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Unboxing the Fake: A Convincing Imposter
The fake Shure SM7B arrived in under two weeks, packaged in a box that could pass for the real deal. The Shure logo, fonts, colors and internal packaging were nearly identical to those from Shure’s Mexico factory. The microphone itself replicated the SM7B’s size, shape, and features, including the screw-on stand mount and interchangeable windscreen. Even the bass rolloff and presence boost switches functioned as expected.
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| One of these is not Shure, click to enlarge |
At first glance, there were no obvious flaws—no sharp edges or misaligned logos. But as a longtime Shure user with a collection dating back to the 1960s, I noticed subtle differences. Shure’s broadcast mics, like the SM57 and SM58, feature a distinctive dark gray paint with a slightly green tint and a tactile, matte texture. The fake SM7B, however, had a glossy black finish—decent but not Shure.
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Other tells emerged. The fake’s external cable was longer and thicker but felt squishy, suggesting thinner copper conductors inside. The steel-guard under the windscreen, which protects the capsule, had round holes like the genuine SM7B, but its edges were rough and sharp, unlike Shure’s nicely finished edges. Many users pull the windscreen off their SM7 and sing directly into the steel-guard which surrounds the capsule, those sharp edges on the fake are ready and waiting to rip the lips of anyone who sings too close (that’s one way to reduce proximity effect, lol).
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| Fake says "Made in Mexico", click to enlarge |
Sound Test: The Real Deal vs. the Imitator
To compare sound quality, I tested the three microphones: my vintage SM7, a genuine SM7B, and the fake SM7B. Each was connected to a Neve 1073SPX preamp set to 60 dB gain with EQ bypassed and filters disengaged for a flat response. I positioned the mics for close-talking, a common SM7B use case.
- Vintage SM7: Delivered a big, full radio-announcer sound with robust mids and noticeable handling noise (not designed for handheld use).
- Genuine SM7B: Mirrored the vintage model’s rich low end and midrange, with a touch more high-frequency sparkle, likely due to a newer capsule. A 45-year-old mic holding its own is a testament to Shure’s engineering.
- Fake SM7B: Initially sounded decent in isolation, thanks to the Neve’s flattering preamp. But side-by-side with the real SM7B, the difference was stark. The fake had a thin bass response, exaggerated midrange, and no high-end sparkle. No amount of EQ tweaking on the 1073 could replicate the SM7B’s signature broadcast warmth. Worse, the fake exhibited the most handling noise of the trio.
Internally, the fake’s cast metal parts were rougher, with cheaper materials evident in their color and finish. The differences were subtle but undeniable. A new user would probably not take their new microphone purchase from eBay and dismantle it to look inside — if you buy a mic you probably wanted to record or perform with it, not try to discern if it is authentic or not — you should not be forced to even deal with this shady bunch of affairs.
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| Capsules inside wrapped in yellow tape, click to enlarge |
Confronting the Seller
I contacted the eBay seller, informing them they were selling counterfeit SM7Bs in illegally branded Shure packaging. Over several messages, I communicated with individuals in New Jersey, Hong Kong, and a Chinese city known for microphone production. They remained polite, repeatedly asking how I identified the fake and requesting videos of my genuine Shure mics for proof. I sent a photo of the three mics side-by-side instead.
The seller offered a 20% refund to keep the mic and stay quiet. When I pushed for 50%, a Hong Kong representative joined the conversation, offering a full refund, including shipping, to avoid negative feedback. On eBay, a 1-star rating is a legitimate seller’s nightmare, and they were clearly desperate to avoid it.
eBay’s Response: A Work in Progress
I reported the issue to eBay, which claims to take counterfeiting seriously. Fake microphones dilute the market, deliver inferior sound, and undermine the premium quality that justifies an SM7B’s price. My investigation is ongoing, and I’ll update this article with eBay’s final response. For now, their stance seems more reactive than proactive.
My initial feedback so far from eBay makes me think they don’t really care about fakes, they just want their commissions for selling “anything” on their site.
Amazon is selling them too: I'm sorry to report Amazon is selling fakes too. Here's a fake SM7B listing on Amazon.
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The Bigger Picture: A Flood of Fakes
The problem extends beyond the SM7B. eBay is rife with counterfeit Shure models like the SM57, SM58, and Beta 58, as well as Neumann mics such as the TLM 103, TLM 102, KMS 105, and even the iconic U87ai. Here’s a price comparison of mics offered as “New”:
- Neumann KMS 105: $749 at Sweetwater | $114.99 on eBay
- Neumann TLM 102 System Set: $899 at Sweetwater | $215 on eBay
- Neumann TLM 103 with Shock Mount: $1,494 at Sweetwater | $370 on eBay
- Neumann U87ai System: $3,750 at Sweetwater | $1,250 on eBay
Many listings boast “Trusted Seller” or “Highly Rated Seller” badges despite poor reviews, some as low as 50%. These fakes often ship via postal services, evading U.S. customs due to small batch sizes.
Why Fakes Matter
Counterfeit microphones thrive by exploiting trusted brand names like Shure and Neumann. Buyers expecting professional-grade sound are duped into purchasing inferior products. If these fakes carried generic branding, they’d struggle to compete. This isn’t just copying—it’s intellectual property theft that erodes brand value, hurts resale markets, and deceives consumers.
Next Steps
I’m in touch with Shure to explore how I can support their fight against counterfeiting. I’m also pressing eBay for stronger measures to curb fake listings. Updates will follow as I gather more information.
Protect Yourself: Tips for Buying Mics
- Buy from Authorized Dealers: Stick to factory authorized retailers for guaranteed authenticity.
- Contact Your Seller: Ask them if their products are real or fake? If they are not helpful and don’t answer your questions in a friendly manner it might be time to shop somewhere else.
- Check Seller Ratings: Low feedback scores or reviews mentioning “fake” are red flags.
- Inspect Listings: Unrealistically low prices or “make offer” options often signal counterfeits.
- Verify Packaging: Authentic Shure and Neumann mics have specific fonts, logos, and build quality. Compare with official product images.
- Check Pricing: If you see what appears to be a really super great deal, check the price for the same thing at other sellers. If your great deal is 25-50% of the trusted seller price you are probably looking at a fake. Sellers dumping fakes have nothing to lose but you won’t get what you wanted and fakes are near impossible to sell (unless you plan on joining the cadre of people selling fakes).
Have you encountered fake audio gear? Use our CONTACT page and join our fight, we’d love to hear your story.
Thanks for reading High on Technology, Good Music To You!
©May 2025 by Mark King, Please do not copy or quote without written permission from the author
Go forth and CREATE, something beautiful………….
