Noticable Difference Between Shure sm58 and Beta sm58?

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Robertt8

Robertt8

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Just out of curiosity, does anyone happen to notice the difference between the Shure SM58 and the Beta SM58? I have the SM58, but was wondering the real difference.

Thanks.
 
I've got a couple of 58's and then one beta58. I really like the beta. Mainly to me it seems warmer and the tone is smoother. It might not be that big of a deal live but when recording the only one I use if ever is the beta.

All that said, you can never really go wrong with an sm58...they are built great and sound great.

Your biggest difference would be if you got a condensor microphone and compared it to the 58, which is dynamic.

Hope it helped,
Jeremy
 
The Beta series use a different magnet than the 'ol Shures.
Bottom line is that they're brighter, and have a hotter sensitivity
and response. Not necessarily better though, that'll depend
on the specific singer or instrument.

If you're prone to mild sibilance (like me!), it won't be on your
A-list for vocals.

Chris
 
Put it this way. You basically can't go wrong with a standard 58.

The beta may sound better on some vocalists but it can also sound completely shite on others... especially strident female vox.
 
The Beta 58 sounds more like what you'd expect from certain vocal condensers. It's not so much bright. Rather, it's got the top end that's missing from the SM58. Both are excellent mics.

Steve
www.piemusic.com
 
Ol Shure 58 is regular magnet which makes the mass of the diaphragm greater
making it less responsive compared to the Neodymium lighter magnet in the Beta 58.............translation. beta is more sensitive and takes less sound pressure to move the element thus improving clarity. Beta 57 same Idea.

Think of a speaker which is s transducer just like in a microphone. A woofer cannot produce high freq because its mass is to great to vibrate fast enough to create the high freq sound waves.
A tweeter is used instead as it can vibrate very fast as it is smaller and lighter and can vibrate very fast.

Dynamic mic is kinda like a woofer whereas a condenser is more like a tweeter, kinda sort of, if you get what I mean. Dynamic more rugged and durable, condenser is more fragile but used for its clarity for recording.
 
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Uhdinator said:
Ol Shure 58 is regular magnet which makes the mass of the diaphragm greater
making it less responsive compared to the Neodymium lighter magnet in the Beta 58.............translation. beta is more sensitive and takes less sound pressure to move the element thus improving clarity. Beta 57 same Idea.
Click to expand...

Uh, seven year old thread . . .
 
Uhdinator said:
Ol Shure 58 is regular magnet which makes the mass of the diaphragm greater
making it less responsive compared to the Neodymium lighter magnet in the Beta 58.............translation. beta is more sensitive and takes less sound pressure to move the element thus improving clarity. Beta 57 same Idea.
Click to expand...

Nice! Fascinating to actually know the science behind it.

Worth the 7 year wait. thanks!
 
Robertt8 said:
...Worth the 7 year wait. thanks!
Click to expand...

(Laughing my ass off...) So, did you ever get the Beta?

BTW, now-a-days there are far better hand-held dynamic mics than the Beta for about the same price.
 
nope never got the beta.

what do you think is as good as it for cheaper?
 
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Electro-Voice-N-D767a-Dynamic-Supercardioid-Vocal-Microphone-100940188-i1126415.gc

The EV N-D767a. I have personally A/B'd it with a Shure Beta 58A through the same mic cable/system. The difference was quite noticeable. The N-Dyn was way more full of life without changing any settings. It also sounded more natural which makes it easier to EQ.

I have used lots of them on extremely loud live stages with no feedback problems. They record nicely as well.

The lower case "a" in the model number indicates a major revision to the older ND767 model. Avoid the older ones on ebay if you buy used.
 
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Uhdinator said:
Ol Shure 58 is regular magnet which makes the mass of the diaphragm greater
making it less responsive compared to the Neodymium lighter magnet in the Beta 58.............translation. beta is more sensitive and takes less sound pressure to move the element thus improving clarity. Beta 57 same Idea.

Think of a speaker which is s transducer just like in a microphone. A woofer cannot produce high freq because its mass is to great to vibrate fast enough to create the high freq sound waves.
A tweeter is used instead as it can vibrate very fast as it is smaller and lighter and can vibrate very fast.

Dynamic mic is kinda like a woofer whereas a condenser is more like a tweeter, kinda sort of, if you get what I mean. Dynamic more rugged and durable, condenser is more fragile but used for its clarity for recording.
Click to expand...

The fact this is a 7 year old thread has already been pointed out, but I'd be interested in some clarification in the difference between the two microphones... you see, both Shure mics (as well as most other dynamics out there) are moving-coil mics with a fixed magnet, therefore I cannot see why the mass of the magnet would make a difference. Surely its to do with the greater flux density (strength) of the magnetic field of the neodymium magnet, hence the mic is more sensitive because there is a greater rate of change of linked flux for the same rate of motion of the coil through the field, and so a greater emf is induced? Please correct me if I'm talking crap as I haven't done any of this electromag stuff at college for a few months, though its about time I started revising it for exams soon :p
 
Robertt8 said:
nope never got the beta.

what do you think is as good as it for cheaper?
Click to expand...

Sennheiser 835. Don't like the beta Shures myself, I prefer the regular 57 and 58.

Let's meet back here in 7 years.
 
mattr said:
The fact this is a 7 year old thread has already been pointed out, but I'd be interested in some clarification in the difference between the two microphones... you see, both Shure mics (as well as most other dynamics out there) are moving-coil mics with a fixed magnet, therefore I cannot see why the mass of the magnet would make a difference. Surely its to do with the greater flux density (strength) of the magnetic field of the neodymium magnet, hence the mic is more sensitive because there is a greater rate of change of linked flux for the same rate of motion of the coil through the field, and so a greater emf is induced? Please correct me if I'm talking crap as I haven't done any of this electromag stuff at college for a few months, though its about time I started revising it for exams soon :p
Click to expand...

All of the mics in question are still being sold new today, so the age of the thread probably shouldn't be an issue in this case.

I thought the same thing when I read that post about the magnets. I believe you are correct about field strength giving mics greater sensitivity. All neodymium designs must produce a hotter signal than Ceramic or Ferrite, (or whatever they were.)
 
mattr said:
Surely its to do with the greater flux density (strength) of the magnetic field of the neodymium magnet, hence the mic is more sensitive because there is a greater rate of change of linked flux for the same rate of motion of the coil through the field, and so a greater emf is induced?
Click to expand...

I'm not certain, but I think you're both close. The stronger magnetic field of the Nd magnet probably means that they are able to use a smaller coil and get similar output. The relevant stats:

  • The Beta 58 is only 3dB hotter than the SM58. That's not a big difference in output.
  • As far as I could tell with a quick Google search, there's an order of magnitude difference in the energy output of the alnico magnet in the SM58 and that of a neodymium magnet as used in the Beta 58. Assuming that translates to a factor of 10 voltage gain (I'm not certain of this), that would result in a 20 dB difference in output.

That's a far cry from 3. To me, this either means the transformer is massively different or that they used a significantly smaller coil. A smaller coil means less mass to move, which means faster transient response, etc.
 
dgatwood said:
[*]As far as I could tell with a quick Google search, there's an order of magnitude difference in the energy output of the alnico magnet in the SM58 and that of a neodymium magnet as used in the Beta 58. Assuming that translates to a factor of 10 voltage gain (I'm not certain of this), that would result in a 20 dB difference in output.
Click to expand...

Can't be, otherwise somebody else would do a (still strictly passive) dynamic mic with -35dBV/Pa sensitivity. Look at the ND ribbon mics, their magnets definitely don't move and the ribbons are the same, difference in sensitivity is typically more like 6-8dB.
 
the Betas will give you a brighter top end, better gain and you will come out in front of the mix against the old 58's. Also a better control and refined bottom. It is worth the money. Go for it. A inexpensive 87, I would say.
 
:D

Thread started in '03 :D

But on topic...the beta 58 has a tight hyper pattern. Maybe good for you, maybe not.
:)
 
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