I won’t lie, it’s not the best microphone for vocals, but the price point on it means you get a very well-designed and sturdy product that will compliment your DJ set-up very well. If you are planning on singing or rapping in a DJ set then you might want to get something more suitable, but for simple speech and shout-outs it is a great microphone.
Who is this Microphone For?
Hard-working DJs! It is robust and if you are gigging and constantly throwing your equipment into the back of your car or truck then this is the microphone for you.
Why do I say that?
OK, so you have to take the manufacturer’s word for this, but apparently, they have stress-tested the Shure SM57 microphone to within an inch of its life. In press features they have explained how it has withstood being:
- Run over by trucks
- Dropped off buildings
- Submerged in water
Durability – My Personal Stress Testing
They claim it to be the world’s toughest microphone, and have plenty of videos on YouTube showing people doing as much damage to their products as possible – with some funny, but impressive results. Worth a watch if you have the time.
I took the Shure SM57 out with me for around 5 months, with on average around 2 DJ gigs each weekend.
Anybody who knows me knows that the state of my DJ equipment bag is a absolute nightmare, with everything just thrown in.
My Shure SM57 microphone has been dropped, kicked across a dancefloor, and had a drink spilt on it.
Does it still work?
Yes. And then some.
Sound Quality
The late Soundgarden singer, Chris Cornell (RIP), was known to use SM57s on stage. If you have ever heard his voice then you will know the types of ranges he can reach.
So it’s safe to say, that it should be able to handle raucous wedding guests if you are a wedding DJ, and the occasional bit of over-enthusiastic DJ shouting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it come with the correct cables?
You have probably seen a variation on this product, which is the Shure SM57-LC – just to be clear, this is exactly the same microphone, but the LC part stands for “less cable”. I would only recommend that you purchase the LC version as a back-up microphone or if you already have the correct cabling.
Most people will need to buy the Shure SM57 bundle product, which lets you get all the add-ons such as cables and USB adapters.
For the purpose of this Shure SM57 review, I don’t refer to the LC variant product, as they are both the same – just one comes with cable, one without. That’s the difference!
Can you plug it into a computer?
If you want to plug it into a computer for home-recording purposes then you will need a USB adaptor cable, or alternatively a recording interface. You can pick up a USB adaptor bundle on Amazon that will work with the Shure SM57 mic.
If you don’t want the hassle of having to buy separate components, then you might want to try out the Blue Snowball microphone which I use for my video and audio recordings in the home studio. This is an excellent USB microphone for vocals.
Do you need batteries?
No, it’s not a wireless microphone and comes with a cable if you choose to order the bundle package.
It is possibly to purchase without the cable, which might suit you if you want to buy 2 of this product – I always advise that DJs pack 2 microphones in case one fails a back-up plan.
What’s the Difference Between the SM57 and SM58?
I will keep this part of my review really concise. The grille design looks different, plus professional vocalists (perhaps with exception to Chris Cornell as previously mentioned) prefer the Shure SM58.
The SM57 is intended for vocal applications, whereas the Shure SM57 is better suited for instrumental recordings. Neither of which really apply if you are using this as a DJ microphone, so personally, you just need to make a decision on price.
Conclusion
I really appreciate you taking the time to read my review of the Shure SM57 microphone. It would be a smart purchase for any DJ who needs a sturdy mic and who are gigging and travelling regularly.
It’s not the best for doing podcasts, but for DJs who need a microphone that will withstand the type of punishment that might get thrown at it, then it’s probably the most durable product on the market.
Technical Specs
- Weight: 284g
- Height, Width, Depth:0 × 32.0 × 32.0 mm
- Connectors: 3 pin XLR
- Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 15 kHz
- Sensitivity: -56.00 dBV/Pa – 1.60 mV/Pa
Where to Buy
I always buy all of my DJ equipment from websites such as Amazon.com – why? Because the prices are low, and you know you are shopping with a secure and trusted retailer.
If you are interested in buying the Shure SM57 (or Shure SM57-LC) then follow this link to Amazon.
When buying with Amazon, make sure that you select the bundle type you want, as some versions of this product come with accessories meaning prices can range from $80 to over $200 dollars. Do buy soon though, because prices to tend to change regularly.