The best boom arm is increasingly essential for a range of creative people working in audio and video. Whether you're making YouTube videos or commercials, streaming on Twitch, or recording podcasts, a boom arm can improve the quality of sound you get from the best microphones by enabling them to be moved silently and effortlessly into the perfect position.
Using one really will give you the edge over the competition. Here are the best options, whatever your budget and needs.
Best boom arms for microphones
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My pick of the best boom arm overall is the Røde PSA-1. Known throughout the broadcast industry as a go-to, it’s also commonly used by podcasters, voiceover artists, and streamers, too.
This two-section, spring-loaded broadcast microphone arm rotates 360 degrees and features a maximum reach of 32in (820mm) horizontally and 33in (840mm) vertically. That allows you to position and re-position your mic both flexibly and quietly, keeping on-air noise to a minimum.
It comes with both a desk clamp and desk insert mounting attachments, a 3/8 to 5/8-inch microphone thread adaptor, and cable wraps for a tidy installation. Compatible with most microphones weighing between 700g (1.5lb) and 1.1kg (2.4lbs), this is a well-designed, robust, and reliable boom arm.
Named after legendary BBC DJ Annie Nightingale, the arm features a clever, spring-loaded suspension mechanism ensuring smooth and silent movement that effectively holds a microphone in the desired position during recording.
The arm comes with two mounting options: a C-clamp and a grommet mount, the latter requiring a drilled hole, for a more permanent installation. It boasts a full 360-degree silent rotation thanks to a spigot and nylon bush, and a ball-and-socket assembly for the microphone mount, complete with standard adapters. A built-in channel helps to conceal the microphone cable.
The arm provides a wide range of silky-smooth movement and holds its position firmly without sagging. The arm has a reach of 84.7cm (33.3 inches) and a maximum load rating of 1kg (2.2lbs), and weighs 1.5kg (3.3lbs). While its load rating isn't the heftiest and there are cheaper alternatives, its impressive design and reliable performance offer good value for money.
I reckon the Samson MBA38 is the best boom arm in the mid-price range available today. Designed for radio, podcasting, broadcast, and streaming, its internal springs and durable steel body are very robust, as well as being easy to adjust quietly.
You can quickly fix this boom arm to your desk with the C-clamp mount, or use the flange mount for a more permanent installation. It provides a generous 38 inches of horizontal/vertical arm reach and will support microphones up to an impressive 2.3kg (5kg), making it the best boom arm for heavy mics, too. A smaller 28-inch model is also available.
Short of space, and need something a little more compact for your home studio setup? Then I recommend the On-Stage MBS5000. This professional articulating mic boom is nicely robust, thanks to its square-tubing construction, and comes with a 10-ft XLR cable pre-installed inside for a clean and professional look.
There are a couple of mounting options: the first is in the form of a C-style clamp, which grasps surfaces up to two inches thick, and there's also a screw-in flange mount for permanent desktop or overhead installations.
If your boom arm is appearing in shot and on the screen, you want it to look the business, and here's one that definitely does.
The MBS750 has a polished and super-streamlined look, with a total lack of protruding parts or springs, while hollow arms allow you to run your cable through the middle. And it offers a high level of flexibility, thanks to the three-axis points, and is very quiet indeed in operation.
In short, if you want to impress your YouTube or Twitch audience with the professionalism of your desk setup, not to mention keep everything nice and tidy for your own sanity, this is a good choice.
This boom arm came in at $99 / £99 at the time of writing, so it’s certainly not a budget option. But its enclosed aluminum construction is well designed and sturdy, and its internal springs offer very smooth and quiet operation.
The Blue Microphones Compass Premium also boasts hidden-channel cable management, friction hinges with full 360-degree rotation, and support for mics weighing up to 1.1 kg (2.4 lb), including the popular Yeti and Blackout Spark SL.
