Home Microphones Shure Sm58 Vs. Shure Sm7B

Shure Sm58 Vs. Shure Sm7B Review

Last updated on Mar 2, 2024   3 minute read
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Shure SM58

Shure SM58

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Reasons why you might like the Shure SM58

Overall Score 5.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Is Dynamic Type Of Microphone
  • Has Cardioid Pattern
VS
Shure SM7B

Shure SM7B

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Reasons why you might like the Shure SM7B

Overall Score 5.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Is Dynamic Type Of Microphone
  • Has Cardioid Pattern

Shure Sm58 Vs. Shure Sm7B Review In Summary

Category Features Shure SM58 Shure SM7B
DESIGN is dynamic type of microphone
has xlr connection
comes with a shock mount
comes with a pop filter
FEATURES has cardioid pattern
lowest frequency 50Hz 50Hz
highest frequency 15,000Hz 20,000Hz
microphone sensitivity 1.6mV/Pa 1.1mV/Pa
EXTRAS compatible devices Personal Computer. PC.
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Shure Sm58 Vs. Shure Sm7B Review In Detail

Design

Is Dynamic Type Of Microphone

Shure SM58
Shure SM7B

Shure SM58 being dynamic works relatively simple like a speaker in reverse, inside a magnetic field is a small coil of wire, that is attached to a diaphragm which moves with the sound vibrations. The coil converts the movement into an electrical energy that can be recorded.

Both Shure SM7B and Shure SM58 are considered dynamic microphones, these work well in noisy places. A dynamic mic is not as senstive to sounds that are farther than a few feet away, giving you natural isolation that can save you from undesired acoustics.

Has Xlr Connection

Shure SM58
Shure SM7B

When you desire a higher-qualisVersed != true | When you desire a higher-quality

isVersed != true | If you want a sound for your podcast, choose an XLR mic such as the Shure SM7B. However, XLR mics can be expensive, less convenient to travel with, and need the purchase of an audio interface, they typically produce audio of better quality than USB microphones

Comes With A Shock Mount

Shure SM58
Shure SM7B

The Shure SM58 comes with a shock mount, most condenser mics include a shock mount, which is circular and make use of an elastic suspension that helps reduce vibrations transferred by that can cause audio interference.

Both Shure SM7B and Shure SM58, come with shock mounts, for any studio style microphones regardless of type, whether dynamic, condenser, or ribbon should have a shock mount for better possible recording. However, handheld dynamic mics generally don’t need a separate shock mount, as they have one built-in.

Comes With A Pop Filter

Shure SM58
Shure SM7B

Shure SM58 comes with a pop filter, pop filters are a great tool for improving your audio. A pop filter diffuses the pressure of the air coming from certain vocal sounds, for example, sibilants (s sounds). This helps capture a cleaner recording without annoying “popping” sounds.

Like the Shure SM58, Shure SM7B also comes with a pop filter, commonly condenser microphones do not have built-in pop filters like most dynamic microphones.

Features

Has Cardioid Pattern

Shure SM58
Shure SM7B

Shure SM58 has the cardioid pattern, mics that use this pattern have a wide on-axis reception area and max rejection at 180 degrees off-axis. To further explain, this pattern is more directional and sensitive to the front of the microphone in the on-axis position, with a decrease in sensitivity in the sides and a zero point in the base of the mic.

Both Shure SM7B and Shure SM58 use the cardioid polar pattern, a 1:1 combination of the Omnidirectional & Bidirectional. The combination creates a heart-like pattern when plotted on a 360-degree sphere.

Lowest Frequency

Shure SM58 50Hz
Shure SM7B 50Hz

Shure SM58 has its lowest frequency at 50Hz, a microphone with a low frequency below 30Hz is good for miking, and toms, or if you're looking for a bass drum mic.

Shure SM7B's lowest frequency is at 50Hz, this implies that both devices have equal low frequency

Highest Frequency

Shure SM58 15,000Hz
Shure SM7B 20,000Hz

Shure SM58's upper limiting frequency is 15,000Hz, which implies that sound waves at a frequency above this will not be recorded. In a perfect world, a microphone's frequency response would be a one-to-one reproduction, in reality, some vibrations are lost during the process and bits of the information never makes it to the output recording.

Shure SM7B's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that Shure SM7B got a higher frequency than the Shure SM58

Microphone Sensitivity

Shure SM58 1.6mV/Pa
Shure SM7B 1.1mV/Pa

Shure SM58's sensitivity is measured at 1.6mV/Pa, this tells you what the electrical output of a microphone will be for a given acoustic input. The higher the number, the more sensitive the microphone is.

Shure SM7B's sensitivity is 1.1mV/Pa, which means that Shure SM58 got a higher sensitivity meaning it will "pick up" quieter sounds than the Shure SM7B, microphone sensitivity is measurement of it's efficiency as a transducer i.e. how well it converts acoustical energy to electrical energy.

Extras

Compatible Devices

Shure SM58 Personal Computer.
Shure SM7B PC.

Shure SM58 is compatible with Personal Computer.

The Shure SM7B can work well with PC..