The 10 Best Desktop Microphone Stands
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in October of 2018. If you're looking into podcasting or live streaming, you most likely know it's crucial to find the right microphone, but the tool you'll use to hold it is almost as important. Without a suitable stand, either your hands will be full or you'll have to sacrifice on audio quality. Fortunately, there are plenty of desktop-friendly options for recording from the comfort of your workspace. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. On Stage Adjustable
2. Pyle Universal
3. Gator Frameworks Mini
Editor's Notes
October 12, 2020:
If you're looking for professional-quality recordings, it's important that your setup generates as little noise as possible. With that in mind, we've updated this list to include more options with vibration-absorbing shock mounts, like the InnoGear MU059 Scissor Arm, which replaces an older item that lacked this feature. A more portable and less expensive pick is the ZaxSound Tripod Suspension, one of the most compact stands available that still includes a shock mount and pop filter.
We also included the Gator Frameworks GFW-MIC-0822, the deluxe version of the older Short Stand model. The GFW-MIC-0822 has a longer telescoping arm, as well as a sturdier base and a counterweight to let it support heavier mics than its predecessor. We removed the Blue Yeti USB Microphone bundle, a package deal no longer offered by the seller, and we replaced the Te Bo Suspension Boom with the similar Magicfun Adjustable Suspension Boom due to some concerns about availability with the former.
Finally, although the Rode PSA1 remains a solid choice for those seeking a studio-quality overhead boom, a number of customers have reported issues with grinding or clicking sounds when adjusting it, so we've swapped it out in favor of the quieter Heil Sound PL-2T.
Need a recording device to go with your new desktop stand? Check out our list of the best microphones for streaming or podcasting. Or if you've already got a home studio and are looking for upgrades, consider our rankings of microphone clips or isolation mounts.
November 01, 2018:
Selected two models from Gator Frameworks, including one that, while not made specifically for desktop recording, is nevertheless a practical option for those who want something bigger. Added several scissor arm and tripod models as well as a Blue Yeti bundle, since it is a well-liked microphone/stand combo that is useful for beginners.
Special Honors
Triad-Orbit Advanced Stand Systems An excellent choice for those not satisfied with pre-packaged mic stands, the Triad-Orbit system combines high-end engineering with an immense array of customization options. It's one of the more expensive brands out there, but the advantage is a fully modular line in which every element is compatible with every other, letting users build a recording setup that's truly their own. Options include booms with stainless steel ball swivel mechanisms, branching stands enabling a single base to support multiple microphones, and quick-release connectors allowing reconfiguration on the fly. triad-orbit.com
4. Gator Frameworks GFW-MIC-0822
5. Heil Sound PL-2T
6. Magicfun Adjustable Suspension Boom
7. Bearstar 2-Pack
8. Ammoon Mini Foldable
9. InnoGear MU059 Scissor Arm
10. ZaxSound Tripod Suspension
Fred is a freelance writer and editor based in Chicago, and a lifelong bookworm with a love of genre fiction. Since receiving his degree in Biology from the University of Vermont, he’s worked as a student loan counselor, a remittance processor for an industrial supply firm, and a traveling farmhand. A passion for the laughter of strangers has given him several years of experience performing and teaching improv comedy, and much of his free time is spent inventing absurd scenarios on stage. Fred also hikes, skis, and records a weekly Dungeons and Dragons podcast with a group of longtime friends. His areas of expertise include gaming, gardening, outdoor gear, literature, and pop culture