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Published on 07/18/11 at 12:01
The Shure PG57 is Shure's low cost alternative to the legendary SM57. Before I say anything else, I will go ahead and preemptively tell you that they are very similar sounding microphones, and the PG57 performs very closely to the SM57. I am quite positive that only the most experienced ears will be able to tell you are lying if you mic'ed something up with a PG57 and told them that you had mic'ed it with a SM57 instead.
Now, to the meat and bones:
The Shure PG57 is a dynamic cardioid microphone advertised by Shure as being a low cost entry into the realm of instrument micing. The PG57 has a frequency response of 50-15,000 Hz, which is quite a standard response for a microphone in this class. It does sound barely noticeably less rich than the SM57, but it is not such a dramatic difference that it will bother anyone. What is nice, however, is that rumble becomes just a tab bit easier to get rid of in EQ.
The shape of the PG57's grill also oddly places it in the same geometric realm as the "highest end" member of the 57 family, the Shure Beta 57A. The SM57 is the odd one left out here, and I have observed that the SM57 is a little bit more tricky to get working for vocals if one has to. The PG57 and the Beta 57A are actually more preferable when it comes to vocals for the reasons of the grill and the lower emphasis in the midrange.
What I find startlingly obnoxious about the PG57, however, is the switch to turn it on and off. I tend to get a bit paranoid, even though I understand that it is a nice feature if something comes up.
The PG57 isn't built as well as the other two members of the family, though, so be careful when abusing it the same way you'd abuse an SM57...
OVERALL OPINION
The PG57 is a reasonable alternative to the Shure SM57 at half the price. I find, oddly enough, that the PG57 is much more versatile than its big brother, except for maybe on snares, where the SM57's small end gives it an advantage in placement.
However, all things considered, don't shrug the PG57 just yet. Give it a shot!
Now, to the meat and bones:
The Shure PG57 is a dynamic cardioid microphone advertised by Shure as being a low cost entry into the realm of instrument micing. The PG57 has a frequency response of 50-15,000 Hz, which is quite a standard response for a microphone in this class. It does sound barely noticeably less rich than the SM57, but it is not such a dramatic difference that it will bother anyone. What is nice, however, is that rumble becomes just a tab bit easier to get rid of in EQ.
The shape of the PG57's grill also oddly places it in the same geometric realm as the "highest end" member of the 57 family, the Shure Beta 57A. The SM57 is the odd one left out here, and I have observed that the SM57 is a little bit more tricky to get working for vocals if one has to. The PG57 and the Beta 57A are actually more preferable when it comes to vocals for the reasons of the grill and the lower emphasis in the midrange.
What I find startlingly obnoxious about the PG57, however, is the switch to turn it on and off. I tend to get a bit paranoid, even though I understand that it is a nice feature if something comes up.
The PG57 isn't built as well as the other two members of the family, though, so be careful when abusing it the same way you'd abuse an SM57...
OVERALL OPINION
The PG57 is a reasonable alternative to the Shure SM57 at half the price. I find, oddly enough, that the PG57 is much more versatile than its big brother, except for maybe on snares, where the SM57's small end gives it an advantage in placement.
However, all things considered, don't shrug the PG57 just yet. Give it a shot!