Physically Amazing Electret "Cousin" to the SM7B
By Brian
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2026-04-10
The Earthworks Ethos microphone body is machined out of a solid block of high grade stainless steel and includes a Triad Orbit swivel mount - one of the very best. Iis design philosophy is similar to the Shure SM7B in that the mic cartridge is heavily recessed behind both a thick foam pop filter and very extended, internal, perforated metal grill, which gives the mic a great deal of protection from pops and evens out proximity effect. Externally and internally it bears an almost in-family similarity to the SM7B, but in a shiny stainless steel finish without any built in EQ adjustments, with an electret condenser rather than dynamic cartridge and tighter supercardioid rather than cardioid pattern.
Soundwise, it has a somewhat scooped response and is not as warm/dark as the SM7B with a more brilliant top end. Despite this slight midrange response dip, clarity is quite good and the mic takes EQ very well - plenty of on-line advice concerning EQ for voiceover, etc. and these recommendations are for relatively minor adjustments - which is what I've found is all that's required. Note that output is much higher than the SM7B/RE20 dynamic mic and so far less preamp gain is needed - but phantom power IS needed to energise the active electronics in the built-in Ethos electret amplifier - same as any electret.
In my use (radio), I've found it a real pleasure to use and very forgiving of mouth placement (despite its supercardioid pattern) - as I have a habit of "bobbing" up on the mic from about 4 inches to point blank range (I need to improve) when excited. A little bit of compression, a bit of EQ and the mic's built in muting of proximity effect (just like the SM7B) due to recessed cartridge standoff distance and this problem in technique is minimized, yielding a very smooth response, yet still brighter than the SM7B and a BIT more than the RE20. And I LOVE the SM7B for its progressive, smooth nature. Glad the Ethos has a touch of that, too.
The Earthworks Ethos a VERY solidly built bit of gear, competitively priced against the SM7b and RE20, and a bargain compared to the TLM103 and BCM104. If you do broadcast/radio OR voiceover, this mic CAN work well for you - but it does have its own unique sound, just as the others do. Since they ALL take EQ well they can easily overlap a great deal in sound characteristics, in actual use.
Note that the Ethos price was reduced a couple years ago, shortly after introduction, apparently to more directly compete with the RE20/27 and SM7B - yet offer an electret condenser experience. This was done with zero drop in quality as far as I can tell. In providing enormous built quality and very good audio - it succeeds - in spades.
Crimeny! A really, REALLY quality product - and built mostly in New Hampshire, USA, obviously by designers and craftspersons who actually CARE. Who'd have thought it? BRAVO!
Detailed
By Thomas
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-06-09
This is my first serious microphone. I make educational videos for my classroom, and I was just using the mic built into my field recorder. I did a lot of research and when I wanted to upgrade I settled on the ethos and I have been satisfied. I've been experimenting with this mic for a week now, and I like its sound.
My classroom and my office are both fairly untreated spaces, so any benefit I can get from the narrow pickup pattern is appreciated. It is supportive in the low end without being muddy or aggressive and I only need to EQ the high end a little bit relative to my old setup.
This microphone is quite heavy. I remember reading that its housing was a bored chunk of steel, but I didn't appreciate how hefty that was until I put it on my boom arm. I had a gooseneck pop filter and a shock mount and the mic on my boom arm but it kept listing. I went for just using the windscreen instead of the pop filter to save on weight but I would warn that if you are putting this on a boom arm then make sure that it is one that can handle a heavy microphone.
