What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £150 (~$200) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £128 (~$170) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £98 (~$130) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £68 (~$90) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £38 (~$50) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a microphone is worth what is being asked:
- Damaged capsules from drops or moisture
- Missing shock mounts, which are model-specific
- Failed phantom power circuits
- Cheap unbranded USB mics
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recognised studio and broadcast brands
- Undamaged capsules with clean response
- Original shock mount, case and cable
- Condenser and ribbon mics with a following
Common faults and fakes
Outright counterfeits are rare outside accessories, where fake chargers and cables are a genuine fire risk. The commoner problem is a device described as working that has a fault the seller knows about.
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a microphone, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
State it clearly. A buyer expecting to plug straight into a laptop cannot use an XLR mic without an interface, and that is a real additional cost.
Say so for condensers. Without a suitable interface or preamp the mic simply will not work.
Record a test and listen on headphones. Intermittent noise usually means a cable or connector fault and it must be disclosed.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Record a test sample and listen for noise or dropouts
- Check the grille for dents
- Confirm the shock mount and case are present
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The microphone whole, on its stand or mount
- The connector, showing USB or XLR
- All accessories laid out together
- The model marking, plus any dent, worn grille or damaged cable
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, model, and dynamic or condenser
- Connection type, and whether phantom power is required
- What accessories are included — stand, shock mount, pop shield, cable
- Whether it has been tested and any noise or intermittency
Live microphone listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse electronics for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady year round with a lift in September and January. Well-regarded models hold value strongly because microphones barely age.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a microphone sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell microphone for what to photograph and how to price, or what microphone is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used microphone?
Around £16 to £98 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a microphone before buying?
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
Is buying a microphone second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
See also: all buying guides · microphone value guide · selling microphone · Electronics · condition grades.