- £1599Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
- £1599Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable100 In Stock
- £1199Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable100 In Stock
- £999Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
- £4399Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
- £2899Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable100 In Stock
- £1999Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable103 In Stock
- £1999Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable100 In Stock
- £1599Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
- £3399Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
- £699Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable100 In Stock
- £2299Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable100 In Stock
- £1799Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
- £1499Unit price Translation missing: en.products.product.price.unit_price_separatorUnavailable10 In Stock
Floor stand, desk stand or boom arm?
A floor stand with a boom is the general purpose answer for vocals, guitar amps and drum kits, because the boom lets you place the capsule where it needs to be rather than where the base happens to sit. A short desk stand suits podcasting, paging and seated interviews. A boom arm clamps to a desk and swings out of the way, which is why it has become the standard for home studios and streaming, keeping the desk surface free and isolating the microphone from typing.
Tripod or round base?
A folding tripod base packs flat, costs less and is what most gigging stands use. A cast round base takes up less floor area and will not trip anyone, which makes it the better choice for a lectern, a stage front or a busy corridor. Round bases are heavier, so they resist being pulled over by a cable but are less pleasant to carry. If a stand lives in one place, choose round. If it goes in a van, choose a tripod.
Thread sizes and adaptors
Two threads are in common use: 5/8 inch 27tpi, which is the standard on most modern stands and clips, and 3/8 inch, which appears on some European stands and studio arms. A screw adaptor converts between them for very little money, and it is worth keeping a couple in the accessories bag because the mismatch always surfaces at the least convenient moment. Check what your microphone clip needs before assuming it will fit.
Height, reach and counterweights
Check both the minimum and maximum height, since a stand that will not go low enough is as much of a problem as one that will not reach. A long boom needs either a counterweight or a heavy base to stay balanced, especially with a large diaphragm microphone on the end. If a boom keeps drooping, the clutch is either worn or the load is beyond what the stand was designed for rather than something you can tighten away.
Studio boom arms and desk clamps
A clamp arm needs a desk edge of the right thickness, so measure before buying, and note that some clamps mark soft or veneered surfaces unless you pad them. Spring-loaded arms hold position without a clutch and move quietly, which matters if the microphone is live while you adjust it. Route the cable through the arm channels rather than letting it hang, because a swinging cable transmits every knock into the capsule.
Stability and cable management
Most microphone stand failures are a cable pulling the stand over. Leave a small loop of slack at the base and tape or clip the cable to the upright so a tug pulls the loop rather than the boom. On stage, place tripod legs so no leg points into a walkway, and weight the base if the crowd will be close. A stand that has been dropped often loses its clutch grip, so check it at home rather than discovering it at the gig.