Korena
Product detailSKU #1273887988703

Audio-TechnicaAT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

Audio-Technica logo
Audio-Technica AT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
1/8

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.

Audio-Technica AT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone product detail
Product studyAudio-Technica AT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Audio-Technica AT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone alternate view
Alternate view

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.

Audio-Technica AT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone construction detail

Detail 01

16 mm diaphragm

Smaller than a true 1-inch capsule, so slightly less low-end weight and a tighter, more focused sound.

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

  1. 01Needs 48V phantom power from an interface or mixer
  2. 02No XLR cable, shockmount or pop filter included
  3. 03Ships with a rigid stand mount; a shockmount reduces desk and floor thumps
Audio-Technica AT2020 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone close-up

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.

1 detailsBody & build
Color
Black
6 detailsOther
Category Source
detail
Product Type
Condenser microphone
Tier
new
Korena Special
false
Source Id
site51273887988703
Prop65
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Complete your setup

Worth comparing

More from Audio-Technica