The great debate… which vocal microphone is the best.
Today we’ll cover two big shots, both of which i’m a big fan of.
Both excellent microphones for home recording, remote recording, and, OF COURSE, LIVE!
First Look
Its the first thing we notice… the looks. For some it matters, others don’t care.
The Shure SM58 is the standard. You see it, and know what it is. Internationally beloved.
The Sennheiser E835 has a slicker look. No shiney silver windscreen, grey and black, through and through. Slick.
Price
Both Mics retail for between $89-99.
Sound
Now that we’re done gawking and checking our wallets its time for the real reason these two are up against eachother. Zie Sound.
Both sound good for a live microphone. The Shure SM58 has been used for 40 years remaining nearly unchanged. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke. The Sennheiser E835 is a relative new comer, but with that comes a new outlook and new technology.
As a subjective opinion, I’d say the Sennheiser E835 is a little more clear, and a little less muddy than the Shure SM58. It can handle not only a normal hands-off the windscreen user, as well as a hands-on/around user (see Hip-Hop/Hardcore).
But lets not rely on my opinions, lets see some facts. (These facts are readily Available on Shure or Sennheiser’s websites on their Spec Sheets)
(Please see below for “what does this mean!?”)
Shure SM 58
Frequency Response 50 Hz – 15 kHz
Low Freq Roll Off @ 110 Hz
Freq Loss (Slight) @ 500 Hz
Freq Boost Between 1.25 kHz – 6 kHz. 8 kHz to 10 kHz.
High Freq Roll Off @ 10 kHz
Sennheiser E835
Frequency Response 40 Hz – 16 kHz
Low Freq Roll off @ 100 Hz
Freq Boost (Slight) Between 400 Hz – 1 kHz
Freq Boost Between 3 kHz – 7kHz
High Freq Roll Off @ 12 kHz
What does this mean!?
The Sennheiser E835 picks up a voice with a little more clarity, and a little bit more on the high and low end.
The Shure SM58 has similar patterns, but has a slight dip at 500 Hz (an area of sound that helps define pitch), and a slight dip at 7 kHz (high end of intelligibility).
The result is the Sennheiser E835 is slightly “better” sounding as far as hearing pitch and hearing intelligibility.
Durability
I’ve seen both the Shure SM58 and Sennheiser E835 take plenty of falls. Both handle the falls quite gracefully, and I’d feel comfortable hammering in a nail with them (OK, maybe not aesthetically).
My only issue with the durability of either Mic is the wind screen. As they become abused, the metal casing around the element becomes dented, nicked, and sometimes flattened. You can find a windscreen replacement for a Shure SM58 at any Guitar Center/Sam Ash/Local Music Store with ease. Finding a replacement windscreen for a Sennheiser E835 is a little more of a challenge. Ordering is usually necessary.
