Shure SM58 vs SM57: Same Capsule, Different Grille
These two share the same cartridge design. The SM58 has a ball grille with a foam windscreen inside, which reduces plosives and sets a minimum distance from your mouth. The SM57 has a bare, smaller grille that lets you place it very close to a guitar amp or a snare drum. Vocals to the SM58, instruments to the SM57, and either will do the other job.
At a glance
| Shure SM58 dynamic vocal microphone | Shure SM57 dynamic instrument microphone | |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Shared design | Shared design |
| Grille | Ball with internal windscreen | Bare, compact |
| Plosive handling | Better, grille sets a distance | Needs an external pop filter for voice |
| Close placement | Limited by the grille | Can sit almost on the source |
| Typical use | Vocals, spoken word, live | Guitar cabinets, snare, brass |
| Durability | Legendary | Legendary |
Choose the Shure SM58 dynamic vocal microphone if…
Choose the SM58 for anything involving a mouth. The ball grille holds you a couple of centimetres away and the internal foam takes the worst of the plosives, which is exactly what a voice needs and exactly what makes it awkward on a snare drum. It is also the most durable microphone most studios own, and it will outlast most of the equipment around it.
Check Shure SM58 dynamic vocal microphone on Amazon
Choose the Shure SM57 dynamic instrument microphone if…
Choose the SM57 for instruments, and particularly for a guitar cabinet, where you want the capsule within a centimetre of the grille cloth. The smaller front end also fits into places a ball grille cannot, such as between drums or on a brass bell. Used for voice it needs an external pop filter, since without the ball grille nothing is stopping a plosive.
Check Shure SM57 dynamic instrument microphone on Amazon
Related
- Condenser vs dynamic microphone
- How to record vocals at home
- Gain staging calculator
- Shure SM7B review: the 60 dB gain requirement that catches most buyers
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are they really the same microphone?
Not identical, but close. They share the same cartridge design and the practical difference is the grille assembly and the resulting minimum distance to the source. Because a dynamic microphone's low frequency response rises as it gets closer to a source, being able to place an SM57 closer changes the tone as well as the level.
Can one microphone do both jobs?
Yes, and plenty of studios manage with a pair of SM57s and a pop filter. If you can only buy one and you record voice more than anything else, take the SM58. If you record guitar amps more than anything else, take the SM57 and add a pop filter when a voice needs recording.
Why are these still the standard after decades?
Because they are predictable, almost indestructible, and every engineer knows how they behave. That familiarity has real value: a sound you know how to fix is worth more than a slightly better sound you do not. They are also cheap enough that a studio can own several without thinking about it.
Do they need phantom power?
No. Both are dynamic microphones, which generate their own signal and need no power at all. Leaving phantom power switched on will not damage them, so a mixed setup with condensers is fine. What they do need is a preamp with reasonable gain, because dynamic microphones put out a fairly low signal.
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