Aloha friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Shure Beta 87A vs. 87C comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
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What I will bring you in this review
Today I will provide an informative, no-nonsense comparison of the Beta 87A and 87C, and then give a recommendation towards the end. 🙂
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Type. Both are condenser microphones that require 48v phantom power to operate. Condenser mic vs. Dynamic mic. This phantom power can come from stuff like combo amps, audio interfaces, mixers, etc. What does an audio interface do?
- Both have a very crisp and articulate sound, with some nice added warmth, timbre, and smoothness. What is Timbre?
- Both are around the same price.
- Both are versatile and can handle more than just on-stage vocals. Because they’re both condensers, recording stuff in the studio, voice-over, female vocals, softer type vocals, as well as various types of instruments becomes a very realistic proposition. Just be aware that the 87C is more flexible. More on that in the differences.
- Both require very minimal EQ if any at all.
- Both of these have very good gain before feedback and thus can be pushed pretty hard to very high Sound pressure levels. What is SPL?
- Accuracy and confidence. Another thing to keep in mind is how accurate these are. They will make a good singer sound a lot better, but will not make a poor singer sound good. So I would say if you’re confident in your performance, these two are phenomenal. If you’re not as comfortable with your abilities, perhaps these aren’t for you.
- Both have a frequency response of 50Hz – 20kHz.
- Both have an internal low-frequency roll-off to reduce boom sounds.
- Both have an advanced shock-mount system to reduce handling noise.
- Both have a built-in pop filter for sibilant sounds. What does Sibilant mean?
- Both have a dynamic range of 117 dB.
Differences
- Placement. The Beta 87A works well if your monitor is off to the side, while the 87C works better if your monitor is directly behind you. For the 87A, you will want to have your monitors facing slightly in towards you at an angle for best results.
- *Polar Pattern. The Beta 87A has a supercardioid pattern, while the 87C has a unidirectional (or simply a cardioid) one. This means that the 87C picks up sound from one specific area of the mic, generally right in front. That said, the 87C’s pattern isn’t quite as tight as the super-cardioid pattern of the 87A. The supercardioid pattern has an even tighter area of pickup than the cardioid but has the added benefit of rejecting sound from the sides, as well as ambient sound better. The downside is that it’s a little bit more sensitive to sound coming from behind, and sometimes causing feedback.
- Application. Because the 87C doesn’t have as tight an area as the 87A, it can pick up stuff like instruments and guitars better. Also, because the 87A’s area is so tight, when a singer moves their head a lot there may be a drop-off in sound. The 87C handles that “swing” much better. This is probably the main difference between these two mics. Another thing to keep in mind is how you’re monitoring. If you’re primarily going to be using IEMs (in-ear monitors), the 87C is the go-to. If you are going to be using wedges, the 87A is the better option. This is simply because the 87C sounds more natural with IEMs, while the 87A is better with floor monitors because it will provide more gain before feedback.
- Brightness. The 87A may be a bit brighter in the treble region than the 87C and will do better with female lead vocalists.
- Signal-to-noise ratio. 70.5 dB for the 87A vs. 72 dB for the 87C.
I found a cool vocal sample here!
Final Word
I would say that if you need a microphone that’s a bit more flexible in application, the 87C fits the bill quite nicely. It has a bit more “wiggle room” so to speak, in that it’s not as strict about placement. If you know you’re going to be primarily on stage or in live situations, and you know you get a bit wild with the mic and like to move around a lot, the 87C is your boy.
SEE IT FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
On the flip side, the 87A is very specific in where it wants you to be positioned, but has the benefit of rejecting sound from the sides, as well as ambient noise. This means that it will cut through a mix with a lot going on quite easily. If you have a large band with a lot of loud instruments, or you’re a podcaster/voice-over artist who needs an extremely articulate mic with hardly any EQ required, the 87A is what you’re after. Just be sure that you’re primarily going to be singing from a relatively fixed position, as it won’t handle the “sway” quite as well.
SEE IT FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Shure SM87A vs. 87C 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
2 comments
very honest, positive, educational review. thanks dude
My pleasure, Art! Thank you for stopping by and let me know if you ever need some gear advice.
Cheers,
-Stu