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Published on 07/18/11 at 08:08The Shure Beta 57A is a dynamic supercardioid microphone touted by Shure as the successor to the fantastically versatile SM57. It boasts an extended frequency response of 50-16,000 Hz.
I wrote a review earlier about the Shure Beta 58A and said that it was not necessarily an improvement on Shure's own vaunted SM58. It just offered a different flavor to the magical original. That being said, the Shure Beta 57A gleans the same comparison to the also legendary Shure SM57. Touted, as an instrument microphone, the Shure SM57 performs majestically in that role. The Beta 57A is the same; it works wonderfully on instruments, but it gets a pronounced increase in the high frequency response, as its response is indeed extended.
What makes the Beta 57A a more significant improvement over the old SM57 than the Beta 58A is over the SM58, is this: The SM58 and Beta 58A are both vocal microphones; they are capable of instrument work, but aren't ideal. However, knowing that the old SM57 is great on instruments, and also usable on vocals, Shure managed to create a microphone in the Beta 57A that not only continues to excel in its advertised function, but because of the extended response and altered frequency curve, also seems to, on vocals, blow not only the SM57, but also the SM58!, and at times the Beta 58A!!! absolutely Out Of The Water.
OVERALL OPINION
Now I've had a bizarre obsession with finding an instrument microphone that would kick butt on vocals, and the Shure Beta 57A has made that dream come true. I do not own them yet, but after trying them out, if I'm ever in the market for a live microphone, this is near the top of the list, just because I know that I would also be able to use it as a studio workhorse. This microphone blows, in my opinion, all of the other live dynamics out of the water, except at times, the Beta 58A.
I wrote a review earlier about the Shure Beta 58A and said that it was not necessarily an improvement on Shure's own vaunted SM58. It just offered a different flavor to the magical original. That being said, the Shure Beta 57A gleans the same comparison to the also legendary Shure SM57. Touted, as an instrument microphone, the Shure SM57 performs majestically in that role. The Beta 57A is the same; it works wonderfully on instruments, but it gets a pronounced increase in the high frequency response, as its response is indeed extended.
What makes the Beta 57A a more significant improvement over the old SM57 than the Beta 58A is over the SM58, is this: The SM58 and Beta 58A are both vocal microphones; they are capable of instrument work, but aren't ideal. However, knowing that the old SM57 is great on instruments, and also usable on vocals, Shure managed to create a microphone in the Beta 57A that not only continues to excel in its advertised function, but because of the extended response and altered frequency curve, also seems to, on vocals, blow not only the SM57, but also the SM58!, and at times the Beta 58A!!! absolutely Out Of The Water.
OVERALL OPINION
Now I've had a bizarre obsession with finding an instrument microphone that would kick butt on vocals, and the Shure Beta 57A has made that dream come true. I do not own them yet, but after trying them out, if I'm ever in the market for a live microphone, this is near the top of the list, just because I know that I would also be able to use it as a studio workhorse. This microphone blows, in my opinion, all of the other live dynamics out of the water, except at times, the Beta 58A.