Sennheiser e835 vs. Shure SM58 | CRISPY TREBLE SNACKS?

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Greetings friend and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into the Sennheiser e835 vs. Shure SM58 comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

Today I will outline the Sennheiser e835, and then compare it to the SM58 towards the end. 🙂

Ratings/Price
Specifications
Summary
Pros
Cons
Video Review
Who this mic benefits?
What you will need?
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
Consensus/Conclusion
Similarities & Differences
Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Sennheiser e835

Ratings/Price

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Specifications

Microphone Type: Dynamic. Condenser mic vs. Dynamic mic.
Polar Pattern: Cardioid.
Frequency Response: 40Hz – 16kHz
Output Impedance: 350 Ohms
Color: Black
Connector: XLR. What is XLR?
Weight: 0.73 lbs.
Included Accessories: Mic clip, Carrying pouch
Manufacturer Part Number: 004513

Summary

The Sennheiser e835 is a very versatile mic that excels with baritone/tenor, and low voices primarily, though it does well with pretty much anything. It’s a solid and durable workhorse microphone and has great noise and feedback rejection.

A lot of folks (the majority in fact) are saying that it stacks up against the SM58 and most actually prefer it over the venerable studio standard.

It is occasionally sibilant, but it’s nothing to indicate deal-breaker status. The mic comes with a clip and a carrying pouch but doesn’t have an On/Off switch. Proximity is a bit of an interesting dilemma: you’ll have to position your mouth right in front of it, as it doesn’t do quite as well side to side.

The best part of the e835 is that you can scream into it as loud as you want and it will pick up your voice with crystal clear precision and accuracy. Scream away, partner!

Pros

Clean and clear sound. Picks up the nuances without coloring anything.
Good noise and feedback rejection.
Forgiving but also transparent sound.
Phenomenal for vocals, but also very versatile.
Able to handle a high Sound Pressure Level. What is SPL?
Good sensitivity, and also very quiet.
Extremely durable and solid.

Cons

Occasionally sibilant. Use a de-esser for this. What does Sibilant mean?

Video Review

Who this mic benefits?

*Good for baritone/tenor, or low voices.
The altos and sopranos prefer this mic as well to the SM58.
Worship music at church.
Press conferences.
Radio announcements.
Works good for miking an amp/electric guitar.
Brass.
Live performances as well as home recording.
Background vocals.
Harmonica.
Female singers, although sometimes can be harsh.
Karaoke.
Lead vocals.
School choir.
Drum overheads.
Metal vocalists.
Folk/Americana.
Interviews/pod-casting.

What you will need?

The e835 is a dynamic mic and doesn’t require phantom power, but you can still use it with a mixer or audio interface. What does an audio interface do? Just make sure you don’t switch on the phantom power and you should be good to go.

Some good options:

Behringer Xenyx Q802 USB
CL1 Cloudlifter
Roland VS2480
PreSonus Audiobox USB
I use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Focusrite Scarlett Solo
Alesis USB16 mixer
Zoom H5

You’ll also need:

A good windscreen or pop-filter
Acoustic Sound Treatment never hurts!
A mic stand
A shock mount (optional)

An important thing to also keep in mind is gain. The e835 might need a bit more than you’re used to. That’s where the Cloudlifter comes in, as it will provide an extra 25dB of clean gain. So a combo of the Scarlett 2i2 + Cloudlifter would be ideal. You can also use this combo with a ton of different mics, so there’s that long term value-added in as well.

Thoughts from Stu’s notepad

The mic has a bit of noise at times.
There is no On/Off switch.
The majority of reviewers like it better than the SM58.
You should stand directly in front of the mic to get the best sound, as it’s not very forgiving from the sides.
Comes with a mic clip and a carry bag.
It does have a tendency to pick up subtle sounds that you may not want, but these are subtle and can be edited out later.

Consensus/Conclusion

A solid, durable, and versatile workhorse mic with a crispy treble end and clean sound overall. Favored over the SM58 in the majority of reviews I’ve read.

Similarities & Differences

Similarities

Both do well in many of the same applications.
Both are dynamic microphones.
Both are around the same price.

Differences

Sound/high end/mid-range. The e835 has more clarity and a richer sound. The SM58 is a bit dull in comparison, while the e835 tends to brighten your voice more and gives it more character with a better Timbre. What is Timbre? It has a high-end boost that really brings out the voice nicely. The e835 is also warmer, sweeter, and more open than the SM58, with a better mid-range as well. It isn’t peaky like the 58.
Screamers vs. normal voice. The SM58 might do better with really loud screaming voices, while the e835 is more suited for normal singing.
Frequency Response. Both the pickup pattern and frequency response are tighter and fuller than the SM58.
Volume on the high end. You won’t have to crank it up much to get a clear sound. With the SM58, there was a need to push it to around 3 ‘0 clock, but with the e835 12-12:30 gets you there with no problems.
Multiple voices. The E835 is better for a few different vocal performances/harmonies recorded at the same time, as the sound won’t get muddied up.
Forgiveness. Where the 58 does excel better than the e835 is proximity. You really have to be right up on the mic and directly in front, whereas with the 58 it’s more forgiving and you can let loose a little.
Durability. In the long run, the SM58 may prove to be more durable than the e835. This isn’t to say the e835 isn’t solid because it most certainly is. It’s just the SM58 has a ridiculous track record for being one of the most abused microphones in existence, yet it still keeps on tickin’.
EQ. The e835 sounds better, with more presence, and doesn’t require EQ to achieve a great sound. The SM58 on the other hand kind of does need EQ, and won’t sound quite as good without it.

Final Word

The consensus is that the e835 is superior to the SM58 in all aspects, including overall sound and clarity. I would say the majority of reviews and forum threads I came across mentioned that they preferred the e835 over the SM58 every time.

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Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sennheiser e835 vs. Shure SM58 comparison.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Looking for something else? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Which one of these tickles YOUR pickle? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Be sure to check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

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