Tier 2 · Rank #7

Yamaha — pianos, motorcycles, mixers, and yes, microphones

Yamaha is one of the largest musical instrument and audio companies in the world. They sell pianos, drums, guitars, motorcycles, jet skis, and a whole lot of pro audio gear — including their own line of microphones, plus the brands they own (Steinberg software, NEXO PA speakers, and others).

Founded1887

HQHamamatsu, Japan

OwnershipPublic (Tokyo Stock Exchange)

Group revenue~$3+ billion (audio + instruments)

What they make

Mostly mixers, monitors, and live sound — mics are a side dish

Yamaha’s pro audio division is enormous, but it’s built around digital mixing consoles (the CL, QL, and Rivage PM series), powered speakers, and recording gear. Microphones are real but smaller — both standalone Yamaha models and the YCM line aimed squarely at the streamer/podcaster market.

The famous mics

Yamaha microphones worth knowing

YCM01 / YCM01U — small white condenser in either XLR or USB form. Streamer-friendly.
YDM707 — broadcast-style dynamic. Yamaha’s answer to the SM7B family.
SubKick / SKRM-100 — a 6.5-inch speaker turned into a microphone for kick drums. Captures the deep low-end other mics miss.
YAM-1B (vintage) — Yamaha condensers from the 1980s, sometimes still found used.

Should you buy one?

The short answer

Get a Yamaha if You’re building a Yamaha-based setup (their AG mixers pair beautifully with their YCM mics), or you’re recording a kick drum and want a SubKick to capture the room thump.

Skip Yamaha if You want the deepest catalog. Audio-Technica and Rode offer many more options at every price point.