at home used to feel like a luxury. You needed a treated room, expensive gear, and a professional engineer to get a clean vocal take. Today, things have changed. With the right microphone, you can record solid vocals directly from your bedroom or small home studio, even on a very tight budget.
This guide covers five microphones under €150 that consistently deliver good sound quality for singers, rappers, producers, podcasters, and anyone starting home recording. These are not random picks pulled from a list; they are microphones widely tested, trusted, and used by thousands of creators worldwide.
The goal is simple: help you understand what each microphone can actually do for your voice, and help you avoid wasting money on the wrong gear.
Why your microphone choice matters more than you think
The microphone is the first step in your vocal chain. Even with perfect mixing skills, you can’t fix a badly recorded vocal. A clean, balanced mic reduces:
- background noise
- harsh “S” sounds
- muddy low-end
- clipping or distortion
- unwanted room reflections
When your mic captures a clean signal, everything else becomes easier. Your plugins work better, your mix sits better, and your voice sounds more natural.
With the boom of home studios across the world, the sub-€150 category has become surprisingly competitive. Today, you can achieve near-studio quality without spending more than what you’d pay for a pair of sneakers.
What to expect fom a microphone under €150
Before jumping into the list, it’s good to know what this price range can offer:
What you can expect
- Good clarity for vocals
- Low noise and decent detail
- A predictable, easy-to-mix sound
- Sturdy construction
- Options for both USB and XLR setups
What you won’t get
- High-end studio richness
- Ultra-low noise floor
- Multi-pattern flexibility
- Premium components
That said: the mics below can absolutely record vocals good enough for Spotify releases, YouTube covers, rap tracks, demos, and vocal features.
1. Audio-Technica AT2020
Type: XLR Condenser
Price: ~€99
Best for: Singers, rappers, home producers, voice-over
The AT2020 is a classic starter mic. It has a clean, neutral tone that fits most voices. It doesn’t try to color your sound too much, which makes it easy to shape later during mixing.
Why it’s great
The AT2020 handles loud vocals without distorting, making it great for rap or powerful singing. Its mid-range clarity brings vocals forward in the mix without sounding harsh.
Pros
- Clear, balanced tone
- Very reliable and durable
- Low self-noise
- Used in countless home studios
Cons
- Requires an audio interface
- Picks up room reflections
Ideal user
Someone who wants a “safe” microphone that works well for almost any voice and any genre. If you aren’t sure what to buy, this is the safest pick on the list.
2. Rode NT-USB Mini
Type: USB Condenser
Price: ~€115
Best for: Beginners, plug-and-play users, creators who travel
Some people want to record without thinking about interfaces, cables, or gain staging. The Rode NT-USB Mini is perfect in that scenario. Just plug the USB cable into your laptop and hit record.
Why it’s great
It has a warm, smooth sound that instantly improves voice presence. For the price, it has one of the cleanest built-in preamps among USB mics.
Pros
- Extremely easy to set up
- Clean sound for vocals and speech
- Good built-in pop protection
- Perfect for small spaces or travel setups
Cons
- Only works via USB
- Less upgradeable than an XLR mic
Ideal user
Anyone who wants professional-looking (and sounding) results with zero complications. Great for singer-songwriters, rappers, and content creators.
3. AKG P120
Type: XLR Condenser
Price: ~€85
Best for: Rappers, deep voices, spoken word, podcasts
The AKG P120 is underrated. Many rappers prefer it because of its warm and slightly dark tone. It handles plosives and sharp consonants pretty well and doesn't exaggerate sibilance.
Why it’s great
It works very well in less-than-perfect rooms because it’s less sensitive in the high frequencies. That means fewer nasty reflections bouncing around your walls.
Pros
- Rich, warm tone
- Very affordable
- Strong build quality
- Good for rap and speech
Cons
- Needs an audio interface
- Not ideal for bright, airy vocals
Ideal user
Artists who want a fuller, deeper recording or who struggle with bright, harsh tones on cheaper mics.
4. Shure MV5C
Type: USB Condenser
Price: ~€129
Best for: Singers, online sessions, podcasters, acoustic covers
Shure is one of the most trusted brands for live and studio microphones. The MV5C brings that reliability to a compact USB mic designed for vocals and speech.
Why it’s great
It has voice-optimized DSP presets that clean up your sound automatically. If you don’t want to mix too much, this mic does a lot of the work for you.
Pros
- Voice enhancement modes
- Clean and natural sound
- Great for beginners
- Small footprint on your desk
Cons
- Not as detailed as XLR mics
- Limited manual controls
Ideal user
Creators or musicians who want good sound immediately without spending time on EQs or compressors.
5. MXL 990
Type: XLR Condenser
Price: ~€99
Best for: Bright, modern vocals, pop, indie singers, R&B
The MXL 990 has been around forever, and people love it for its airy top end. It adds sparkle to vocals without forcing you to push high frequencies in the mix.
Why it’s great
The mic gives vocals an instant “produced” feel thanks to its bright character. It’s perfect for pop, indie, and any voice that benefits from more shine.
Pros
- Bright, present sound
- Good detail and air
- Great value for money
- Very recognizable tone
Cons
- Can be too bright for some voices
- Requires a treated room to shine
Ideal user
Singers who want modern, crisp vocals or artists whose voice needs extra brightness to cut through.
How to choose the right microphone for your Vvoice
Every voice is different. Here's a quick guide based on vocal tone:
If your voice is bright → pick a warmer mic
- AKG P120
- Rode NT-USB Mini
If your voice is dark or deep → pick a brighter mic
- MXL 990
- Audio-Technica AT2020
If you want simplicity → choose a USB mic
- Rode NT-USB Mini
- Shure MV5C
If you want future upgrade options → choose XLR
- AT2020
- AKG P120
- MXL 990
Extra tips to improve your home vocal recordings
Even the best microphone won’t sound great in a bad room. Here are quick tips that make a big difference:
Treat your recording space (even temporarily)
Blankets, wardrobe doors, carpets, anything that reduces reflections helps.
Record closer to the mic
Stay around 10–15 cm away. This reduces room noise and increases clarity.
Use a pop filter
Even a cheap one prevents plosives and saves your takes.
Keep your gain low
Aim for peaks around –10/-6 dB. Clean is better than loud.
Turn off noisy devices
Fans, AC, windows open, remove anything that could enter your recording.
Small adjustments → much better results.
Final thoughts
You don’t need a high-end studio or expensive equipment to record solid vocals. With less than €150, you can get a microphone that gives you clarity, control, and a professional base for your mixes. All five of these mics are reliable choices with different strengths, depending on your voice and workflow.
If you’re recording vocals at home and want real feedback on your mixes, collaborations with other artists, or playlists to grow your audience, you can also join Matchfy.io. It’s a space where artists connect, share their work, and get support from a real community with not bots or automated hype. Once your vocals sound clean, having a place to test your music with actual listeners makes a huge difference.