Shure SM7 Reviews

[brandondrury]

Shure SM7 @ Musiciansfriend


Shure SM7 @ Zzounds

The flat, 50Hz-20kHz frequency response of the Shure SM7B Microphone with Switchable Response is designed especially for spoken vocals, but also works for singing. Highly shielded against electrical interference. Bass roll-off and mid-range emphasis (presence boost) controls with graphic display. Internal "air suspension" shock isolation. Ships with standard windscreen and an A7WS detachable windscreen for close-talk applications.

[brandondrury]

Quality: 10
I had read in numerous forums that I should check out the Shure SM7 before buying up a ton of condenser mics. Like most beginners, I was captivated by the notion of using "studio" condenser mics. Fast forward a few years. The Shure SM7 is often my go to microphone for rock vocals.

It's my general tendency to attempt to use condensers first on just about any vocal. When the condensers fail, I almost always reach for my Shure SM7. Condensers can be sort of "overloaded". I don't mean in terms of clipping. I guess I mean that I generally prefer the sound of a condenser on softer voices. I don't have much luck with super loud rock singers and condenser microphones. The Shure SM7 fits this bill perfectly.

Of course, I must say that I've been more than happy with with the Shure SM7 on a few pretty vocals as well. Don't let the stereotypes full you. This is one VERY good vocal microphone.

You can hear the sound of the Shure SM7 on the lead vocals a Michael Jackson's Thriller, just about every Red Hot Chili Pepper lead vocal, and tons and tons of other rock bands. You can see it in use on Metallica's "Some Kind of Monster" documentary. (Terrible album, but still a great vocal sound from a purely engineering perspective.)

I've had excellent luck with the Shure SM7 on vocals, electric guitars, kick drum, and bass. I really like this microphone.


Reliability: 10
You immediately get the feeling that this microphone is built like a tank the second you take it out of the box. It's VERY heavy. In fact, I only like to use it with my most beefy mic stands.

I'm very confident I could throw the Shure SM7 through a window down maybe a floor or two and the mic still work. In fact, I'd bet that this mic is even more durable than the SM 57 now that I think about it.

Overall Rating: 10
I consider the Shure SM7 a must have microphone for anyone serious about putting together a pallet of microphones. The Shure SM7 is not a condenser but I'm confident that you own records where the Shure SM7 was used on vocals and many other sources. The Shure SM7 is a pro microphone in every respect.

Is it perfect for your voice? Who knows! I find it is fairly forgiving on a variety of voices in a way that condensers usually are not. If I could only have 2 vocal microphones I'm confident that one of them would be a Shure SM7. The other would be some condenser. I'm not sure which!

[bilco]

Quality: 9
This mic is probably the last vocal mic I will ever need to buy. It provides plenty of detail on my voice and it is very good at rejecting off axis noise and not picking up flutter echo and it does a great job of not revealing the flaws in my room treatment (non-existant.) It takes a lot of gain to drive it, but even my Mbox with ~45 or 50 db of gain works with this if I sing right into the pop filter. You can take off the pop filter and/or play with the filter switches, but I like the way it sounds on my voice with the foam filter on and the switches set flat.

Reliability: 10
It is just as bulletproof as the SM57s, SM58, SM81s and Beta 52 that I own. Shure builds very sturdy products that are meant to last a long time. I don't think these guys know the meaning of planned obsolescence.

Overall Rating: 10
This mic is a real workhorse around my humble home studio. Besides working very well on vocals, it sounds great on upright bass, my bass amp and guitar amps. I have not tried yet, but I know it has been used by many on kick drum and I have even read a few reports of it sounding surprisingly good on acoustic guitar. A great little workhorse for $350