Not all microphones will sound the same and not all of them are ideal for just any type of applications which is why it is necessary to find the solution that we can rely on for example the Shure SM57 Vs Sennheiser E609 that are designed for instrument recording. These are among the most favorite options for their clarity as well as ability to capture the best of your sound too. If you wonder which to choose, let’s see below about what they can offer.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- How to Shop for a Microphone
- What are Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609
- How are the Design of Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609
- How are the Specs of Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609
- How are the Sound Quality of Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609
- What to Concern About Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609
- Shure SM57 Vs Sennheiser E609
Choosing the Right Microphone
Audio quality is a complex subject that can get quite intimidating for people who just want to get started in the journey. When it comes to audio quality, the microphone plays a huge role in deciding how your sound will, well, sound like, which is why it is necessary to find the one that will work best in your type of application or setup. In general we can choose a microphone based on these several factors in order to find the best solution.
Application is the most important because not all of us have the same plan with these microphones. For the more casual setup and for voice overs for example, we don’t need an expensive studio microphone because the affordable USB mics like Samson C01U Pro vs C01 will be more than sufficient to rely on. But, if you are willing to invest in the acoustic of the room or treating it to produce the silent and best situation for the recording then we do think an expensive condenser microphones are best.
There are lots of specs as well on the microphones and while it seems like a hassle, it is wise to check what they can offer based on the specs first because it gives an overall idea on how they will sound. Polar pattern for example is the pickup pattern of the microphone or the directionality because we don’t want to pick up just any sound in the room so directionality is important to limit what they can capture and what to avoid.
Most microphones come with just single pattern such as cardioid but some of them, usually USB type can come with more than just one polar pattern and this can be adjusted based on what type of application you are currently working on, adding the versatility and value into the product because there are probably times when you need to capture from more than just one source such as while doing interview or when recording song cover with your band mates.
Another important spec is their response curves. We all know that a microphone’s ability to capture sound frequency is called frequency response but the way they capture it is called response curves and this varies across options based on how they are designed to. It is called a curve because it starts from zero and ends at zero too so across the spectrum you may see peak and dip as well as constant response at the same level. This will be helpful to see what they are more suitable for.
| Shure SM57 | Sennheiser E609 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 10.3 x 4.9 x 3.4 inches | 2.2 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 10 ounces | 4.4 ounces |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
About Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609
If you are here then we assume that you are currently looking for a microphone to mic the amp or acoustic guitar and similar instruments that require a dedicated microphone. No one will stop you from using any microphone to record instruments but it is always best to use the proper equipment for the proper application because they are designed with the purpose in mind and thus, will be better in terms of performance or in this case sound quality.
Plenty of brands offer microphones for instruments and some of them are very famous as well such as Shure and Sennheiser. These classic names are the choice of many without any surprise to always offer good quality products and we are one of their fans too. However, not all of their equipment are the same however so we do like some and not very much for the rest. Thankfully they have some of the best and probably decently priced microphones for instrument recording.
If you will be recording guitars, the Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 are two very capable microphones that we can rely on. They are also extremely popular so we are sure most people already aware of these microphones but, they are not exactly the same or identical because personally we like the SM57 better and if you also like the sound character of typical Shure’s mic, this one is also versatile not only for instrument but for streaming too if you will be using it in this setting.
On the other hand, the E609 is a solid guitar mic, especially an electric guitar and it is true to the claim so if your application is for instrument only then you can pick this microphone. In comparison, this variant is even better for the guitar parts even though it is not as versatile so the choice is all yours because we do like both of them and since it seems they are not made for the same type of users.
Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 Design
Starting from the unit first, the Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 are not the same at all. At one point we adore the shape of E609 because this flat design minimizes the chance of it getting bumped by other equipment or people especially in live stage setup but, the plastic material makes it doesn’t feel as sturdy because it is not cheap either. On the other hand the SM57’s long shape may cause it to get bumped easier but the build quality is all-metal and very solid.
Because these microphones are meant to record instruments, there is nothing on the unit or features like those in USB microphones for example but, you will get some accessories in the box such as microphone clip and adapter as well as pouch with the E609, the same with SM57 and of course they will also come with some documentation.
Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 Specs
Moving further, let’s see what the Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 can offer starting from the specs to give you an idea how they will sound. The SM57 is cardioid in polar pattern so it has good directionality but also not the best if your application situation is noisy. It is from 40Hz to 15kHz in frequency response, the same with E609 but the latter is super-cardioid in polar pattern and this is better if you are in live situation to prevent it picking up other instrument’s sound.
Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 Sound Quality
Now for the most important part or the sound quality, the Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 are similar but different here. As a microphone designed mainly for guitars, they will have a pretty decent peak on the high end but in comparison the SM57 is slightly lower here while E609 is more pronounced, resulting in brighter sound which makes it perfect for electric guitars. It is also great for acoustics because the sound is very tight and just pleasant to listen to.
The SM57 is great for electric guitar but it is not as ideal for the acoustic. What we love the most from SM57 is actually the voice performance because just by adding a cheap pop up filter you can transform this microphone into a voice over or streaming equipment. It needs the filter to handle plosives and since it is not as boosted as the E609, it sounds very comfortable for speech.
We also like that SM57 is reliable at handling noise which makes it ideal for live music applications. Overall for the sound quality these microphones are very good, very pleasing to listen to, and also easy to set up.
Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 Disadvantages
On the not so good part, we have mentioned how SM57 is good at handling noise but this is not the same for the E609 as it did a poor job for this part so if the mic will be used on stage, it may pick up the vibration of the stage as well. For the SM57 our biggest complaint is the very low sensitivity which means we have to turn up the gain quite high to make it work properly. For the more versatility, while it is good for voice, we must put the windscreen to prevent the annoying plosives.
Shure SM57 vs Sennheiser E609
The Shure SM57 and Sennheiser E609 are ideal options if you are going to use this microphone for miking the preamp or used for instrument recording and in live situations. The prominent difference in sound quality is because the E609 is actually better for electric guitar with tight low end and bright upper which makes the guitar sounds more attractive. The design is also better but not for the build quality.
The SM57 is a good guitar mic too but we are also loving how they sound for voice overs or speech and by adding a filter we can already convert it into a streaming mic but it also needs a high gain because the mic is very low in sensitivity.
Conclusion
You can choose from any of these microphones because they are similarly reliable but, we also recommend the SM57 because this mic sounds great, built well, good with handling noise, and also versatile for other purposes.