Is SM7B better than SM57?
John Castro
Published Mar 11, 2026
Is SM7B better than SM57?
While the SM7B has a more prominent, extended, and better low-end response, the SM57 is crunchier. It does well with crunchy guitars and snares, as mentioned above. The SM7B is a lot better for vocals, specifically loud voices, soft voices, screamo, male rock, sibilant female vocals, and spoken word.
Is there a difference between Shure SM7 and SM7B?
A: The Shure SM7 dynamic mic was introduced in 1973; according to Shure, seven years of field research went into designing what was intended to be the finest unidirectional dynamic microphone ever. The SM7B has a larger foam windscreen, which is included with the mic.
What is better for vocals SM57 or SM58?
The Shure SM57 – Recording Studio Standard This grille design gives the SM57 a slightly higher output than the SM58 above 5kHz, delivering sharper highs and robust bass. While it can be used as a vocal mic, the SM57 is best suited for recording instruments.
What is the main difference between the Shure SM57 and the Shure SM58?
The 57 and 58 microphones are actually based on the same cartridge design. The main difference is in the grille. The SM58 was designed for vocal applications, and therefore uses a ball grille with built in pop filter to eliminate plosives.
Is Shure SM7B good for guitar?
Thanks to its extended frequency response and silky smooth high frequency response, the SM7b continues to be a popular studio microphone on major recordings. The SM7b is often used as the lead vocal mic and on other applications, such as guitar amps, bass amps, kick drums, hi-hat, snare drums, horns and many more.
Is the SM7B better than the SM58?
The SM58 is more suited for live vocals, while the SM7B does better in the studio. Home Studio Corner did a great article comparing the two in-studio however. You will need at least 60db of gain with the SM7B. The SM7B has a mid boost and a low-cut filter, while the SM58 has no onboard features.
Who uses SM7?
The SM7 was also used to record the haunting voiceover by Vincent Prince on the “Thriller” single. Other artists that have employed the dynamic workhorse for vocal recording duties include Green Day, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Metallica and many more. The SM7B is no one-trick pony though.
When did the Shure SM7 come out?
1973
The SM7 debuted in 1973 and eventually replaced the SM5B, which was discontinued in 1988.
Can you use SM57 for vocals live?
The SM57 Can Be Used on Studio Vocals. You can definitely record excellent-sounding vocals with an SM57 if you know what you’re doing. In some cases, an SM57 might even give you better results than a LDC microphone costing 20x more.
Will phantom power damage an SM57?
I have an SM57 and a condensor microphone that requires phantom power. The SM57 is a dynamic microphone. A professional, balanced, dynamic microphone will not be damaged by phantom power. It will “ignore” it.
Is SM57 good for vocals?
The Shure SM57 is good for recording acoustic guitar and vocals for several reasons. The Shure SM57 boasts a wide frequency response, the ability to keep noise to a minimum and handle high-pressure levels, making the Shure SM57 a great choice for capturing vocals and acoustic guitar.
Should I buy SM57?
Overall, the SM57 is a solid choice if you need a dynamic mic for your home studio. It’s affordable, versatile, durable, and (most importantly) it captures high-quality audio.