Solidity: Especially when recording, it’s important that your microphone will be held securely and not move around during use – some heavier mics can induce sagging when attached to extended boom arms on some lower-priced stands. Stability: Centre of gravity while in use is an important factor, which is why round-base stands don’t tend to feature boom arms. With a heavy mic attached to the end of a boom, the centre of gravity is shifted upwards and outwards, making the stand more likely to topple over. For this reason, most boom stands tend to have tripod bases, so that the boom arm can be extended in line with one of the three legs for improved stability. On the other hand, tripod stands can present more of a trip hazard for unwary vocalists on a darkened stage, making round-base stands a more practical choice for this use case. Essentially a shorter, desktop version of a standard, round-base mic stand, the On Stage DS7200QRB embodies the phrase ‘everything you need and nothing you don’t’. Its 5.9” / 150mm-diameter steel base weighs in at a hefty 2.9lb / 1.3kg, making it sturdy enough to support the heaviest of mics without fear of toppling over.

Base: Mic stands usually come with either a round, heavy metal base or a set of three folding tripod-style legs (very occasionally they’ll come with both). Often, the base will feature rubber feet to help dampen vibrations, while tripod legs will be fitted with rubber or plastic end caps. Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. The Hercules Tripod Base Hideaway Boom Stand MS533B is a sturdy number that’s designed for speed and convenience. At first glance, it appears to be just a simple, single-pole stand with a tripod base, albeit one with a nifty one-handed, squeezable EZ clutch to facilitate rapid height adjustments. Pole: The main part of the stand that rises up from the base, the pole is usually height-adjustable by way of the clutch. Loosening the clutch will allow you to raise an internal pole of a smaller diameter to increase the stand’s height. First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best mic stands on the market right now.