{"pageUrl":"https://comparethespecs.com/music-audio-production/microphones/what-are-the-best-professional-grade-shotgun-microphones","lastUpdated":"2026-09-13","totalProducts":5,"niche":"What are the best professional-grade shotgun microphones?","description":"What are the best professional-grade shotgun microphones?","products":[{"brand":"Sennheiser","model":"MKH 416-P48U3","price_gbp":632.41,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"impedance":"25 Ω","sensitivity":"25 mV/Pa ± 1 dB at 1 kHz","polar_pattern":"Supercardioid / Lobar","frequency_response":"40 Hz to 20 kHz","directional_pickup_pattern":"Hypercardioid at low and medium frequencies; lobar above 2 kHz"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"B&H Photo Video","url":"https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/79502-REG/Sennheiser_MKH416_P48U3_MKH_416_Short_Shotgun.html","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":999.0,"price_gbp":738.92,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Springtree Media","url":"https://www.springtree.net/product/mkh-416-p48u3/","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":999.0,"price_gbp":738.92,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Music Store Professional","url":"https://www.musicstore.com/en_US/USD/Sennheiser-MKH-416-P48U3-/art-REC0000296-000","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":855.0,"price_gbp":632.41,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"}],"summary":"The MKH 416-P48U3 is a professional RF condenser shotgun microphone with strong directivity, low self-noise, and a 40 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response. Its moisture-resistant design and high 130 dB SPL handling make it well suited to film, television, broadcast, and demanding outdoor recording.","ideal_for":"It suits professional-grade shotgun microphone applications with its supercardioid/lobar pickup, 25 mV/Pa sensitivity, 13 dB self-noise, 130 dB SPL handling, and moisture-resistant RF condenser design."},{"brand":"DPA","model":"2017 Shotgun Microphone","price_gbp":656.81,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"impedance":"60 Ω","sensitivity":"25 mV/Pa; -32 dB re. 1 V/Pa","polar_pattern":"Supercardioid","frequency_response":"20 Hz - 20 kHz","directional_pickup_pattern":"Supercardioid at 1 kHz"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Thomann","url":"https://www.thomannmusic.com/dpa_2017_shotgun_microphone.htm","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":888.0,"price_gbp":656.81,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Broadcasters General Store","url":"https://bgs.cc/dpa-2017-shotgun-microphone/","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1095.0,"price_gbp":809.92,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"}],"summary":"The DPA 2017 is a compact, durable shotgun microphone with a highly directional supercardioid pattern, low self-noise, and natural off-axis response. It suits professional broadcast, film, boom, on-camera, and fixed-position recording in demanding environments.","ideal_for":"This is a strong professional-grade shotgun microphone choice because its 20 Hz - 20 kHz response, 25 mV/Pa sensitivity, 60 Ω impedance, 13 dB(A) typical self-noise, and supercardioid pickup provide clean, focused sound for broadcast and film production."},{"brand":"RØDE","model":"NTG3","price_gbp":406.81,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"impedance":"25 ohms","sensitivity":"-30dB ±2dB re 1V/Pa at 1kHz","polar_pattern":"Supercardioid","frequency_response":"40Hz to 20kHz","directional_pickup_pattern":"Line Gradient"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"B&H Photo Video","url":"https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/563798-REG/Rode_NTG_3_NTG_3_Precision_RF_Biased_Shotgun.html","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":559.0,"price_gbp":413.47,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Guitar Center","url":"https://www.guitarcenter.com/RODE/NTG3-Shotgun-Condenser-Microphone-1274115056221.gc","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":729.0,"price_gbp":539.21,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Ametron","url":"https://www.ametron.com/rode%20ntg3","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":550.0,"price_gbp":406.81,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"}],"summary":"The RØDE NTG3 is a broadcast-grade RF-biased shotgun microphone with a supercardioid pattern, 40Hz to 20kHz frequency response, low self-noise, and strong resistance to moisture and condensation. It suits professional film, television, electronic news gathering, voice-over, and outdoor production work.","ideal_for":"The NTG3 suits professional-grade shotgun microphone work because its line-gradient supercardioid pickup, 40Hz to 20kHz response, 13dBA self-noise, RF-bias moisture resistance, and 130dB maximum SPL support demanding film and broadcast recording."},{"brand":"Schoeps","model":"Mini CMIT","price_gbp":1448.99,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"impedance":"100 ohms output impedance","sensitivity":"-35 dB (V/Pa), 17 mV/Pa","polar_pattern":"Supercardioid / lobe-shaped","max_sensitivity":"130 dB-SPL (P48), 115 dB-SPL (P12)","frequency_response":"60 Hz - 20 kHz","directional_pickup_pattern":"Supercardioid / front-lobe"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Thomann","url":"https://www.thomannmusic.com/schoeps_minicmit.htm","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1999.0,"price_gbp":1478.57,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Trew Audio","url":"https://www.trewaudio.com/product/schoeps-minicmit/","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":2829.0,"price_gbp":2092.49,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Music Store Professional","url":"https://www.musicstore.com/en_US/USD/Schoeps-Mini-CMIT/art-REC0012819-000","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1959.0,"price_gbp":1448.99,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"}],"summary":"The Schoeps MiniCMIT is a compact, lightweight shotgun microphone with a supercardioid, lobe-shaped pickup pattern and a fixed 70 Hz low-cut filter. It supports P12 and P48 phantom power and suits professional film, broadcast, documentary, music recording, and portable field-recording work.","ideal_for":"It suits professional-grade shotgun microphone use because its 60 Hz - 20 kHz response, 17 mV/Pa sensitivity, 130 dB-SPL maximum level on P48, 100 ohm output impedance, low 78 g weight, and focused supercardioid/lobe-shaped pattern provide strong directional capture for demanding production audio."},{"brand":"Neumann","model":"KMR 81","price_gbp":1256.68,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"impedance":"150 ohms","sensitivity":"18 mV/Pa ± 1 dB","polar_pattern":"Supercardioid/lobe","frequency_response":"20 Hz to 20 kHz","directional_pickup_pattern":"90 degree lobe"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Thomann","url":"https://www.thomannmusic.com/neumann_kmr_81_i.htm","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1725.0,"price_gbp":1275.91,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"B&H Photo Video","url":"https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/210686-REG/Neumann_KMR_81_I_MT_KMR81IMT_Shotgun_Microphone.html","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1795.0,"price_gbp":1327.68,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"},{"label":"Star's Music","url":"https://www.stars-music.com/neumann-kmr-81-i-mt-microphone-studio-electrostatique_56576.html","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1699.0,"price_gbp":1256.68,"scraped_at":"2026-09-07T10:55:30.385078"}],"summary":"The Neumann KMR 81 is a professional short shotgun condenser microphone with highly directional pickup, low self-noise, switchable 10 dB preattenuation, and a 200 Hz low-cut filter. It is designed for film dialogue, broadcast, ENG, location recording, and other professional applications where clear sound must be captured from a distance.","ideal_for":"The KMR 81 suits professional-grade shotgun microphone work because its supercardioid/lobe pattern provides a 90 degree pickup angle, its 20 Hz to 20 kHz response supports full-range dialogue, and its 128 dB maximum SPL enables demanding location recording."}]}