Thanks for the video! Very helpful. I bought a fake for 165 dollars after taxes off ebay. I assumed it would be fake. With compression, noise gate, and EQ, it is very useable. However the buzzing and noise floor problems are a dealbreaker for me to make it not worth the trouble as I don't like to have the mic right in my face. If I use the mic with my mouth very close to the mic it is useable and I can keep that buzz and noise down to a minimum, but these fakes definitely pick up more room noise. If you want the look of an sm7b for visual purposes it could possibly be worth it, but my old sm57 sounds much better than my fake sm7b in terms of room noise and general clarity. All of them can be made to sound decent with EQ but noise floor and buzz is the biggest factor for me as to what to choose. The real ones don't have these problems. That backplate seems the easiest way to identify if it's fake or not though ya, with the counter sunk holes.
What's interesting is that I have two of these microphones, one from Sweetwater and one from Guitar Center that I bought in the store. I can find things on them that are different from each other and also from the one that you claim is real. This could "possibly" be explained by being made in different manufacturing plants at different times by different machines and or subtle changes to the design. Hard to know really what any of us have.
I've got nothing against fake mics... My only problem is if someone is trying to sell it as an original. I'm thinking of buying one (legit) and the 2nd market either has used ones at near original price or suspiciously cheap ones. Either way I'll just buy one from a major retailer if I do make the purchase, to save the risk.
I think my biggest issue with the fakes is that they are taking someone else's design and years of development and passing it off as their own. Really it's just dishonest. I think the best option is to buy from an official dealer that way you don't get a fake.
I have nothing against "Clone" mics either........just put your own store brand on it. People will buy "off brand" gear if it performs well for the price, and you can build a new name that way.
Is that not the point of selling fakes? To pass it off as the real one? If that wasn't the case the company would just make a brand new mic... The point is to rip people off 💀
Hi Tim, thank you for this video, I bought my sm7b in 2021, but it sat away until late 2023 when I got to a stage in my music making journey where I wanted to record my own vocals, I noticed off rip my mic didn't sound too great, and that it was kinda muffled in the mid highs, buzzy at the highs, and not really any warmth to it, I didn't think anything of it cuz I would've never thought there would be fake sm7b's just cuz there's so many mics why would people buy a fake sm7b, I'm going to check mine now as recently I suspected it was maybe faulty and I've really been doubling down on it, and why it doesn't sound right, I assumed maybe it's just cuz I use a relatively beginner home setup, sm7b to cloudlifter to scarlett solo 3rd gen Audio Interface, I'll write below if I find mine to be fake
my sm7b seems to pass all the tests, apart from the fact that in the box, my sticker did have a white back, but no white outline, I paid about $440 I think it was, back in 2022, I haven't been able to get behind the brass looking plate to see the wiring as I cannot find the correct screwdriver anywhere
Also beware major otherwise reputable dealers can sell these as the boxes and everything looks so good. My first mic over 20 years ago was a 58 and I loved it, I still have it and didn't realise it was fake until about 5 years later when I bought another 2, heard about the fakes and checked it out. It's only obvious now as the 2 sections of the body have aged differently and the untrained ear would be oblivious especially without direct comparison but it's definitely a fake, a good one but bought from sound control in Manchester in a proper sealed box with the bag etc. It's been big business for decades.
Thanks for the breakdown. I've recently purchased a second hand on eBay for 170€ and after a while I started to find all these video talking about fake mics, and now seeing better all the info I'm 99% shure (eheh I couldn't resist) that I will get a fake one. Do you have any measurement about the actual differences between the two mics? (Like response, size of the capsule or the foam, weight, etc..) because I think that with some proofs you could help a lot of people that may be fooled by this counterfeit market like me! I'm planning to get a refund whenever the shipment will arrive and check what I think it's the obvious. Do you, or in general anyone reading this comment, had problem returning the fake? (I know that it's really hard for certain counterfeits to be recognized and some SN are even recognized by the Shure product registration process).
@@dillonjohnlane so, it was a little war and I had to make a compromise. Ebay was on my side, but the vendor was fighting to let me pay for the shipment for returning the mic. Ebay technically had to refund me without sending back the microphone for the EU law on counterfeited items, but they refused to allow that. Shure was informed by me and they took legal actions against the vendor. In the end, I have to admit that the mic was a really well made one and the sound was surprisingly good (I have a Lewitt 240 Pro and in a blind test many musician friends of mine preferred the fake Shure). So I asked to be refounded by the 90% and they accepted, so I payed 20€ for a fake mic that sounds fairly good in my opinion. Long story short: It's not a Shure, but in the end I'm not that sad about how it's gone. I have a dynamic mic that I don't care if I will destroy it eventually and wasting 20€ could be worth.
I think I’ve fallen for the same mistake on Amazon in Australia. It hasn’t arrived yet but it was around $500. Have you reported it to Amazon or asked for a return?
Mine was in a bundle so I’m not sure of the exact one you have. I was able to get a refund. Amazon are really good about it. Their A to Z policy covers you if it is a counterfeit.
@@TimMoxeyMusic I logged a case with Amazon (even though I haven't received it yet). They ended up refunding the purchase which is a great outcome. Only wish they removed the reseller from the site as I can see heaps more falling for this. Thanks Tim.
I'm glad you were able to get your money back. The Amazon customer service is very good. I wish they'd pull it down too, but maybe it's more complicated on the back end than just a straight take down.
Great vid Tim... the only thing I would be querying is though, have you contacted Shure to find out if they have changed their manufacturers where they make their hardware now... because maybe it is still Shure, and they have just changed their manufacturer... which would be a shame, because you are 100% correct, Shure are brilliant and in my 30 years of being a pro muso, I'm a Shure man through and through... their stuff lasts for donkeys years, and the sound is spot on for my voice... but in this day and age, alot of well respected brands are changing their manufacturers to save dollars, because unfortunately the music game isn't on the dollar making thing like it used to be... quality music gear and companies are competeing against the scabby public that want everything for nothing now and don't really care about quality... hence mp3 versus wav file... mp3 is the standard now, and excepted in the market today, whereas a wav file at the end of the day is the real quality, but generally most people don't care about that... so I use that as a small example as to how the public are today and what the quality companies are competing with... in the past I would never have been able to afford a Allen and Heath sound desk... but I have one now, because the price differance is like chalk and cheese... I asked my trusty tech mate that fixes all these sorts of things for a living and has done for the last 50 years, and he tells me that Allen and Heath have changed their manufacturing company and inside the unit they use cheaper hardware... he showed me the differance between one of their desks fron 20 years ago to now... and he is correct... even the soldering is different... so like the old saying goes "they just don't make em like they used too"... so maybe that Shure mic is really sure, but they have just changed manufacturers and are using cheaper materials... tough issue, but I am certainly in agreeance with you mate... either way, whether it's legit or a fake, the end product is undeniably dissapointing and frustrating...
I have just done the same thing, since this video they have updated their sticker on the fakes, the cables are in a little better condition (still not as good as original) and the mic stand screw has more play in mine too. Mine still has the over spray on the spare backplate, the different cut windsock and is a bit longer than the original. Somethings else to add is the diaphragm grill on the fake has three weld marks between each screw where the grill connects to the body. Real 7B’s do not have these weld marks. I hope you were able to report the sale and get some money back my dude!
Oh also, back plates for fakes now have counter sink holes too, BUT they’re all sprayed inside, unlike the silver ring inside the counter sunk hole of the authentic version. - just for anyone else that suspects theirs is a fake, as they must be trying to get fakes closer aesthetically to the original
@@TimMoxeyMusic I got one on amazon too. It came with a loose capsule. I filled out warranty card and sent to shure. they said it was a fake. The third party seller agreed to return it, however it would've costed me the price of the mic to send it to whatever country it was from. I called Amazon and they told me to keep the mic and refunded my money. Question is, what the hell do I do with it, I can't sell it. Such a bizarre situation haha
@@neverender2308 I mean, technically by the law you should destroy a fake product because is illegal, surely you cannot sell it otherwise you could risk a lot, but what I think, waiting for my fake to arrive (Yes I bought one on Ebay, but I realized that fakes exist too late) that if I cannot return the mic and the will leave it to me I will still have a free mic. (I know that some fakes still sound decent, and a decent sound for free is better than no sound!). Maybe I will relegate it to use it in a reharsal situation whenever the quality is not so important to protect the original one from accidents. Or if you like DIY you could try to modify it to let it sound better. In the end if you destroy the fake you have nothing to lose...
Unfortunately all of those little details can vary considerably across different fakes. The general thing to watch for is lower building quality in any number of aspects--but it's hard to say which aspects those will be for any given fake. Some fakes can be pretty convincing. The best thing you can do is buy one new in person at a music store.
Hey mate, I just ordered the same mic from amazon, it hasnt arrived yet. It wasnt from a third party seller but rather Amazon AU. Would it be a legitimate mic in this case?
what I have found so far is that some sellers don't even realize that they have fakes when they sell them, I only just happened across these videos after paying about 300 usd for one and then did a comparison between the vidoes online and my mic and it i was extremely sad and disappointed
hmm, that's weird, I bought mine off the official amazon Shure site thing, and got a 3d printed one with the xlr cable in the back instead of the top, when I clicked your Shure link in the desc, it took me to the same one i bought it off of, im debating weather to but it again from there a 2nd time
Not sure if I can help you sorry. None of the SM7b should be 3d printed. The MV7 has an XLR in the back but none of that is 3d printed (I have one of those too).
@@TimMoxeyMusic i can confirm it was a fake 3d printed shure body, with maybe a sm57 capsule, it was a 3rd party seller, i bought it again from the link u put in the description, and its legit, THANK YOU
@@TimMoxeyMusic yeahh, search up 3d printed shure sm7b, and it should be in yt shorts with around 140 views, that's literally the one i had, i wouldn't doubt it if that's the same guy who sent it tbh
my shure sm7b has alot of white noise - im using a cloud lifter and a wave xlr and 2 high quality xlr cables 25 bucks each. And already at 30db i get a decent amount of white noise does it mean i got a fake?
Thanks for this just bought one "new" off a seller on ebay undercutting shure by 25% and started to realize something was off after noticing the build quality being poor and the audio sounding woolie
Yep. It should take you to the Liquid Audio seller page and they are an official Shure dealer. If you are buying on amazon and there is a problem they are really good at sorting it out in my experience.
No one has covered a fake Shure MV7. Could u possibly tell the difference between a fake Shure MV7 and the real one? I previously bought a Shure SH55 Series II but received a fake one. Got afraid of "too good to be true deals" so I bought my new Shure MV7 from a Japan Official Distributor to replace it. I know it's an official distributor but just wanted to be certain because I've seen some other juicy deals, around $100 lesser
@@TimMoxeyMusic Yeah, same here. I thought there weren't any fake Shure MV7s until I realized that the model has already been about 2 years old. Chinese are fast with the replicas, ngl. Probably they even made it so that their replicas could be detected by the Shure Motiv App since their replicas are getting super close to that of a real Shure. The funny thing is even the original is assembled in China
Bought a shell of the SM7b and an SM58. Yes, I know it doesn't sound the same. Yes, I know the SM7b is going to sound better. My point is that you can have something that sounds better than the fake (and is more than capable enough for professional application both for studio and live) but looks like an SM7b for that proper professional look for less than what the fake is priced at. So if someone's tempted to buy a suspiciously affordable SM7b, then this might be something to look into if you can't afford a proper SM7b. Or.. Just save up money to get a proper one from a reputable one.
I actually 3d printed an SM7b body and put a 57 in it and it sounds pretty close to the SM7b. I’ll do a video about it at some point. I love this idea because It’s at least official Shure products… Thanks for sharing.
I just got one off Amazon for Christmas that finally came in yesterday. All the signs say it’s a real one but it has writing on the under part of the mic when i only see it on the top. Can I get some help
The wires feel great the back plate has the counter sink, yoke is hella tight, play in the mount is good. It’s mostly just the writing on the bottom is the only think throwing me off. My daughter ran off with the sticker and never got to look at it lol. It sounds great though
I seems to me that your mic is just around the other way. The SM7b can be setup for hanging or upright. It's in the manual but i didn't read mine until I saw someone explain how to change it! 🤣
I was nervous because my new one had most of the legit features, but not with the back of the sticker! just called Shure and they confirmed with my serial number that it's real! they told me when it was sold to Amazon, so now I can breathe lol
@@napoellisyt i can’t remember for sure. i think so. i’d just call them and have the original packaging on hand and receipt from your purchase . they will tell you where to locate what you need
I brought a sm7b on aliexpress for £40 it sounds good and everyone thinks it's real, and I'm happy I knew it wasn't a real one, it was advertised as a sm7b but no where did it say "shure" even on the box so fakes are fine for me along as there honest
Bought my son one this past summer, and it failed within a few months. When I sent it back to Shure Incorporated, they sent me back the repair receipt letting me know it was a counterfeit. The eBay seller is gone as well. Be careful out there!
If you wind up with a fake SM7B order a factory RPM106 capsule from Shure put it in your fake SM7B and you be good to go and it’s still cheaper than $399
This one is a bit easier to distinguish. But i saw a fake one being sold online, which seems like a legit sm7b. There is a video about that one too. The only way for you to know is by the audio quality, n the price. It's much more cheaper.
The problem is, you need a real one in hand to even be able to tell these subtle differences. Even Shure recognizes that they're well made and close to original, and they recommend you buy from an authorized dealer. Performance wise, most people won't be able to tell the difference.
I had heard that too, but mine was the same as others so they must have changed that. They counterfeiters seem to be refining as more people are discovering fakes.
Even if they are half the price I just don't think they are worth buying. The build quality is just not there. You'll end up having to buy another one instead of just buying one that lasts forever.
@@TimMoxeyMusic true, thats why I stumbled upon your video and saw that there really is fake one floating around everywhere, I thought it was just a sale at first and I’m glad that I didn’t buy it because of your video! ❤️
Yeah, in Australia there are no official Shure sellers from what I can see. I would recommend jumping on this site and checking for a local dealer. www.shure.com/en-ASIA/dealer_locator. I hope that helps
I bought Shure sm7b in local market of Iraq and now I know it’s fake and he didn’t accept returning it, I know there is capsule RPM 106 that i can change, but the switch part behind is still fake, my question for everyone is , if I buy the capsule and replace it my sound would be good or i need to change switch part too? Unfortunately i didn’t fine switch part anywhere on internet. Can anyone help me out?
I'm really sorry you weren't able to get your money back. I'm also not sure about the modifications. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you in the comments.
That’s a great point. I think the best way is as I mentioned in the video, to buy from an official Shure dealer. They have them listed on their website. It’s what I looked at when I created the affiliate link. If you are buying second hand that will be more complicated. Maybe ask for some more photos and reference them again mine and other videos. I hope that helps.
You know, I'm not sure if mine is fake or not. My windscreen has the more curved edges and all that but Idk if it's fake. The sound quality on mine at least is extremely good
I’ve got one real SM7B and I’ve got five fakes and the fakes sound just as good as the real one in all circumstances. Maybe I just got lucky with one particular manufacture. Now that’s not the case with the other clones the cone beta 87a sounds terrible Especially on a PA system
Comprei um microfone Shure sm7b sabendo que era nao original, porém o som nao é muito diferente do original, portanto não justificando uma diferença de preço gigantesca entre o original e o não original.
A common mistake I see from Sure SM users is gain control, your the 3rd youtuber I have watched using a Sure mic where the volume of voice is way to low, I could hardly hear you.
There are no fake sm7b. Mine is real but just has the flimsy wire but everything else checks out. Just because there are slight differences only means the manufacturer just has inconsistent components
@@TimMoxeyMusicYes, luckily for me, I paid via PayPal. They tried to keep half of my money for a restocking fee. Once I was able to show proof that the item was returned I received a full refund. I went to my local Guitar Center to purchase the mic.
I may have bought a fake sm7b but the price was very cheap, I got to talk to other buyers who got to message the seller and they replied that it was "TOP 5A 1:1 quality" So I guess im giving the shop+points for not really out right lying that its legit, still an obtuse way to go about saying its not legit. Also note that the serial number got registered on the SHURE website. I got mine for very very cheap which in of it self already means that its fake (Php 10,000/$175~) *edit the shop is still selling it but cheaper now at $160* , but got to do voice work that paid its worth already so I don't mind too hard, nonetheless still sucks. I have been using it daily for almost a year for day to day, I've had compliments for the audio quality on zoom meetings and voice overs for work so at least to the untrained and unfamiliar ear its still passable. After a year in an air conditioned room the paint is starting to deteriorate in some areas (I can send pics if you would want)
@@Chickennuggetfreeslime Do you want mine? I bought it for about $270 and I'm wanting my money back since I found out mine was fake. I have it posted on OfferUp.
I believe there are some SM7b's that are manufactured in China. The people that sold me my fake tried to tell me there were differences between manufatcuring of the different countries. While this may be true, both my mics say made in Mexico, so that wasn't true with my mics. Really the best way to get an original is to double check that you are buying from an offical dealer.
Ordered one from a US seller on eBay. Noticed it was shipping from China….I’ll do a legit check but I’m sure it’s fake. 😔 at least i know I’ll get my money back
Fake mics are around like LITTER these days.......... but at the same time an honest vendor will make a "clone" and put their OWN name on it. I own a good number of mics with store brands on them.
Dude, I know I'm asking a lot, but could you unscrew the back and show the soldering of the mics? I've just reviewed a hundred microphones and I don't know which ones are real and which ones aren't... but there is one detail that almost certainly says about originality. I want to be 100% sure.
I've just brought the fake one ffs and then found this. Was there any way to get your money back on amazon? It is the exact same trap as you. Cost a bit over 600.Boody amazon is so bad for flipping this shit.
If you bought it off amazon they are really good with the returns. You just need to start a return and if the seller isn't helpful, take it to Amazon customer service and they will sort it out for you. That's what I did and I got a refund.
Production on microphones are always changing nothing stays the same. Also, all microphones are set up differently for sound quality. Just have to tweak things out a bit sometimes.
This may be true, but the 2 mics I had were labeled to be made only a month or 2 apart from each other and were said to be made in the same place. The fake one is definitely a fake.
What gets to me is not the Chinese copy's ! but the idiot's who want to save 20 to 30 dollars ? if you can't afford a 139 dollar 57 there something wrong ! I know these go for about 500 hundred so i understand that !
To be honest I record and have two top ten billboard albums. Besides the noise floor sounding worse at high volumes. It didn’t sound like an unusable sound. If any thing some compression and eq could render it possibly useful with some tests on diff instruments. Thank you for the video. I just stumbled upon a fake on Ali Baba website. And found your video. Cheers 🍻 from Kansas City !
@@derik2419 who said I can or can’t afford anything. I was looking on line at SM7b mics , found some fakes advertised on Ali baba . So now I’m just looking at mic comparison shoot out videos . I was watching the history of the SM7 on a diff video and this was the next video that came up. 😂
@@derik2419 also if you knew how many albums sold could get you on a billboard chart it isn’t many from what your thinking. We sold about 17,000 copies of a album in one day and that landed us at #11 on the top ten top 20 billboard charts for 24 hours. I had another one that lasted at #10 for a week on billboard and I think it only sold around 50,000 albums. If you break that down and split all the money with all the featured musicians then it’s not much buddy. That money goes quick.
I agree, I wouldn't say it's unusable. I guess my biggest issue would be the build quality and the noise and also the dishonesty of claiming it's a shure product. I feel like if you want a cheaper mic you are probably better off just buying an SM57. It would certainly last longer, but maybe not look as cool for youtube videos.
Thanks for the video! Very helpful.
I bought a fake for 165 dollars after taxes off ebay. I assumed it would be fake. With compression, noise gate, and EQ, it is very useable. However the buzzing and noise floor problems are a dealbreaker for me to make it not worth the trouble as I don't like to have the mic right in my face. If I use the mic with my mouth very close to the mic it is useable and I can keep that buzz and noise down to a minimum, but these fakes definitely pick up more room noise.
If you want the look of an sm7b for visual purposes it could possibly be worth it, but my old sm57 sounds much better than my fake sm7b in terms of room noise and general clarity. All of them can be made to sound decent with EQ but noise floor and buzz is the biggest factor for me as to what to choose. The real ones don't have these problems.
That backplate seems the easiest way to identify if it's fake or not though ya, with the counter sunk holes.
Yeah it's tough to get enough gain without noise on the cheaper fake ones. Totally the non counter sunk holes are a dead give away
Did eBay give you a refund? That sucks man.
@@26327 ya they offered i decided to just not bother sending it back.
This is nearly useless for someone that doesn't have an authentic one to compare
What's interesting is that I have two of these microphones, one from Sweetwater and one from Guitar Center that I bought in the store. I can find things on them that are different from each other and also from the one that you claim is real. This could "possibly" be explained by being made in different manufacturing plants at different times by different machines and or subtle changes to the design. Hard to know really what any of us have.
I've got nothing against fake mics... My only problem is if someone is trying to sell it as an original. I'm thinking of buying one (legit) and the 2nd market either has used ones at near original price or suspiciously cheap ones. Either way I'll just buy one from a major retailer if I do make the purchase, to save the risk.
I think my biggest issue with the fakes is that they are taking someone else's design and years of development and passing it off as their own. Really it's just dishonest. I think the best option is to buy from an official dealer that way you don't get a fake.
I have nothing against "Clone" mics either........just put your own store brand on it. People will buy "off brand" gear if it performs well for the price, and you can build a new name that way.
Is that not the point of selling fakes? To pass it off as the real one? If that wasn't the case the company would just make a brand new mic... The point is to rip people off 💀
Hi Tim, thank you for this video, I bought my sm7b in 2021, but it sat away until late 2023 when I got to a stage in my music making journey where I wanted to record my own vocals, I noticed off rip my mic didn't sound too great, and that it was kinda muffled in the mid highs, buzzy at the highs, and not really any warmth to it, I didn't think anything of it cuz I would've never thought there would be fake sm7b's just cuz there's so many mics why would people buy a fake sm7b, I'm going to check mine now as recently I suspected it was maybe faulty and I've really been doubling down on it, and why it doesn't sound right, I assumed maybe it's just cuz I use a relatively beginner home setup, sm7b to cloudlifter to scarlett solo 3rd gen Audio Interface, I'll write below if I find mine to be fake
my sm7b seems to pass all the tests, apart from the fact that in the box, my sticker did have a white back, but no white outline, I paid about $440 I think it was, back in 2022, I haven't been able to get behind the brass looking plate to see the wiring as I cannot find the correct screwdriver anywhere
Also beware major otherwise reputable dealers can sell these as the boxes and everything looks so good. My first mic over 20 years ago was a 58 and I loved it, I still have it and didn't realise it was fake until about 5 years later when I bought another 2, heard about the fakes and checked it out. It's only obvious now as the 2 sections of the body have aged differently and the untrained ear would be oblivious especially without direct comparison but it's definitely a fake, a good one but bought from sound control in Manchester in a proper sealed box with the bag etc. It's been big business for decades.
Yeah it's such a shame that this kind of dishonesty exists.
imitators watching this video like, "Thanks for the corrections Tim."
Well i think they would have a real one ? so they could copy it not so easy !
Great breakdown. The comparison of windscreen, wire grommets and thumb screws give good visual clues when searching the second hand market.
I'm glad it's helpful.
I'm getting a second hand SM7B so I'm definitely going to check to make sure it's real. I'm seeing that a lot of fake ones seem to be going round
Great comparison! Earned a new subscriber!
Thanks
Thanks for the breakdown. I've recently purchased a second hand on eBay for 170€ and after a while I started to find all these video talking about fake mics, and now seeing better all the info I'm 99% shure (eheh I couldn't resist) that I will get a fake one. Do you have any measurement about the actual differences between the two mics? (Like response, size of the capsule or the foam, weight, etc..) because I think that with some proofs you could help a lot of people that may be fooled by this counterfeit market like me!
I'm planning to get a refund whenever the shipment will arrive and check what I think it's the obvious. Do you, or in general anyone reading this comment, had problem returning the fake? (I know that it's really hard for certain counterfeits to be recognized and some SN are even recognized by the Shure product registration process).
how did it go?
@@dillonjohnlane so, it was a little war and I had to make a compromise. Ebay was on my side, but the vendor was fighting to let me pay for the shipment for returning the mic. Ebay technically had to refund me without sending back the microphone for the EU law on counterfeited items, but they refused to allow that. Shure was informed by me and they took legal actions against the vendor. In the end, I have to admit that the mic was a really well made one and the sound was surprisingly good (I have a Lewitt 240 Pro and in a blind test many musician friends of mine preferred the fake Shure). So I asked to be refounded by the 90% and they accepted, so I payed 20€ for a fake mic that sounds fairly good in my opinion.
Long story short: It's not a Shure, but in the end I'm not that sad about how it's gone. I have a dynamic mic that I don't care if I will destroy it eventually and wasting 20€ could be worth.
Thanks man with blue and purple back lighting.
I think I’ve fallen for the same mistake on Amazon in Australia. It hasn’t arrived yet but it was around $500.
Have you reported it to Amazon or asked for a return?
Mine was in a bundle so I’m not sure of the exact one you have. I was able to get a refund. Amazon are really good about it. Their A to Z policy covers you if it is a counterfeit.
@@TimMoxeyMusic I logged a case with Amazon (even though I haven't received it yet). They ended up refunding the purchase which is a great outcome. Only wish they removed the reseller from the site as I can see heaps more falling for this. Thanks Tim.
I'm glad you were able to get your money back. The Amazon customer service is very good. I wish they'd pull it down too, but maybe it's more complicated on the back end than just a straight take down.
i just recieved my SM7B in aus and have fallen for this too. how do you go about getting a refund/telling them that you know its fake
@@tayst initiate a return if you’ve already received it. Otherwise, contact support and say you have received a fake and that Shure has confirmed it.
Great vid Tim... the only thing I would be querying is though, have you contacted Shure to find out if they have changed their manufacturers where they make their hardware now... because maybe it is still Shure, and they have just changed their manufacturer... which would be a shame, because you are 100% correct, Shure are brilliant and in my 30 years of being a pro muso, I'm a Shure man through and through... their stuff lasts for donkeys years, and the sound is spot on for my voice... but in this day and age, alot of well respected brands are changing their manufacturers to save dollars, because unfortunately the music game isn't on the dollar making thing like it used to be... quality music gear and companies are competeing against the scabby public that want everything for nothing now and don't really care about quality... hence mp3 versus wav file... mp3 is the standard now, and excepted in the market today, whereas a wav file at the end of the day is the real quality, but generally most people don't care about that... so I use that as a small example as to how the public are today and what the quality companies are competing with... in the past I would never have been able to afford a Allen and Heath sound desk... but I have one now, because the price differance is like chalk and cheese... I asked my trusty tech mate that fixes all these sorts of things for a living and has done for the last 50 years, and he tells me that Allen and Heath have changed their manufacturing company and inside the unit they use cheaper hardware... he showed me the differance between one of their desks fron 20 years ago to now... and he is correct... even the soldering is different... so like the old saying goes "they just don't make em like they used too"... so maybe that Shure mic is really sure, but they have just changed manufacturers and are using cheaper materials... tough issue, but I am certainly in agreeance with you mate... either way, whether it's legit or a fake, the end product is undeniably dissapointing and frustrating...
That's a good point. However, both of the mics that I have were made in Mexico and the label on both says made in 2021.
I have just done the same thing, since this video they have updated their sticker on the fakes, the cables are in a little better condition (still not as good as original) and the mic stand screw has more play in mine too.
Mine still has the over spray on the spare backplate, the different cut windsock and is a bit longer than the original.
Somethings else to add is the diaphragm grill on the fake has three weld marks between each screw where the grill connects to the body. Real 7B’s do not have these weld marks.
I hope you were able to report the sale and get some money back my dude!
Oh also, back plates for fakes now have counter sink holes too, BUT they’re all sprayed inside, unlike the silver ring inside the counter sunk hole of the authentic version. - just for anyone else that suspects theirs is a fake, as they must be trying to get fakes closer aesthetically to the original
I don't think mine has the weld mark but i have seen others say that theirs had that. I hope you are able to get your money back.
@@TimMoxeyMusic I got one on amazon too. It came with a loose capsule. I filled out warranty card and sent to shure. they said it was a fake. The third party seller agreed to return it, however it would've costed me the price of the mic to send it to whatever country it was from. I called Amazon and they told me to keep the mic and refunded my money. Question is, what the hell do I do with it, I can't sell it. Such a bizarre situation haha
@@neverender2308 I mean, technically by the law you should destroy a fake product because is illegal, surely you cannot sell it otherwise you could risk a lot, but what I think, waiting for my fake to arrive (Yes I bought one on Ebay, but I realized that fakes exist too late) that if I cannot return the mic and the will leave it to me I will still have a free mic. (I know that some fakes still sound decent, and a decent sound for free is better than no sound!). Maybe I will relegate it to use it in a reharsal situation whenever the quality is not so important to protect the original one from accidents. Or if you like DIY you could try to modify it to let it sound better. In the end if you destroy the fake you have nothing to lose...
Did you noticed anything about the box differences or did you throw it out before comparing?
th-cam.com/video/EflBYv0py4M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Nu2xHO7WERDGOpK2
Hello, could you indicate the measurements (length) of the real sm7b. Thank you
Unfortunately all of those little details can vary considerably across different fakes. The general thing to watch for is lower building quality in any number of aspects--but it's hard to say which aspects those will be for any given fake. Some fakes can be pretty convincing. The best thing you can do is buy one new in person at a music store.
Hey mate, I just ordered the same mic from amazon, it hasnt arrived yet. It wasnt from a third party seller but rather Amazon AU. Would it be a legitimate mic in this case?
th-cam.com/video/EflBYv0py4M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Nu2xHO7WERDGOpK2
Update? Also just ordered one from Amazon AU
what I have found so far is that some sellers don't even realize that they have fakes when they sell them, I only just happened across these videos after paying about 300 usd for one and then did a comparison between the vidoes online and my mic and it i was extremely sad and disappointed
hmm, that's weird, I bought mine off the official amazon Shure site thing, and got a 3d printed one with the xlr cable in the back instead of the top, when I clicked your Shure link in the desc, it took me to the same one i bought it off of, im debating weather to but it again from there a 2nd time
Not sure if I can help you sorry. None of the SM7b should be 3d printed. The MV7 has an XLR in the back but none of that is 3d printed (I have one of those too).
@@TimMoxeyMusic i can confirm it was a fake 3d printed shure body, with maybe a sm57 capsule, it was a 3rd party seller, i bought it again from the link u put in the description, and its legit, THANK YOU
@@D4WN123 A 3d printed one is new to me. That's crazy. I'm glad I was able to point you in the right direction.
@@TimMoxeyMusic yeahh, search up 3d printed shure sm7b, and it should be in yt shorts with around 140 views, that's literally the one i had, i wouldn't doubt it if that's the same guy who sent it tbh
Super helpful, Cheers Tim!
my shure sm7b has alot of white noise - im using a cloud lifter and a wave xlr and 2 high quality xlr cables 25 bucks each. And already at 30db i get a decent amount of white noise does it mean i got a fake?
That's not an indication of real or fake. Could just be your noise floor.
Thanks for this just bought one "new" off a seller on ebay undercutting shure by 25% and started to realize something was off after noticing the build quality being poor and the audio sounding woolie
I'm sorry to hear it. I hope you are able to do something about it and possibly get your money back.
@@TimMoxeyMusic Its all good ebay has a money back guarrentee so I can return for any reason. Thanks for the video it helped validate my suspicions
@@Gatecrasher_ I'm glad you have something you can do about it.
Did you end up getting all your money back? @@Gatecrasher_
Is the link in the description the original link to buy the shure???
Yep. It should take you to the Liquid Audio seller page and they are an official Shure dealer. If you are buying on amazon and there is a problem they are really good at sorting it out in my experience.
I also have found that the fake sm7b's have a little R next to the names on the backplate whereas the real ones dont have it
I didn't notice that one, but thanks for pointing it out. I'll check mine again.
Is this always the case? I just bought one today and it has the little R, will have to wait till it arrives for the sound quality check 😢
@@satapon4129 I thought so for a bit but I’m not sure anymore, some who are sold by shure also seem to have it so don’t take this tip for certain
No one has covered a fake Shure MV7. Could u possibly tell the difference between a fake Shure MV7 and the real one? I previously bought a Shure SH55 Series II but received a fake one. Got afraid of "too good to be true deals" so I bought my new Shure MV7 from a Japan Official Distributor to replace it. I know it's an official distributor but just wanted to be certain because I've seen some other juicy deals, around $100 lesser
I didn’t know there where fake MV7’s going around. I’ll check it out. I have a real MV7 to compare it to if I can find a fake one.
@@TimMoxeyMusic Yeah, same here. I thought there weren't any fake Shure MV7s until I realized that the model has already been about 2 years old. Chinese are fast with the replicas, ngl. Probably they even made it so that their replicas could be detected by the Shure Motiv App since their replicas are getting super close to that of a real Shure. The funny thing is even the original is assembled in China
That's insane I probably wouldn't have known
Bought a shell of the SM7b and an SM58. Yes, I know it doesn't sound the same. Yes, I know the SM7b is going to sound better. My point is that you can have something that sounds better than the fake (and is more than capable enough for professional application both for studio and live) but looks like an SM7b for that proper professional look for less than what the fake is priced at.
So if someone's tempted to buy a suspiciously affordable SM7b, then this might be something to look into if you can't afford a proper SM7b. Or.. Just save up money to get a proper one from a reputable one.
I actually 3d printed an SM7b body and put a 57 in it and it sounds pretty close to the SM7b. I’ll do a video about it at some point. I love this idea because It’s at least official Shure products… Thanks for sharing.
Link please where did you get the shell? TIA
I just got one off Amazon for Christmas that finally came in yesterday. All the signs say it’s a real one but it has writing on the under part of the mic when i only see it on the top. Can I get some help
The wires feel great the back plate has the counter sink, yoke is hella tight, play in the mount is good. It’s mostly just the writing on the bottom is the only think throwing me off. My daughter ran off with the sticker and never got to look at it lol. It sounds great though
I seems to me that your mic is just around the other way. The SM7b can be setup for hanging or upright. It's in the manual but i didn't read mine until I saw someone explain how to change it! 🤣
Well done exposing this 👍
I was nervous because my new one had most of the legit features, but not with the back of the sticker! just called Shure and they confirmed with my serial number that it's real! they told me when it was sold to Amazon, so now I can breathe lol
I'm glad you were able to check is was real.
Which serial number? The one on the box?
@@napoellisyt i can’t remember for sure. i think so. i’d just call them and have the original packaging on hand and receipt from your purchase . they will tell you where to locate what you need
I brought a sm7b on aliexpress for £40 it sounds good and everyone thinks it's real, and I'm happy I knew it wasn't a real one, it was advertised as a sm7b but no where did it say "shure" even on the box so fakes are fine for me along as there honest
Good video Tim!
Thanks!
Bought my son one this past summer, and it failed within a few months. When I sent it back to Shure Incorporated, they sent me back the repair receipt letting me know it was a counterfeit. The eBay seller is gone as well. Be careful out there!
Oh man, that sucks. I'm so sorry this happened.
Excellent video! I bought mine from fb and I think is the real deal
The real thing is a great mic. I hope you have fun recording with it.
How much did yours go for?
@@Phe_nom £220
If you wind up with a fake SM7B order a factory RPM106 capsule from Shure put it in your fake SM7B and you be good to go and it’s still cheaper than $399
Fake worth it over other mics ?
This one is a bit easier to distinguish. But i saw a fake one being sold online, which seems like a legit sm7b. There is a video about that one too. The only way for you to know is by the audio quality, n the price. It's much more cheaper.
When they are side by side it’s easy to tell, but if you only had the fake it would be much harder.
Hold up, the fake one cost 600aud?
The problem is, you need a real one in hand to even be able to tell these subtle differences. Even Shure recognizes that they're well made and close to original, and they recommend you buy from an authorized dealer. Performance wise, most people won't be able to tell the difference.
On the fake one, I heard the serial numbers are the same on all the fake ones? The number is 2TK18382028 is this what your fake is?
I had heard that too, but mine was the same as others so they must have changed that. They counterfeiters seem to be refining as more people are discovering fakes.
did the fake microphone have a serial number?
yes it did
Did you send the serial number to Shure?
was the serial number valid?@@TimMoxeyMusic
I saw a lot of fake SM7Bs on my country which cost half the price of the real legitimate one.
Even if they are half the price I just don't think they are worth buying. The build quality is just not there. You'll end up having to buy another one instead of just buying one that lasts forever.
@@TimMoxeyMusic true, thats why I stumbled upon your video and saw that there really is fake one floating around everywhere, I thought it was just a sale at first and I’m glad that I didn’t buy it because of your video! ❤️
So which site should i buy a Shure sm7b from in australia?
what ever you do don't buy from amazon
Yeah, in Australia there are no official Shure sellers from what I can see. I would recommend jumping on this site and checking for a local dealer. www.shure.com/en-ASIA/dealer_locator. I hope that helps
I bought Shure sm7b in local market of Iraq and now I know it’s fake and he didn’t accept returning it, I know there is capsule RPM 106 that i can change, but the switch part behind is still fake, my question for everyone is , if I buy the capsule and replace it my sound would be good or i need to change switch part too? Unfortunately i didn’t fine switch part anywhere on internet.
Can anyone help me out?
I'm really sorry you weren't able to get your money back. I'm also not sure about the modifications. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you in the comments.
how will i know if its fake before buying?... because the video only show physical proof....
That’s a great point. I think the best way is as I mentioned in the video, to buy from an official Shure dealer. They have them listed on their website. It’s what I looked at when I created the affiliate link. If you are buying second hand that will be more complicated. Maybe ask for some more photos and reference them again mine and other videos. I hope that helps.
You know, I'm not sure if mine is fake or not. My windscreen has the more curved edges and all that but Idk if it's fake. The sound quality on mine at least is extremely good
The other way to tell if you want, is to contact shure with the serial number.
Thank you so much, you just saved me from a big purchase.
Glad I could help!
I’ve got one real SM7B and I’ve got five fakes and the fakes sound just as good as the real one in all circumstances. Maybe I just got lucky with one particular manufacture. Now that’s not the case with the other clones the cone beta 87a sounds terrible Especially on a PA system
Comprei um microfone Shure sm7b sabendo que era nao original, porém o som nao é muito diferente do original, portanto não justificando uma diferença de preço gigantesca entre o original e o não original.
A common mistake I see from Sure SM users is gain control, your the 3rd youtuber I have watched using a Sure mic where the volume of voice is way to low, I could hardly hear you.
I set my gain structure the same way for all mics, which is just peaking into the orange. Sorry if you found it difficult to hear.
@@TimMoxeyMusic Comper your video audio to other videos from other channels and see how your volume compare.
There are no fake sm7b. Mine is real but just has the flimsy wire but everything else checks out. Just because there are slight differences only means the manufacturer just has inconsistent components
Thanks just realized mine is a fake as well!
Were you able to do something about it.
@@TimMoxeyMusicYes, luckily for me, I paid via PayPal. They tried to keep half of my money for a restocking fee. Once I was able to show proof that the item was returned I received a full refund. I went to my local Guitar Center to purchase the mic.
The fake metal plate also looks like it has the Copyright logo on it while the real Shure doesn’t. 🕵🏾♂️
I didn't notice that, but good pick up
I’d rather buy off brand.
Fun fact: Off brand companies also take a lot of «inspiration» from other companies.
Thanks
thanks!
tnx
You're welcome
Always buy from shure directly to avoid conterfeiting
600AUD!? I got my fake for 150AUD and use it to record metal vocals does a well enough job for the price lol
I may have bought a fake sm7b but the price was very cheap, I got to talk to other buyers who got to message the seller and they replied that it was "TOP 5A 1:1 quality" So I guess im giving the shop+points for not really out right lying that its legit, still an obtuse way to go about saying its not legit. Also note that the serial number got registered on the SHURE website.
I got mine for very very cheap which in of it self already means that its fake (Php 10,000/$175~) *edit the shop is still selling it but cheaper now at $160* , but got to do voice work that paid its worth already so I don't mind too hard, nonetheless still sucks.
I have been using it daily for almost a year for day to day, I've had compliments for the audio quality on zoom meetings and voice overs for work so at least to the untrained and unfamiliar ear its still passable. After a year in an air conditioned room the paint is starting to deteriorate in some areas (I can send pics if you would want)
That's a bummer that you ended up with a fake one. If you are happy with the results, just use it until it dies and then buy a legit one.
can i have the fake one
pls bro
@@Chickennuggetfreeslime Do you want mine? I bought it for about $270 and I'm wanting my money back since I found out mine was fake. I have it posted on OfferUp.
people don’t know how good sm7b are until they bought a fake
So true.
thnx I wonder now - because on aliExpres is lofset for "good price" :/
My advice would always be to make sure the seller is an official Shure seller.
It's fake I just checked ali
@@ashjules2911 are all of them fake as they are pretty cheap in price
@@TimMoxeyMusic is it worth buying one??
@AsherAmir yes all fake save your money get premium quality
ironic... I had to ramp up my volume for this video ;-)
Sorry
is there anything that the chineese doesn't make fake one?
I believe there are some SM7b's that are manufactured in China. The people that sold me my fake tried to tell me there were differences between manufatcuring of the different countries. While this may be true, both my mics say made in Mexico, so that wasn't true with my mics.
Really the best way to get an original is to double check that you are buying from an offical dealer.
@@TimMoxeyMusic double of the price most of the time
Maybe… but if a real one lasts twice as long it’s worth it.
Ordered one from a US seller on eBay. Noticed it was shipping from China….I’ll do a legit check but I’m sure it’s fake. 😔 at least i know I’ll get my money back
It is comforting knowing there is something you can do about it. I'm glad Amazon were so good about it.
Oh wow didn’t realise fake microphones are a possibility
Unfortunately I think it’s becoming more common. But hopefully with videos like this people can make informed choices.
Fake mics are around like LITTER these days.......... but at the same time an honest vendor will make a "clone" and put their OWN name on it. I own a good number of mics with store brands on them.
It's been a thing for many years. I bought a fake SM57 15 years ago.
Dude, I know I'm asking a lot, but could you unscrew the back and show the soldering of the mics? I've just reviewed a hundred microphones and I don't know which ones are real and which ones aren't... but there is one detail that almost certainly says about originality. I want to be 100% sure.
Ya saw one and thought it was too good to be true 150$. I didn't buy it, thanks to looking you up.
It can be really hard to tell what it legit.
Thanks for the video, just bought one off Amazon and it’s fake :(
I've just brought the fake one ffs and then found this. Was there any way to get your money back on amazon? It is the exact same trap as you. Cost a bit over 600.Boody amazon is so bad for flipping this shit.
If you bought it off amazon they are really good with the returns. You just need to start a return and if the seller isn't helpful, take it to Amazon customer service and they will sort it out for you. That's what I did and I got a refund.
Production on microphones are always changing nothing stays the same. Also, all microphones are set up differently for sound quality. Just have to tweak things out a bit sometimes.
This may be true, but the 2 mics I had were labeled to be made only a month or 2 apart from each other and were said to be made in the same place. The fake one is definitely a fake.
Real SM7Bs don’t have the r trademark logo
Mind if I use a clip of yours in an edit of someone raging so hard that their sm7b unplugs?
👀
What gets to me is not the Chinese copy's ! but the idiot's who want to save 20 to 30 dollars ? if you can't afford a 139 dollar 57 there something wrong ! I know these go for about 500 hundred so i understand that !
I'm stupid too! I made mistake too!
I rather save money and get the fake SM7B and use filters instead.
Maybe... But given the poor workmen ship on the fake you will probably go through more of them and it will end up costing more in the long run.
How to spot fakes:
Step 1: Buy a real one
😂😂😂
useless video
To be honest I record and have two top ten billboard albums. Besides the noise floor sounding worse at high volumes. It didn’t sound like an unusable sound. If any thing some compression and eq could render it possibly useful with some tests on diff instruments. Thank you for the video. I just stumbled upon a fake on Ali Baba website. And found your video. Cheers 🍻 from Kansas City !
You recorded two top ten billboard albums and cant afford a real sm7b? Bruh that sounds weird
@@derik2419 who said I can or can’t afford anything. I was looking on line at SM7b mics , found some fakes advertised on Ali baba . So now I’m just looking at mic comparison shoot out videos . I was watching the history of the SM7 on a diff video and this was the next video that came up. 😂
@@derik2419 also if you knew how many albums sold could get you on a billboard chart it isn’t many from what your thinking. We sold about 17,000 copies of a album in one day and that landed us at #11 on the top ten top 20 billboard charts for 24 hours. I had another one that lasted at #10 for a week on billboard and I think it only sold around 50,000 albums. If you break that down and split all the money with all the featured musicians then it’s not much buddy. That money goes quick.
@@derik2419 😂
I agree, I wouldn't say it's unusable. I guess my biggest issue would be the build quality and the noise and also the dishonesty of claiming it's a shure product. I feel like if you want a cheaper mic you are probably better off just buying an SM57. It would certainly last longer, but maybe not look as cool for youtube videos.