Shure SM81 Vs Shure KSM137 Review
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Shure SM81-LC Cardioid Condenser Instrument Microphone for Guitar, Piano, and Cymbals | PrimeEligible | Buy Now On Amazon | |
 | Shure KSM137/SL Stereo Pair | Prime | Buy Now On Amazon |
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Shure SM81
As mentioned in several other guides, you can trust the Shure brand to make premium quality products that match customer satisfaction.
This explains why you will find several of their products rated among the best when you visit the market or a shopping site. In addition, their microphones are known to have impressive quality and build.
There are so many features a Shure microphone comes with that make it deliver the best performance. In addition, the Shure SM81 microphone carries the same quality and trademark the Shure brand is recognized for.
This microphone is top-rated in performance, sound quality, features, and several other exciting aspects. We encourage you to continue reading this guide to find out all you should know about this microphone.
From past users’ feedbacks, the Shure SM81 microphone has a neutral and transparent design combined with an electric bias, making it the best studio microphone when working with guitars, pianos, and cymbals.
However, this doesn’t mean using this high-quality microphone is limited to three instruments alone. Still, its unique and simple design makes it an excellent choice to work with several other instruments.
This is one of the best industry-standard microphones designed to work with a wide range of instruments. However, the fact remains that there are several high-quality microphones with exciting features that will not deliver the level of performance the Shure SM81 microphone delivers.
The Shure SM81 microphone will best several other microphones in terms of quality, making it a fine and solidly constructed microphone within its price range.
Delivering consistent highs, low distortion sounds, low quality ends, and a great sound definition are some of the fantastic benefits that the Shure SM81 microphone is known for.
Selling for fifty percent off the regular price of a higher quality microphone makes it a good score for any vocalist, guitarist, pianist, or sound engineer. In addition, anyone prepared to work with high voltage sensitivity will be pleased with this microphone, which is why it is excellent for milking guitars.
So many guitarists fell in love with the Shure SM81 microphone because of its ability to deliver a shallow end, exceptional sound crispness, and definitive and vibrant sound performance. However, there are more reasons why the Shure SM81 is one of the most loved and most talked-about microphones.
We advise you to take time out to learn and master how to position this microphone and how pointing the microphone away from the hole is a good way of achieving desirable results.
Regardless of any application you use, the Shure SM81 microphone guarantees crystal clear and bright sounds. However, the emphasis still has to be placed on how you position this microphone for use.
The Shure SM81 is said to be irreplaceable when used or combined with an overhead. It is because it causes high sound pressure level control you haven’t seen in any other microphone. It produces uncolored highs, low distortion sound performance, and crisp sound performance.
The microphone and overhead have a good relationship. You do not need to pair them to obtain an outstanding sound performance. Using this microphone with a not too deep sound percussion instrument will produce natural and clear sounds.
Combining the Shure SM81 microphone with bells, triangles, and tambourines will deliver an outstanding sound performance, and do you still doubt this brand in making high-quality microphones?
Durability is another word we can use to describe the Shure SM81 microphone. Being produced using high-quality materials means this microphone will last for decades without dropping its level of performance.
It boasts a solid material build that makes it last for a long time, and you can get to work immediately. This microphone arrives as it comes with all the necessary accessories that you need.
Its accessory includes a plastic case, stand clips, and wind foams, making the Shure SM81 microphone the best for use outdoors.
However, most people complain about the Shure SM81 microphone because it doesn’t have a shock mount. Interestingly, this microphone isn’t a handheld microphone. Another point that puts people off about the Shure SM81 microphone; meanwhile, an item like this cannot have it all.
Sensitivity is another area where this microphone might be lacking a bit, but we cannot deny the fact that this microphone has an exceptional self-noise function.
Pros
- Its sounds are clear and pure
- It has a rock-solid construction
- It is versatile, making it perfect for use in several fields
Cons
- Despite being affordable, some customers found it expensive
- It doesn’t have an internal shock mount
- It is not a handheld microphone
- This microphone requires phantom power and performs best with a 48 Vdc supply (IEC-61938).
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Shure SM81 Vs Shure KSM137 Review
Shure KSM137
It is common for large-diaphragm microphones to receive all the praises and hype when microphones are being discussed. Still, there are specific places or areas where small diaphragm microphones play good roles too.
Small diaphragm microphones will thrive and succeed in areas like recording using acoustic instruments, and you will find several small diaphragm microphones that will function perfectly in this field.
The microphones in question here are designed by brands you are familiar with, and you will find these brands very affordable when you go out to shop for a microphone.
The Shure KSM137 microphone is one of the best budget microphones that betters fill into this category of small diaphragm microphones, and having a simple structure and design makes this easy to use in several applications.
Combining an ‘end address’ design and a fixed cardioid pattern means users should point this microphone towards the recording instrument. Pointing this microphone to the side means you are not going to capture the sound quality you want. We mentioned earlier that there are several areas or fields where you would enjoy working with the Shure KSM137 microphone.
However, milking kick drums, acoustic and electric instruments, overhead instruments, brass, woodwind, and double bass drums are specific areas they do very well. There are few similarities between the Shure KSM141 and Shure KSM137 microphones, but their only difference lies in having different polar patterns.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use them in the same application. Still, you can achieve the desired transient response you want from the Shure KSM137 microphone because of its thin, low mass; gold splattered diaphragm. This makes it possible for this microphone to produce high-quality and crystal clear sounds.
Having a Class-A transformer-less, low noise, and low distortion design also contributes to the ability of this microphone to give off these fantastic sound experiences, and the design of this microphone is what attracts people to it.
It is designed with premium quality components and materials alone that make it durable, and you can count on us when we say this microphone has gold-plated external and internal connectors. It helps maintain low resistance, and what users also love about this microphone is its ability to fight the proximity effect.
This is made possible because of its three-position, low-cut, recessed switch, and another function of this switch is fighting off low-frequency noise. There are several features the Shure KSM137 microphone boasts of, and all of these features come together to deliver a fantastic sound performance.
Surprisingly, the Shure KSM137 microphone comes with a subsonic filter for filtering off mechanical vibrations. Of course, you can only find this filter in very expensive microphones, but the Shure brand is tasked with ensuring that you get the best from the best. This tells you the standard of this microphone equals that of another highly-priced microphone, and it comes with a shock mount and plastic protective case.
Its protective case makes storage and transportation easy. At the same time, its shock mount helps fight off unwanted vibrations that will affect your sound performance. On the other hand, the Shure KSM141 microphone features both a cardioid and omnidirectional polar pattern.
This explains why it is considered an unusual microphone too so many people. Still, the Shure KSM137 microphone has the super-cardioid polar pattern alone. As a result, people new to working with microphones know only a few brands they can trust, and the Shure brand is one of them.
It is designed to be rugged, making it the best for use in live applications. However, this microphone was designed for studio use as the initial plan, but its versatility is another feature that speaks for it. Additionally, users will find this microphone attractive as it is capable of handling high sound pressure levels.
It is ideal for recording instruments, so versatility, durability, and precision are three powerful words used in describing the Shure KSM137 microphone. In addition, it has an outstanding design that makes it an excellent microphone to work with, and handling high sound pressure levels comfortably is possible thanks to the pad it comes with. Listed below are the KSM137’s performance characteristics.
Performance Characteristics
- It is capable of withstanding high sound pressure levels
- It offers a high sound output
- It provides a uniform polar response
- It has a unique standard mode rejection design
What we also find interesting about this microphone is the fact that it can be purchased as a studio pair. It also comes with every necessary accessory required to get to work, taking away the stress of shopping for additional accessories when it eventually arrives.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Shure SM81 Vs Shure KSM137 Comparison
The Shure SM81 microphone is a directed, high-quality condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, making it the best for broadcasting and studio recording. It is considered a standard in the microphone industry because of specific attributes like low noise sensitivity, inherent noise, wide frequency range, and a linear design. This is why it is the best for drums, piano, and guitars.
You should also know that the robust microphone functions on phantom power and functions reliably well under humid and extreme conditions. Its 10DB attenuation and three-way switchable filter are some features this microphone is equipped with. In addition, its cardioid pattern ensures that background noise and noise from the signal source are eliminated.
So many users have described this microphone as a great microphone that is very versatile. Delivering nice and clean sounds is possible when used with acoustic guitars and overhead drums.
The Shure KSM137, on the other hand, is a bit similar to the Shure SM81 microphone in the sense that it also uses a fixed and consistent cardioid polar pattern. In addition, It comes with a switchable 15DB attenuation pad for handling high sound pressure levels, and it will handle extremely high sound pressure levels with its 3-position switchable pads. Having an extended frequency response and self-noise design are some of the favorite features this microphone possesses.
Judging from the features of both microphones, you can tell they are very similar and can be used in almost the same application. For example, you can use the Shure KSM137 microphone for guitar, piano, brass, strings, wind, and percussion instruments. Delivering a swift transient response is another feature, so many users admire about this microphone.
Both microphones are top-rated microphones on the market. Moreover, their affordability makes them a favorite among many users today. Interestingly, you do not have to spend so much in obtaining the sound quality of your choice anymore. Whatever sound you want to obtain, the Shure SM81 and KSM137 microphones will provide at an affordable price tag.
They are standard quality microphones that so many inferior microphones and brands look up to on the market. Finally, shopping for additional accessories to work with will not be necessary as both microphones come with all accessories you need to get to work.
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