Shure PG81s
- Thread starter c0r1n
- Start date
mshilarious
Banned
c0r1n said:
I used to have 4 SM94s which seem via specs to be pretty similar. They were fine, but they don't really have the high end response usually associated with condensers.
Blue Bear Sound
New member
The PG series is a "budget" version of the SM series.... and they pretty much sound like it!c0r1n said:
To start with, I'm sure they'll be fine, until your ears develop more and more over time....
sile2001
_|_
In comparison to Shure's well-proven SM81:
PG81
SM81
That right there is the difference. Notice the PG81's high frequency hump where the SM81 stays nearly ruler-flat. Notice that the PG81's highs start sloping off at about 11KHz, while the SM81 doesn't start dropping until about 16KHz. At 20KHz, the PG81 is at about -6dB, while the SM81 is only at about -3dB. At 40Hz, the PG81 is at -7dB while the SM81 is at about -1dB.
Overall, the SM81 maintains a much flatter, more accurate response with a much wider usable sensitivity range than the PG81. A less technical description is that the SM81 can go both higher and lower and with greater accuracy than the PG81.
(Images courtesy of Shure's website)
PG81
SM81
That right there is the difference. Notice the PG81's high frequency hump where the SM81 stays nearly ruler-flat. Notice that the PG81's highs start sloping off at about 11KHz, while the SM81 doesn't start dropping until about 16KHz. At 20KHz, the PG81 is at about -6dB, while the SM81 is only at about -3dB. At 40Hz, the PG81 is at -7dB while the SM81 is at about -1dB.
Overall, the SM81 maintains a much flatter, more accurate response with a much wider usable sensitivity range than the PG81. A less technical description is that the SM81 can go both higher and lower and with greater accuracy than the PG81.
(Images courtesy of Shure's website)
Not impressed with PG81
I have a PG81 I am trying to use with a TubePre Preamplifier and a Delta66 Sound card for my PC. I want to record my Yamaha G7 grand piano and it sounds terrible. I think it would be OK for voice or something but it does not begin to sound like my piano. It sound like it's in a box or something, I don't know, anyway I don't like it.
I've tried everything I can think of with no improvement (I've been able to make it sound worse though)
Not impressed.
My next question is, what mike should I be looking at to make my piano actually sound like itself?
I'll ask in a new thread so I don't hijack this one.
I have a PG81 I am trying to use with a TubePre Preamplifier and a Delta66 Sound card for my PC. I want to record my Yamaha G7 grand piano and it sounds terrible. I think it would be OK for voice or something but it does not begin to sound like my piano. It sound like it's in a box or something, I don't know, anyway I don't like it.
I've tried everything I can think of with no improvement (I've been able to make it sound worse though)
Not impressed.
My next question is, what mike should I be looking at to make my piano actually sound like itself?
I'll ask in a new thread so I don't hijack this one.
mshilarious
Banned
ramjet said:
The PG81 should be somewhat better than terrible on piano. First, I wouldn't recommend a TubePre for grand piano. That will just muddy up the highs, and probably the mids, and maybe the lows
Second, you gotta tell us 1) what your room is like and 2) where you placed the mic. Those are likely the biggest issues.
In response to the earlier post, I have owned the SM94, SM81, and KSM141. They all sound like their curves, so I expect the PG81 does too. However curves alone are not indicative of quality, nor is flatness always desirable.
Innovations
New member
The PG is a microphone intended for public address and karaoke systems. Two of the things that you are looking for in such a mic are less handling noise and feedback rejection while mostly focusing on the frequency range of human voice. That explains why there is the reduced response at the low and high ends. Add in Shure's reputation for durability (also desired in PA and Karaoke systems) and you have a great mic for what it was designed for.