Summary and Rating: Shure SM7B vs SM58
Pros – Shure SM7B
- Iconic broadcast sound
- Versatile
- Warm, flattering sound on most everything
- Good for recording in untreated environments
Pros – Shure SM58
- The most popular vocal microphone
- Built like a tank and nearly all the parts are replaceable
- Great value
- Can also work as a utility mic around the studio or stage, depending on taste
Cons – Shure SM7B
- Heavy
Cons – Shure SM58
- There are more detailed, crisper vocal mics out there, albeit, at a higher price.
Introducing the Shure SM7B and SM58
The SM7B and SM58 are iconic microphones both excellent at what they were designed to do.
Both these beasts are dynamic microphones. (See here for this year’s roundup of our favorite dynamic mics) For live stages and broadcast settings, dynamic microphones are the trusted choice due to their reliability and resilience. They’re generally more affordable and more durable than condensers.
Like other dynamic mics, these mics provide excellent rejection of surrounding noise, operate without requiring phantom power, produce very low self-noise, and are highly capable of managing high sound pressure levels (SPL).
Who are these mics for?
The SM7B is for professional recordists of all types. Its iconic sound can be used for a wide variety of studio applications and is especially great for spoken word or sung vocals.
Because the SM7B is a dynamic mic, it has excellent unwanted noise rejection. For this reason, the mic is also great for recording in untreated spaces.
Shure SM58
If you’re looking for a durable, do-it-all, affordable workhorse for live and studio use, this is an industry standard go-to microphone. With good mic placement and a little trial-and-error with how you play, how you sing, or how you speak, you can get sound in the range of good to really good which can then be enhanced in post-production.
The SM58 is designed for live vocals. When dealing with intense live setups, noisy environments, or loud sound sources, dynamic microphones are unmatched.
Who are these mics NOT for?
Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is not recommended for the following applications:
- Recording ensembles, or the ambient sound of a room.
- Applications that require the lush detail and high sensitivity of a condenser mic.
- Applications that require polar patterns other than cardioid.
- Field recording. For field recording, we would recommend the Shure MV88.
Shure SM58
If you’re looking for a studio mic to capture loads of detail for vocals or stringed instruments or piano, a nice condenser like the Neumann TLM 102 or a do-it-all budget condenser like the AKG P420 would be a more obvious choice. Or if you want something that gives a more accurate reproduction, not so radio-voice colored, a condenser would be better. For live gigs, I prefer the Sennheieser e935 to the SM58 for vocals, but neither the SM57 nor the SM58 will do you wrong.
For podcasters, the SM58 requires an audio interface with a preamp to function properly. If you’re looking for a standalone, plug-and-play option, seek other options. Something like the Blue Yeti might be more what you’re looking for.
See here for all of our audio gear reviews and here for other comparisons of microphones.
Alternatives to these Microphones
Electrovoice RE20
A multi-purpose microphone with unique characteristics. Its large sweet spot, minimal proximity effect, and excellent detail, combine for a very natural sound.
Check Price:
Shure MV7
A great value dynamic mic with excellent sound on spoken word applications.
Check Price:
Telefunken M80
One of the best handheld vocal mics out there. Modern, bright, detailed sound, but never too thin.
Check Price:
Sennheiser E935
Sounds like an SM58 with more detail. Great choice for live vocals.
Check Price:
What’s in the box?
Shure SM7B
- The Mic (With built-in shockmount system and pop filter)
- Detachable Windscreen
Shure SM58
- The Mic
- Zip-up carry case
- Clip Mount
Specs Compared
Shure SM7B
- Frequency Response – 50 Hz – 15 KHz
- Polar Pattern(s) – Cardioid
- Sensitivity – 1.12 mV/Pa
- Self-noise – n/a
- Max SPL– 180 dB
- Impedance – 150 Ohms
- Weight – 765 g
- Attenuation Pad – None
- On-board Filter – – High-pass Filter (below 400 Hz)- Presence-boost ( 3 dB from 2k-4kHz)
Shure SM58
- Frequency Response – 50 Hz – 15 KHz
- Polar Pattern(s) – Cardioid
- Sensitivity – 1.85 mV/Pa
- Self-noise – n/a
- Max SPL– n/a
- Impedance – 150 Ohms
- Weight – 298 g
- Attenuation Pad – None
- On-board Filter – None
Build / Design
Shure SM7B
The SM7B is a good-sized mic. With its built-in air-suspension shock and vibration isolator, she weighs in at 784 grams. The mic has a low impedance of 150 Ohms.
The benefit of the design is that you will not need a shockmount or pop filter. It also has a humbucking coil to shield the mic from electromagnetic interference. The mic, however, definitely requires a strong mic stand.
The mic has backplate switches for bass roll-off, and presence boost (upper mids boost of about 3dB).
It is important to note that the SM7B requires more gain (about 60dB) from your preamp than most condenser mics. We recommend using a Cloudlifter if your interface or preamp doesn’t have enough juice. This is a fail-safe way to provide an extra 20-25 dB of clean gain.
Shure SM58
The SM58 is built like a tank and nearly all the parts are replaceable.
People have put these things in microwaves, dropped them from buildings, and frozen them in carbonite and somehow the mic still works. (Look it up if you’re bored)
The SM58 has a ball grille with a built-in wind and pop filter with a Unidyne III capsule inside.
Frequency Response Diagram Shure SM7B
Frequency Response Diagram Shure SM58
Shure SM7B vs SM58 Test Drive – Audio Clips
We used a Universal Audio Apollo Solo Interface recorded with Logic Pro X. There is no EQ or compression applied to any of the audio clips here. We adjusted the gain from the audio interface to taste. As a reminder, we test everything on this site ourselves.
Full disclosure: We fully acknowledge that there is no one way to use a microphone. Mic placement, how you play or sing, not to mention EQ, compression, Impedance, and preamp settings can all have dramatic effects on the final result.
Spoken Vocals Tests
Shure SM7B
Shure SM58
Sung Vocals Test
Shure SM7B
Shure SM58
Acoustic Guitar Test
Shure SM7B
Shure SM58
Conclusions about the sound: Shure SM7B vs Shure SM58
SM7B
The SM7B delivers an iconic, smooth performance with a wide range of applications. It is a versatile dynamic mic. In addition to its iconic spoken word performance, it works wonderfully on sung vocals, guitars, and other musical applications.
The advantage of the SM7B is its ability to emphasize sound sources in a smooth, flattering way. Its sound is not always the most accurate or realistic, but it will always sound rose-colored in an SM7B kind of way.
The sound of the SM7B is less detailed than condenser mics, which is sometimes a good thing. Its proximity effect can be used to your advantage by simply placing the mic closer to the source for the added low end.
SM58
The SM58 for will provide you with a usable sound no matter the application. That’s what makes it a wonder of engineering. With some EQ and compression, you could get away with this setup for a lot of gigs and recordings.
The SM58 has a lack of detail, and some complain about the ‘boxy’ sound of it. But, it will always provide a workable sound.
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