Behringer XM8500

I have been countlessly recommended this microphone for two reasons, and I shall state these now:
1. Extremely affordable
At twenty dollars, there's not much that could beat this microphone. Behringer has stepped their game up significantly over the last few years, and while I don't agree with some of their choices, I cannot argue about the value of this mic.
2. Sound
The microphone is dark-sounding. Some would describe it to be a bit muddy, which I do not disagree with - it absolutely can sound muddy on people. However, I consider my voice to be a bit harsh and sharp, and the XM really helps make my voice presentable. I use it for podcasts and streams.

The microphone arrives in a decent carry case. It's made out of cheap plastic, but it seems to be decently durable, and as it is padded from the inside, I am not worried about the mic. The microphone itself is decently heavy, but a lot of it is emphasized on the bottom, so it gives me a sort of uneven feeling. The build quality itself is solid, however, and I'll give it that. I'll also include that the microphone has poor shock and plosive rejection, so I would recommend even a cheap spider mount and windscreen or pop filter. Hence why the quality is at 4, not 5.

The sound itself is way better than the price tag claims. I've compared this to an SM58 and while that is a cult classic, I actually prefer the XM to its signature. If you have a darker voice, I wouldn't recommend the XM, as you'd need to apply a low cut to get rid of that mud. I will try a 40 or 60hz low cut and see what it does. I cannot complain about the sound quality.

Features..it has an XLR port and it's a microphone. This cannot get any more barebones unless you make a microphone out of a coffee pot. This isn't bad by any means, I'd actually be more worried if it had switches on its body and cost the exact same.

Overall, this is probably the best dynamic microphone in the $20-50 range. It rejects background noise decently well, sounds good and is built well enough to last a few years. You shouldn't be shy of using this mic! Just remember a windscreen and shock mount.