Audio-Technica AT2020 review

It feels like every musician has a home studio these days, but you don’t need to drop thousands to get started with recording. If you’re looking to dip your toes into home audio production, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is a great XLR microphone that balances quality with affordability.

I’ve used the Audio-Technica AT2020 to record several projects and have a few years of experience with it. We spent a week formally testing the AT2020 to compile everything you need to know before you buy it.

What’s it like to use the Audio-Technica AT2020?

When you first unpack the Audio-Technica AT2020 mic, you’ll see the microphone, a padded carrying case, a stand mount, and some documentation. The stand mount allows you to rotate the microphone 360 degrees, and you can use the hinge to tweak the position further, angling it toward or away from your mouth. The mount screws directly into the mic which is great for ensuring stability but inconvenient if you lose it — the mic isn’t designed to fit into a standard mic clip. The mount also comes with a 5/8-inch threaded adapter so you can install it on any standard microphone stand.

The Audio-Technica AT2020 has a tried and true cylindrical design without any vulnerable breakage points. Though the AT2020 won’t survive truly rough treatment, it has a metal cage and grille to absorb damage that would otherwise reach the internal electronics. The included carrying case is sufficiently padded, and while it’s not a good idea to start tossing your mic around like a football. If you drop it while it’s in the case, it probably won’t mean the end of your AT2020. Should your Audio-Technica mic break due to a defect in the product, you can use the warranty to get it fixed or replaced.

When using the AT2020 to record, placing the stand on a flat, sturdy surface is best. As a static condenser, it’s very sensitive to handling noise, so try not to touch it while recording. Buying a shock mount to reduce noise from the floor is always a good idea.

How does the Audio-Technica AT2020 connect?

Not only are there quite a few optional accessories you can buy for this XLR microphone, but using this mic actually requires you to have some equipment of your own, including a mic stand, XLR cable, and an audio interface and/or dedicated mic preamp. The type of connection we recommend for recording is an XLR-to-XLR balanced cable plugged into a USB audio interface, connected to your computer.

The AT2020 is a condenser microphone, which is highly sensitive and great for recording subtle sounds and details, such as the sound of fingers on guitar strings. As condenser mics go, the AT2020 is less sensitive, with an open circuit sensitivity of 14.1 mV/Pa. The relatively low sensitivity means the AT2020 is better equipped to handle high sound pressure levels without distorting. Note that as a condenser, it needs 48V phantom power to operate, something dynamic microphones don’t require. Luckily, most audio interfaces include switchable phantom power, so you shouldn’t let this deter you from purchasing the Audio-Technica AT2020.

Where should you place the AT2020 for the best sound?

The Audio-Technica AT2020 picks up sounds in a cardioid polar pattern. This means it is most sensitive to sound at the front of its recording capsule. You should speak or sing into the mic’s grille above the “Audio-Technica” logo for the best sound quality. It also picks up a bit of sound from its two sides, and mostly rejects sound from its back.

How does the Audio-Technica AT2020 sound?

The Audio-Technica AT2020 has a neutral-leaning frequency response that slightly attenuates bass frequencies, as it isn’t intended for bass-dominant sources. However, it does exhibit the proximity effect, the over-amplification of bass frequencies that occurs when a sound source is close to a directional microphone.

Though the Audio-Technica AT2020 is an affordable microphone, it has some sound quality flaws that you don’t always find in mics at a similar price point, and its issues are paradoxical. The AT2020 has a relatively high self-noise, averaging at 20dB(A) EIN, so its moderate sensitivity also encourages close-miking. However, the mic also struggles with plosives (harsh ‘p‘, ‘t‘, and ‘k‘ sounds), which you can mitigate by placing it a bit farther away from the sound source. In addition, if you’re recording speech or vocal music, the closer you place the microphone, the stronger the proximity effect will be. Luckily, you can purchase a separate pop filter or windscreen to help reduce harsh plosives.

Speaking into the Audio-Technica AT2020 without a pop filter, I can hear unpleasant plosive sounds in recordings, particularly when I move very close to the microphone. The mic also has some issues with sibilant sounds when I am very close. The sibilance is not so harsh that it hurts my ears to listen to. Still, people have varying levels of sensitivity, and it’s not quite the quality you’d expect on a professional recording. The sibilant and plosive sounds are much less noticeable in the singing sample below, mainly because I stepped farther away from the microphone, as I sing louder than I speak.

Audio-Technica AT2020 speaking sample:

Audio-Technica AT2020 singing sample:

In the acoustic guitar sample, the Audio-Technica AT202o is only a few inches away from the guitar, positioned in front of the 12th fret and pointing at the sound hole. The mic succeeds at picking up both the finger-picking and strumming sections, highlighting the best aspects of both. The AT2020 is a few inches away from the guitar amp in the electric guitar recording — there’s no distortion on the guitar’s tone, and it does an effective job at reproducing that clean sound.

Audio-Technica AT2020 acoustic guitar sample:

Audio-Technica AT2020 electric guitar sample:

Should you buy the Audio-Technica AT2020?

For $99, the Audio-Technica AT2020 performs pretty well as a recording microphone. It has a sturdy, klutz-proof build and sounds good enough to use for any casual application. Its technological specs are also pretty midrange, with moderate sensitivity for a condenser mic and slightly worse than average self-noise, making it a decent starter mic but not perfect.

The AT2020 isn’t without flaws, and though you can buy accessories to help reduce the issues, at a certain point, it becomes more economically savvy just to buy a better quality, more expensive microphone. A few alternatives out there also excel in areas where the AT2020 falls behind and cost around the same.

Should you get the Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X instead?

If the Audio-Technica AT2020 appeals to you, but you don’t want to shell out for an audio interface, consider the Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X ($129 at Amazon) and Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP. The AT2020USB-X adds an onboard mute button, LED indicator lights, a sturdier desk stand, and a USB-C connection. With the AT2020USB-X, your audio reaches up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution. Plus, you can connect your headphones directly to the mic to monitor.

The Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP ($169 at Amazon) is virtually the same as the USB-X version but adds automatic gain control, noise filtering, and improves the quality to 24-bit/192kHz. This makes it a great choice for streamers, as its easier to work with in environments free of acoustic treatments.

What should you get instead of the Audio-Technica AT2020?

Those willing to spend a bit more on a microphone for enhanced quality should check out the Rode NT1-A ($199 at Amazon). Rode mics are widely regarded as having incredibly low self-noise compared to other mics on the market. Another condenser mic that sounds great is the Beyerdynamic M90 PRO X. It certainly comes at a hefty price ($299 at Amazon), but makes up for it in quality and accessories — it comes with a shock mount and pop filter.

If you want a microphone that can handle just about anything, the Shure MV7+ ($279 at Amazon) should be on your radar. It supports both XLR and USB-C connections, which you can use separately or simultaneously. It also works with the Shure MOTIV app, giving you access to EQ settings, reverb, and other helpful recording tools.

Frequently asked questions about the Audio-Technica AT2020