Karaoke Forums

I have a couple Shure Pg58's and wanted to know how much better the Sm 58's are compared to the Pg58's.
I've seen some Sm-58 LC and Sm-58 S,what's the diff?This is one area i haven't upgraded in,so trying to gather some info

Shure's SM series has a smoother response curve, and better performance at the lower and higher ends of the frequency range they're rated at. Little things, but it results in better response to all the subtle harmonics present in the human voice.

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Dave's not here.

There are three mics I now use and recommend: Shure Beta58, Samson Q7 and Shure SM58 in that order. My Beta 58 is an old wireless, but it uses the Beta58 element like the wired model and it's EXCELLENT.

The Samson Q7 is VERY, VERY good. It uses a neodimium magnet like the Shure Beta58. It's the wired mic I grab 99% of the time now. Much less feedback than nearly any mic I've used and it sounds fantastic IMO.

The old standby SM58 is good, but it isn't quite as good as the other two.

I also have some Sennheiser e835 wired mics and they're good, but not as good as the Beta58 or the Samson Q7. I plan on getting rid of nearly all of my wired mics and just keep (2) Samson Q7s, and one or two SM58s for backups. The rest of my mics will be all cordless.

Be very careful buying SM58s or Beta58s on ebay. From what I saw recently, many if not most are counterfeit. You're actually better off getting an old, beat up SM58 or Beta58 and just replacing the ball. At least you'll be getting a genuine microphone and not a chinese knock off.

When in doubt, visit the manufacture web site.

http://www.shure.com/proaudio/products/ ... cn_content

SM58-LC : Cable not included
SM58-S : On/off switch included
SM58-CN : Cable included

They are all the exact same mic.

As someone who owns and uses both the PG and SM series mics, I can tell you that the biggest difference you'll notice is the amount of handling noise. The SM58 is much better isolated where as you'll hear every knock and movement with the PG58. The response curves are a little different but honestly that's more on paper than in practical use. Both the PG58 and SM58 have a great proximity effect (a swell in the low end as the source gets closer to the mic) although the PG58 requires a little bit more of a cut at around 250Hz.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I like the Sennheiser 800 series on male vocals ( got 815, 825 and 835 ). I'll have to try the Samson. I've got a pair of studio monitors by them that are pretty nice for the price.

The mike that gets the most lovin' at my shows is my "yard sale special." It's an AKG D9000 that I found at a yard sale for a buck. It worked flawlessly, and has some paint wear on the body. It's very flattering to female singers, and the hypercardidoid pickup pattern (that means SUPER directional) means it gives less problems with feedback.

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Dave's not here.

Never been able to get my hands on an AKG for a reasonable price.

The Beta58 and the Q7 are both super cardioid which accounts for their low feedback. Another thing I like about both of them is that they're hot mics. I have a tendency to hold mics right up to my lips and both of them allow the gain to be turned up so I can hold the mic further away from my mouth.

As Tony noted, handling noise is a lot better on the SM-58. It will also be much more durable. The few extra dollars for it makes it a no-brainer to use instead of the PG in my opinion.

If you are planning on using this for karaoke, I recommend you stick with the SM-58, Sennheiser 835, or Audix OM2. They are cardioid and are much more tolerant of poor mic positioning than the Beta 58 or other supercardioid mics.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

For general Karaoke use the SM58 IS a no brainer. It's a great mic and will last forever. You can't go wrong with the tried and true, trusted SM58. If you can find one used at a garage sale or on craig's list for around $50 you're all set.

If you are asking from a KJ's standpoint - Yes the SM58 will be a better overall choice for the majority of singers. Less handling noise and better durability than the PG58. The SM58 also costs three times as much as the Pg58
MF has a Pg58 3 pack for $99 while the SM58 remains steady as $99.
Something to consider ....

If it is for your personal use ... Try all the mics suggested as some mics will be better suited to your individual voice than others

SM58s are an investment that will last a long time. I do not like them, but I own some for live sound and karaoke use, and I am forced to admit that I will probably buy a few more as my other, less-durable mics, gradually die off from the abuse given to them by drunk karaoke singers.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I use PG58 wireless for my Karaoke mics that I give to the singers. The handling noise has me riding the mute buttons a little more but actually that turns out to be good practice anyway because I don't turn them on until the song starts and I shut them off once the song ends to ensure that there's no noise from them putting them in the mic stand or taking them out. The side effect is I don't have to worry about anyone's drunken postulations while they handle the mic. Usually once their singing, the handling noise isn't an issue.

The price difference is what did it for me. I've got a Beta-58 wireless that I use for myself and there's no way I'd trust handing that transmitter over to just anyone. With wireless, I'm not sure that the SM58's durability is as much of a standout feature considering the failures usually are from the housings cracking when dropped. In the wired world however there is a significant difference. If are going wired and can afford it, the SM58 is worth the investment cuz it will definitely out last the PG58. However, if the change in price tag is too steep, you you shouldn't have any reservations about using the PG's.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

If you ask me, a KJ who cannot justify spending $100ea for microphones is probably not charging what their service is worth, or they are causing their service to be worth less by cutting corners. The most important things in the audio signal path, the ones that make the most difference in sound quality, are the microphones and speakers.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

Musician's friend has the D9000 for $79.99 US.

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Dave's not here.

Jeff, I like buying $100 mikes for $50. It's the Scot in me.

I LOVE buying $80 mikes for a buck. That's why I cruise yard sales and flea markets as much as possible.

I'll spend as much as I have to for equipment and music, but I put a significant effort in to not spending any MORE than necessary.

Lower expenses = more profit for me.

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Dave's not here.

So I guess a KJ who doesn't spend $600ea for microphones or $1200 per speaker isn't that good either ?

I do agree that decent microphones and decent speakers make the world of difference. But to say that a kj who uses something like a $49 PG58 versus a $99 SM58 is cutting corners is a little ignorant in my opinion. I've been to great shows where the KJ uses what would be considered "cheap" equipment and on the flip side --I''ve been to HORRIBLE SOUNDING shows when the KJ uses EXPENSIVE rack after rack of equipment. There is more to any show than the price tag of the equipment.

That's a bit of a leap to say that a KJ who tries to save $50 per mic by using a PG over an SM is not charging enough. I don't see any explicit connection there. Do we even know that the OP is a Pro KJ?

So since I bought 4 PG58 wireless for $1100 instead of four SM58's for $1600, what does that say about me? I saved $500 by buying Shure Performance Gear wireless mic kits (PG58 heads) instead of buying the PGX mic kits with the SM58 heads, so does that mean I don't charge enough because I couldn't justify the extra $500?

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I am not sure how wireless mics got into the discussion since this thread says "Wired Mic Comparison."

I see nothing wrong with bargain shopping to buy good products for less money, of course. I don't like the KJs who use the cheapest gear they can get away with though. That is the norm in my area.

I could also be sub-consciously venting because one of my regular gigs is going to a $10/hr KJ soon, and to prepare for that they have made me use their crappy house equipment instead of my own all month. They still pay me the same until I get replaced with whoever the $10/hr person is, but it sucks going from quality gear to crap.

My regulars can tell the difference, and so I believe there is a lot of value in spending that extra $50 per (wired) microphone, having a good FX unit, etc.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

Wireless mics entered the conversation because that is what I own and since I own mics with both PG, Beta and SM heads, I can provide a direct comparison.

I couldn't agree more with the second paragraph, I just don't think it leads to being able to measure the fees a KJ charges. In my experience the ones who use the cheapest stuff they can get away with are the ones who don't have the ear to be able to hear the very distinct difference between cheap bargain crap and the real deal.

Personally, I don't put the PG series mics in the cheap crap category, although they are definitely a step down from the SM series.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

In my area, I think they are the ones who don't know how to do any better or won't spend the money. For example, I have a friend who had a 6 nights a week gig paying $1000 a week. It started out as 3 nights a week with him using another KJ's speakers. The other lady quit and went to another bar, so he borrowed a sub from someone for a few weeks and took some crappy speakers out of his dad's garage. The sub lasted a few weeks before he blew it. He never got another one, which would have cost ... not very much when you are making $1000 a week cash, AND he got a free meal and drinks every night. Well, guess what, that bar replaced him and now he can't find a gig that pays anything close to that because he rode in on the coat-tails of another person's equipment.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ