Audio-Technica’s AT2020 is a cardioid condenser microphone with XLR connection.
A condenser microphone records small sounds in fine detail. It is often used to record singing and narration.
In this article we rate it on 5 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 32 microphones we compare.
Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.
Score 2.6 / 5 (average of the 32 models compared: 3.3)
- Specs last checked
- 2026/10/19
- Self-noise
- 20dB(A)
- Sensitivity
- 14.1mV/Pa
- Weight
- 345g
- Max SPL
- 144dB
- Price (store, date)
- Not disclosed
Figure: SoundBounty
Summary
Among the 32 microphones, AT2020 is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 2.6.
Strengths
- Handling of loud sound (144 dB, 4 points): Loud voices and instruments recorded up close are unlikely to distort.
- Lightness (345 g, 4 points): It is light, so there is little load on the microphone stand.
Things to keep in mind
- Quietness (20 dB(A), 2 points): The microphone itself makes a little more noise, which can be noticeable in quiet songs.
- Sensitivity (14.1 mV/Pa, 2 points): Sensitivity is low, so you need to turn the gain knob on the audio interface up a lot.
- Features (0 of 3, 1 point): It has few or no switches, so adjustments are made on the audio interface or the computer.
Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people who record loud voices or instruments up close; people who want to go easy on the microphone stand.
Main features of AT2020
A long seller since 2006
Released in 2006, this is Audio-Technica’s entry-level condenser microphone. According to the official page, worldwide sales have passed 2 million units (as of August 2024). It is presented as a good-value model for home recording and video streaming.
A side-address type: you speak into the side
It is a “side-address” type, which you point at your voice with its side facing you. The pickup pattern is cardioid, which reduces sound from the sides and back and picks up mainly the sound in front. Aiming the microphone correctly at your voice is the first step to a clean recording.
A stand mount and a pouch are included
It comes with a dedicated stand mount (AT8466), an adapter screw that matches the thread of the stand, and a pouch for carrying. A shock mount, which keeps vibration from reaching the microphone, and a pop filter, which blocks plosive breaths, are sold separately; the official page introduces the shock mount AT8458a and the pop filter AT8175.
Video: official Audio-Technica YouTube channel (narration in Japanese) Watch on YouTube
Where it is useful
- Recording cover songs or singing with a guitar at home
- Getting your voice across clearly in game streaming or podcasts
- Pairing it with an audio interface as your first condenser microphone
Rating by criterion
Quietness: 2 / 5
How little of the small hiss the microphone itself makes (self-noise). The smaller the number, the quieter.
AT2020: 20 dB(A). That is a modest rating among the products we compared. The microphone itself makes a little more noise, which can be noticeable in quiet songs.
Sensitivity: 2 / 5
How large a signal the same voice produces (sensitivity). The bigger the number, the easier it is to get a good level from a quiet voice.
AT2020: 14.1 mV/Pa. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. Sensitivity is low, so you need to turn the gain knob on the audio interface up a lot.
Handling of loud sound: 4 / 5
How loud a sound it can record without distortion (maximum SPL).
AT2020: 144 dB. That is a high rating among the products we compared. Loud voices and instruments recorded up close are unlikely to distort.
Features: 1 / 5
How many of the pad (lowers loud sound), low-cut (reduces low noise) and pickup-pattern switch it has.
AT2020: 0 of 3. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. It has few or no switches, so adjustments are made on the audio interface or the computer.
Lightness: 4 / 5
The weight of the microphone. The lighter it is, the less load on the microphone stand.
AT2020: 345 g. That is a high rating among the products we compared. It is light, so there is little load on the microphone stand.
The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 32 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.
How we score (Microphones)
| Criterion | Basis | 5 pt | 4 pt | 3 pt | 2 pt | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quietness | Self-noise | ≤7 | ≤12 | ≤16 | ≤20 | >20 |
| Sensitivity | Sensitivity | ≥25 | ≥20 | ≥15 | ≥10 | <10 |
| Handling of loud sound | Maximum SPL (without the pad) | ≥148 | ≥144 | ≥140 | ≥135 | <135 |
| Features | Pad, low-cut and pickup-pattern switch | All 3 | 2 | 1 | — | None |
| Lightness | Weight | ≤300 | ≤350 | ≤400 | ≤450 | >450 |
Scored only on the body specifications published by the manufacturer. Price and accessories are not part of the score. Items that are not disclosed are not scored, and the rank is based on the average of the remaining items. Where a model publishes only the signal-to-noise ratio and not the self-noise, the self-noise is converted as "94 minus the signal-to-noise ratio".
AT2020 connection and getting started
| Connection | XLR (3-pin). Connect it to the microphone input of an audio interface or mixer (it cannot connect to a computer directly by USB) |
|---|---|
| Power | Phantom power (48 V, 2 mA) is required |
| In the box | Stand mount AT8466, adapter screw and pouch (an XLR cable is not included) |
| Other | The white model (AT2020 CWH) is exclusive to Audio-Technica’s online store |
Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.
Compared with other microphones
Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.
| Product | RankAvg. score | Self-noisedB(A) | SensitivitymV/Pa | Max SPLdB | Weightg | Shock mount | Pad | Low-cut | Price (store, date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-TechnicaAT2020 | B 2.6 | 20 | 14.1 | 144 | 345 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT2035 | A 3.8 | 12 | 22.4 | 148 | 403 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGP120 | B 2.8 | 19 | 24 | Not disclosed | 453 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| BehringerC-1 | C 2.3 | Not disclosed | 22.4 | 136 | 450 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT1 5th Gen | A 4.0 | 4 | 25 | 142 | 308 | ● | — | ● | Not disclosed |
| sE ElectronicsX1 A | B 3.0 | 16 | 20 | 130 | 390 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| MXL990 | C 1.6 | 20 | 15 | 130 | 544 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Austrian AudioOC16 | A 3.4 | 14 | 11 | 148 | 335 | ● | — | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4040 | A 4.0 | 12 | 25.1 | 145 | 360 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT2050 | B 3.0 | 17 | 7.9 | 149 | 412 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| NeumannTLM 102 | B 3.2 | 12 | 11 | 144 | 210 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| sE ElectronicsX1 S | A 3.6 | 9 | 30 | 140 | 445 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| NeumannTLM 103 | B 2.8 | 7 | 23 | 138 | 450 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| sE ElectronicssE2200 | B 2.8 | 8 | 24 | 125 | 611 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT1 Signature | A 3.6 | 4 | 25 | 142 | 313 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4050 | B 3.2 | 17 | 15.8 | 149 | 510 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4033a | A 3.6 | 17 | 25.1 | 145 | 380 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGC214 | A 3.6 | 13 | 20 | 136 | 280 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGC414 XLII | S 4.4 | 6 | 23 | 140 | 300 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGC414 XLS | S 4.4 | 6 | 23 | 140 | 300 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGP220 | B 3.0 | 16 | 20 | Not disclosed | 514 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT5040 | B 3.0 | 5 | 56.2 | 142 | 582 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4047/SV | A 3.6 | 9 | 17.7 | 149 | 410 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT2-A | A 3.6 | 7 | 16 | 147 | 860 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| LEWITTLCT 440 PURE | A 3.6 | 7 | 27.4 | 140 | 310 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| LEWITTLCT 240 PRO | B 2.6 | 19 | 16.7 | 142 | 310 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| LEWITTLCT 540 S | A 3.8 | 4 | 41 | 136 | 371 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Aston MicrophonesAston Origin | B 2.8 | 18 | 23.7 | 127 | Not disclosed | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Austrian AudioOC18 | A 3.8 | 9 | 13 | 148 | 335 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Austrian AudioOC818 | A 3.8 | 9 | 13 | 148 | 360 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| SennheiserMK 4 | B 2.8 | 10 | 25 | 140 | 485 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| NeumannTLM 107 | B 3.2 | 10 | 11 | 141 | 445 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
Specifications are the manufacturer's published values (checked September 25, 2026). The AT2035 self-noise is converted from the signal-to-noise ratio, the maximum SPL is the value without the pad, and the AKG P120 and P220 do not publish a value without the pad. The AT5040 sensitivity is converted from the published dB value. The Aston Origin does not publish its weight. USB microphones are compared separately in the USB microphone comparison.
Before you buy
- It needs phantom power (+48 V). This is an XLR condenser microphone, so connect it to an audio interface or mixer that can supply phantom power.
- Check what comes in the box. The manufacturer lists: Stand mount AT8466, adapter screw and pouch (an XLR cable is not included). Anything not on that list (a shock mount, a pop filter, cables and so on) you need to prepare separately.
- It has no pad or low-cut switch. When you need one, adjust with the audio interface or the DAW instead.
Read next
- TLM 102: features and rating (rank B)
- AT4050: features and rating (rank B)
- C414 XLII: features and rating (rank S)
- C414 XLS: features and rating (rank S)
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