Audix
OM7
Dynamic · Hypercardioid · 48–19,000 Hz
- 0.8 mV/Pa against the SM58's 1.85 — about 7 dB less output, so it needs about 7 dB more preamp gain for the same level.
- The mic engineers reach for when the singer wants stage volume nobody can otherwise survive; it needs gain most desks have and some preamps do not.
- Hypercardioid: rewarding on a screamer, unforgiving of a wanderer.
Frequency response
Redrawn from Audix’s published response graph (approximate, ±2 dB) on the fixed MicSense scale — 20 Hz–20 kHz, −20 to +15 dB — so two microphones can be compared at a glance. No image is copied; it is a guide to the shape, not a measurement. The maker’s graph (Frequency response, spec sheet p.2).
Polar pattern
Generated from the first-order directivity formula for hypercardioid. It illustrates the pattern type — it is not a measurement of this individual model.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Audix |
|---|---|
| Model | OM7 |
| Type | Dynamic |
| Form factor | Handheld |
| Polar pattern | Hypercardioid |
| Frequency range | 48–19,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 0.8 mV/Pa · ≈ -61.9 dBV/Pa |
| Max SPL | 144 dB SPL (THD not stated; ≥ 144 dB) |
| Self-noise | — none (passive capsule) |
| Impedance | 50 Ω (output impedance) |
| Connector | XLR3M |
| Powering | None (dynamic) |
| Weight | 307 g |
Specifications: Audix datasheet · last checked 2 Oct 2026. These are the maker’s published figures for this model. A dash never means zero: “not published by the maker” means the maker’s documents give no figure; “not yet checked” means MicSense has not confirmed one yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.
MicSense notes
| Price tier | Pro |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1999 |
Price tier and “a rider regular” are MicSense’s own judgement, not the maker’s.
What it gets used for
- FOH vocal
- Monitor vocal
MicSense tags microphones by the job on a live stage, not by studio category — so you can filter for “kick in” or “monitor vocal” instead of working backwards from “large-diaphragm condenser”.
OM7 alternatives: closest in published specs
Based on published specifications only — always listen at soundcheck. These are the microphones in the MicSense library whose datasheet figures sit closest to the Audix OM7’s for the same live job, with the reasons. It says nothing about how they sound.
-
Audio-Technica
AE6100
- Same job: FOH vocal, monitor vocal
- Same type: dynamic
- Same hypercardioid pattern
- Same form: handheld
- ≈ 7 dB more output — about 7 dB less gain
Not comparable: response curve not redrawn yet · max SPL not published by the maker
-
beyerdynamic
M 88
- Same job: FOH vocal
- Same type: dynamic
- Same hypercardioid pattern
- Same form: handheld
- Similar published response shape (≈ 1.6 dB apart on average, 100 Hz–10 kHz)
- ≈ 11 dB more output — about 11 dB less gain
Not comparable: max SPL not published by the maker
-
Sennheiser
MM 445
- Same job: FOH vocal, monitor vocal
- Same type: dynamic
- Same form: handheld
- Max SPL as high or higher (163 vs 144 dB SPL)
- Supercardioid instead of hypercardioid — deepest rejection at ±126°, not ±110°: check where the wedge sits
- ≈ 6 dB more output — about 6 dB less gain
Not comparable: response curve not redrawn yet
Compare it against the alternatives.
MicSense lets you put up to four microphones side by side — spec table, overlaid response curves and polar diagrams on one screen. Free with a free Squaresmile account.