As a basic audio equipment, a microphone is required for various purposes but, not all of them are identical to each other. Some can be better than the rest and some can be more suitable for your type of application but there are also versatile options such as Shure Beta 58A Vs Sennheiser E935. These microphones are ideal for live and recording with a good quality sound but they are not the same and before deciding to choose one, let’s see what they can offer below.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- What to Look for when Buying a Microphone
- What are Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935
- How are the Built Quality of Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935
- How are the Specs of Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935
- How are the Sound Quality of Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935
- How to Setup the Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935
- Shure Beta 58A Vs Sennheiser E935
Buying a New Microphone
Microphones are everywhere because of the function that captures sound, it is being used in various communication tools and devices we have today. But, for audio related purposes, a dedicated microphone will be more ideal and chances are they will work much better as well in capturing the audio that you intended. What’s confusing is not all of them will be suitable for you and the amount of options making it confusing to choose one. While all microphones can do the same task, some are better for you.
When considering a microphone, it is wise to also consider the application or what they will be used for. For example it will be better to choose a more affordable, less sensitive microphone for your demo recording at home since the room might be not best treated compared to investing so much on a high-end studio microphone. It also makes sense to use a USB microphone like Apogee MiC Vs Shure MV88 for working with compact smart devices rather than getting a regular TRS/XLR microphone that our tablet or computer can’t directly connect with.
The best way to determine which microphone that please you the most is by listening to the sound but not all of us will have access to try them first which makes it a must to understand at least some of their specifications such as the polar patterns. Polar patterns simply translate into the shape of the mic’s field of sensitivity or the direction where it will capture the sound and ignore the rest. For example a bi-directional mic will capture sound from both east and west along with east and west.
Next is frequency response which translates into the range of frequencies from low to high that a microphone can pick up and this is measured in hertz. A microphone with frequency response around 80 Hz to 15 kHz should make a great choice for capturing vocals but for sound that is naturally lower such as snares and toms in drums, getting a microphone that starts at lower frequency like 50 Hz will be good or even lower at around 40 and 30 Hz.
| Shure Beta 58A | Sennheiser E935 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 6 x 7 x 10 inches | 10.4 x 4.5 x 3 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1 Pounds | 11.6 ounces |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
Besides frequency response we also have response curves which gives you an idea on how the mic can produce sound on the overall range or how it performs at different frequencies. There is a shape that we call a curve as it starts out at zero on the low end and ends at zero as well on the high end. Within this curve there will be peaks and dips at certain places to give you an idea on how the mic behaves or what type of application it will be more suitable for.
About Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935
Now when you already decide for which microphone to buy or what type of microphone that will work best in the type of application, it is time to see what the market has to offer since we will get plenty of choices out there. In case you don’t have time to look around and decide the microphone for your own application, we do think checking what other similar users are opting for will save the shopping time by a lot since chances are they will match your preference as well.
Microphones are offered by lots of brands both those you are familiar with or not yet and we recommend to stick with those that quality is already proven because they will be a safer bet. Among those, Shure and Sennheiser are two famous names that we are sure most people are already familiar with for their years of making good quality audio equipment. They are reputable for high quality products as well both for more casual users to professionals in their field.
The amount of options let you choose and consider which microphone will fit best in your application and pocket. For example the Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 that is ideal for home and typical live application. These microphones not only sound good but will last for a very long time and while they are not exactly cheap, we still think these models will be a great investment that you can still benefit for years to come without having to worry about their reliability.
The Beta 58A is very similar to the probably more popular classic SM58A but they are not the same microphone in case you find them both appealing since the Beta variant is a super cardioid pattern while the classic one is cardioid. On the other hand your E935 is cardioid and is a part of Sennheiser 900 line which is designed for handheld application but is still very versatile for other types of recording purposes.
Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 Built Quality
Before checking what Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 can offer, let’s see the build quality of these microphones first and as it has been mentioned above, these two are built to last and you can already feel it when holding the mics. Both of them are made of metal and the grill is also solid that when you press them they will not change in shape. The dimension is about the same and there is nothing on the mic itself but their XLR port.
Price has been fluctuating for so many products lately and they used to be at the same price point but now it seems the E935 is quite a bit more expensive than 58A. In the box you will find the microphone and a carrying pouch which is working good for storing purposes as well. They have the microphone mount and stand adapter but you will find the adapter already installed with the mount in Sennheiser while Shure separates them.
Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 Specs
Moving further, let’s see what Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 can offer and starting with the basics, both of them are very versatile. Shure’s older SM58A is a favorite and now with a super cardioid polar pattern the microphone will offer more focus and less feedback when used on stage. As for the physical quality, this microphone has advanced pneumatic suspension system housing for the capsule to help with diaphragm isolation from external factors, making it quieter than the original model.
In addition it has a new Neodymium magnet to boost the sensitivity and raise the output. As for the E935, this microphone is a cardioid model which is quite surprising but at least it is still isolating the sound source quite well. Similarly it is built with an internal shock mountain and has a quality Neodymium ferrous magnet that provides consistent performance. On the specs they are 50 Hz to 16 kHz and 40 Hz to 18 kHz respectively with sensitivity at -51dB.
Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 Sound Quality
As for the sound quality, both Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 are very good and probably great for different types of main application. The presence that they introduce to your voice makes vocal stands out and makes them ideal options for stage application, moreover with how they do the noise rejection and handling noise for handheld application. In comparison while they are equally good for vocals, the Beta 58A is better for reducing sibilance which you may want to pay attention to as a podcaster.
The E935 on the other hand can produce some harsh tops with voice but they did a great job for instruments since you can enjoy the bright and low end really nicely with this one. It is still good for vocals such as recording demos but you may want to cut some of the highs when talking directly to the mic.
Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 Setup
Lastly for the setup, since Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 are regular microphone, you will need another gear to work with them and a basic audio interface is already very capable to let you tweak with their audio result. They are very easy to use and basically just plug and play but since the microphones doesn’t carry any built-in adjustment whether it is gain or volume and cut off, we need to do all of them on the interface.
Shure Beta 58A Vs Sennheiser E935
These two are great options for versatile applications and they are quite affordable as well that can last for years to come until you want to upgrade into a much better option. The differences between Shure Beta 58A and Sennheiser E935 is mostly on the sound they create because in comparison the E935 is more suitable for either live stage or instrument while the 58A is still similarly amazing for vocals but better at handling sibilance and not as good for instruments.
Conclusion
You have to decide what type of application these microphones are used for and choose the one that is most suitable. If you plan to do podcasts, the Beta 58A is the better option but for music the E935 will sound more pleasing not only for vocals but also your instruments.