Karaoke Forums

I'd say if it's the best - the Audix Om-2 is the second best.

I've compared the SM58 to the Audix OM-2 with my system and I really couldn't tell a difference in sound. I can buy Audix- OM2 mics for around $50, so that was the deal breaker. Plus through the yrs they've proven to hold up to many drops. If I couldn't get my Audix mics anymore I'd buy the SM58 - no doubt. No argument here - it's a great mic. I guess it's personal preference.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

My OM-2 was in the stand when it was knocked over onto a concrete floor. Killed it dead. That wouldn't happen with a 58. I may have just had bad luck, but the OMs are just not as tough. Some other mics may be nearly as tough, but the Audix isn't one of them.

Let me hear it for Shure Beta58 as # 1. Yaayy! Just wondering why only one poster mentioned my favorite mic Beta58a that I've been using for years with no problems whatsoever. It was DJ Tony (Letitrip) and I quote “I will say that the Beta58A is every bit as durable.” I agree. I think they’re just as tough as the SM58 or maybe even tougher. Read on.

“For about $60 more, it’s actually a better mic with an improved shock mount” according to Shure’s Director of Application Engineer Michael Pettersen.
The following are what Mr. Pettersen said:

“Actually, one of the distinguishing factors between the SM58 and the Beta 58 is the frame and isolation. The Beta has an improved shock mount. If you were to slide your hand down an SM58 and a Beta 58, you'd notice less noise with the Beta."

“The Beta58 has a ball grill that is hardened. If both mics are dropped head-first onto a wooden floor, the Beta 58 grill will not dent or dent far less than the SM58 grill.”

“Dynamic mics are known for their ability to take a good ass-whooping, but the Beta 58, believe it or not, can endure much more”.

“There are the technical component differences. The Beta 58 has a neodymium magnet; the SM58 has an alnico magnet. The Shure Beta 58A magnet has a stronger field and thus provides a hotter output signal than the SM58,”

“The polar pickup pattern on the Beta 58A is supercardioid, giving it wider pickup than the SM58, and the frequency response is a little larger as well, from 50Hz to 16kHz”, said Pettersen. For more info here’s the link: http://www.microphonereviews.com/wirele ... a-58a.html

There you have it ladies & gents. So, in view of the aforementioned facts above, my conclusion on which one is the tougher & better mic & therefore the NUMBER ONE in this category? (drum roll, please). It's the Shure Beta58. Applause applause! (I will now dodge or hit the dirt for the volley of incoming!!)LOL

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Are there better mics out there than the SM58? Of course! Hundreds!

BUT...it is an awesome, extremely durable mic for the price. $99 (or less on sale).

It's the swiss army knife of mic's. Good for all occasions.

The problem with the Beta 58a and any other supercardioid or hypercardioid microphone is that it is not good for karaoke. The reason is a too-tight pickup pattern.

If you could be sure that all your singers would sing right into the mic, sure, it's great. I use the 58a myself, given the choice. But the cardioid pattern of the SM-58 is much better for most inexperienced singers.

What makes the SM-58 a great karaoke mic is the perfect combination of features:

1. Professional vocal quality.
2. Proper pattern for karaoke
3. Inexpensive and widely available replacement screens to keep it looking great.
4. Unmatched durability.

No other mic has all of those. which is why I believe the SM-58 is unmatched as the perfect mic for karaoke.

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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.

This is why I always love these "This mic is the best" conversations. There are so many criteria that go into determining what mic is the "best" and the simple fact is there is no such thing. Instead there is only the "right" mic for a given application once all those criteria have been considered. I could put together pages of criteria that must be considered. All aspects of your source material, your desire effect, your own expertise, durability requirements, pricing requirements, etc. all come into play when selecting the right mic for an application.

For Karaoke, you can argue all day about what is the right mic but there's probably more than one. The SM58 is indeed a great choice. It's low cost, probably the single most durable microphone out there, and it's also the most forgiving. We all know what an SM-58 costs, most if not all of us have seen examples of the 58 being intentionally abused and continuing to function, maybe less is known about why the mic is so forgiving.

One of the most popular aspects of the 58 is what is referred to as proximity effect. As the source moves closer to the microphone, the low-mid frequencies really come alive. This creates a warm tone that for some time made the 58 a heaviliy sought after microphone. For the novice, this warmth helps curb issues in harshness that other mics might exaggerate. The proximity affect effectively helps mask some undesirable tones.

So in an environment where we're mic'ing vocals of people who may be less than masters of the aria, in situations where abuse of the microphone is very likely and where the operator probably has less than a full audio engineering education, the SM58 is a great choice. I would never say it's the best microphone out there, I would never say it's the worst. I would say it's the right mic for this purpose but that would NOT mean I'm saying there are no other mics that are right for this purpose too.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Lol, mine got run over by a car, becasue some jerk ran out the door with it and tossed it in the street. That was a year ago, and I still use it today... I replaced the grill, but that was it. Minor scrateches on the housing but it still sounds great!

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

If there were low-cost screens for the Sennheiser 835, I would put that one right up there. But I love having good-looking mics for the singers -- I think it adds a lot to the show compared to grungy dented-up ones. At $23.00 a pop, it's too hard to do that for the 835. The $5.00 I pay for SM58 screens means I can be pretty carefree about replacing them. I even replace them for washing.

Though someone mentioned that the round nature of the SM58 screen makes it easier to dent. I think that may be true -- does anyone have any experience with that? I have a Senn. 935 that I use for my personal mic, and I have dropped it some without denting.

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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.

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As I said, I have one, however I prefer my SM58. Why? My beta is used and has great sound however if anyone tries to sing foh, you hear this sound come out of the PAs like they are spitting thru their teeth. I've tried everything, took the mic to a repairman recommended to me by Guitar Center. I'll never go to him again, won't get on a tangent but part of the reason is I paid $75 for him to resolve this and tighten up a loose connection on my mixer. The mic still makes the spitting noise.

So, I keep it in my booth and only hand it out when more than 2 mics are needed. As long as it is kept behind the mains, no problems.
The other thing with it? If I turn the receiver on but not the mic and I have the PAs on? The most gawd awful squealing sounds at high levels stinks up th air! I've learned to turn the mic on first but still.

Still looking at getting a third wireless.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

For $58 you can send your Beta back to Shure for a factory refurbishment, essentially getting a brand new one back in return. Much better than trusting some guitar center yahoo.

http://www.shure.com/americas/support/s ... /index.htm

almost 5 years and still not a single dent on my 835 grill. 58 grill dents if you fart wrong. i agree though, a 58 will not die. all these mics are good, D5, great. Audix bulletproof (that dropped dead one was a fluke) and killer sound. Sennheisers are my preference, admittedly unforgiving, but clear as a bell. Rip hit it, lots of good mics, which one fits your style.....

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I have collected quite a few mics over the years. At my shows I use inexpensive NADY mics that I've had for several years. They look good and sound good. I agree the sure 58's are great mics but for karaoke the NADAs sound pretty good.

The loud sounds that come when people handle them are especially good, I hear.

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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.

Bazza, is that the only cost other than shipping? Flat rate means you get it back working properly and no matter what it's $58?

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Used it tonight at my show.
About an hour in I noticed that the phantom was not on.
Duh.
Ebay. I paid good money for it as well.
Does sound good though.
Feel such a dope.

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almost 5 years and still not a single dent on my 835 grill. 58 grill dents if you fart wrong. i agree though, a 58 will not die. all these mics are good, D5, great. Audix bulletproof (that dropped dead one was a fluke) and killer sound. Sennheisers are my preference, admittedly unforgiving, but clear as a bell. Rip hit it, lots of good mics, which one fits your style.....[/quote]

My Audix failure may have been a fluke, but I've never experienced an SM58 "fluke", and I've been using them for 20 years (bands and karaoke). For durability, there is no comparison. When a microphone in a stand gets tipped over off the stage onto a concrete floor, I have no worries if it's a 58. Any other mic I'll have to check to see if it still works. I've lost Sennheisers, AKGs, and an Audix that way.

If you are in a situation where potential damage isn't really an issue, there are plenty of great sounding mics out there. But if you're dealing with drinking people and hard floors, you're rolling the dice.

Exactly. Flat rate. Run it over with a steamroller, send it in, new one comes back.

And now for the real Rip----SM58 Tough, sounds great, good price.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I'll check it out.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

The reps I talked with at Shure said they were not refurbs, but in fact brand new mics. However you do pay shipping.

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