Which is Best? - Sennheiser E945 or Shure Beta 58a

00:00 - Intro
00:20 - Blind Spoken Word Comparison
01:24 - Proximity / Close Micing Demo
01:53 - Plosive Test
02:16 - Handling Noise
02:45 - Background Noise Rejection
03:09 - Cupping the Mic Test
04:00 - Conclusions & Thoughts
06:18 - My Selection for Best

[soulmanager]

I agree, the BETA58A sounds muffled when close micing and the e945 sounds much fuller. Thank you for this review, I truly loved it. I wanted to get the e945 and now I am totally convinced.

[SGBass]

Having used both mics, I could instantly identify them in the blind test. To me, Sennheiser wins for vocals. For instruments, Shure wins. Both are decent mics. Great comparison!

[arthurw]

I'm usually terrible at blind A/B tests, but it was obvious which one was the Shure, with fuller low-mid and less harshness. I like the standard 58 better than either for voice.

[augustusallan]

Both are too bright for me. I had the Beta 58a but went back to the SM58 and SM48. I'm amused that Podcastage has trained my ears so well that I was instantly able to identify the two mics. I've watched your channel way too much! 😃

[frubo_ssg]

For me there was no question: Mic B! Sounds more open…

[JoshColletta]

I have to say, I'm a bit surprised. I started watching this being familiar with both the E935 (which was my go-to mic for sports P.A. announcing for many years) and the SM58 (which I've never particularly cared for the sound of). I knew the E935 had a bit of an upper midrange boost, so I expected that to translate over to the E945, but to my ears, the E945 came out sounding a bit **too** boosted in that area, to the point of making the nasal range sound fatter and more saturated than it should. By the same token, I was not expecting the Beta 58a to be that bright. The SM58 has never sounded that bright to me, and the dullness of it is part of why I don't like it, but the Beta 58a sounded like just the right balance across the spectrum compared to the E945.

The other interesting difference that stuck out to me was the handling noise. The E945 seemed to have more low frequencies while the Beta 58a seemed a bit more toward the low-mids. So if I were using them handheld, I'd rather go for the E945 and just roll off enough to make it less noticeable. Too much information in the low-mids to try EQ'ing it out on the Beta 58a. But if it's staying on a stand? Beta 58a all the way.

[pjritts]

My big issue is ambient sound. The SM58 is regular cardioid and picks way up too much ambient stage sound compared to the Sennheiser e945 and its super cardioid pattern. If you play with musicians with a loud stage volume, it makes a huge difference. The e945 filters out ambient stage sound way better.

[RedBeardedRabbit]

Finally, I understand why Sennheiser (presumably intentionally) has such a boosted top end, which typically sounds fatiguing. It DOES sound better lip-to-the-grill as you said 6:26

[williamrpetrie]

If you have a brighter voice, beta 58. If you have a darker sounding voice, e945.

[mrmalby]

This is pretty much vid I've been trying to find for weeks now, all the reviews for the Beta 58A are all from 3+ years ago and I was just wanting a fresh perspective on the mic. Super happy to have a Beta to start playing around with now. Thanks for the reviews Bandrew, your vids are always a delight to watch.

[chuckfriebe]

The sennheiser is best. I also own and use that one. It's highs and mids are clear and present. The only thing with the 945 is that you need to be close to it to keep a consistent volume when singing quietly. The Shure is muddy in comparison. For female vocalist, the Shure is good, but for guys, the Sennheiser is spectacular.

[TomTALpa]

I have both and identified which was which on the blind test. In practice I find them both very good but tend to use the Sennhieser for female vocals.

[shaniell.mathur]

I prefer the shure beta58 and the sm 58. It sounds much more warm and natural . The e945
Is to sharp and bright

[chrisarambepola]

Thank you.
I have a E945, and was thinking of buying a Beta58A.
I think I will stick with my E945

[jannbautista]

Haven't watched the reveal yet, but I'm gonna guess the Sennheiser is the brighter mic. Senheisser always are (imo)

[techmed-rainer]

This was an easy one to differentiate between those two microphones. And I bet you'd prefer the Beta 58a's overall sound over the Sennheiser (when lips not pressed at the grill) - and I was right 😄 I know your preference and how it differs a bit from mine. Beside preferences I think the more uplifted higher frequency of the e945 can be helpful for live performances. They may make it easier for the main vocal to overcome the instrumental and chorus part.

[ocgabe]

I have a bassy voice and thus, have found that the Sennheiser e945 helps me to get on top of the mix with much less effort on my part.

[caseykittel]

My voice sounds good with the sennheiser E945, but pretty bad with most other mics. It’s worth trying one if you get weird results with other mics. It’s loud, clear and not boomy somehow - at least for me. And having done sound for 15 years I have convinced many diehard sm58 users to try the sennheiser for a song or a set and about 90% of the people that have tried it switched. It’s a very forgiving mic. It’s easy to settle into. Has less feedback mostly due to its super cardioid pattern. It’s good m’kay?

[coffeehigh]

Pidcastage2, I think you might agree with me that the e935 does enough rejection as a cardiod pattern / and just sounds very natural and better over the e945. Also a lot of gain (not as gain hungry as the SM-58, I have personally found). e935 conclusion for me ? I can get by with a ton of gain before feedback issues vs the SM58. But those are my thoughts. What do you think ? Thanks in advance as always!

[globstudioithaca]

This is great! Man, the 945 sounds like I took the cotton out of my ears after the beta58a.