Voice actors, singers, podcasters, and audiophiles know how much of a nuisance it is to hear popping sounds in any audio clip, be it professionally or unprofessionally made.
These popping sounds show how unprepared and lacking in gear and attention to detail the creator of the audio clip can be, not minding the fact that their microphone is of quality enough to pick up all kinds of sounds, no matter what frequency.
Editing the plosives out of an audio clip should not be that hard to achieve with today’s editing software, but it can also lead to sacrificing certain details that make the sound crisper, which is why any audiophile would rather install pop filters over their mics rather than edit out sounds.
As an audiophile myself, I’ve found that it can be quite difficult to choose one with all the pop filters in the market, so I decided to help people like you narrow down the choices!
The best pop filter I’ve come across is the Windtech PG-2000 PopGard, given that it’s very small, making it easy to carry and install on most microphones.
Additionally, the filter is also made of durable material which makes it good for traveling, safe for cleaning, and constant installing and removing from your microphone.
However, there are pop filters that others would consider to be better than this, which is also why I’ve come up with a list of other pop filters and a buying guide to help you choose the pop filter that works for you!
Contents
The Best Microphone Pop Filters
- Nady MPF-6 – Best Commercial-Grade Pop Filter
- Stedman Corporation Proscreen XL – Best Pair for Thin Nylon Pop Filters
- Avantone Pro PS-1 Pro-Shield Studio Pop Filter – Best Metal Pop Filter
- On-Stage Stands ASFSS6GB Dual-Screen Pop Blocker – Best Dual-Mesh Pop Filter
- Shure PS-6 Popper Stopper Pop Filter – Best Studio-Grade Pop Filter
- Blue The Pop – Best Curved Pop Filter
- WindTech PopGard 2000 – Best Overall Pop Filter
- Aspen Pittman Designs PFM+ Magnetic Pop Filter – Best Magnetic Pop Filter
- Neumann PS 20 a Pop Screen – Best Pair for Metal Pop Filters
- Gator Rok-It Nylon Pop Filter – Best Nylon Pop Filter
Also Great | Editor's Choice | Budget Pick |
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Nady MPF-6
Right off the bat, the Nady MPF-6 looks very similar to a lot of pop filters used in professional studios, a feat that not quite a lot of pop filters can achieve given that they can look too cheap and flimsy.
The pop filter itself is made of a non-metal mesh and a plastic frame, suited for audiophiles who’d choose softer materials rather than the up-and-coming metal pop filters.
The whole setup does have some metal parts though, as the gooseneck is made of metal and is connected to the filter with a metal screw, but doesn’t affect the sound quality since it doesn’t cover the mic.
The filter can be attached to desks or microphone stands with its clamp, which all you need to do to install is to tighten it around the desk or stand by rotating the screw with your own hands.
The diameter of the filter is around 6 inches, which covers most microphones and is especially good if you like to move around the mic a lot while recording.
However, if you have more high-end microphones which are very sensitive to picking up all sorts of sounds, the pop filter may fail to completely block out wind noises as it is made of thin material, but other than that, the mic is really good at reducing and eliminating most annoying plosives!
Pros
- 6-inch diameter
- Gooseneck allows adjustment at any angle
- Clamp works on surfaces less than 1 inch thick
- Non-metal pop filter
Cons
- Thin filter doesn’t block all noises
Stedman Corporation Proscreen XL
The Stedman Corporation Proscreen XL is a great pop filter for those who love and see the advantage in the trend of the metal pop filter, as the filter is made completely of a patented metal.
The holes in the Proscreen XL are also innovatively angled such that the plosives you naturally produce are directed downwards and away from the mic, allowing it to pick up only crisp and quality sound.
The filter is also attached to a gooseneck, which allows you to adjust it in any angle to fit your recording style once you’ve successfully secured the clamp to the microphone stand or any other surface.
Stedman Corp. also recognizes that your gear does not only pertain to your mic and pop filter, but everything else in the studio as well, which is the clamp has nylon tips to prevent it from scratching and damaging your microphone stands and other surfaces you could place the clamp on.
Since the pop filter is made of pure metal, it doesn’t do such a good job at removing the high frequencies, which experienced editors and audiophiles would notice some slight whistling sound in the audio.
However, compared to how easy the filter is to clean and its durability, I think that the Proscreen XL is a good choice, especially if you don’t mind the ever so slight whistling sound it produces.
Pros
- Metal pop filter
- Durable build
- Easy to clean
- Nylon-tipped clamp prevents scratching
Cons
- Slight whistling sound or sibilances
Avantone Pro PS-1 Pro-Shield Studio Pop Filter
Another great metal pop filter is the Avantone Pro PS-1 Pro-Shield Pop Filter, unique in both shape and design, allowing it to stand out among other curved pop filters.
The metal screen has tiny holes as compared to most metal pop filters you see in the market, but this is great in reducing even more plosives that come out, albeit sacrificing more of the higher frequency sounds.
The filter is curved at the top to fit most studio mics without blocking you from most of the equipment, unlike round filters which take up a lot of space just to cover the entire microphone.
The PS-1 Pro-Shield is also not flat like most round filters, as it is curved to cover up the sides of your mic, which works great especially if you’re very restless when recording your audio.
The filter also comes with both a long gooseneck and clamp, allowing you to easily install it on your microphone stand and adjust it at an angle that filters out most of where the sound will come before getting picked up by the mic.
You may experience some slight difficulty attaching the clamp to the microphone stand since it can be loose, but all it would take is another material that you can place between the clamp and your mic so it fits snugly.
Pros
- Curved design covers most of the mic
- Long gooseneck allows for easy adjustment
- Metal pop filter
- Smaller holes increase the blocking of plosives
Cons
- The clamp can be loose on some stands
On-Stage Stands ASFSS6GB Dual-Screen Pop Blocker
A lot of people like to think bigger (or in this case, thicker) is better, and if you find yourself thinking the same, then the On-Stage Stands ASFSS6GB Dual-Screen Pop Blocker is most likely the pop filter you’re looking for!
The pop filter features a dual-screen mesh that, as you may have already guessed, filters out plosives twice by using the first layer to redirect the air, the space in between both filters to reduce air pressure, and the second filter to disperse more of the air to produce only quality sound.
The ASFSS6GB Dual-Screen Pop Blocker comes in a round shape that covers most of the angles around your mic, ensuring that air coming from your mouth doesn’t find a way to reach the mic, effectively reducing or eliminating your plosives.
Unlike other filters, the filter doesn’t change the color or quality of your voice or sound, so all it really does is serve its purpose of reducing the annoying plosives.
However, the gooseneck of the pop filter can feel quite flimsy, so you’d have to be extra careful when handling and adjusting it to a good angle that covers your mic, lest you cause permanent damage rendering it useless.
Pros
- Dual-mesh filter
- Doesn’t change the color of sound
- 6-inch round pop filter
- Effective in reducing plosives
Cons
- Flimsy gooseneck
Shure PS-6 Popper Stopper Pop Filter
Talking about thicker pop filters, the Shure PS-6 Popper Stopper Pop Filter comes out at the top of the list, being a 4-layered nylon pop filter with a sturdy yet highly adjustable gooseneck.
The 4 layers of nylon mesh mean that the Popper Stopper Pop Filter is so much more effective at reducing the plosives you produce, without ever compromising the quality nor color of it, effectively doing what it was made to do.
The 14-inch gooseneck is one of the longest goosenecks as compared to other products, making it easier for you to adjust it from your mic stand without having to install the clamp closer to the mic, allowing you to put it at a comfortable angle that suits your play style.
The pop filter also comes in a round shape with a diameter of 6 inches covering most of the microphone, allowing you to move around the mic better than smaller pop filters would let you.
You may find that the design quality of the pop filter can be quite frustrating despite its quality build, but if you don’t mind having to adjust a couple of components every now and then, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Pros
- Durable build
- 4-layer nylon mesh
- 6-inch round pop filter
- Doesn’t compromise sound color
Cons
- Design quality can be frustrating
Blue The Pop
Some people like to have their mics in a vertical position while recording, while others prefer having it at an angled position, and if you find that you prefer the former, then Blue The Pop is a good pop filter for you.
Blue The Pop pop filters come in a curved shape, covering most of the sides of your mic while sacrificing the top, which is why it’s good for people who like their mics in a vertical position.
The filter attaches to your microphone stand with a clamp, which means you’ll have to stay in one place while recording since you can’t bring the mic stand around.
The filter is made of metal, which means it’s durable and good at reducing the pops coming from your mouth, even if the holes are not angled to redirect the direction of the wind.
However, if you do find yourself closer to the filter or the mic, some plosives can still be audible, disrupting what could have been a high-quality sound, so just maintain your distance and the filter will do perfectly.
Pros
- Metal pop filter
- Curved design covers a lot of angles
- The gooseneck is easily adjustable
- Sturdy and easy to clean
Cons
- Staying too close makes plosives more audible
WindTech PopGard 2000
The WindTech PopGrad 2000 stands out as the best overall pop filter because it works well for those who like to carry their mic around when recording!
The pop filter has two elastic bands that allow you to directly attach it to the microphone, eliminating the need to install gooseneck clamps to microphone stands and adjusting only the angle from the gooseneck alone.
The filter itself is made of a hydrophobic material that wicks away moisture, providing further protection for your microphone as less of your saliva will get on the head, preserving its components.
The elastic bands remain secured over the microphone over time, but are also easy to remove especially if you’re transporting your gear to different places.
However, because the filter fits on the mic using elastic bands, this also means that you can’t adjust the distance between the mic and the filter, which also means that you would have to mind the distance between you and the filter to make sure it works effectively.
Pros
- Curved design covers a lot of angles
- Attaches to microphone directly
- Hydrophobic filter wicks away moisture
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Distance between the mic and filter is constant
Aspen Pittman Designs PFM+ Magnetic Pop Filter
Another great metal pop filter is the Aspen Pittman Design PFM+ Magnetic Pop Filter, as it has a unique shape than most pop filters and features a magnet attachment mechanism.
The metal filter has a rounded rectangular shape that is slightly curved to cover most of the angles when you move a lot, so you won’t have to worry about constantly adjusting it so it fits your style.
Despite its magnetic feature and metal filter, the filter doesn’t reduce the quality of the sound your mic picks up, while still perfectly working to reduce and completely eliminate most plosives.
However, you – along with other customers – may find that the magnetic pop filter has a pretty weak magnetism, as it easily falls off where it was attached if too much movement or force is applied, so be careful when handling and moving the filter around.
Pros
- Rounded rectangle shape
- Metal filter
- Magnet and gooseneck attachments
- Durable and easy to clean
Cons
- Magnet attachment is easy to detach
Neumann PS 20 a Pop Screen
The Neumann PS 20 a Pop Screen is a thin pop filter that works best when paired with other pop filters.
Because of how thin the Neumann PS 20 a looks, you’d tend to think that it might not do well alone, but while it is an effective pop filter alone, it does its best at filtering plosives when place over or behind another metal pop filter, making it that much more effective.
The filter is attached to a 12-inch gooseneck, which is more than enough for adjusting it at an angle that works great for layering it with another pop filter, letting you set up your gear just how you want!
Pros
- 12-inch gooseneck
- 7-inch round pop filter
- Easy to clean
- Does not affect sound quality
Cons
- The thin filter can be easy to break
Gator Rok-It Nylon Pop Filter
The Gator Rok-It Nylon Pop is a single-layered pop filter that is more capable than it looks.
It earns the title of Best Nylon Pop Filter because of its high-quality build and great functionality despite being a single-mesh pop filter, as it eliminates quite a lot of the plosives from most sounds.
Furthermore, its durability shines most while it is being cleaned, as it is quite a resilient filter when washed and cleaned with water and some detergent.
It does have a faint smell of strong chemicals when you stand close to it causing you to get nauseous the longer you stay close to it, so try to have it washed or just keep your distance if you can’t wait to test out the product.
Pros
- 11.5-inch gooseneck
- 6-inch nylon filter
- The single-layered filter removes plosives without sacrificing sound quality
- Durable build
Cons
- Faint chemical smell when standing close to it
Buying Guide
Despite the multitude of pop filters in the market, there are actually only very few factors to consider when buying one, and I’ve listed them down to help make it easier for you to choose!
Material
The two kinds of materials a pop filter can be made of are classic nylon and metal, both of which have their own advantages and disadvantages, while some filters use a combination of both.
Nylon filters are usually much more delicate than metal filters and block out the higher frequencies, while metal filters tend to accentuate the higher frequencies that it can sometimes create a whistling sound in some audio clips.
Size
Size matters when it comes to talking about pop filters, as larger sizes are recommended if you like to move around your mic while recording, probably because it helps you produce better sounds.
Size can also affect the price at which pop filters come, as more material would also mean greater expenses.
Shape
Recently, pop filters have started to come in different shapes, be it to suit the general population’s aesthetics or for pure sound engineering reasons.
Consider the shape of your pop filter for the situation that you use it in, whether you want it to cover your face or not or you’d tend to move around it while using the microphone.
FAQs
Which is better, metal or nylon pop filters?
Choosing from either nylon or metal pop filters completely depends on the type of sound you produce, so if you like to maintain the higher frequencies then you should go for the metal filters, whereas if you prefer a deeper sound without much of the higher frequencies, you should opt for the nylon.
Is it good to always use a combination of two different filters?
Some people like to combine both metal and nylon filters, but while this makes both more effective at eliminating pops, it also means that both disadvantages of metal and nylon filters are combined into one, except for the loss of higher frequencies which still occurs due to the presence of nylon filters.
Editor’s Choice
There are many kinds of pop filters in the market, and what may be the best for me does not necessarily mean the best universally, as choosing a pop filter always boils down to preference and the situation you are in.
I find that the WindTech PopGard 2000 works best for me because I can easily bring it around with me and cover a lot of the angles at which sound meets the mic, effectively reducing the bothersome plosives that ruin crisp audio quality.