On-Stage SMS7650

The On-Stage Stands SMS7650 is a studio microphone boom stand. It is the cheapest of the large overhead studio booms, for a reason. That is not to say it is bad; it is simply that one gets what one pays for with quality, and despite the fact that is is the cheapest of the studio booms from all the large stand companies, at a healthy $120, it is still a quality piece of equipment that you can't really go wrong with the On-Stage Stands SMS7650.

This stand comes with a relatively heavy hex base with an option to attach three included casters. This is incredibly useful; the stand is enormously heavy compared to smaller stands, obviously, and lifting it up to move it is next to impossible, especially since you may have a very expensive microphone mounted on it. The casters are quite a pain to attach though.

The boom stand itself is quite solid, although it does tend to droop when fully extended. An issue I find with the stand as with other solid stands is that the boom adjusts in increments. This is because the locking mechanism is two knobs with grooves like gears; when they are loosened, they can move freely, but when tightened, they tessellate and stack on each other, making it impossible for them to move. Unfortunately, these "gears" only occur every so often, so that means that no matter how much you tighten, you'll see the boom adjust in approximately half-foot increments. This is mitigated by the adjustable end on the arm. The adjustable counter-weight is also a nice touch.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all, despite the fact that the On-Stage Stands SMS7650 is the cheapest in its class, it is still in its class, meaning that it will without fail hold up even your heaviest microphones well. I wouldn't exactly call it road worthy, however, so I would never pack it anywhere, but if it's sitting in your studio, it will work fine.

For $120, I heartily recommend this stand.