ReviewFinder Microphones

Shure SM57

🤖 Beep-boop. I can read reviews REALLY FAST and summarize. Do you have any questions about Shure SM57?
Sound Quality
Directionality
Connectivity
Features
Compatibility
Durability
Expand

8 Verified Hands-On Reviews

To combat fake reviews we only accept video reviews from verified channels. Each review must show the product and the face of the reviewer.

Expert reviews [8]

96
Total expert reviews: 8
  • with a score: 3
  • without a score: 5
Highest score by homestudiobasics.com
100
Average score based on 8 reviews
96
Lowest score by SoundGuys
89

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
89
A durable mic with a high loudness tolerance.
The Shure SM57 is a highly recommended microphone for musicians looking to record instruments or amplify live instruments. It is durable, versatile, and delivers clear audio, making it a great option for both amateurs and professionals.
+ pros
  • Durable and tough construction: The die-cast steel build of the Shure SM57 makes it highly resistant to damage and suitable for rough handling.
  • Versatile for recording instruments and vocals: While primarily designed for instrument recording, the SM57 also performs well for vocals, making it a versatile option for musicians.
  • Clear and present sound: The microphone is tuned to emphasize mid-range and treble frequencies, resulting in clear and detailed recordings of instruments and vocals.
  • Handles high sound pressure levels: The SM57 can handle loud sounds without introducing distortion, making it suitable for recording or amplifying instruments on stage.
  • No-frills design: The microphone is simple and straightforward, with no external power or dedicated pre-amp required.
- cons
  • Proximity effect: The microphone exhibits noticeable proximity effect, amplifying low notes when close miking, which can affect the accuracy of recordings, particularly for mobile performers.
  • Additional equipment required: To use the SM57, a mic stand, XLR cable, and a mixer, amplifier, or USB interface are necessary, adding to the overall cost.
  • Not ideal for recording acoustic instruments: While the SM57 can be used for recording acoustic instruments, a condenser mic may be better suited for capturing the subtle details and nuances of acoustic instruments.
The Shure SM57 is a durable and versatile dynamic microphone that is well-suited for podcasters who record on location or in the studio. It offers great audio quality and is affordable, but requires additional equipment such as a mixer or preamp to use.
+ pros
  • Affordable: The Shure SM57 is reasonably priced, making it accessible for podcasters on a budget.
  • Extremely tough and durable: The microphone is known for its durability, making it ideal for podcasters who frequently record on location or travel with their equipment.
  • Offers great vocal audio quality (when used with decent preamp or mixer): When paired with a good preamp or mixer, the SM57 provides high-quality vocal recordings.
  • Won't pick up too much external noise from other parts of your house, outside, etc: The dynamic nature of the microphone helps minimize unwanted external noise in recordings.
- cons
  • Can't be used without XLR cable, or preamp/mixer: The SM57 requires additional equipment, such as an XLR cable and preamp or mixer, to connect to a computer or recorder.
  • Susceptible to 'plosives' when used without a pop-shield: Without a pop shield, the SM57 can be sensitive to plosive sounds, which may affect the quality of recordings.
Show all 8 reviews
ReviewFinder: authentic product reviews summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility, making it a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings.

The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded by experts for its exceptional sound quality, durability, and versatility. It is praised for its clear and detailed reproduction of sound, with a wide frequency response range that accurately captures instruments and vocals. The microphone's dynamic transducer design and built-in presence contribute to its ability to provide solid clarity and depth in recordings.

It also performs well in rejecting background noise, making it suitable for live performances and studio recordings in noisy environments.

The SM57 has a cardioid polar pattern, which allows it to capture sound sources in close proximity with good accuracy. It is forgiving in terms of placement and can tolerate imprecise positioning, making it suitable for a variety of recording situations. However, if a wider range of angles is needed, a microphone with a different polar pattern may be more suitable.

In terms of connectivity, the SM57 offers multiple options including XLR cables, USB adaptor cables, and XLR cables with 1/4 inch jack plugs. This makes it compatible with a wide range of devices and setups, from professional audio interfaces to computers and smartphones. The microphone itself does not have built-in controls, but can easily be connected to devices that have these features.

The SM57 is highly durable and rugged, with a metal construction that can withstand rough handling and rigorous use. It is known for being practically indestructible and can endure drops, impacts, and extreme temperatures without suffering significant damage. This makes it a reliable choice for touring musicians, live audio engineers, and podcasters who record on location.

Overall, the Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility. It is a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings. Whether it's for professional audio setups, home recording, or on-location recordings, the SM57 delivers reliable performance and clear, accurate sound reproduction.

Sound Quality

The Shure SM57 is a highly regarded microphone known for its clear and detailed sound reproduction, wide frequency response range, and excellent noise cancellation capabilities, making it a popular choice for capturing instruments and vocals in live and studio settings.

The Shure SM57 is highly regarded for its sound quality, with experts praising its clear and detailed reproduction of sound. The microphone has a wide frequency response range of 40 Hz to 15 kHz, allowing it to accurately capture a variety of sound sources, particularly emphasizing midrange frequencies.

This makes it well-suited for capturing the nuances of instruments and vocals.

The SM57 is known for its ability to produce a clean and natural sound with solid clarity, making it a popular choice among musicians and producers. It is often used for instrument miking, but can also be used for recording vocals. While it has a fairly bright sound when used on vocals, it has been used by renowned artists for live performances and has achieved crisp and clear vocal renditions.

The microphone's design and engineering contribute to its ability to capture depth and richness of sound. Its dynamic transducer design accurately reproduces sound with a strong focus on midrange frequencies, resulting in a clean and natural sound reproduction. The built-in presence of the SM57 enhances its ability to provide solid clarity in recording or amplifying various sources.

In terms of noise cancellation and background noise reduction, the SM57 performs exceptionally well. It is designed to handle high sound pressure levels and effectively reject unwanted background noise, making it ideal for live applications. It is also effective at rejecting outside noise even with the gain turned up considerably, making it suitable for use in home studio settings.

Overall, the Shure SM57 is highly regarded for its sound quality, with its clear and detailed reproduction of sound, ability to capture depth and richness, and excellent noise cancellation and background noise reduction capabilities. It is a versatile microphone that excels in capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings.

Show product research

Directionality

The Shure SM57 is a versatile and forgiving microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, making it suitable for capturing sound sources in close proximity with good accuracy and rejecting unwanted noise.

The Shure SM57 microphone has a cardioid polar pattern, which means it primarily picks up sound directly in front of it and rejects sound from the sides and rear. This directional pattern allows the SM57 to capture sound sources in close proximity with good accuracy.

It is versatile and forgiving in terms of placement, making it suitable for a variety of recording situations.

The SM57 can tolerate imprecise placement and still deliver a good recording, making it suitable for capturing sound from different angles. However, if you need a microphone that can capture sound from a wider range of angles, you may want to consider a microphone with a different polar pattern.

In terms of picking up sound from different distances, the SM57 is designed to capture sound sources that are close to it. It is a dynamic microphone that minimizes unwanted external noise. However, it is recommended to keep a good six inches between the instrument and the microphone to avoid amplifying low notes too much.

The SM57 is well suited for recording in noisy environments. It is very good at rejecting outside noise even with the gain turned up considerably. This makes it ideal for capturing clear audio while minimizing background noise in live performances or studio recordings.

Overall, the Shure SM57 is a versatile and forgiving microphone with a cardioid polar pattern. It is suitable for capturing instruments, vocals, and other audio sources in studio recordings or live performances, and it performs well in noisy environments.

Show product research

Connectivity

The Shure SM57 microphone offers multiple connectivity options, including XLR cables, USB adaptor cables, and XLR cables with 1/4 inch jack plugs, to suit different needs and setups.

The Shure SM57 microphone offers multiple connectivity options to suit different needs and setups. The most common and recommended option is to use an XLR cable, which allows the microphone to be connected to mixers, preamps, recorders, and audio interfaces. This is ideal for professional audio setups.

For home recording purposes, the SM57 can be connected directly to a computer using a USB adaptor cable. This eliminates the need for additional audio equipment and provides a convenient solution for recording.

Another option is to use an XLR cable with a 1/4 inch jack plug, which provides flexibility when connecting to instruments, amplifiers, or other audio devices.

It's important to note that the SM57 microphone itself does not have multiple connectivity options built-in. The connectivity options mentioned above are achieved through the use of different cables or adaptors.

The audio transmission quality of the SM57 is consistent across different connectivity options. However, the overall performance may be influenced by the quality of the additional components used, such as cables or wireless systems. Investing in good-quality cables can ensure a clean and clear audio transmission.

In summary, the Shure SM57 microphone offers various connectivity options, including XLR cables, USB adaptor cables, and XLR cables with 1/4 inch jack plugs. These options cater to different needs, whether it be for professional audio setups, home recording, or connecting to instruments or amplifiers.

It's important to consider your specific requirements when choosing the right connectivity option for your SM57 microphone.

Show product research

Features

The Shure SM57 is a highly durable and versatile dynamic microphone that is commonly used for live sound reinforcement and recording applications, praised for its reliable performance and ability to capture clear and accurate sound in various settings.

Based on expert reviews, the Shure SM57 is a dynamic microphone that is highly regarded for its durability and versatility. It is commonly used for live sound reinforcement and recording applications. The microphone does not have a built-in headphone jack, mute button, or volume controls.

However, it can be easily connected to an audio interface or mixer that has these features for monitoring and adjusting the volume. The lack of these built-in controls is not seen as a drawback, as it allows for more flexibility in terms of customization and compatibility with different audio setups.

Overall, the Shure SM57 is praised for its reliable performance and ability to capture clear and accurate sound in various settings, making it a popular choice among professionals in the music industry.

Show product research

Compatibility

The Shure SM57 microphone is highly compatible with a wide range of devices and applications, making it a versatile and reliable choice for professionals in the music and audio industry.

The Shure SM57 microphone is highly compatible with a wide range of devices and applications. It features a standard XLR connection, allowing it to be easily connected to professional audio interfaces, mixing boards, and audio recorders that have XLR inputs. This makes it a popular choice for musicians and recording engineers who need a versatile microphone for instruments such as guitar amps and snare drums.

In addition to its compatibility with professional audio equipment, the SM57 can also be used with adapters or converters to connect to devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. This opens up possibilities for using the microphone for vocals, podcasting, radio broadcasting, voiceovers, and spoken-word content creation.

The microphone's versatility is further highlighted by the fact that many renowned artists have used it for live performances.

One of the key advantages of the SM57 is its compatibility with any operating system or software that supports XLR microphones. It does not require any specific operating system or software compatibility, as it simply connects via an XLR cable, which is a universal standard in the audio industry. This means that whether you are using Windows, macOS, Linux, or any other operating system, and whether you are using recording software, DAWs, or live sound applications, the SM57 will work seamlessly.

Overall, the Shure SM57 microphone is highly compatible and can be used with a wide range of devices and applications. Its versatility and reliability have made it a go-to choice for professionals in the music and audio industry.

Show product research

Durability

The Shure SM57 microphone is highly durable and able to withstand rough handling, impacts, extreme temperatures, and moisture, making it a reliable choice for touring musicians, live audio engineers, and podcasters.

The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its durability and rugged construction. It is constructed mainly from metal, making it able to withstand rough handling and rigorous use in both live sound applications and studio environments. Reviewers have described it as "practically indestructible" and "one of the most durable microphones.

" It is favored by touring musicians and live audio engineers for its ability to endure demanding conditions.

The microphone's robust design allows it to handle drops, impacts, and even extreme temperatures without suffering significant damage. Users have reported leaving the microphone in freezing cars overnight without any negative effects. While the SM57 is not officially advertised as waterproof, it is known to be tough and durable, making it suitable for use in various environments and conditions where it may be exposed to moisture or extreme temperatures.

Overall, the Shure SM57 microphone is a reliable choice for those seeking a durable microphone that can withstand physical damage and harsh conditions. It is particularly well-suited for touring musicians, live audio engineers, and podcasters who often record on location.

Show product research

Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all microphones.

Rank Change Price Microphone
Wirecutter
Tom's Guide
MusicTech
Music Radar
PianoDreamers
PC Gamer
SoundGuys
CNN Underscored
PCMag
IGN
1
- $76
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti microphone is a versatile and durable device with four directional patterns, a built-in headphone jack, and compatibility with a wide range of devices and software, making it a popular choice among content creators, podcasters, and gamers.
-
1
11
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
2
- $97
Shure SM57
The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility, making it a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings.
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
- $109
Elgato Wave 3
The Elgato Wave 3 is a versatile and reliable USB microphone designed for content creators, podcasters, and live streamers, featuring a cardioid polar pattern, two connectivity options, advanced features, and compatibility with both PC and Mac.
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
8
4
- $115
Blue Yeti X
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
1
Show all rows
The best for loud guitar cabinets
26 Jun 2024 (5 months ago)
Read article
The King of Versatility
25 Jan 2023 (1 year ago)
Read article

Highest recommended microphones this month

ReviewFinder ranks based on a combination of customer reviews, expert reviews / mentions and popularity. Expert recommendations carry the highest weight in the ranking. We do not rank based on price, our commission or brand. microphones below are at the top of our ranking this November.

Scroll to see all options. Click on the microphone for more details.
Blue Yeti Shure SM57 (this item) Elgato Wave 3 Blue Yeti X
Reviews
In comparison:
Blue Yeti rank #1 out of 149. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.6
Amazing
Reviews
In comparison:
Shure SM57 rank #2 out of 149. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
10.0
Amazing
Reviews
In comparison:
Elgato Wave 3 rank #3 out of 149. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.7
Amazing
Reviews
In comparison:
Blue Yeti X rank #4 out of 149. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.1
Great
Price
The Blue Yeti microphone is a versatile and durable device with four directional patterns, a built-in headphone jack, and compatibility with a wide range of devices and software, making it a popular choice among content creators, podcasters, and gamers. The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility, making it a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings. The Elgato Wave 3 is a versatile and reliable USB microphone designed for content creators, podcasters, and live streamers, featuring a cardioid polar pattern, two connectivity options, advanced features, and compatibility with both PC and Mac.
Expert consensus not yet generated.
Go to product Go to product Go to product Go to product