Between podcasting and streaming on Twitch and other services, more people are using broadcast-style mics than ever, and many of those are using them on camera. This means you want not just a mic that sounds great, but one that looks cool as well, like the Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X.

With the M 70 PRO X, it seems Beyerdynamic is aiming at the juggernaut of broadcast mics—the Shure SM7B. Like that microphone, this is a front-address dynamic mic with its own mount. The main differences are that the M 70 PRO X is cheaper and comes with a shock mount instead of the standard mount the SM7B uses.

Beyerdynamic’s mic looks the part, but is the sound and build quality up to snuff? Mainly yes, but it depends on what you’re using the microphone for.

Getting Started With the Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X

Many of the microphones on the market meant for broadcast use like streaming or podcasting are USB microphones. Beyerdynamic didn’t take that approach with the M 70 PRO X. Instead, this is a standard XLR microphone.

Build Quality and Mounting Options

• Dimensions: 185 x 52mm (7.28 x 2.04in)
• Weight: 320g (11.28oz)
• Connection: XLR, 3-pin male

As nice looking as the Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X is, there are a few odd details about it. The first is how light it is. I’m not sure what type of material Beyerdynamic used for the casing of the microphone, but it feels strong and solid, just strangely light.

There’s another detail that may trip you up at first. The lines on the side of the grill make this look like a side-address microphone, which its companion, the Beyerdynamic M 90 PRO X, actually is. Speak into the side of the M 70 PRO X and you won’t hear much, as you’re meant to speak into the front (or top, if you think of it that way) of this microphone.

beyerdynamic PRO X M90

A side-addressed condenser XLR microphone that’ll help you sound your best in the studio or on a podcast.

This is a minimal design, even as far as XLR microphones go. While many microphones feature built-in pads or high-pass filters, there isn’t a single switch to be found here. The only thing you’ll find on the mic is the XLR connection to plug a cable into.

Like the microphone, the built-in shock mount feels strangely light. This is a concern because it’s a custom shock mount that fits the M 70 PRO X like a glove. It worked fine and didn’t sag during my time testing it, but I’m not certain that I’d trust it to hold up over the course of years.

Capsule and Pickup Pattern

The M 70 PRO X uses a cardioid polar pattern, which is common in broadcast microphones. Basically, a cardioid pattern means that a microphone picks up what it’s aimed at, rejecting sound from off to the sides. While it isn’t quite as directional as a supercardioid microphone, cardioid is the most sensitive pickup pattern.

Sound Quality

I mentioned above that the M 70 PRO X has a lift in the high frequencies, and it isn’t exactly a gentle one. I was slightly worried about this, but once I began testing the microphone through my Focusrite Clarett 8Pre audio interface (now replaced by the Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre), those fears began to fall away.

Regardless of how far away you may be, the M 70 PRO X features a solid low end. Listening to the sound of my voice as I moved further away and closer to the mic, that low end stayed present. Only when I got whisper close to the microphone did I notice the proximity effect start to come into play.

Back to the highs, I typically have a hard time finding microphones that work well with my voice, as I have an excess of natural sibilance. This was what worried me about the frequency graph, as a lot of sibilance lives around the 4 kHz range, where this microphone has a peak. Fortunately, that wasn’t a problem.

Despite the push in the highs and my own sibilant voice, this didn’t create the disaster I feared. Instead, while I did notice that the M 70 PRO X captured plenty of high-end for a dynamic mic, almost more like a condenser mic, the high-end wasn’t harsh at all.

The included pop filter works well for blocking plosives and breath noise, but it also has another effect. If the natural high-end rise of the M 70 PRO X is a bit much for you, adding the pop filter can bring the highs back under control.

Should You Buy the Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X?

As a more affordable but still excellent-sounding alternative to the Shure SM7B, the Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X is a great choice. It’s got slightly more high-end sizzle, but this is a pro for certain voices, and you can always attenuate this somewhat using the included pop filter.

The main downsides of the Beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X are the same as any other XLR microphone. You don’t just need the mic, you also need an audio interface, an XLR cable, and a stand or boom arm to mount the mic. If you’ve been recording or streaming for a while, you might have this gear already, but for a beginner, a USB microphone may be a better choice.

Assuming you have been at it for a while, and you’re ready to take the next step in streaming or podcasting, this is an excellent microphone that should serve you well for years.