Detail 01
16 mm diaphragm
Smaller than a true 1-inch capsule, so slightly less low-end weight and a tighter, more focused sound.
Product detailSKU #1273887988703
Audio-TechnicaAT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
1/12
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Side-address cardioid condenser at an entry price. For a first home-studio mic covering vocals, acoustic guitar and voiceover into an interface.
Strong match
Who this is for
- First mic for a bedroom vocal or podcast setup
- Recording acoustic guitar or amp cabs at home
- Anyone moving up from a USB or headset mic
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Untreated rooms — it hears the walls and the HVAC
- Live stage vocals, where it picks up too much bleed
- Anyone needing a pad or a low-cut switch on the mic
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
20 Hz–20 kHz response
Full range, with the top end that makes acoustic guitar and vocal consonants sound detailed compared to a dynamic.
Detail 03
20 dB SPL self-noise
Audible on very quiet sources like fingerstyle guitar if you push the gain hard. Fine at normal singing levels.
Detail 04
144 dB max SPL
Can sit in front of a loud guitar cab or snare without distorting, even with no pad onboard.
Detail 05
Cardioid, side-address
Sing into the side with the logo, not the top. Rejects sound from behind, so face it away from your monitors.
Detail 06
100 ohm output impedance
Drives long cable runs cleanly into any standard mic preamp with no impedance matching to worry about.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Needs 48V phantom power from an interface or mixer
- 02No XLR cable, shockmount or pop filter included
- 03Ships with a rigid stand mount; a shockmount reduces desk and floor thumps
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Can I plug this straight into my computer?
No. It is an XLR mic requiring 48V phantom power, so you need an audio interface or mixer with a phantom-powered preamp between the mic and the computer.
02Which side do I sing into?
The front face with the model badge, not the end. It is a side-address mic, so it points at you sideways from a stand.
03Is it good for podcasting?
Yes, though as a condenser it captures more room sound than a broadcast dynamic. Treat the space or record close to keep the room out.
04Does it have a high-pass filter or pad?
No. There are no switches on the body, so filtering and level trimming happen at your preamp or in software.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
4 detailsSound
- Polar Pattern
- Cardioid
- Impedance
- 100 ohms
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz–20kHz
- Sensitivity
- -37dB
1 detailsPickups & controls
- Open Circuit Sensitivity
- –37dB (14.1 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
2 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
- Type
- Fixed-charge back plate, permanently polarized condenser
4 detailsConnections & power
- Maximum Input Sound Level
- 144dB SPL at 1kHz, 1% THD
- Output Impedance
- 100 Ohm
- Output Connector
- 3-pin XLRM-type
- Phantom Power Requirements
- 48V DC, 2 mA
4 detailsSize & weight
- Diameter
- 2 inch
- Length
- 6.33 inch
- Weight
- 0.76
- Dimensions
- 6-1/3 inch long, 2 inch diameter
2 detailsIn the box
- Included Accessories
- Stand mount for 5/8 inch-27 threaded stands; 5/8 inch-27 to 3/8 inch-16 threaded adapter, soft protective pouch
- Audio Technica Case Style
- R7
9 detailsOther
- Diaphragm Size
- 16 mm low-mass
- Signal to Noise Ratio
- 74dB at 1kHz, 1 Pa
- Noise
- 20dB SPL
- Model
- AT2020
- Element
- Fixed-charge back plate, permanently polarized condenser
- Accessories
- Stand mount for 5/8 inch-27 threaded stands, 5/8 inch-27 to 3/8 inch-16 threaded adapter, soft protective pouch
- Dynamic Range
- 124dB at 1kHz, max SPL
- Dynamic Range Typical
- 124dB, 1kHz at Max SPL
- Product Type
- Condenser microphone
