Shure 55SH Series II review

It’s been a while since Elvis was in the building, but the Shure 55SH Series II, or Elvis microphone, lives on. This die-cast metal microphone marries old school rock and roll with modern mic technology. It’s great for live and studio performances alike. If you want a mic that will rock your socks off, this one is worth buying.

Editor’s note: This review was updated on August 10, 2022, to update formatting and address FAQs.

What is the Shure 55SH Series II like?

The Art Deco-inspired body hearkens back to automobile grille designs from the 1930s. Its archetype was originally named the Unidyne and took the world by storm with its unique design and grade-A vocal reproduction. This mic looks fabulous and weighs a hefty 626 grams.

There’s just one toggle for powering the 55SH on and off, located on the front of the microphone handle. A tension swivel mechanism bonds the handle to the microphone’s body. This permits 125° of motion, 45° forward and 80° backward. The movement isn’t completely smooth as it’s easier to turn the mic toward me than away, but the tension may loosen over time. Shure includes a ⅝” to ⅜” thread adapter in case your stand doesn’t accommodate a ⅝” thread.

A foam filter rests beneath the metal grille and mitigates issues with plosives and fricatives. If you want to ensure their absence, an external pop filter may help. That said, unless you get closer than six inches to the microphone, pops and hisses rarely present themselves. There’s an internal shock-mounted cartridge to reduce vibration noise from the mic stand, which is a huge help.

A dynamic mic with a cardioid pickup pattern

Dynamic microphones are sturdier than the condenser alternative. They’re also generally less sensitive than condenser mics, meaning they can withstand plenty of sound pressure before any noticeable signal distortion. If you’re putting on a live show, it’s hard to keep a constantly appropriate distance from the mic. Additionally, you’re bound to brush against it or speak louder than you intend to. However, since it’s a dynamic microphone, the distracting effect of accidental noises is lessened.

Unlike some microphones, the Shure 55SH has a single polar pickup pattern: cardioid. Sounds directly in front of the microphone are registered the most, while there’s some pickup from the sides and nearly none from the back. As you may expect, this results in a heart-shaped recording pattern. A huge benefit of cardioid microphones is their forgiving nature with regards to placement. You don’t have to be precise about where you’re standing relative to the mic. Its cardioid polar pattern also helps it to be used near loudspeakers without feedback issues, another reason it’s a great choice for live gigs.

How does the Shure 55SH Series II sound?

The Shure 55SH Series II is renowned for its clear vocal reproduction. Midrange frequencies receive more emphasis than their low-end counterparts. This serves two purposes: vocals are clearly audible, and the proximity effect is less prevalent. If you aren’t formally familiar with the proximity effect, this is when bass notes increase in loudness the closer you get to a directional microphone.

In the recording below, I’m speaking from my desk in an untreated room. There’s no post-processing with the audio; it’s as raw as it gets. As you can hear, my voice sounds indubitably clear. To help you understand the effectiveness of its cardioid polar pattern: I was in the center of my kitchen which has hardwood floors and many auditory reflective surfaces. Yet, there’s very little reverberation of my voice in the recording.

Limiting the frequency response to the voice band means the 55SH Series II renders vocals clearly. No matter how high or low your voice is, your songs will sound true to life with this microphone. As much as you may want to hold the back of the microphone like Elvis when performing, try and avoid that for the sake of sound quality. Placing hands near the mic while in use can affect its directional characteristics.

Shure 55SH Series II demo:

As of August 10, 2022, 45% of responders responded that the above microphone demo sounds “Good”, and 34% responded that it sounds “Perfect”. For a professional studio microphone, this just what you want.

Should you buy the Shure 55SH Series II?

Yes, this dense microphone has merited its legendary status. Not only is it a globally recognized design, but it also has the audio quality chops to justify the $179 price. Of course, it doesn’t excel in every single situation. If you’re looking for a TV or movie set microphone, you’ll need a shotgun, lavalier, or boom mic. Otherwise, the Shure 55SH Series II is a stunner.

Looking for something a little more versatile? Try the Shure MV7

The Shure 55SH Series II is a great vocal microphone but doesn’t come with a lot of extra features. The Shure MV7, on the other hand, is absolutely teeming with features. It has both an XLR and USB input which makes it easy to create backup files. When you download the ShurePlus MOTIV app, you can adjust things such as the monitor mix, the mic’s tone, can optimize the settings based on your proximity to the mic, and more. Though it only offers a cardioid polar pattern, it’s still a super versatile mic that reproduces vocals very well.

Frequently asked questions about the Shure 55SH Series II