Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone | Shure - SM58 |
|---|---|---|
| Max SPL | 131 dB | 150 dB |
| Type | Condenser | Dynamic |
| Connection | USB | XLR |
Between the Profile USB Microphone and SM58, the Profile USB Microphone comes out ahead in type / connection, while the SM58 wins on max spl. Overall, the Profile USB Microphone scores 69.9 and the SM58 scores 67.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (69.9 vs 67.6). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the Profile USB Microphone if you care most about type / connection. The biggest gaps in its favor are type, connection. The single most decisive one: Type: Condenser (vs Dynamic).
Pick the SM58 if you care most about max spl. Its strongest claims are max spl. The single most decisive one: Max SPL — 14.50% more. 150 dB vs 131 dB.
Both ship with comparable polar pattern, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone or Shure - SM58?
Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone leads the current Mars Score by 2.3 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare type, connection, max spl against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone if…
Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone has the measurable edge on type, connection.
Choose Shure - SM58 if…
Shure - SM58 has the measurable edge on max spl db.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone wins
- ▲Type: Condenser (vs Dynamic).
- ▲Connection: USB (vs XLR).
Why Shure - SM58 wins
- ▲Max SPL — 14.50% more. 150 dB vs 131 dB.
Spec comparison
Spec
| Spec | Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone | Shure - SM58 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Condenserlead | Dynamic |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid | Cardioid |
| Frequency response | 20Hz–20kHz | 50Hz–15kHz |
| Max SPL | 131 dB | 150 dBlead |
Connectivity
| Spec | Sennheiser - Profile USB Microphone | Shure - SM58 |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | USBlead | XLR |
| Headphone out | truelead | false |
| Built-in preamp | truelead | false |