Audio Technica AT2020
External Microphones

AT2020

Audio Technica

Released May 1, 2005 · Analysis updated Feb 14, 2026

Audio Technica AT2020 cardioid condenser microphone offers versatile use, durable construction, and high-fidelity sound. The Audio Technica AT2020 scores 84/100 based on 18 expert reviews in the external microphones category. Coverage includes reviews from Musiciannerd, Microphonegeeks, Higherhertz, and Musictech.

Critic Score

What's this?
84

based on 18 expert reviews

MusiciannerdMicrophonegeeksHigherhertzMusictechGreenmatstudio+13 more

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Pros

  • Excellent sound quality(8)
  • Versatile(8)
  • Solid build quality(7)
  • Affordable price point(5)
  • Excellent value for money(4)

Cons

  • Requires phantom power(3)

18 Expert Reviews

95
Mar 16, 2022

The Audio Technica AT2020USB+ is an amazing USB condenser microphone with professional quality and durability, making it a favorite for podcasting, streaming, and recording.

92
Mar 24, 2015

This is a great quality plug and play mic that connects directly to your computer or laptop through a USB port.

90
Mar 20, 2025

The AT2020 is a fantastic budget condenser that delivers a performance well beyond its price.

90
Jul 30, 2013

The AT2020USB+ sounds almost indistinguishable from the non-USB version and offers impressive sound quality with easy USB connectivity.

90
Aug 27, 2025

The Audio-Technica AT2020 remains one of the best entry-level condenser microphones available.

88
Sep 1, 2005

The AT2020 provides pleasant surprises in several areas, offering solid performance at an amazing price.

86

The Audio Technica AT2020 excels as a low cost, versatile microphone that produces balanced and clean recordings.

85
Feb 9, 2024

The Audio Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Mic offers great sound quality, excellent build quality, and full frequency response, making it a great starter mic for home studios.

85
Feb 1, 2006

This is a great-sounding little mic that can deliver very professional results in just about any home-studio miking application.

85
Mar 20, 2023

The AT2020USB-X is the modern cardioid condenser mic for the new generation content creators who connect devices to USB and wants to experience the classic AT2020 sound.

85
May 11, 2021

The Audio Technica AT2020 is a popular budget microphone that is built really well and will last for years.

85
Jun 22, 2019

Although it falls just shy of Beyerdynamic's Fox for outright recording quality, this is still an incredible mic for relatively little outlay.

82
Feb 1, 2023

The Audio-Technica AT2020 is a high-quality budget microphone with a character all its own, particularly suited for vocal recordings.

78
May 1, 2005

The Audio-Technica AT2020 is an affordable, well-built condenser microphone that performs well on strummed acoustic guitar and offers a pleasingly bright, accurate sound, though it has some limitation...

75
Aug 11, 2019

The AT2020 USB is an excellent choice if you are in the market for a budget microphone that doesn't cost a ton and performs well enough to use for amateur recordings.

75
May 24, 2023

The AT2020 delivers super audio, but requires more parts to get up and running than a dedicated USB mic.

72
Nov 12, 2024

The Audio-Technica AT2020 isn't the best microphone, but it's a great entry-level device for new podcasters, YouTubers, and content creators.

70
Sep 18, 2023

The Audio-Technica AT2020 is a versatile budget condenser microphone that offers excellent value and solid performance for its price point, though it has some limitations with sound balance and noise ...