Who is the Shure - SM58 for?
Budget-tier microphone. The 67.6 score sits in C-tier (58–67) — the formula flags meaningful weaknesses against premium peers.
Reasonable if cost is the deciding factor and the spec weaknesses don’t matter for your use. Check the spec table carefully before buying.
Mars Score is computed from 6 measured specs against the transparent formula for the microphones category. No editorial picks, no paid placement.
Shure - SM58: advantages & disadvantages
Measured against every microphones we track, here is where the Shure - SM58 pulls ahead — and where it gives ground.
- ▲Max SPL: 150 dB — well above the typical microphones.
- ▼No Headphone out — a feature most stronger microphones include.
Pros are specs scoring ≥75% of the category normalization range. Cons are ≤35%. Derived from the Mars Score formula — no hand-curated lists.
At a glance
- Type
- Dynamic
- Connection
- XLR
- Polar pattern
- Cardioid
All specifications
Spec
- Type
- Dynamic
- Polar pattern
- Cardioid
- Frequency response?
- 50Hz–15kHz
- Max SPL
- 150 dB
Connectivity
- Connection
- XLR
- Headphone out
- false
Latest from the lab
All lab reports →Popular comparisons featuring the Shure - SM58
The 12 closest matchups in the Microphones category, sorted by Mars Score proximity — the fights most worth your time.
How Shure - SM58 fits the Microphones field
Shure - SM58 is listed in the Microphones catalog with a Mars Score of 67.6. It currently ranks 8 of 21 products in this category by Mars Score.This page is most useful when you match the product's strongest measurable specifications to your own workload instead of treating one number as a universal recommendation.
Key specifications to check
- Type
- Dynamic
- Connection
- XLR
- Polar pattern
- Cardioid
- Max SPL
- 150 dB
Values are shown exactly as stored in the current catalog. A dash means the value is not available; it is not a zero and is not treated as a win or loss.
Who should consider it?
Start with the priorities represented by type, connection, polar pattern. Buyers who value those dimensions should compare this product against the closest same-category alternatives below, then verify regional pricing, warranty, and configuration before purchase.
Closest alternatives
Frequently asked
What is the Mars Score for Shure - SM58?+
Shure - SM58 scores 67.6 on the transparent Mars Score formula for microphones, computed from its published specs against the category's weighted normalization.
What category does Shure - SM58 belong to?+
Shure - SM58 is a Shure microphone catalogued in the Microphones category.
When was Shure - SM58 released?+
Shure - SM58 was released on 1966-01-01.
What is the type of Shure - SM58?+
Shure - SM58 has a type of Dynamic.
What is the connection of Shure - SM58?+
Shure - SM58 has a connection of XLR.
What is the polar pattern of Shure - SM58?+
Shure - SM58 has a polar pattern of Cardioid.